Another Airline Is Offering “Cheaper” Fares to Hawaii – Here’s Why You’re Still Better Off With Southwest, Even If You Pay More for Your Ticket

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Perhaps due to the impending Southwest service to Hawaii, Hawaiian Airlines is jumping on the Basic Economy choo-choo train.

Nearly all airlines currently flying to Hawaii offer Basic Economy, the dismantled coach option that makes you board last, pay extra to choose your seat (and on some airlines, pay a fee even for a carry-on bag).

There are 3 ways to avoid most of the pain of a Basic Economy ticket with airlines like American Airlines, Delta, Hawaiian Airlines, and United Airlines:

• Buy a more expensive coach ticket that includes seat selection so you can sit with your family
• Have an airline’s co-branded credit card that offers free checked bags and priority boarding, like the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite™ Mastercard®, Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express, or United℠ Explorer Card
• Wait a couple months for Southwest to begin service to Hawaii and book a flight with them instead

The information for the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select card has been collected independently by Million Mile Secrets. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

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Can Hawaiian Airlines Basic Economy Compete With Southwest’s Prices?

Southwest’s upcoming flights to Hawaii have created a big stir from competing airlines, and they’re trying to devise a way to offer “cheaper” fares to compete.  This may be the reason Hawaiian Airlines is following in the example of the other US airlines with the introduction of Basic Economy, beginning in 2019.

This seems like one of the worst moves they can make.  In an effort to compete with Southwest, it feels like adding a restrictive and inconvenient Basic Economy would push travelers toward Southwest.

After all, booking a cheap flight with Southwest comes with amazing perks, like 2 free checked bags, as well as free reservation changes and free cancellations as late as 10 minutes before departure!  And oh yeah, you get to choose your seat on Southwest.

Plus, the Southwest Companion Pass effectively doubles the value of your points (and your cash!) for all Southwest flights.  So folks who earn that will have even less reason to fly Hawaiian Airlines.  The Companion Pass is the undisputed best deal in travel.

Maybe Hawaiian Airlines WILL be able to offer cheaper flights to Hawaii than Southwest.  But even if they do, I’m personally unlikely to purchase from them unless it’s a significant discount because of all the great benefits that come with Southwest.

What’s your Hawaii 2019 plan?  Is Hawaiian Airlines Basic Economy good news for you?