Hawaiian or Alaskan Airlines for trip to Kona?
May 8, 2017, 12:13 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2013
Location: SJC
Programs: AA PLT / National EC
Posts: 44
Hawaiian or Alaskan Airlines for trip to Kona?
I am planning a trip in July to Kona, HI. I would be flying SJC-KOA. It looks like the two main airlines doing this route are Hawaiian and Alaskan. I am hoping to earn AA miles on this flight (but if not, it's not the end of the world).
In terms of customer service and experience, I would appreciate some advice on whether I should be leaning toward Hawaiian or Alaskan Airlines. Thoughts?
In terms of customer service and experience, I would appreciate some advice on whether I should be leaning toward Hawaiian or Alaskan Airlines. Thoughts?
May 8, 2017, 1:46 pm
#4
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Southern California
Programs: AA Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 309
Having flown to Hawaii often on both airlines, I have zero doubt that Alaska Airlines should be the first choice. I have never been lied to intentionally by Alaska Airlines, I have had my basic intelligence insulted more than once by Hawaiian Airlines staff. Alaska Airlines aircraft personnel are routinely considerate, Hawaiian Airlines onboard staff often seem to consider passengers as an inconvenience to be tolerated at best.
May 11, 2017, 5:06 pm
#5
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Some where in the Mountains
Posts: 5,345
That Aloha spirit seems to have disappeared from HA. But I do like their A330's more so than a 737. The HA premium coach product could use a bit of a tweak. But it's IMO still better than AS's premium coach by just a hair.
May 15, 2017, 2:50 pm
#6
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: SMF
Posts: 1,251
Take Hawaiian if it's on their A330, Alaska otherwise. Was on their 767 flying from SMF-HNL last year. 6 hours with no in-flight entertainment, wifi, or charging stations. I'll be excited when they replace those planes with the A321.
May 19, 2017, 4:18 pm
#7
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 578
I'd go with Alaska. Hawaiian has been such a miss for me for the past few flights. As another poster said, it seems like the Aloha spirit is gone. Alaska has great on board service and their FF program is miles ahead of HA.
Edit: To go into more detail, AS has many more redemption parters and options. Furthermore, they treat their elites well. HA has been incredibly difficult for me to redeem anything at an acceptable value. Furthermore, HA treats elites only slightly better than regular fliers. Some of the agents just have such a hostile attitude, worse than any I've ever experienced even on United.
Again, this is just my experience in the past few years. Previously it was much better.
Edit: To go into more detail, AS has many more redemption parters and options. Furthermore, they treat their elites well. HA has been incredibly difficult for me to redeem anything at an acceptable value. Furthermore, HA treats elites only slightly better than regular fliers. Some of the agents just have such a hostile attitude, worse than any I've ever experienced even on United.
Again, this is just my experience in the past few years. Previously it was much better.
