Southwest Airlines operated its first flight to Hawaii in March 2019, with the aim of taking advantage of the ETOPS certification of its new Boeing 737 MAX 8s. However, the aircraft's grounding meant that flights were initially flown with the 737-800 instead. Since launching flights from both Oakland (OAK) and San Jose (SJC), Southwest Airlines has expanded its presence in Hawaii, and now operates flights from eight West Coast gateways, as well as several interisland services.

Alaska Airlines currently flies to Hawaii from seven West Coast cities, and will add Seattle Paine Field International Airport (PAE) to the list in November 2023. The oneworld member uses a mix of Boeing 737 variants on its flights.

Although both carriers face stiff competition on many of the routes from the likes of American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Hawaiian Airlines, how do Southwest Airlines and Alaska Airlines compare with each other in terms of their Hawaiian route networks, aircraft, and onboard service?

Route network

As mentioned, Southwest Airlines currently beats Alaska Airlines in terms of the number of West Coast airports it uses to serve Hawaii, although come November, that will change, and both carriers will operate from eight airports.

That said, with the exception of Los Angeles (LAX), San Diego (SAN), and San Jose (SJC), there is little overlap of departure points between the two airlines. Southwest Airlines operates from Las Vegas (LAS) and Long Beach (LGB), for example, while Alaska Airlines has a greater presence in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska.

However, when it comes to interisland flights, Southwest Airlines is the clear winner, being the only one of the two to operate such services.

Aircraft

Both Southwest Airlines and Alaska Airlines operate the Boeing 737 to Hawaii. Data from ch-aviation.com shows that Southwest Airlines' fleet currently contains a staggering 817 737s, compared to the 219 that make up Alaska Airlines' fleet.

While Southwest Airlines operates its aircraft in an all-economy configuration, Alaska Airlines has three classes onboard its 737s - first class, premium economy, and economy class. This gives passengers much greater choice in selecting the right level of comfort for their 5-6 hr flight. Oneworld frequent flyers can also accumulate and spend miles on Alaska Airlines flights.

Onboard service

Southwest Airlines prides itself in offering free entertainment on its flights to and from Hawaii. The carrier also offers onboard WiFi for $8. Alaska Airlines offers WiFi for the same price, as well as a free selection of movies and entertainment, which can be accessed through the app.

When it comes to onboard refreshments, Southwest Airlines does currently offer a range of complimentary soft drinks and snacks. Meanwhile, on Alaska Airlines, passengers also benefit from complimentary non-alcoholic drinks and snacks, regardless of their travel class.

Perhaps the largest difference between the two carriers when it comes to service is with checked baggage. Southwest Airlines passengers are entitled to two free checked bags on flights to and from Hawaii, while on Alaska Airlines, passengers can only bring a carry-on bag and personal item free of charge. Any checked baggage is chargeable, at $30 for the first bag and $40 for the second.

Flexibility is increasingly important to passengers, and both Southwest Airlines and Alaska Airlines offer fee-free changes and cancelations. As a result of the Maui wildfires in August 2023, both carriers also offered passengers increased flexibility and cancelation options.

Which airline is better?

Both carriers have a lot to offer their passengers. Southwest Airlines has an extensive route network, including interisland flights, and also lets passengers bring two free checked bags free of charge.

Alaska Airlines, on the other hand, would be a good choice for those looking for increased onboard comfort, with its three classes of travel and complimentary refreshments.

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Have you flown on Southwest Airlines or Alaska Airlines to Hawaii? Which airline do you prefer to travel with? Share your experiences by commenting below.

Source: ch-aviation.com

• 

  Southwest Airlines

  IATA/ICAO Code:

  WN/SWA

  Airline Type:

  Low-Cost Carrier

  Hub(s):

  Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, Dallas Love Field, Denver International Airport, Harry Reid International Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Houston Hobby Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, Midway International Airport, Oakland International Airport, Orlando International Airport, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport

  Year Founded:

  1967

  CEO:

  Robert Jordan

  Country:

  United States

• 

  Alaska Airlines

  IATA/ICAO Code:

  AS/ASA

  Airline Type:

  Full Service Carrier

  Hub(s):

  Anchorage International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, Portland International Airport, San Francisco International Airport, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport

  Year Founded:

  1932

  Alliance:

  oneworld

  CEO:

  Ben Minicucci

  Country:

  United States

  Region:

  North America