United Airlines is increasing service to Hawaii and making lie-flat seating standard on routes from five domestic hubs.
United will offer lie-flat beds on all Hawaiian flights to/from the following U.S. hubs:
- Newark
- Washington Dulles
- Chicago
- Houston
- Denver
While most of these flights already offer lie-flat seating, Chicago and Denver have never been marketed as exclusive lie-flat routes. UA will also introduce its Saks Fifth Avenue bedding on these routings. No word on whether meal service will be enhanced or whether economy class passengers will receive complimentary meals (even DEN-HNL is a 7hr flight).
United Expansion of Hawaiian Service
United will also increase service to Hawaii from four hubs, as noted in the chart below. Most prominently, Denver will become a major Hawaiian market, with Kona (KOA), Lihue (LIH) and Maui (OGG) shifting from seasonal to year-around daily service.
Denver
|
DEN to |
Current |
New Schedule |
Starts |
|
Honolulu (HNL) |
Daily, year round |
Daily, year-round |
Now flying |
|
Kona (KOA) |
Seasonal only |
Increase to daily, year-round |
Dec. 20 |
|
Lihue (LIH) |
Seasonal only |
Increase to daily, year-round |
Dec. 20 |
|
Maui (OGG) |
Seasonal only |
Increase to daily, year-round |
Dec. 20 |
Chicago
|
ORD to |
Current |
New Schedule |
Starts |
|
Honolulu (HNL) |
Daily, year round |
Daily, year-round |
Now flying |
|
Maui (OGG) |
Saturdays only |
Daily, year-round (except Tu/We) |
Dec. 20 |
Los Angeles
|
LAX to |
Current Schedule |
New Schedule |
Starts |
|
Honolulu (HNL) |
5 flights daily |
5 flights daily |
Now flying |
|
Hilo (ITO) |
5 flights weekly |
Increase to daily |
Dec. 20 |
|
Kona (KOA) |
Daily |
Increase to 2 flights daily |
Dec. 20 |
|
Lihue (LIH) |
Daily |
Increase to 2 flights daily |
Dec. 20 |
|
Maui (OGG) |
2 flights daily |
Increase to 3 flights daily |
Dec. 20 |
San Francisco
|
SFO to |
Current |
New |
Starts |
|
Honolulu (HNL) |
5 flights daily |
5 flights daily |
Now flying |
|
Kona (KOA) |
2 flights daily |
Increase to 3 flights daily |
Dec. 20 |
|
Lihue (LIH) |
1 flight daily |
Increase to 2 flights daily, year-round |
Dec. 20 |
|
Maui (OGG) |
3 flights daily |
Increase to 5 flights daily |
Dec. 20 |
United: Let’s Scare Alaska, American Hawaiian Airlines and Southwest?
Hawaii is traditionally a lower yield route, so what gives here? Why the big increase in service?
Last month, Southwest said Hawaii flights are a “priority”. Hawaiian Airlines will take delivery of new A321neo aircraft later this year. American will start service between Dallas and Lihue and the combined Virgin/Alaska will create a huge unified presence in Hawaii.
In other words, More competition is coming. While I would not call this “flooding” the market, I think United is making an effort to deter others from more aggressive Mainland expansion plans.
CONCLUSION
United and Hawaii are inextricably linked for me. When my preferred carrier adds flights to any city, I view it as good news (assuming other more important cities won’t see subtractions in service). The longterm issue will be whether United can sustain this service and what deterrent effect it will have on competing carriers.
There’s a 3rd factor not mentioned – the AS+VX merger. Combined, they offer a very diverse set of west coast to Hawaii flights, from both primary and secondary California airports. Hawaii was traditionally one of the major strongholds of UA so it makes sense they’re actively defending it.
The rapid expansion at DEN and ORD to Hawaii are effective counters against AA’s DFW-Hawaii push, esp in light of their new DFW-LIH annoucement.
You are correct. I’ve now noted both of those points.
I recently received a status upgrade on my upcoming LAX to HNL flight! Thought the days of those upgrades were over. Gosh, I wish the livery was as good as they are using from Newark and Chicago. No bed for me!
You apparently don’t know the meaning of the word “ruse”. If United said that they were going to use flat bed seats but then didn’t, that would be a ruse. Actually using flat bed seats after saying they would, not a ruse. Get it?
You’re wrong. Your narrow definition of ruse does not encompass its full meaning. Broadly, ruse means a strategy or ploy that need not necessarily be nefarious.
Can we start booking these flights now?
They should be loaded into the schedule shortly.
Flying DEN to LIH in Oct. Are they really offering SAKs Bedding? Current Blankets even on 787 business domestic are horrible. Should i bring my own?
You should bring your own. Saks only for intercontinental and premium transcon flights.