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The Best Ways To Fly to Hawaii With Points and Miles [2024]

Jarrod West

Senior Content Contributor

459 Published Articles 1 Edited Article

Countries Visited: 21 U.S. States Visited: 24

Director of Operations & Compliance

6 Published Articles 1206 Edited Articles

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Table of Contents

Best programs to book award flights to hawaii, how to find lie-flat business class seats, final thoughts.

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our  Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

If there’s one destination we hear people rave about over and over again, it’s Hawaii. That’s no surprise: People spend years dreaming of a beach vacation on one of the Hawaiian Islands where they can relax by the water, enjoy some great food and drinks, and just get away from it all.

However, if you’ve seen the prices of cash tickets to Hawaii, you probably understand why people have to save up for this adventure. Fortunately, there are several ways you can use miles and points to book your flights and save a ton of money.

Today we’ll dive into the different economy and domestic first class award booking options available. For those who want a lie-flat seat that you would find in an international business class cabin layout, we’ll talk about those options, too.

Before we dig into each of the best options, it’s important to note that planning ahead when booking award flights to Hawaii can make your life much easier. Unsurprisingly, award space is not always readily available because so many people pay for cash tickets.

If there’s one variable that can simplify the process of booking an award trip to Hawaii, it’s schedule flexibility. As with all award bookings, being open to traveling on different dates or even different months can unlock some amazing opportunities.

Hot Tip: Check out our ultimate Hawaii travel guides to Oahu, the Big Island, Lanai , Maui, and Kauai , as well as the best times to visit Hawaii by season and islands .

Korean Air SKYPASS

The Korean Air SKYPASS program has competitive economy class and business class redemption rates on its SkyTeam partner Delta. There are several ways to earn SKYPASS miles, despite it being a foreign frequent flyer program.

Book Awards With Korean Air SKYPASS

Korean Air SKYPASS uses a region-based award chart for SkyTeam partner award bookings . Unlike many airlines, Korean Air considers all of the U.S. as a single region, including Hawaii. As a result, the redemption rates are quite reasonable on Delta, and much better than Delta’s own SkyMiles program .

You can search for award space on Korean Air’s website and book from there. Just make sure you select SkyTeam Award after selecting Redeem Miles , otherwise, you won’t see the necessary city pairings.

If you don’t see award space when you run a search, double-check on Air France’s site as it is generally the best place to search SkyTeam partners. You can call Korean Air to book if you find space on Air France’s website.

It’s easy to book award flight award flights with Korean Air using these steps:

• Search for flights on the Air France or Korean Air website .
• Confirm the same availability on Korean Air.
• Book the flight online or call Korean Air at 800-438-5000.
• Pay the taxes and fees.

Additionally, it’s important to remember that Korean Air SKYPASS only allows round-trip bookings for SkyTeam awards. So if you only need a one-way award, this won’t be the program for you.

Now let’s take a look at the round-trip SkyTeam award ticket mileage requirements when booking with Korean Air SKYPASS:

Unlike using Korean Air SKYPASS to book award tickets on Delta to London, you won’t get hit with high fuel surcharges. In fact, you’ll only be responsible for $11.20 out of pocket.

Need help booking? Take a look at our step-by-step guide on  booking Delta One with Korean Air SKYPASS miles  and you’ll be ready to book before you know it.

Korean Air also partners with Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines , which gives you 2 other great options to fly to Hawaii. The mileage requirement for these partners is a bit different than what is required for Delta flights, though:

The redemption rates above (round-trip) aren’t quite as good, but the ability to redeem Korean Air SKYPASS miles for flights on Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines provides you with more nonstop routes from the continental 49 states (see below for details).

You will have to call Korean Air to book, as its online search function only allows you to search for award space on SkyTeam partners. Alternatively, you can use American Airlines’ website to find award space on Alaska Airlines.

Hot Tip:  Check out some of the other fun ways you can redeem Korean Air SKYPASS miles for award flights.

Nonstop Routes to Hawaii Bookable With Korean Air SKYPASS Miles

Thanks to these 3 airline partners, there are tons of nonstop routes to several Hawaiian airports that can be booked with Korean Air SKYPASS miles. Here’s a look at nonstop routes to Hawaii’s largest airport, Honolulu (HNL):

Airports With Nonstop Delta Flights to Hawaii

• Atlanta (ATL)
• Detroit (DTW)
• Los Angeles (LAX)
• Minneapolis (MSP)
• New York (JFK)
• Salt Lake City (SLC)
• Seattle (SEA)

Airports With Nonstop Alaska Airlines Flights to Hawaii

• Anchorage (ANC)
• Oakland (OAK)
• Portland (PDX)
• San Diego (SAN)
• San Francisco (SFO)
• San Jose (SJC)

Airports With Nonstop Hawaiian Airlines Flights to Hawaii

• Austin (AUS)
• Boston (BOS)
• Las Vegas (LAS) — seasonal
• Long Beach (LGB)
• Ontario (ONT)
• Orlando (MCO)
• Phoenix (PHX)
• Sacramento (SMF)

Earn More Korean Air SKYPASS Miles

Korean Air is transfer partners with Marriott Bonvoy. You can earn Marriott Bonvoy points  and transfer those to Korean at a rate of 3:1.

There are many Marriott credit cards available which we cover in our in-depth guide.

Hot Tip:  Check out some of our favorite ways to earn Korean Air SKYPASS miles to ensure you have enough for your Hawaiian vacation.

Air France-KLM Flying Blue

Our second SkyTeam option for booking award flights to Hawaii is the Air France-KLM Flying Blue program . While the redemption rates with Flying Blue aren’t quite as good as what Korean Air SKYPASS provides, they might be the best option for many travelers for one crucial reason.

The biggest advantage Air France-KLM Flying Blue offers over Korean Air SKYPASS is the ability to book one-way award tickets at half the mileage cost, plus the ease of earning points through transfer partnerships.

Book Awards With Air France-KLM Flying Blue

Like Korean Air SKYPASS, Air France-KLM Flying Blue can book award flights on SkyTeam partner Delta.

Unlike Korean Air, Flying Blue does not charge fixed redemption rates for these flights. Prices will fluctuate and are determined dynamically depending on the route.

Take a look at the table below to see the round-trip economy class and business class redemption rates to Hawaii:

Flying Blue requires 5,000 more miles to fly Delta than Korean Air SKYPASS in economy and is more expensive overall, but allows you to book one-way award tickets for added travel flexibility.

It’s easy to search for award space on Delta by using Air France’s online search. Once you find space, you can quickly complete the booking process online.

To book an award flight with Air France-KLM, follow these steps:

• Search for availability on the Air France or Delta website .
• Select the flight you want to book.
• Confirm your ticket selection and pay the taxes and fees.

If you can find award space on the outbound flight but not on the dates you need to return, you could book a one-way award with Flying Blue and a one-way award on United Airlines or American Airlines with another program.

Hot Tip:  The fun doesn’t stop with Hawaii. Check out some of the other amazing ways you can use Air France-KLM Flying Blue miles to see the world.

Nonstop Routes to Hawaii Bookable With Air France-KLM Flying Blue Miles

As a partner of Delta, Air France-KLM Flying Blue can help you book any of these nonstop routes between the continental U.S. You can even connect from your home airport to 1 that flies directly to Hawaii at no extra cost.

Hot Tip: Flying to Hawaii is a great way to get maximum value from your points on a U.S. domestic route .

Earn More Flying Blue Miles

We already talked about Air France-KLM Flying Blue’s ability to book one-way award tickets, which is a nice advantage over Korean Air SKYPASS. However, there is another big advantage related to earning Flying Blue miles.

Air France-KLM partners with one of our favorite points programs, American Express Membership Rewards . There are plenty of credit card choices with Amex, and many cards offer some great bonus categories to help you earn more points faster. Throw in a 1:1 transfer ratio and quick transfer time, and this is another great option to get your hands on more Flying Blue miles.

In addition, Flying Blue is transfer partners with Bilt Rewards ,  Brex Rewards ,  Capital One Miles , Chase Ultimate Rewards , Citi ThankYou Rewards , and Marriott Bonvoy .

Recommended American Express Cards (Personal)

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with  no credit score impact.

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card ® from American Express.

Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card  is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access , hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.

• The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
• 5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
• 5x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com
• $695 annual fee ( rates and fees )
• Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)
• Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards ® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
• Earn 5X Membership Rewards ® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards ® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
• $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts ® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card ® . The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card ® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
• The American Express Global Lounge Collection ® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card ® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card ® .
• $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
• $199 CLEAR ® Plus Credit: CLEAR ® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $199 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
• Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck ® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card ® . Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card ® . That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card ® to your Resy profile.
• $695 annual fee.¤
• Terms Apply.
• APR: See Pay Over Time APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees:  None

American Express Membership Rewards

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

The American Express ® Gold Card  is a game-changer.

With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants, up to $50,000 per calendar year, and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1x.

There isn’t another card on the market that offers a 1-2 punch like this. Of course, there are several other benefits of the Gold Card as well, including extra monthly dining rewards and more.

• 4x points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, up to $50,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
• 4x points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
• 3x points per dollar on flights purchased directly from airlines or at AmexTravel.com
• $325 annual fee ( rates and fees )
• No lounge access
• Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards ® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Plus, receive 20% back in statement credits on eligible purchases made at restaurants worldwide within the first 6 months of Card Membership, up to $100 back. Limited time offer. Offer ends 11/6/24.
• Get the American Express ® Gold Card in either the Gold, Rose Gold or Limited-Edition White Gold metal design. White Gold design is only available while supplies last.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards ® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards ® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards ® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
• Earn 2X Membership Rewards ® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
• Earn 1X Membership Rewards ® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
• $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
• $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express ® Gold Card at Dunkin' locations.
• $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express ® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express ® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
• Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. Eligible charges vary by property.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• Annual Fee is $325.

If you’re a business owner, we recommend taking a look at the numerous American Express business cards that earn Amex points, as well as offering numerous travel benefits.

Hot Tip:  Take a look at some of the other great ways you can earn more Air France-KLM Flying Blue miles for award flights.

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer

With Singapore Airlines’ KrisFlyer program , we have our best Star Alliance partner option for booking award flights to Hawaii on United Airlines. Sure, you could use United MileagePlus to book. But why would you, when you could save 10,000 to 20,000 miles and utilize more transfer partners?

Book Awards With Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer

Singapore Airlines allows you to search for and book award flights through Star Alliance partners online.

Here are the steps you’ll want to take to book your Singapore Airlines ticket:

• Search for availability on the United website .
• Head to the Singapore Airlines website and repeat the search to book or call 833-727-0118.
• Select the flight you’d like to book or give the flight details to the phone agent.
• Pay for your ticket including the taxes and fees.

Let’s take a look at how many KrisFlyer miles you will need to book round-trip award flights on United.

If you booked these same flights with United MileagePlus miles, you would need 45,000 miles for economy class and 80,000 miles for business class. Not only is using Singapore KrisFlyer miles a better deal, but they’re much easier to earn (see below).

Hot Tip:  Looking for more awesome ways to use the Singapore KrisFlyer program? Check out some of the other great ways to use KrisFlyer miles .

Nonstop Routes to Hawaii Bookable With Singapore KrisFlyer Miles

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer doesn’t have multiple partners, which means your nonstop options are more limited than when using Korean Air SKYPASS or Air France-KLM Flying Blue. That being said, the nonstop routes operated by United Airlines are convenient for people across the U.S.

Airports With Nonstop United Flights to Hawaii

• Chicago (ORD)
• Denver (DEN)
• Houston (IAH)
• Newark (EWR)
• Washington, D.C. (IAD)

Using Singapore KrisFlyer Miles With Alaska

We’ve focused above on nonstop routes to Hawaii. We’ve already talked about booking flights on United Airlines with Singapore KrisFlyer miles, but you can actually use KrisFlyer miles to book award tickets on Alaska Airlines as well.

Book Awards Tickets on Alaska Airlines With Singapore KrisFlyer

While Alaska Airlines is a member of Oneworld but has an individual partnership with Singapore Airlines that can get you to Hawaii for even fewer miles and points. The award chart for flights on Alaska Airlines divides the U.S. into 5 zones.

From Zone 1, you can book a nonstop economy class flight from California, Oregon, or Washington for just 24,000 KrisFlyer miles round-trip. This is one of the cheapest round-trip awards to Hawaii, and you can even book a one-way award for half the cost at 12,000 miles.

If you aren’t on the West Coast, you’ll need a connecting flight on Alaska Airlines, so the options are a bit more limited. However, if your home airport is served by Alaska Airlines, you could get a great deal.

Zone 2 is a particularly good deal if you’re okay with a connection since it only costs 23,000 KrisFlyer miles round-trip. It might seem odd, but if you have a connecting flight from one of the states in Zone 2, you can book the cheapest possible award to Hawaii.

These are the states in Zone 2:

Finally, you can also book round-trip economy awards from Zone 3 and Zone 5 for 25,000 KrisFlyer miles. Zone 5 includes nonstop flights from Ted Stevens Anchorage International (ANC), while Zone 3 awards will include a connection.

Zone 3 includes:

• North Dakota
• South Dakota

The remaining states are part of Zone 4; Singapore KrisFlyer’s award chart for flights on Alaska Airlines does not allow for award bookings to Hawaii from Zone 4.

Singapore Airlines’ online search does not include flights on Alaska Airlines , so you will have to call to book this award.

Here are the steps you’ll want to take to book your ticket:

• Search for availability on the Alaska website .
• Once you’ve located the flight you want to book, call the Singapore Airlines customer service team at 833-727-0118.
• Give the flight details to the phone agent, including the flight number, date, and flight times.
• Let the agent know you are paying for the flight with your miles and provide them with your loyalty number.
• Pay for any applicable taxes and fees and finalize your booking.

Earn More Singapore KrisFlyer Miles

Singapore Airlines’ KrisFlyer program partners with almost all of the transferable points programs. So when it comes to earning the necessary points for a trip to Hawaii, this is by far the easiest of the Star Alliance programs to use.

Amex Membership Rewards, Brex Rewards, Capital One Miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards, and Citi ThankYou Rewards all transfer to Singapore Airlines at a 1:1 ratio while Marriott Bonvoy transfers at a 3:1 rate.

The time it takes for transfers to process varies depending on the points you choose to transfer. Most programs transfer within 2 days while Marriott Bonvoy may take up to 7 days.

In conjunction with the competitive redemption rates to Hawaii, Singapore KrisFlyer is the go-to program for booking award flights on United Airlines.

Recommended Chase Cards (Personal)

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred ® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.

Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance . With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.

• 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
• 5x points on select Peloton purchases over $150 (through March 31, 2025)
• 5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)
• $95 annual fee
• No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status
• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
• Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
• Member FDIC
• APR: 21.49%-28.49% Variable

Chase Ultimate Rewards

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve ®  is one of the best options out there.

The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like airport lounge access , with excellent point earning and redemption options.  Plus it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to keep you covered whether you’re at home or on the road.

Don’t forget the $300 annual travel credit which really helps to reduce the annual fee!

• 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase TravelSM immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually
• 10x points on Lyft purchases through March 31, 2025
• 10x points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $250 through March 31, 2025
• $550 annual fee
• Does not offer any sort of hotel elite status
• $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
• 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck ®
• APR: 22.49%–29.49% Variable

Business Owner?  Check out our article on the best  Chase business cards  that earn Ultimate Rewards points.

Hot Tip:  If you think you might book your next trip to Hawaii with Singapore KrisFlyer miles, check out some of our favorite ways to earn more KrisFlyer miles .

British Airways Executive Club (From the West Coast)

You might have noticed that we haven’t discussed how you can fly American Airlines to Hawaii. Well, British Airways Executive Club gives you just that option. Not only that, but you can also use British Airways Avios to book award flights on Alaska Airlines.

Book Awards With British Airways Executive Club

Unlike the other options we have discussed, British Airways Executive Club uses a distance-based award chart , so the total number of Avios required to book an award flight will be determined by the distance you fly. As a result, nonstop flights are ideal if you want to maximize your points.

With this in mind, British Airways’ award chart provides a great option to book nonstop economy class award tickets from the West Coast to Hawaii on both American Airlines and Alaska Airlines.

From many major West Coast airports, you can book a nonstop economy class award for 26,000 British Airways Avios round-trip. American Airlines would charge you 45,000 AAdvantage miles, and Alaska Airlines would charge you 40,000 Mileage Plan miles for the same flights!

If you want to search for award space on flights operated by American Airlines, you can search and book on the British Airways site . To book a flight on Alaska Airlines, you’ll need to search on American Airlines’ site and then call British Airways. The phone agent will need your dates of travel and flight numbers to search the exact flights you found on American Airlines.

Here is how you can book a ticket with British Airways:

• Search for availability on the British Airways or American Airlines website .
• Select the flight you want to book or call British Airways to book at 800-452-1201.
• Pay for the ticket along with any applicable taxes and fees.

Hot Tip:  Want some more British Airways sweet spot redemptions? Check out some of our favorite ways to redeem Avios for award flights.

Nonstop Routes to Hawaii Bookable With British Airways Executive Club

With a distance-based award chart, it’s particularly important to find award flights that are nonstop so you don’t have to use more miles and points.

Fortunately, there are some great nonstop options from the West Coast to Hawaii, so you can take advantage of this sweet spot in the British Airways Executive Club program.

Airports With Nonstop American Airlines Flights to Hawaii

• Dallas Fort Worth (DFW)

Earn More British Airways Avios

There are several options for earning British Airways Avios . You can transfer points from American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One Miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards, or Marriott Bonvoy.

Amex Membership Rewards, Capital One Miles, and Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer to British Airways at a 1:1 ratio and transfer almost instantly. Marriott Bonvoy, on the other hand, transfers at a 3:1 rate, and transfers take up to 5 days.

Additionally, British Airways offers the British Airways Visa Signature ® Card  that earns Avios directly.

More Reads:

• See our guides on: Chase Transfer Partners , Amex Transfer Partners , Capital One Transfer Partners and Marriott Transfer Partners

Recommended Capital One Cards (Personal)

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the premium Capital One travel rewards card on the block.

Points and miles fans will be surprised to see that the Capital One Venture X card packs quite the punch when it comes to bookings made through Capital One, all while offering the lowest annual fee among premium credit cards.

Depending on your travel goals and preferences, the Capital One Venture X card could very well end up being your go-to card in your wallet.

• 10x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
• 5x miles per $1 on flights and vacation rentals purchased through Capital One Travel
• 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
• $395 annual fee ( rates & fees )
• Does not offer bonus categories for flights or hotel purchases made directly with the airline or hotel group, the preferred booking method for those looking to earn elite status
• Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
• Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
• Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
• Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
• Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
• Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
• Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck ®
• APR: 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)

Capital One Miles

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card   is one of the most popular rewards cards on the market. It’s perfect for anyone in search of a great welcome offer, high rewards rates, and flexible redemption options.

Frequent travelers with excellent credit may benefit from this credit card that offers a lot of bells and whistles. And it offers easy-to-understand rewards earning and redemption.

• 5x miles per $1 on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• Up to a $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
• $95 annual fee ( rates & fees )
• Limited elite benefits
• Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
• Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
• Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
• Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
• Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs

Hot Tip: You can also use points to book a hotel in Hawaii ! See our picks for the best options on Kauai, Maui, and the Island of Hawaii.

Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles

Using the Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles program for United flights is a massive hidden gem that many are unaware of. Using Turkish miles, you can fly with United, from anywhere in the U.S., for just 7,500 miles in economy one way or 12,500 miles in business class.

You read that right.

A round-trip flight from anywhere in the U.S. to Hawaii for just 15,000 miles round-trip in economy or 25,000 round-trip in business . This is an outstanding value!

Book Awards With Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles

Here’s the catch: to book an award, you used to need to deal with Turkish Airlines’ clunky website. If the website isn’t showing the partner-level award you’re looking for, you’ll need to call a Turkish Airlines phone agent to find the flight you want and ticket the reservation.

But you can find all of this information by first performing award searches on united.com . Remember that the award flight you want must be available at the Saver level in order to book.

Here is a recap of how to book a ticket with Turkish Airlines:

• Once you find the flight you want to book, visit the Turkish Airlines website , and log into your account by clicking  SIGN IN  at the top-right corner of the homepage.
• Once you’re logged in and redirected to the homepage, hover over your name in the top-right corner and click Miles Transactions in the dropdown menu.
• Then, you’ll find a box that says Star Alliance award ticket . Click the button that says Book now . If you’re having difficulty, click this link after logging in .
• Enter your search criteria, and locate the flights you want to book.
• Complete your booking and pay any taxes and fees.

Nonstop Routes to Hawaii Bookable with Turkish Miles

With your Turkish Miles, you can book nonstop flights out of any of the cities that United flies nonstop to Hawaii.

Earn More Turkish Airlines Miles

Turkish does not have nearly as many transferable currency options available as some of the other options on this list. But you can use currency from Bilt Rewards, Capital One Miles, Citi ThankYou Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy to help make bookings possible.

Bilt, Capital One, and Citi transfer at a 1:1 ratio in under 2 days and Marriott Bonvoy will transfer at a 3:1 rate in around 2 days.

Hot Tip: Check out some other ways that you can get excellent value out of Turkish miles .

If you want to fly to Hawaii in style, a lie-flat business class seat is the way to go. However, finding flights that have an international business class cabin layout isn’t always easy, so we’re going to simplify that process.

United Airlines Boeing 777, 767, and 757

If you use miles to fly Hawaii on United Airlines, several aircraft types provide a lie-flat business class seat (known as Polaris class ), including the Boeing 777, 767, and 757. The image above is from one of United’s Boeing 777s with lie-flat seats. In fact, all 777 and 767 aircraft have lie-flat business class seats.

If your flight on United is on a 757, make sure you check the seat map before booking. While a domestic first class recliner is certainly more comfortable than an economy class seat, a lie-flat seat is even better. United operates its 757 planes with both cabin layouts, so it’s important to know what you are booking before transferring points.

Fortunately, United Airlines offers quite a few flights with lie-flat business class seats. While business class award space to Hawaii is tough regardless of airline, United gives you a bit better chance.

Currently, you can find lie-flat seats on at least 1 of the flights of the following routes to/from Honolulu (HNL):

Delta Air Lines Airbus A330 and Boeing 767

Delta operates several aircraft on its routes to Hawaii, but only 2 aircraft types offer lie-flat business class seats (known as Delta One ): the Airbus A330 and the Boeing 767. Its A330 has a reverse herringbone business class cabin layout that is one of the best ways to fly to Hawaii.

Unfortunately, you need to be careful if the flight you want to book is operated on a 767, as some of these aircraft do not have lie-flat seats. Fortunately, there’s an easy way to tell without even looking at the seat map. If you see a bed symbol when you expand the details of a flight option, this means you will have a lie-flat seat in business class.

Delta provides lie-flat business class seats on 6 routes to Honolulu (HNL) at this time:

American Airlines Airbus A330, Boeing 777 and 767

American Airlines has lie-flat business class seats on all of its Airbus A330, Boeing 777, and Boeing 767 aircraft. Unlike with Delta, you won’t have to figure out whether its 767s have lie-flat seats or recliners.

When booking flights on American Airlines with British Airways, you won’t see a seat map in the search results, but you can quickly check the aircraft type. If you see any aircraft other than an A330, 777, or 767, you’ll know that the business class cabin does not have lie-flat seats.

At this time, the only routes that American Airlines operates with lie-flat business class seats (known as  Flagship Business class ) are from Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) to Honolulu (HNL) or Kahului (OGG).

Using British Airways Avios won’t be a great way to book this flight, but you can use 63,000 Japan Airlines Mileage Bank miles or 80,000 American AAdvantage miles for a round-trip business class award.

Hawaiian Airlines Airbus A330

Some of Hawaiian Airlines’ Airbus A330s have lie-flat business class seats that have received great reviews. Obviously, if you find award space, you’ll want to know if you’ll have the opportunity to experience these seats.

Fortunately, Hawaiian Airlines makes it very easy to find out if you’ll have lie-flat seats in business class. While you may be calling Korean Air SKYPASS to book, you can use Hawaiian Airlines’ site to see which flights have lie-flat seats.

You don’t even have to run an award search. Just search for a cash ticket, and under the First Class column you’ll see a note that says Lie-Flat Seats . If it doesn’t have this note, the flight doesn’t offer lie-flat seats.

While finding Saver-level business class award space on Hawaiian Airlines can be very tough, there are lots of routes with lie-flat seats if you can find the space:

• Austin (AUS) to Honolulu (HNL)
• Boston (BOS) to Honolulu (HNL)
• Las Vegas (LAS) to Honolulu (HNL)
• Los Angeles (LAX) to Honolulu (HNL) or Kahului (OGG)
• New York (JFK) to Honolulu (HNL)
• Orlando (MCO) to Honolulu (HNL)
• Phoenix (PHX) to Honolulu (HNL)
• San Francisco (SFO) to Honolulu (HNL)
• Seattle (SEA) to Honolulu (HNL) or Kahului (OGG)

No matter which transferable currency you’re hoping to use, you can easily book award flights to Hawaii. In fact, compared to other destinations, it requires significantly fewer points to do so, which makes it easier to bring a loved one or a friend.

If you’re hoping to book a business class award to Hawaii, we suggest using 25,000 Turkish Miles&Smiles miles to fly with United or 15,000 miles in economy class (if you can find Saver availability).

As you can see, with miles and points, the question isn’t if you can go to Hawaii, but when to go! With this info in hand, you’ll be ready to book in no time. Just remember, for a popular destination like Hawaii, travel date flexibility and planning ahead go a long way when searching for award space. Also, don’t forget your beach packing list so you don’t forget anything at home.

The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Bold ® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless ® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express ® Card, click here . For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant ® American Express ® card, click here . For rates and fees of The Platinum Card ® from American Express, click here . For rates and fees of the American Express ® Gold Card, click  here .

Related Posts

UP's Bonus Valuation

This bonus value is an estimated valuation  calculated by UP after analyzing redemption options, transfer partners, award availability and how much UP would pay to buy these points.

$53 Find Cheap Flights to Hawaii

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a kayak user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from the united states to hawaii departing on 12/25. fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel. click the price to replicate the search for this deal., search hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to hawaii.

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Best Hawaii Flight Deals

Cheapest round-trip prices found by our users on KAYAK in the last 72 hours

Good to know

Faqs - booking hawaii flights, i’m traveling to big island. which airport should i choose when booking flights to hawaii.

The best airport for passengers traveling to Big Island will probably depend on the reason for your trip. If you’re going mainly for the resorts and beaches on the West Kona side, then the best airport is Kona International Airport. If you’re going for the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, then the best airport is Hilo International Airport.

I want to hike in Hawaii. Which island should I travel to?

Kauai, Big Island, Molokai, Oahu, and Maui are the best islands in Hawaii for hiking. Big Island, Oahu, and Maui are all served by major international airports with nonstop flights from the continent. Kauai and Molokai also have airports, but travelers from the States will need to travel to Honolulu (in Oahu) first, and then take an inter-island flight to their final destination.

How can I travel from the Honolulu airport to Waikiki beach?

Waikiki Beach is less than 20 min from the Honolulu Airport. You can travel by private shuttle ($18 per person on average), taxi ($30 per ride on average), or you can use a rideshare service ($23-30 per ride on average). If you’re planning on exploring the island beyond Waikiki, you can rent a car at the airport. You’ll find offices for Avis, Budget, Hertz, National, and Enterprise at the baggage claim area.

Which airports in Hawaii are closer to the beach?

The airports in Hawaii closest to the beach are Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu on Oahu island (13 min to Ala Moana Beach Park), Kona International Airport on Big Island (7 min to Wawaloli Beach Park), and Kahului Airport on Maui island (6 min to Kanaha Beach Park).

How long is the flight to Hawaii?

An average nonstop flight from the United States to Hawaii takes 7h 35m, covering a distance of 3321 miles. The most popular route is Los Angeles - Honolulu with an average flight time of 5h 40m.

What is the cheapest flight to Hawaii?

The cheapest ticket to Hawaii from the United States found in the last 72 hours was $54 one-way, and $150 round-trip. The most popular route is from Los Angeles to Honolulu and the cheapest round-trip airline ticket found on this route in the last 72 hours was $161.

Which airlines fly to Hawaii?

Hawaiian Airlines, Korean Air & Alaska Airlines fly the most frequently from the United States to Hawaii.

What are the most popular destinations in Hawaii?

Based on KAYAK flight searches, the most popular destination is Honolulu (57% of total searches to Hawaii). The next most popular destinations are Kahului (18%) and Kailua-Kona (12%). Searches for flights to Lihue (11%), to Hilo (1%) and to Kapalua (0.5%) are also popular.

How does KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy?

KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a given destination and date is likely to change within 7 days, so travelers know whether to wait or book now.

Top tips for finding cheap flights to Hawaii

• Enter your preferred departure airport and travel dates into the search form above to unlock the latest Hawaii flight deals.
• If you’re looking for beach- and family-friendly destinations when booking your flights to Hawaii, look for flights into the islands of Kauai, Big Island, Maui, and Oahu. They are served by Lihue Airport (LIH), Kona International Airport (KOA) and Hilo International Airport (ITO), Kahului Airport (OGG), and Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), respectively.
• If you want to take your time exploring the islands, you can fly from the mainland into Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu on Oahu island, and then take domestic flights to the other islands. Hawaiian Airlines and Southwest are two of the companies that operate inter-island flights.
• Most first-time travelers to Hawaii choose Maui as their destination, but keep in mind that there are fewer nonstop flights from the continental US landing at Maui’s Kahului Airport. Most flights from the mainland connect via the Honolulu airport on Oahu island.
• If you’re planning to go on whale-watching tours, look for flights to Hawaii on the island of Kauai. Although practically every island is excellent for whale-watching activities, Kauai has a greater range of possible spotting locations.
• For golfers, Hawaii means golf courses that are as gorgeous as they are high-quality. If you don’t know where to start, consider traveling to the airport of Oahu. With 37 golf clubs, it’s the island with the most golf courses in America’s 50th state.

Top 5 airlines flying to Hawaii

Did not enjoy this flight at all. All of my coworkers flew delta and I chose JetBlue because I really value how simple the WiFi and entertainment is and this flight I didn’t get either. Crew staff was unsympathetic to my system not working, everyone I asked for help with was extremely bothered by my request for help.

Little snafu at boarding. Staff communicated with gate poorly. Flight attendant was rude making disembark early. This was an older mint class. Needs an overhaul for sure. Food was good. The male flight attendant was really nice.

My encounter with the entertainment services provided on board was moderate; the functionality of the Wi-Fi connection was either sluggish or nonoperational, while the display screens were antiquated and suffered from poor visibility. On the positive side, the cabin exuded a sense of expansiveness, and the crew exhibited amiable and accommodating behavior throughout the journey.

Everything was great except for some reason crew and ground crew could not figure out how to deal with an electric wheelchair and it delayed us 20-30mins. Was pretty frustrating for passengers and the captain.

Like the space, did not like the snack options, there was no power outlet in seats, no entertainment, no flyfi.

Traveling with JetBlue from NYC was convenient as accessing JFK airport was straightforward via the LIRR to the AirTrain. Maneuvering through the terminal was hassle-free, which was a pleasant start to the journey. However, the flight experience itself left much to be desired. The seating arrangement was notably uncomfortable; despite securing a window seat, space felt cramped. This was exacerbated by the middle seat passenger encroaching on my area, which made the flight less enjoyable. Additionally, while the in-flight entertainment system initially seemed like a reprieve, the sound outlet on my seat was inoperable. This issue turned what could have been a manageable three-hour flight into a rather tedious ordeal, as I was unable to use the entertainment system effectively. While JetBlue provided a smooth process in terms of airport logistics, the on-board experience highlighted areas in need of improvement, particularly in terms of comfort and entertainment system maintenance.

The flight crew that we had in our section may have been tired or something. I asked the flight attendant about my son’s screen not working and she spoke down to me like I was stupid. He still had no working screen throughout his flight. The other members had no personality and seemed like they were annoyed when you asked them for something. Definitely took a hit for simple things on my JB experience.

I volunteered to let them put my carry on suitcase in the baggage storage area. But when we landed I was told it was being unloaded IN A DIFFERENT TERMINAL! I had to walk (painful for me) a long way to retrieve my bag and my ride had to move from the waiting area they were in to a totally different one. Not happy.

Over 2 hour delay for a 50-minute flight is unacceptable, especially in normal weather. Very poor communication via app

In-flight staff was very helpful and excellent. However, the flight was delayed by 90 minutes. Also the boarding process should be expedited in case of delayed flights. This will help the passengers trying to make international connections.

Being stick waiting for gate at ORD cause me to almost miss my connecting flight…being deaf United made no no effort to keep me updated as I couldn’t hear the PA

No access to the Wi-Fi, noisy group of people made it difficult for me to hear through my earbuds. Snacks and drinks - limited service when your seat is at the back of the plane - people up front are always served first and the back gets whatever is left. Not pleased.

They had three choices for snacks - but you could only have one - and they ran out of the dark chocolate before they made it all the way down the aisle... Packed flight - limited service.

As usual, United scheduling is completely misleading. A 54-minute layover at O’Hare is too short to make a lot of connections, especially since the flight landed “on time” but had to wait on the taxiway 15 minutes for a gate to open up. Then it takes another 10 minutes to exit the plane before one can run to another concourse to catch a connecting flight.

I am not an electronic savy. I don't know how to maneuver the APPS for services. Why can't I just buy food without the apps.

Flight home lot's of room shame I never noticed that they ripped my suitcase and didn't notice it to I got toy destination and had to buy new set

I was pleased and I had a very good experience. The staff was friendly and attentive.

Your seats in the last 5 rows are terrible. My knees were jammed into the seat in front of me and the lady sitting there decided to recline it. Jammed my knees bad. I don’t know if I’ll fly United again.

The flight from Cleveland to Newark was great. The connecting flight wasn’t so good.

This was a short flight with no food. The attendants were great but the comfort was poor: just to cramped. The flight from Denver to Frankfort was excellent! Seating was roomier, food was good, service was good. This was a great experience.

Baby cried a lot. Nothing anyone could do about it. Just part of flying.

The flight was uneventful. What was a problem was I was delayed getting home one entire day because the flight from Sacramento was delayed. That made getting to my connecting flight impossible. I had to stay another night at the hotel and incur that expense as a result.

Deplaning time. Having to wait 10 to 25 minutes after boarding to leave the gate. Having to wait 10 minutes to park at the gate to deplane.☹️

The flight was delayed which was disappointing. There was no pre takeoff refreshment in first, as we had to wait around an hour in our seats before take off that was disappointing too. The inflight entertainment/wifi did not work, and the crew were slow to offer drinks in flight

AA is fabulous. However , Iberia cancelled our Boston - Barcelona flight the morning of the flight - 9/16/24. This was almost a week ago and we have still heard nothing from Iberia/Vueling. Found out from a kayak email that morning that the flight was cancelled. Iberia Customer service reps wouldn’t help us and said to call Vueling. No one answers phone at Vueling. Terrible wild goose chase on DAY OF TRAVEL. AA came to our rescue.

Boston ticket agent Cheryl Porter is WONDERFUL. Our Iberia flight to Barcelona was cancelled the morning we were scheduled to leave and Cheryl was our super hero - she found us seats on a flight to London and on to Barcelona. Truly a “can-do” attitude which we appreciated so much after the Iberia ticket agents told us there was “absolutely nothing they could do”. (As did the customer service agents at Iberia’s call center) Ms Porter is truly a wonderful person who genuinely cares about travelers!

For coast to coast travel the A321 and even the NEO, even in first class will never be excellent. That would take a B787 or 777 to accomplish.

No choice of meal in first class. Was the worst meal I’ve ever had in first class.

Experience was fine. Seats were cramped, and we had to wait for repairs before we could take of. Even though the door remained open, we were warned that leaving the plane could cause difficulty trying to fly out later. Staff was pleasant, and climate control was fortunately working. We had trouble at the DFW terminal, but I don't think that was AA's fault.

No complaints. Good WiFi, great crew and excellent speedy baggage claim

This airline is effective for the price you pay, do not expect anything extra at all. You have to pay extra for seat assignment , carry on luggage, food, you name it ...and even if you pay extra for better seats they do not recline.

Well, the seats were SO tiny. I’m five-foot ten-inches talk as a woman and thank god I wasn’t more than 150 pounds as I would not have fit at all. I understand there are the “big seats”for an upgrade or a blocked middle seat but I was not prepared for the size. Also, there was an incident on the plane with a man who wound up being escorted off the plane at landing by TSA… I understand this was not in the control of the flight crew BUT the flight attendants were arguing amongst themselves at the front of the plane and we could hear them. There was a flight attendant in her 50s scolding a male flight attendant for “placating the guy” that was causing a ruckus and telling him “you should have been on our side not his.” Not only was this unprofessional to do in front of passengers, but it caused anxiety in nearby people including myself. We don’t want to feel like there is a potential danger on the flight - 9/11 flashbacks. The flight crew should remain calm and I believe the male flight attendant was in the right in trying to calm the man who was an issue.

Flight delayed. Seat assignment doesn’t get assign until last minute. Seats don’t recline and very stiff

4 hours delayed. once we got boarded anotger hour and a half delayed

Got on quickly and easily. When it turned out the other two seats in my row would be occupied, a nearby flight attendant immediately let me know that I could move one row behind me since it was an empty row, I moved into the window seat where I could relax enough to take a little nap. Can’t ask for much more.

We had a 40 mins delay, but the pilot was good about keeping up informed. No food/snacks or drinks when u in the air-they have to be purchased. They charge for every single thing .

I’m not a fan of Spirit Airlines from a not-so-good experience the last time & I swore I would not fly this airline again- bc they charge for EVERYTHING. I only flew Spirit this time bc it wasn’t my choice. I decided to use a “Mystery Ticket” bc of the great price, not knowing it would choose this airline! I found out on this trip how they pick a random seat with a “sticker” for a prize-are we in first grade? just doesn’t seem right & now the first 3 or 4 rows get special treatment-we all paid for our tickets, not just them.

particularly nothing to like plane just turned to be a hmm flying bus, yet in buses from another country at least drink and snack are free ... and seat could be just a bit more ..adjustable? ok ok i know i am asking for too much but ..dreaming is not forbidden yet

Fantastic !!! Seamless boarding. Meticulously clean. We left and arrived early.

The flight was delayed, and we waited for more than an hour on the plane.

I was shocked that there is no Wi-Fi, my flight was changed and delayed multiple times. In fact, I’m still not home…

I did not like that people are purposely split ip who book at the same time because we didn’t buy seats. No other airline does that.

Frontier is definitely a good option for people traveling light or on a budget - just remember to bring your own entertainment and your own headphones if you need them.

The seats were dirty with crumbs and trash , looked it had not been cleaned up from a previous flight

Nothing about the flight was good. The crew was rude and unwilling to assist would never recommend this airline to anyone and for sure will not fly it again

The plane was very clean, the flight attendants were chipper and accommodating. It was roomy

There was extremely long wait times to check in my bags and pass through TSA. I almost missed my flights on several occasions.

I didn’t have enough time to catch my connecting flight and had to use a different Airline. I will be requesting a refund.

There were a lot of issues at the gate in Atlanta — which caused delays in boarding and getting to our destination. The aircraft and crew were excellent.

It was fine. The flight was delayed for 3 hours. I had things scheduled in Detroit, and I let a lot of people down by not being there on time.

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Review: United Airlines Hawaii Economy/Economy Plus. Comfort In The Friendly Skies?

Beat of Hawaii flew round trip between Hawaii and the mainland last week on United. Here’s what we found on United Airlines’ Hawaii economy and Economy Plus offerings. Both flights were on the same plane, a Boeing 737 MAX 8. We’ve flown eight flights with United to and from Hawaii since summer. That included the exceptional Polaris business class and the disappointing United first class .

Prior to this summer, team Beat of Hawaii had not flown on United Airlines for years. Beat of Hawaii paid in full for this trip. The flight cost from Lihue to Los Angeles was $193 per person each way. Jeff also purchased an extra seat , a trick we recently wrote about. That means two passengers shared a row of three seats. Honestly, it was incredible and at a fraction of the cost of first class, which in this case would have been more than $1,000 each way. In the future, we would be willing to take regular economy seats and purchase the extra middle seat, especially when on sale. That’s true even with less legroom than Economy Plus but no middle seat passenger.

Via a status match with another airline, we were also able to get extra legroom, Economy Plus, at no additional cost. For those who don’t know, status matching lets premium flyers on one airline request temporary matching status with a different airline.

What we liked and didn’t on United Airlines’ economy and Economy Plus.

On a positive note, the Boeing 737 MAX 8 was brand new and in great condition. The economy seats were surprisingly quite comfortable for the duration of the flights, one of which was about five hours and the other almost six hours. And in terms of the extra legroom in Economy Plus, it was fabulous, significantly exceeding the legroom even in that aircraft’s first class. Add to that a superb entertainment system, on-time performance, and baggage handling.

On the negative side was among the most limited levels of customer service as measured by few water or beverage services and perhaps the worst free snacks we’ve yet encountered.

Why Economy and Economy Plus reviews are combined.

Jeff originally planned to fly regular economy and thus would not have been able to review the Economy Plus product on this flight. As mentioned above, through a status match, we were able to fly Economy Plus without paying for the extra legroom. We’ll show you below what the cost would have been for the extra legroom seats.

Editor Jeff was able to check out a regular economy seat later in the flight. And note that there is no other difference, other than the legroom, between Economy and Economy Plus. We enjoyed comparing the products.

Cost: Economy 9/10.

We ended up paying more because we bought regular economy and not basic economy. The price was okay. Fares vary by when you fly, and the amount paid was fair for what was offered. Total price paid was $457 per person round trip. The cost for basic economy would have been $60 less each way. To buy Economy Plus extra legroom brought the price to a whopping $831 roundtrip. One of the benefits of the status match was the complimentary upgrade to Economy Plus, a value of $187.

Cost: Economy Plus 8/10.

Despite the superb legroom it provided and the complimentary blanket, we did not like how much it cost beyond regular economy. It was $187 more each way. Sadly, that is not out of line with what other carriers are charging, as ancillary fees such as seats continue to escalate. As we have mentioned when reviewing other airlines’ Hawaii flights, some additional offerings, whether an additional snack, drink or checked bag, for example, might have helped improve our perception regarding the value. By way of comparison, when we did a Hawaiian economy review to the west coast, we paid $142 for their ExtraComfort extended legroom seat.

Customer service: N/A.

We had no contact with United Airlines regarding the reservation, as none was needed. Their app performed extremely well for everything from seat assignments, check-in, entertainment, baggage monitoring, and other options.

Check-in: 10/10.

The online check-in process for both flights was extremely easy, and in both cases, we were checked in within a minute or two.

Boarding: 10/10.

United is very well organized in terms of boarding. For boarding groups one and two, passengers get in line behind those numbers. After that, the other boarding groups are called. It was orderly and hitch-free.

On-time Performance: 10/10.

The airline has demonstrated excellent on-time performance, and they did not disappoint on these flights. In our eight recent flights, every one was on time. Boarding started about 30 minutes prior to flight time. The boarding door was closed on time, and the flight departed the gate at the moment indicated.

Food and beverage: 1/10.

This is a shortfall for United when compared with recent economy offerings we’ve experienced to and from Hawaii on Alaska, Delta, Hawaiian, and Southwest. The entire service consisted of two beverage services and two water services. The most ridiculous of 1/4 ounce snacks were offered twice. They frankly weren’t worth wasting the packaging on. There was food for purchase, which we did not try, in generic-looking United boxes. Beverages were offered in full cans, with cups and ice. There is recycling of the aluminum cans.

Of the airlines we’ve flown with in economy in the past year, we’re surprised to report that Southwest, the airline that makes no qualms about not offering food, provided the most generous free snack service and a delicious and generous bespoke cookie and beverage service prior to landing. When it came to paid food, in our experience, Alaska has been the best. Regarding beverages, Hawaiian has been the best for us, offering not only beverage services, but also inviting passengers to come to the galley for additional beverages.

“Read: Classless Southwest Hawaii Review SJC to LIH: Quirky, Unique .

Aircraft condition: 10/10.

The planes were both Boeing 737 MAX 8, and one had just been in service for just four months. The narrow-body planes have single aisles. This is United Airlines’ domestic two-class configuration, with 16 domestic first-class seats, 54 Economy Plus seats, and 96 economy seats.

The aircraft has new Boeing Sky Interiors, extra large Boeing Space Bins for luggage, ultra-compact lavatories, and ViaSat KA-band WiFi.

As a side note, the miniature lavatories are dismal in terms of size for anyone who isn’t very thin. That has become the norm on new single-aisle aircraft.

Wifi/texting: 0/10.

There is still no WiFi or texting on the entire United Airlines Boeing 737 fleet, either the 737-800 or the 737 MAX 8, both of which fly to Hawaii. To our knowledge, all other United aircraft do have satellite WiFi, which has worked well for us on prior flights. There was confusion on both flights about whether or not there was WiFi, including the United App offering to sell it to us in advance. The cabin crew was also not always clear on the lack of WiFi on that plane.

Flight attendants: 10/10.

The United Airlines flight attendants have been consistently kind, friendly, and attentive. They even, at times, seemed embarrassed that they couldn’t do or offer more for the passengers.

If you care, there’s certainly nothing “Hawaiiana” about United, in spite of how long they’ve been flying here. Their product is completely location-free, which we’ve found to be true, flying with them to and from Hawaii, other places on the mainland, and even to and from Europe. One flight attendant, however, seemed to provide their own Hawaii-themed apron.

Cockpit crew interaction: 10/10.

There were numerous well-timed, courteous, and professional announcements from the flight crew at various points before, during, and after the flight.

Seating and comfort (economy): 6/10.

Overall, the plane is very tight. Seat pitch in economy is poor, and for passengers, the height of BOH editors Jeff and Rob, knees are jammed into the seat in front. Editor Jeff stands at 6′ tall and Rob at over 6’4″. The economy cabin is comprised of 96 Collins slimline seats, including a 4-way adjustable headrest, a device holder, and a 10″ HD touchscreen display. Seat pitch is extremely tight at just 30.3 inches, with 2″ of recline.

Seating and comfort (Economy Plus): 10/10.

Economy Plus are seats designated with blue-grey accents and branding on the headrests. It is comprised of 54 Collins slimline seats, each with a 4-way adjustable headrests, device holder, and a 10″ HD touchscreen display. The seat pitch is listed as up to 38.8 inches, although in row 7, it was even more by our observation. Seat recline is 3″.

Power: AC/USB 9/10.

All guests are provided USB and A/C power, which is great. Unfortunately, we’ve found, as is the case on most airlines, that the USB power is not adequate for good charging of phones, but instead largely just keeps them from discharging further. We carry A/C chargers instead, which worked fine.

Entertainment 10/10.

Seat-back entertainment throughout the aircraft was a very nice touch, one that’s been disappearing from many aircraft. The system had a great selection of movies. It pairs easily with passengers’ Bluetooth headsets, which inasmuch as we both have noise-cancelling ones, is great. The seat-back entertainment touch screens are excellent. In addition to TV and movies, the monitors offer flight maps and time to destination throughout the flight. As a side note, on both flights, however, we encountered some annoying static.

Score (economy): 95 out of 120. Score (ExtraComfort): 100 out of 120.

Have you flown United Economy or Economy Plus to Hawaii? Please share your own review with us and others.

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21 thoughts on “Review: United Airlines Hawaii Economy/Economy Plus. Comfort In The Friendly Skies?”

You had nothing to say regarding United’s 757-200 that fly in and out of Lihue.

You often refer to “seat pitch” what do you mean by that term?

It’s a measure of seat room determined by the distance from a point on one seat to the same spot on the seat in front or behind.

At its core, seat pitch = legroom. Most airlines seem to have seat pitch in economy of 29″ to 32.” I’m a 5’11” male and uncomfortable unless it’s about 38″. At 29″ or 30″, my knees hit the seat in front of me. At 38″, I can stretch out. 38″ is often found in Premim economy. Domestically 38″ is often associated with first class. It’s a crime. I’ve had international First Class seats approaching 76″ – they can be stretched to a flat bed.

International First class is an entirely different animal than domestic first class (even though some USA carriers offer significant legroom) in first class. Even though that’s a big deal, international economy is still typically 33″ or less.

Happy flying!

Which United equipment flying to Hawaii if any has only 2 seats together instead of 3 in the economy section? Thanks Mike

Thanks for asking. Here’s a recent article we published on just that.

Excellent reviews, gentlemen!

We always fly Hawaiian from Ontario because it’s non-stop. But it’s a narrow body, and there’s nothing noteworthy about Premium economy and first class other than the ridiculous fares.

LAX, San Diego, and LAS Vegas are the only “close” airports where we can catch a widebody. But Ontario is the closest, so we tough it out in those coffins.

Will read the piece on the Gov reaching out to Japan next.

We appreciate you. Thanks for over 500 comments to date!

I hope to live long enough to make it to 1000. After that, I will have to bill you guys:)

Yesterday, at my doctor’s office, ignoring the one life-threatening illness I beat and the one I hope to beat, the doc said: you are in better shape than 99% of my patients your age (79). We’ll, see. I think God has my final date on Earth written down in a book somewhere. I’d like a peek.

You’re an inspiration!

Thank you! Rod

We flew United Economy Plus DEN-LIH last February and was surprised that they served a complimentary lunch, albeit a cold one- Seasoned chicken breast, salad, bread roll, and I believe a cookie for dessert. I asked the flight attendant why we were given lunch and she replied that it was because it was a long flight (over seven hours). I believe regular economy received the same lunch service. I don’t know if United is continuing that offering.

As far as we know they are. That is a more premium route and different than say San Francisco or LA.

They still serve the chicken meal on the flight to Hawaii as of September when we flew them.

I have flown United Airlines 3 times in 2023 to/from the mainland to Kauai. The food is consistently poor. Tiny bisquets. Beverage service is poor: 90 minutes after take-off and a fly-by 60 minutes before landing. Unless it is a night flight; then there is no second beverage service. Flight attendants sit and read a book instead of checking on passengers.

I don’t understand this. When I want an additional beverage, I push the call button or walk up the galley and ask.

Im curious on how you can use your name as the passenger in one seat How do you purchase the middle empty seat? It seems like they might see your name in 2 seats

You need to call the airline. It is done differently than two passengers each with one name. The second seat is specifically designated as an extra seat on the boarding pass.

How do you book the extra seat if your traveling alone? Buy 2 tickets with the same passenger information?

We detailed that process in the earlier post regarding extra seats which we linked to. In a nutshell, call the airline for their process. The ticket will have one of the passenger’s name but it will also note that it is an extra seat. Otherwise it won’t work.

Oh, I am 6″2 female and so Not looking forward to American flight next year. I just can’t afford to upgrade to even the 6″ extra room, so these stories of the narrow shorter pitch seats are a nightmare thought. I can get passed food. Would love more water, but will ensure I have plenty in my carry on water bottle, but oh my Leg Room..Cant fix that., just cant fix that.

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Save money: How you can book flights to Hawaii using points and miles in 2024

From the bustling city of Honolulu to the long, winding Hana Highway, Hawaii has something for every traveler. Each Hawaiian island has a unique flair, pristine beaches and stunning natural beauty. Despite its reputation as a pricey tourist destination, there is a way to get to the dreamy islands without breaking the bank — you can use points and miles.

So, if you're planning a trip to the Aloha State, keep reading to find the best ways to get to Hawaii using your points and miles. While we focused this article on finding flights to Honolulu, keep in mind that pricing may differ for some Hawaiian islands while other award redemptions may remain the same.

How to book flights to Hawaii using points and miles

Like most travelers, you're probably interested in visiting several Hawaiian islands outside of Oahu, such as Kauai and Maui (check out this article on visiting Maui after the devastating 2023 wildfires ). While some major U.S. cities offer direct flights to the smaller islands — you can search prices on Google Flights — we recommend landing at Hawaii's main and largest airport, Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL). From there, you can take short-haul flights between the other Hawaiian islands.

Since the long-haul portion of your flight to Hawaii will more than likely cost you the most money, utilizing your points and miles can help cover the cost for some (if not all) of your flight. So, how do you earn points and miles?

Maximizing travel rewards credit cards

If you are new to using points and miles, we recommend signing up for a travel rewards credit card, which can offer a lucrative welcome bonus for new cardholders.

For example, the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card offers 60,000 bonus Chase Ultimate Rewards points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. With those points, you can opt to book flights via the Chase Travel portal or transfer your Ultimate Rewards points, mostly at a 1:1 ratio, to partner airlines or hotel brands such as Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards, Jet Blue TrueBlue, World of Hyatt, Marriott Bonvoy and more.

TPG typically recommends transferring your points to a partner over booking through the Chase Travel portal to help maximize your points. Though award redemption rates are subject to change, here are some popular routes to Hawaii that you can save you money.

Book flights to Hawaii with Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards

Southwest Rapid Rewards is different from other programs on this list. Its award prices are tied to the cash price of a ticket. According to TPG's valuations , Southwest points are generally worth 1.4 cents each toward flights, but it can slightly vary depending on the flight. To find the best redemption rates that satisfy your budget, check out Southwest's Low Fare Calendar .

For example, I found a round-trip Southwest "Wanna Get Away" fare from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to HNL for 11,452 Rapid Rewards points plus $11.20 for taxes and fees.

Southwest Rapid Rewards points are relatively easy to earn. There are currently five Southwest credit cards that offer sign-up bonuses, which you can use to book your flights to Hawaii. If you're not a frequent Southwest flyer, it may be more beneficial to open a travel credit card with Chase and transfer your Ultimate Rewards points to your Southwest account.

Additionally, if you earn the ever-coveted Southwest Companion Pass , your guest will fly for free (aside from the taxes and fees). Basically, you'll get two round-trip tickets to Hawaii for the price of one.

Related: How to earn Southwest Rapid Rewards points

Book flights to Hawaii with Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles

Are you based at a Star Alliance hub? Consider using Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles to score an excellent deal on your next trip to Hawaii.

Its partner, United Airlines, operates nonstop flights to Hawaii from all of its continental U.S. hubs, including Dulles International Airport (IAD) , George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) , O'Hare International Airport (ORD) , Denver International Airport (DEN) , Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) , Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) , John Wayne Airport (SNA) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO) . Booking economy United Airlines flights through Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles will cost 7,500 miles each way. Therefore, a round-trip economy ticket on United will cost you just 15,000 miles.

When I searched for flights on Miles&Smiles from DEN to HNL, I found a nonstop United Airlines flight on Jan. 17, 2024, for 7,500 miles. If I booked this flight through United's website, the same flight would cost me 25,000 miles.

Though you can book Turkish Airlines partner award tickets online, the website doesn't always show all available flights. Therefore, I recommend using another Star Alliance search tool to find award space first. Call the airline to book your desired ticket if you don't see it on the Turkish Airlines website.

For travelers who don't mind spending a few more miles, one-way business-class (United's first-class) tickets from the U.S. to Hawaii, booked through Miles&Smiles, will cost 12,500 miles. However, it's important to note that finding business-class redemptions to Hawaii is very hard.

Earning Turkish Airlines miles

You can earn Turkish Airlines miles by spending on cards that earn Bilt Rewards points , Citi ThankYou Rewards points or Capital One miles . These three currencies transfer to Turkish Airlines at a 1:1 ratio.

According to TPG test transfers, Capital One miles and Bilt Rewards points transfer to Turkish almost instantly, while Citi points may take up to a day .

If you want to earn Capital One miles to transfer to Turkish, consider opening a Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card . The card earns 2 miles per dollar on all purchases, and you can earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.

Thankfully, Turkish Airlines lets you hold award seats for two days if you book more than seven days in advance. Call the airline before transferring points to ensure the agent can confirm that award seats are available. Then, ask the agent to put the award on hold and immediately transfer your Bilt, Capital One or Citi rewards. Once the miles are in your account, you can call Turkish Airlines to confirm your flights.

Related: Booking United first class to Hawaii with Turkish Miles&Smiles

Book flights to Hawaii with British Airways Executive Club

British Airways Avios provide excellent value for domestic award tickets on American Airlines and Alaska Airlines, and flights to Hawaii are no exception.

The Oneworld duo flies to Hawaii from a handful of their U.S. hubs, including Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) , LAX, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) , SFO and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) , among others.

You can also fly nonstop to Hawaii for just 13,000 Avios each way in economy from the West Coast, thanks to British Airways' distance-based award chart . However, you'll pay more for Midwest or East Coast flights. British Airways prices by segment, so connecting itineraries cost more, too.

For example, you can book a nonstop flight from Phoenix to Honolulu for 13,000 Avios one-way. At the same time, you'd pay 20,500 Avios round-trip if you connect via Los Angeles. Here's the price breakdown:

• Phoenix to Los Angeles: 7,500 Avios.
• Los Angeles to Honolulu: 13,000 Avios.

Earning British Airways Avios

There are plenty of ways to earn British Airways Avios . If you open the British Airways Visa Signature® Card, you can earn 85,000 Avios after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Points also transfer from American Express Membership Rewards , Bilt Rewards, Capital One, Chase Ultimate Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy . This gives you a variety of ways to boost your Avios balance.

Related: The ultimate guide to Amex Membership Rewards

Book flights to Hawaii with Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan

Alternatively, you can book the same carriers (Alaska and American) through Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan . Currently, Alaska's award chart is priced by region, but in March 2024, Alaska will adopt a distance-based award chart . As you can see in the chart below, here's how much flying one-way from the mainland to Hawaii will cost with Alaska miles.

Earning Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles

Though Alaska miles are among the most valuable airline miles and all flights are bookable on Alaska's website, they are among the hardest miles to earn. Alaska doesn't partner with any of the five major transferable points programs (Bilt Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards and Capital One miles). So, you may want to book with another loyalty program whose miles are easier to earn.

However, if you have a lot of Marriott Bonvoy points, you can transfer points at a 3:1 ratio, with Marriott offering a 5,000-mile bonus for 60,000-point transfers.

You may also consider opening an Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card where you can buy one Alaska Airlines ticket and get one for just the taxes and fees starting from $23 ($0 fare), plus 50,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 or more on purchases within the first 90 days of account opening.

Related: 6 things to know about Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan

Book flights to Hawaii with Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer

Though we touched on booking United Airlines flights with Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles, you can also book United tickets with KrisFlyer miles from partner Singapore Airlines. While the pricing isn't as good, especially after the KrisFlyer program was devalued , it's still worth noting.

Singapore Airlines also partners with Alaska Airlines; however, the program has a separate award chart for Alaska redemptions . Though these rates are lower than United rates, there is some bad news. You can't book connecting Alaska itineraries with KrisFlyer, just nonstops, so you're limited to departing from the airlines' West Coast hubs. Additionally, first-class Alaska tickets are expensive; therefore, they're better booked with other Alaska partners.

Here's how much one-way tickets to Hawaii cost using KrisFlyer miles:

Booking United Airlines flights with KrisFlyer

Continental U.S. to Hawaii (United Airlines):

• Economy: 19,500 miles.
• First class : 39,000 miles.

Booking Alaska Airlines flights with Krisflyer

West Coast to Hawaii (Alaska Airlines):

• Economy: 13,500 miles
• First class: 50,500 miles

Though you can book United awards on Singapore Airlines' website, you must call to book Alaska award tickets. To speed up the process, find Alaska award space on Alaska Airlines first, and call Singapore Airlines with your dates and flight numbers in hand.

Earning Singapore KrisFlyer miles

Singapore Airlines miles are some of the easiest miles to earn . KrisFlyer is a transfer partner of all five transferable points programs:

• American Express Membership Rewards
• Chase Ultimate Rewards
• Citi ThankYou Rewards
• Capital One miles
• Marriott Bonvoy

Related: A guide to earning transferable points

Book flights to Hawaii with American Airlines AAdvantage

You can redeem American Airlines miles for award flights to Hawaii on both American and Alaska. Economy prices are fair, but it's not the cheapest way to get to paradise — especially in business class.

The program has dynamic pricing for all American-operated awards, but you can expect to pay the following on most dates with award space:

• Economy: 22,500 miles.
• First class: 55,000 miles (62,500 miles if the flight has lie-flat seats).

However, you may be able to find cheaper flights on low-demand and off-peak dates.

Earning American Airlines miles

Like Alaska, American has limited transfer opportunities. Bilt Rewards points transfer to American at a 1:1 ratio. Marriott Bonvoy points also transfer to American at the standard 3:1 ratio.

You can also earn American Airlines AAdvantage miles directly when you open an American Airlines credit card .

One of the best is the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® (see rates and fees ). This card offers 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,500 in the first three months of account opening.

Book flights to Hawaii with United Airlines MileagePlus

Prices to Hawaii are largely the same on most dates if saver award space is available. United MileagePlus economy award tickets from the U.S. mainland to Hawaii usually cost around 25,000 miles one-way. For example, this nonstop flight from Newark (EWR) to HNL on April 9, 2024, costs 25,000 miles one-way. A first-class ticket will cost about 83,000 miles.

That said, you can sometimes find very low-cost award flights from the U.S. to Hawaii due to United's dynamic pricing structure. For example, this one-way flight from LAX to Honolulu is just 10,300 miles. United Airlines awards are easy to find thanks to its user-friendly website.

If you have a United cobranded credit card or United Airlines elite status, you'll have access to a more extensive inventory of award seats . Just go to United's website and search for a ticket to find the most up-to-date pricing.

Earning United Airlines miles

Several credit cards can help you earn United Airlines MileagePlus miles quickly:

• United Explorer Card : Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
• United Quest Card : Earn 60,000 bonus miles and 500 Premier qualifying points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
• United Club Infinite Card : Earn 80,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

You can also instantly transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to United at a ratio of 1:1. If you're just starting with points and miles, you may want to consider the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card , which offers 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

Book flights to Hawaii with Delta Air Lines SkyMiles

Since Delta doesn't publish an award chart, you have to search specific dates to see the price, which can change daily. That said, you can still find excellent deals on some dates.

For example, a one-way flight from Los Angeles to Honolulu will cost just 14,000 SkyMiles in basic economy. The price drops to just 11,800 SkyMiles one-way if you include the 15% discount included with most Delta cobranded credit cards .

Additionally, I looked up a flight from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) to HNL via Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) would cost me 29,600 SkyMiles in basic economy and 39,800 in Main Cabin when factoring in the credit card discount. First class, however, is a steep 136,00 SkyMiles one-way, and Delta One, which is offered on international and some domestic transcontinental flights, would cost me 510,000 miles.

Earning Delta SkyMiles

If you want to earn Skymiles quickly, you can open a Delta credit card and utilize its lucrative welcome bonus. The Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card earns 90,000 bonus miles after spending $6,000 in purchases in the first six months of card membership.

If you're looking for a general travel card that is not tied to one particular airline, consider opening The Platinum Card® from American Express , which offers 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on the card in your first six months of card membership. You can transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to Delta at a 1:1 ratio.

Related: Book this, not that: Hawaii resorts edition

Bottom line

It's no secret that flights are usually the biggest expense when it comes to booking travel. However, you don't have to spend a small fortune to visit the beautiful islands of Hawaii; instead, opt to redeem points and miles to fly to Honolulu from the U.S. mainland. In my experience, Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles is the cheapest option — however, it has limited earning opportunities, which makes it a tough redemption for many travelers.

For West Coast travelers, booking nonstop Alaska or American flights with British Airways Avios offers great value, too, but you'll pay more if you add a connection. Though it's not always the cheapest option, it's also worth checking prices with Delta SkyMiles and United MileagePlus to see if any cheap, dynamically priced tickets have become available.

Updated as of 7/17/2024.

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6 Airlines That Fly to Hawaii

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The Aloha State is a bucket list destination for many travelers, and if you live somewhere that has direct flights to Hawaii, the temptation can be even greater to get to the famous Pacific Ocean islands.

Even if your local airport doesn’t have a nonstop option, there are plenty of one-stop flights available to get you to a Hawaiian getaway — you’ll just have to know what airlines fly to Hawaii.

This guide will show you the way to paradise by outlining which airlines fly to Hawaii, from what airports and what to expect inflight. When you’re sipping a mai tai on the shores of a Hawaiian island, you’ll thank us.

Major Hawaiian airports

Here are the Hawaiian airports that you can fly to from the U.S.:

Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport on Oahu.

Maui’s Kahului Airport.

Kauai’s Lihue Airport.

Kona International Airport on Hawaii's Big Island.

A shortlist of which airlines fly to Hawaii and from where

Airlines fly from these mainland cities, either year-round or seasonally.

Atlanta: Delta Air Lines.

Austin: Hawaiian Airlines.

Boston: Hawaiian.

Chicago–O’Hare: American Airlines and United Airlines.

Dallas-Fort Worth: American.

Denver: United.

Detroit: Delta.

Houston-Intercontinental: United.

Las Vegas: Hawaiian and Southwest Airlines.

Long Beach, California: Hawaiian and Southwest.

Los Angeles: American, Alaska Airlines, Delta, Hawaiian, Southwest and United.

Minneapolis-St. Paul: Delta.

Newark: United.

New York–John F. Kennedy: Delta and Hawaiian.

Oakland: Alaska, Hawaiian and Southwest.

Ontario, California: Hawaiian.

Phoenix: American, Hawaiian and Southwest.

Portland: Alaska and Hawaiian.

Sacramento: Hawaiian and Southwest.

Salt Lake City: Delta.

San Diego: Alaska, Hawaiian and Southwest.

San Jose, California: Alaska, Hawaiian and Southwest.

San Francisco: Alaska, Hawaiian and United.

Seattle: Alaska, Delta and Hawaiian.

Washington-Dulles: United.

» Learn more: The best airline credit cards right now

What airlines go to Hawaii?

1. hawaiian airlines.

The islands’ home carrier is Hawaiian Airlines. It brings the spirit of Aloha to travelers during the flight before they arrive and after they leave. The airline treats all passengers to a hot meal with island-inspired flavors, complimentary drinks from the bar (including island-roasted coffee, craft beer, wine and mai tais with the meal) and onboard entertainment that is free to access.

On its wide-body planes, the airline offers flat-bed seats in business class. Hawaiian flies to many island destinations from the mainland, including Honolulu, Kahului (Maui), Kona (Big Island) and Lihue (Kauai). Once in Hawaii, it has a dense interisland network as well with more than 170 flights per day, making it the largest airline flying intrastate. It operates the most nonstop routes to the mainland from Hawaii out of all U.S. domestic carriers.

If you’re looking to earn bonus points for your flight or enough points to redeem for a future vacation, consider the Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® . You’ll earn 3x miles on Hawaiian flights; 2x miles on gas, dining and groceries; plus benefits like two free checked bags and even a half-off companion fare discount.

» Learn more: What the Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles program gets right

2. Alaska Airlines

The airline’s name may not give away its tropical route map, but it certainly has quite a few flights between the mainland and Hawaii.

Today, the carrier flies to the major airports on Oahu, Maui, the Island of Hawaii and Kauai from many Western U.S. cities, including:

Anchorage, Alaska.

Los Angeles.

Portland, Oregon.

San Francisco.

San Jose, California.

On board, the airline offers passengers the chance to stream more than 500 free movies and TV shows to their personal devices while keeping them charged up at the seat. Economy class passengers can purchase meals and snacks on the flight.

If you have the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card , you’re eligible for free checked bags for you and up to six companions. The card also comes with a discounted companion fare that you can use to get to Hawaii.

» Learn more: A guide to Alaska flights to Hawaii

3. American Airlines

American flies from several mainland cities to Hawaii, but it stands out from the pack in one important way: Its business class passengers flying from Chicago-O’Hare and Dallas-Fort Worth on nonstop flights to Hawaii can use the Flagship Lounge as part of their itinerary.

If you’re seated in the main cabin, don’t despair. If you have the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® , it comes with Admirals Club access when traveling on a same-day American flight.

In the air, all passengers on flights from Chicago and Dallas to Hawaii receive a complimentary meal and open-bar service. This applies to the carrier’s “Flagship” Hawaii routes from those destinations; other flights, like those from Phoenix or Los Angeles, do not offer the same amenities.

» Learn more: The guide to American Airlines flights to Hawaii

4. Delta Air Lines

Delta flies from Atlanta to Honolulu and Maui on long-haul aircraft with flat-bed seats in the Delta One cabin. It uses similar wide-body aircraft to Honolulu from New York-JFK, Detroit and Minneapolis-St. Paul, usually on a seasonal basis. It also serves the four major airports in Hawaii — Honolulu, Kahului, Kona and Lihue — from other major gateways like Los Angeles, Salt Lake City and Seattle.

In economy class, expect Delta’s solid inflight entertainment system, Delta Studio, as well as complimentary snacks and nonalcoholic drinks. On Delta’s longest flights from airports like New York-JFK, Atlanta, Detroit and Minneapolis-St. Paul, for example, complimentary meals are available in economy.

If you’re looking for more, Delta co-branded credit cards provide cardholders with a 20% discount on inflight purchases.

» Learn more: The guide to Delta flights to Hawaii

5. Southwest Airlines

Southwest brings its bags-fly-free philosophy across the Pacific Ocean, which makes it a real winner for heavy packers. Note that the airline does not offer assigned seats in advance, so travelers will want to pay for early boarding or check in early to be able to select the ideal seat on these longer sectors. Southwest does not offer food for sale either, but it does have plenty of snacks and nonalcoholic drinks available for free.

The airline flies several nonstop flights to Honolulu, Kahului, Kona and Lihue from numerous mainland airports in the West Coast region. It also operates several interisland flights between Hawaiian cities providing onward connections. Look for Southwest flights to the islands from airports like:

Long Beach, California.

Sacramento.

San Diego. 

If you fly to Hawaii often, Southwest’s famous Companion Pass could provide some major value.

» Learn more: The guide to Southwest Airlines Hawaii flights

6. United Airlines

United is no stranger to Hawaii. At press time, it offered the most nonstop flights from the mainland to Hawaii compared to other carriers. Travelers can fly from numerous United hub cities — like Chicago-O’Hare, Los Angeles, Newark and San Francisco — to the Hawaiian Islands. The carrier serves the four main airports of Honolulu, Kahului, Kona and Lihue. 

United deserves praise for the inflight service on its longest flights from the mainland like complimentary meals in all cabins. If you want to buy alcoholic drinks, using a United co-branded credit card can provide a 25% savings on inflight purchases.

» Learn more: A guide to United flights to Hawaii

Flights to Hawaii, recapped

If you’re planning a vacation in the Hawaiian Islands, there are plenty of options for direct flights to Hawaii. No matter which coast you live on, or anywhere in between, there are lots of airlines flying to Hawaii.

If you want to get the Aloha spirit going before you leave the mainland, look to Hawaiian Airlines for the most authentic island experience.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024 :

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

1.5%-5% Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

Up to $300 Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

on Capital One's website

2x-5x Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options

75,000 Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

Hawaiian Airlines vs United (the ultimate comparison)

My ultimate goal with this Hawaiian Airlines vs United comparison to help you decide which one would be best for your next visit to Hawaii. Or, maybe you’re just looking to escape the Islands. I don’t know. Anyway, making a choice isn’t easy, since both of these airlines do a multitude of things better than the other.

When you step onboard any Hawaiian Airlines aircraft (no matter where in the world you may be), the cabin crew will greet you with an Aloha spirit that’ll make you feel like you’ve been instantly transported to Hawaii. You don’t get that same sort of vibe on United Airlines. Flights to Hawaii on United feel exactly the same as flights to Newark.

On the other hand, United has a better lie-flat business class seat than Hawaiian Airlines does. For some, that’s all that matters. 

1. Hawaiian Airlines vs United: a brief summary of all the similarities and differences

It’s amazing to me how two completely different airlines can be so competitive on routes to and from Hawaii. The company cultures of both Hawaiian Airlines and United Airlines are completely opposite of one another (unlike the similarities you read in my Alaska Airlines vs Hawaiian Airlines comparison ), but neither has a problem attracting and keeping loyal flyers.

Similarities

• Hawaiian Airlines and United Airlines are the two largest airlines serving the Honolulu Daniel K. Inouye Airport (HNL).
• The lie-flat business / first class seats that both Hawaiian and United offer on some flights to the islands are some of the best in North America. The standard recliner-style first class seats they both offer on some flights are equally mediocre.
• The basic economy class experience on both airlines is about equal. It’s not good, but at least it’s equal.

Differences

• Hawaiian Airlines is currently flying 3 aircraft types to and from Hawaii (the 787-9, A330 and A321neo). United utilizes a larger number of aircraft types (including but not limited to the 737, 757, 767, 777, and 787).
• Hawaiian Airlines has a vast network of inter-island flights, but United does not.
• The fleet size of United Airlines is well over 10 times the size of the Hawaiian Airlines fleet (854 vs 61).
• United Airlines also serves 10 times the number of destinations of Hawaiian Airlines (342 vs 32).
• Hawaiian Airlines serves free meals in economy class. United does not.
• United Airlines is part of a global partnership of airlines from all over the world ( Star Alliance ). Hawaiian Airlines does not have any global partners.

2. Seat comparison

For the most part, United Airlines has more comfortable (and feature rich seats) than Hawaiian Airlines does. If the seats are the only thing that matter to you on flights to and from Hawaii, United Airlines should be your choice.

Hawaiian Airlines seats

Even though I don’t think that Hawaiian Airlines seats are very competitive with United Airlines seats, I do have to give them credit for greatly improving their product offerings over the years. Hawaiian Airlines seats are getting better – in all classes of service.

First class

There are currently 3 different types of first class seats available on Hawaiian Airlines. Well, technically there are 4, but I’m not counting inter-island flights since United doesn’t compete with them on those routes:

• A321neo first class
• A330-200 first class
• 787-9 first class

First class seats on the A321neo are standard recliner-style seats that are very similar to what you’ll find in Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 first class .

First class seats on the A330 are spacious and comfortable – but not so private. These are fully lie-flat seats, although they don’t feature video screens. Which is weird.

Extra Comfort

Although Hawaiian Airlines doesn’t officially have a premium economy product, they do offer something called “Extra Comfort” seats. These are standard economy class seats with a few extra inches of legroom.

Economy class

Economy class seats on Hawaiian Airlines are about the same as the economy seats on United Airlines. When comparing the economy seats of both of these airlines, there is no clear winner (in my opinion).

United Airlines seats

The thing about United Airlines seats to Hawaii is that there are a wide variety of choices. United isn’t as consistent as Hawaiian Airlines is when it comes to the kinds of seat types being offered across their entire fleet of aircraft, so you have to be really careful about which type of aircraft that you’re booking.

In the most simplest explanation possible, United Airlines is offering 4 types of first class seats on flights to and from Hawaii:

• Narrowbody domestic first class recliner seats (737, A321neo, 757-200 and -300)
• 757-200 lie flat seats
• 777-200 lie flat seats
• Polaris seats (767, 777-300, 787)

United Airlines also flies the 757 to and from Hawaii, which features either a lie flat business class seat or a standard recliner seat. They’ll tell you which one it is when you’re booking the flights, so do pay attention to that.

The best United seats are found in Polaris Business class seats (on widebody aircraft such as the 777, 787, and 767). These are very private seats, and they are glorious . 

For what it’s worth, Hawaiian Airlines first class seats are better than United Airlines non-Polaris first class seats.

Economy Plus

Similar to the Hawaiian Airlines Extra Comfort seat, Economy Plus is essentially a standard economy class seat with a few extra inches of legroom. 

Economy class seats on United Airlines are nothing special, and they certainly aren’t any better than what you will find on Hawaiian airlines. It’s basically all the same.

3. Food comparison

Spoiler alert: Hawaiian Airlines wins the food comparison. Except when it comes to economy class, which I’ll explain in more detail below.

Hawaiian Airlines food

The nice thing about flying Hawaiian Airlines to and from Hawaii is that you’ll be served Hawaiian-themed food. It’s just one of the extra little touches that Hawaiian Airlines has over United Airlines that may make your decision easier.

First class food on Hawaiian Airlines is better than the first class food in United Airlines (again, that’s just my opinion). It’s not a drastic difference, but I’ve always felt that the Hawaiian Airlines cabin crews take more pride with the meal service. It just feels like a more luxurious experience.

In terms of quality, I would say the food is slightly better than what United Airlines serves in first class.

Food in the Hawaiian Airlines Extra Comfort cabin usually consists of a hot sandwich and some kind of a snack. This isn’t very high-quality food. As a matter of fact, you may want to bring your own food if you easily get squeamish.

Economy class food on Hawaiian Airlines is exactly the same as what you’ll get in the Extra Comfort cabin. It’s not all that great, but at least it’s free.

United Airlines food

One of the things that has always disappointed me about United Airlines flights to Hawaii is that they don’t get very creative with the menu. They usually end up serving the exact same meals they serve in domestic first class back on the mainland.

I would much rather eat Hawaiian Airlines first class food then United Airlines first class food. Not that the food served on United is all that bad, but it’s extremely repetitive and it tastes like something that would come out of a school cafeteria. I really wish they would take more creative freedom with the food on flights to and from Hawaii.

In Economy Plus, your food options will be a snack consisting of one free drink and a bag of chips (or a cookie). You’re also have the option to purchase something off the in-flight menu. United Airlines does not serve free hot food items to economy class passengers like Hawaiian Airlines does.

The food options in economy class on United Airlines flights to and from Hawaii are exactly the same as they are in Economy Plus. If you want something more substantial than a snack, you’re going to have to purchase something off the menu.

4. In-flight entertainment comparison

I proclaim Hawaiian Airlines the winner in the in-flight entertainment comparison. Just barely . Both airlines have rather significant disadvantages over the other when it comes to video content, so it’s important to know what those differences are before booking your flight.

Hawaiian Airlines in-flight entertainment

Hawaiian Airlines in-flight entertainment is… odd . It exists, but the experience will depend on not only the aircraft that you’re flying, but also the class of service.

• There are no video screens at any seat on the on the A330 and A321neo. They hand out large 11.5″ iPads with noise canceling headphones in first class only.
• Video screens are built into all seats on the 787-9 (first class and economy)

In terms of the selection of TV shows, movies, and audio entertainment, it’s all really good. There’s always a substantial collection of recent movies to choose from, and I’ve never not been able to find something good to watch on any Hawaiian Airlines flight.

Wi-Fi is available for purchase, though it can be quite expensive.

United Airlines in-flight entertainment

Just as how it is on Hawaiian Airlines, not every United passenger will get a personal video screen at their seat. At least not yet. United Airlines is currently in the process of upgrading their interiors (which will feature video screens at every seat), but it’s going to take a while.

First class seats on widebody aircraft such as the 777, 787, 767 feature video screens. Most other aircraft will not, but there are a few aircraft in the fleet of that do. It’s maddening.

The good news is that United offers a fast and stable streaming entertainment solution on all aircraft to and from Hawaii which can be accessed via your personal device. It’s completely free, and the selection of entertainment is excellent.

Wi-Fi is available add an extra cost. However, just as it is a Hawaiian Airlines, it can be exorbitantly expensive.

5. Route network comparison

Even though the route networks of both Hawaiian Airlines and United Airlines are vastly different, they both have one thing in common: A very large presence in the Hawaiian Islands. While United Airlines doesn’t officially consider Honolulu to be a hub, they are one of the largest airlines that serve that airport in terms of total passenger volume.

Hawaiian Airlines route network

As their name implies, Hawaiian Airlines is based in Hawaii (more specifically, Honolulu). The majority of their flights are to and from the mainland, though they do serve a number of international destinations around Asia and the South Pacific.

Unlike United, Hawaiian Airlines has a vast network of inter-island flights. They are basically the airline you want to fly if you live in Hawaii or if you travel to and from Hawaii on a frequent basis.

It should also be noted that Hawaiian Airlines makes it easy for passengers on the mainland to connect through Honolulu to destinations in the South Pacific and Asia. A stopover in Honolulu on the way to Australia or Asia is definitely a fun (and competitive) advantage that Hawaiian Airlines has over United.

United Airlines route network

The only thing that United Airlines has in common with Hawaiian Airlines when it comes to route networks is the number of flights they have to and from the islands on any given day.

Other than that, these two airlines couldn’t be any more different. United Arlines is a global carrier serving destinations all over the globe. They also fly to Hawaii. Hawaiian Airlines is pretty much the opposite (a Hawaii-based carrier who happens to have a small number of international destinations).

United Airlines does not fly any inter island routes.

6. Why would you choose Hawaiian Airlines over United Airlines (or vice versa)?

In my opinion, Hawaiian Airlines is the choice for people who like the feeling of being in Hawaii as soon as they step foot on the plane. The service you’ll get onboard is Hawaiian-themed (right down to the uniforms of the cabin crew), and it’s a great way to get your vacation started a few hours early. If that’s not enough to help you make a choice, consider this:

Choose Hawaiian Airlines if:

• You want to be served free meals in economy.
• You want better food in first class.
• You want Hawaiian-themed service in all classes of service.
• You want a better ground experience at the Honolulu Airport (a better / newer terminal than what United uses, plus lounge access for premium passengers).
• You want an airline that can not only take you to and from the islands, but can fly you around within the islands as well.

Choose United Airlines if:

• You want to fly an airline that is part of a large global alliance (so that you can earn and redeem points on airlines all over the world).
• You would feel more comfortable flying a much larger airline (which is beneficial when cancellations and delays occur, because you’ll have more options for alternate flights).
• You like the option of choosing a variety of different aircraft types to and from the islands. United has a much more diverse fleet of aircraft than Hawaiian Airlines does.

Other stuff you might like:

WestJet vs Air Canada: which one is better, eh?

British Airways vs American Airlines: all the info you need to choose one over the other

Alaska Airlines vs Delta: the similarities and differences that matter most

Comments (5).

Nice comparison! So, in an ideal world, you’d fly to Hawaii in Polaris business class, on a variety of types each time, with Hawaiian’s service, food, and IFE. Not a bad way to travel!

Scott (SANspotter)

That’s exactly it! However, I am very much looking forward to seeing what the all new business class seat is going to be like on the Hawaiian Airlines 787‘s. Hopefully it’ll give United some stiff competition…

Yep, Hawaiian’s 787’s look pretty good! (Both inside and outside). I guess that whenever it gets introduced, it will be the ideal way to travel to Hawaii.

Correct me if I’m mistaken, but I don’t think the Hawaiian A321s have seat-back video screens in extra comfort or main cabin — you have to stream to your personal device instead. The seats even have those built-in device holders. https://www.hawaiianairlines.com/our-services/in-flight-services/in-flight-entertainment — Anyway, for that reason, I try to book a seat on an A330 if I possibly can.

Wow, you’re right! I thought for sure that there were video screens in economy and Extra Comfort on the A321. Bummer that they decided against it. Oh well. I’ll update the article. Thanks!

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USA TODAY 10Best

These stunning art museum restaurants are masterpieces in themselves

September 25, 2024 // By Allison Tibaldi

By Allison Tibaldi September 25, 2024

Not long ago, eating at a museum was reminiscent of eating at a school cafeteria, complete with soggy fries and mediocre sandwiches. Kiss those days goodbye. Art museums are upping their game, offering exciting culinary options along with eye-catching visuals.

Meet five museum restaurants that will satisfy your artistic soul along with your appetite.

The Modern, Museum of Modern Art, New York, New York

At The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), you'll find The Modern , a two Michelin-starred restaurant that helped push the concept of museum fine dining to the forefront when influential restauranteur Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group opened it in 2005.

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Seasonality and just-picked produce from nearby farms are unifying threads woven through three distinct culinary experiences: a prix fixe menu served with a view of the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden; à la carte menu in the lively Bar Room; and an experiential tasting menu at the intimate Kitchen Table, which offers a front-row seat to the kitchen action.

Menus shift according to the market’s bounty; look for flavor-packed baby vegetables in summer and earthy mushrooms in cooler months. A comprehensive global wine list should please serious oenophiles.

About the museum : MoMA presents an overview of contemporary and modern art, from Vincent Van Gogh’s "The Starry Night" to Andy Warhol's "Campbell's Soup Cans." Blockbuster temporary exhibits rotate frequently, keeping things fresh.

Lulu, Hammer Museum, Los Angeles, California

Casually elegant Lulu is everything you’d expect from a restaurant spearheaded by the iconic Alice Waters of Chez Panisse fame. She and chef David Tanis celebrate food that's positive for the planet, with produce from farms that practice regenerative, organic agriculture dictating daily menu options. While menus constantly change, the restaurant is named after a Provençal cook, Lulu Peyraud. Traditional Provençal ingredients, such as olives and capers, are often featured. No matter what you order, the presentation is always a work of art in itself.

The restaurant’s commitment to sustainability takes broad strokes, from using locally made wood and clay plates to decorating with native Southern California plants. The wine list features bottles from winemakers that observe natural practices and processes.

About the museum : The Hammer Museum champions artists who seek to ignite change, with a special focus on Los Angeles artists. The collection also offers an impressive overview of major movements of 19th-century French art, such as pointillism, the Barbizon school, and impressionism, with works by world-class artists like Camille Pissarro, Edgar Degas, and Claude Monet.

Le Jardinier, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Texas

The aesthetics at Le Jardinier are pure eye candy, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering views of the Isamu Noguchi-designed sculpture garden, a vibrant arboreal tapestry, and a whimsical ceiling installation of Noguchi’s Akari lanterns.

The museum restaurant's elevated culinary experience is crafted by Michelin-starred chef Alain Verzeroli, who designed a menu rooted in the refined elegance of French culinary technique. Look for classics such as silky caviar, flaky Dover sole, and pillow-light Parisian gnocchi. Seasonal fruits, vegetables, and herbs enhance the meat and seafood they accompany. The pastry chef spins edible magic, so start your diet tomorrow.

About the museum : The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston enjoys a massive collection encompassing nearly 70,000 works from six continents, including world-class impressionist and Renaissance paintings. Dynamic works by early 20th-century masters and post-World War II artists from Latin America are noteworthy.

Courtyard Café, Heard Museum, Phoenix, Arizona

Reflecting the museum’s theme, the informal Courtyard Café serves Southwest-inspired dishes that highlight ingredients traditionally found in Native American kitchens. Start with a cup of chilled Three Sisters Soup, packed with flavor from squash, beans, and roasted corn — three key agricultural crops of indigenous peoples of North America. For a hearty main dish, the tepary bean hummus and frybread dish is packed with plump tepary beans, an indigenous diet staple for centuries.

About the museum : The Heard Museum ’s collection concentrates on the Native peoples of the Southwest. Artifacts and handiwork, from baskets to ornamental beadwork to dolls, join an array of fine art by contemporary Native American artists.

Bishop Museum Cafe by Highway Inn, Bishop Museum, Honolulu, Hawaii

The Bishop Museum Cafe by Highway Inn is a true reflection of local restaurant royalty. Established in 1947 and helmed by the third generation of the Toguchi family, the Highway Inn began, well, on the side of the Farrington Highway in Waipahu. It since has expanded to three locations, including a branch at the Bishop Museum.

The museum restaurant offers a menu that showcases local favorites, like kalua pig and Spam. For hometown flavor, order a plate lunch, a midday favorite consisting of rice, macaroni salad, and a serving of meat, poultry, or fish. If you have room for dessert, the sweet potato-haupia is a three-layer take on sweet potato pie that tastes like a preview of heaven.

About the museum : Immerse yourself in the culture of the Hawaiian Islands when you visit the Bishop Museum . The Hawaiian Hall is home to a stellar collection of indigenous artifacts and royal heirlooms, providing a window into how Hawaiian aristocracy once lived. Be sure to check out special events, such as ukulele jam sessions, that celebrate island culture and heritage.

About Allison Tibaldi

Allison Tibaldi is a travel and food writer based in New York City. She has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne Australia, Toronto and Los Angeles. She studied early childhood development in graduate school and firmly believes that travel is the best education. She writes for numerous publications including CNN, Travel Channel, HGTV, am New York, Emirates Open Skies, Family Traveller and Travel Weekly.

Read more about Allison Tibaldi here.

Connect with Allison via: Website | Instagram | Twitter

Southwest Airlines' 'HI 5' promo gives you a companion pass after your next Hawaii trip

• Southwest Airlines is running a promotion to celebrate five years of serving five airports in Hawaii.
• A companion pass allows the holder to designate another traveler to fly with them for free on all Southwest flights they purchase during the validity period of the pass.

With Southwest Airlines ' latest promotion, you can go to Hawaii and get future flights for yourself and a plus-one for free.

Travelers who register for the promotion and book a round-trip ticket or two one-way tickets to Hawaii by Friday, with travel happening between June 1 and July 31, will qualify for a companion pass to use between Oct. 5 and Nov. 15. To qualify, travelers must be enrolled in the Rapid Rewards frequent flyer program.

Southwest is running the promo to recognize five years of serving five airports in Hawaii.

Looking for a Southwest Airlines fare? Now you can check Google Flights.

"This is a great opportunity to HI 5 our Customers for supporting five years of Southwest service in five airports across Hawaii by showcasing and sharing one of the great perks of being part of our Rapid Rewards program," Jonathan Clarkson, Vice President of Marketing at Southwest Airlines said in a statement . "Hawaii on Southwest is available nonstop from eight mainland gateways, and we're excited for this opportunity to truly connect our Customers for travel between the mainland and the Hawaiian islands."

A companion pass allows the holder to designate another traveler to fly with them for free on all Southwest flights they purchase during the validity period of the pass. It’s a coveted perk of elite Rapid Rewards status and there are worse ways to earn one than a vacation to the tropics. 

Zach Wichter is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in New York. You can reach him at [email protected].

The Key Points at the top of this article were created with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and reviewed by a journalist before publication. No other parts of the article were generated using AI. Learn more .

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