Island Air - AVOID at all COSTS!
May 17, 2015, 1:05 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: ASE
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Island Air - AVOID at all COSTS!
I booked, and recently flew, Island Air flights both directions from Maui to HNL. The experience was not a pleasant one, especially when compared with Hawaiian.
First, in HNL, one must make the long trek to the "inter-island terminal." It is a long walk, and there is no pre-check once there.
The planes are old, quite noisy, and dirty. Seat pitch is a painful 30" and seats are very narrow.
Upon check-in in OGG on the return, I was informed that carry-on bags have a maximum weight of 16 pounds...really??? That's like, a laptop and a couple pairs of shoes. I was given the option of "shifting the weight around ( to what, I asked)" or being forced to pay $15.00 to check a bag. Thankfully I had enough time in HNL to collect the bag before connecting onto a UA flight to NRT.
Needless to say, when flying inter-island, I'm sticking with Hawaiian. It's no wonder that this airline has financial troubles. I hope it goes under.
First, in HNL, one must make the long trek to the "inter-island terminal." It is a long walk, and there is no pre-check once there.
The planes are old, quite noisy, and dirty. Seat pitch is a painful 30" and seats are very narrow.
Upon check-in in OGG on the return, I was informed that carry-on bags have a maximum weight of 16 pounds...really??? That's like, a laptop and a couple pairs of shoes. I was given the option of "shifting the weight around ( to what, I asked)" or being forced to pay $15.00 to check a bag. Thankfully I had enough time in HNL to collect the bag before connecting onto a UA flight to NRT.
Needless to say, when flying inter-island, I'm sticking with Hawaiian. It's no wonder that this airline has financial troubles. I hope it goes under.
Last edited by UAPremierGuy; May 18, 2015 at 4:45 pm Reason: Correct gramatical error
May 29, 2015, 10:03 pm
#4
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: GYD
Programs: Azerbaijan Airlines Gold, Turkish Miles and Smiles, IHG Plat
Posts: 663
For a flight of less than 30 minutes in the air, I'm sure the seat pitch is manageable and for small aircraft, cabin baggage weight/size is always limited. Try to worry about the more important things in life.
May 30, 2015, 2:24 pm
#5
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 436
UA sells codeshare flights from OGG to HNL on both Hawaiian and Island Air. Depending on itinerary and preferences, the Island Air flights are often first on the list and not always cheaper.
If you don't know or realize the difference between the two carriers , you can be in for disappointment.
If you don't know or realize the difference between the two carriers , you can be in for disappointment.
Jun 17, 2015, 9:16 am
#6
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Maui OGG Hoity-Toityville
Programs: AS MVP Gold, Marriott Rewards Silver,United Miles plus Hawaiian Air AirTran SWA
Posts: 579
Island Air - AVOID at all COSTS!
I do not think island air will ever go under as I believe it's now owned by Larry Ellison.
Most island air flights if not all are turbo prop planes vs ha Boeing 717s in HI (except ohana)
HA has changed inter island 717 seat configuration to about 30 inch pitch and NO recline to install more seats in each plane
So it's really a crap shoot on the interisland flights
Sigh
Most island air flights if not all are turbo prop planes vs ha Boeing 717s in HI (except ohana)
HA has changed inter island 717 seat configuration to about 30 inch pitch and NO recline to install more seats in each plane
So it's really a crap shoot on the interisland flights
Sigh
Jun 18, 2015, 3:10 am
#7
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Posts: 3,360
I can think of several companies that I wish would "go under". Lots of businesses do unethical things. A tiny minority of those businesses do horrendous things in the name of profit.
Dec 19, 2015, 11:30 pm
#8
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 3,665
Update - Island Air in decline
I had been on Island Air a long time ago and it was fine so I booked it for today. It was on time and service was fine. They told me my carry on weighed twenty pounds and I'd have to remove 5 pounds or pay $15 and check it. So the fare was lower than HA but they have this ridiculous carry-on policy that kills any savings. I noticed that those who did make the cut didn't actually carry onto the plane - they do a sky check outside the plane the way every other turboprop does. The check-in agent made up a story about weight distribution that made no sense. So it's a dishonest business practice to price gouge. I also noticed that they now only fly from HNL to OGG and then to Lanai because Ellison owns his business there I assume. Finally, the ATR 72 is weird - loads with a ramp without stairs from the aft section of the plane - so the last row is first off. Island Air had Dash-8s, which are more modern and have a better safety record. Mahalo Airlines had the ATRs and went bankrupt long ago. Island Air is heading that way too.
Dec 20, 2015, 5:51 pm
#9
Join Date: Sep 2005
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Dec 22, 2015, 11:51 am
#10
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 3,665
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Jan 3, 2016, 2:59 pm
#12
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
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Jan 7, 2016, 7:57 pm
#15
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,447
1) They need a route system. Maui and Lanai alone likely will not cut it.
2) The planes need to be on time
3) They need at least a 20%+ discount to HA to overcome flying on prop plane.
4) Need a better partnership/codeshare model than HA for connecting traffic - and they need a good way to get the connecting traffic to that awful commuter terminal.