WN to Hawaii - Impact on UA after increased capacity announcements
Oct 13, 2017, 11:02 pm
#61
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: ORD
Programs: Marriott Titanium Elite, UA Silver, AA Gold
Posts: 494
Oct 14, 2017, 12:26 am
#63
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: LAS HNL
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Posts: 4,479
Allegiant, bailed flying from the West Coast to HNL. Let's see what WN can do? Time will tell. The kettles will fly WN, because of two free bags and they are still considered a "low cost carrier". That is not true anymore. Compare airfares. WN is many times higher. Kettles do not know this. Good luck to HA (HAL) with this upcoming bloodbath.
Wait for the next news, WN will provide inter-island service. That will be a game changer. I could see this, if there is a profit to be made. HA must be shaking in their flip-flops. ALOHA!
Wait for the next news, WN will provide inter-island service. That will be a game changer. I could see this, if there is a profit to be made. HA must be shaking in their flip-flops. ALOHA!
Oct 14, 2017, 1:29 am
#64
Join Date: May 2006
Location: MYF/CMA/SAN/YYZ/YKF
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Posts: 5,837
I can't understand this either - not just for Hawaiian, but for any airline that can run an aircraft into ONT first thing in the morning, send it to HNL, bring it back in the afternoon, then send it on a redeye back to where it came from.
Not only that, but a small premium could be charged given the savings in time, gas, parking and other hassles anyone east of the 57 freeway would need to deal with going to LAX vs ONT. Flights from ONT pull from a massive catchment stretching from around mid-way between the 605 and 57, up through the High Desert, and down the 15 into Temecula - on the east, the catchment can stretch all the way to Palm Springs assuming you can do a nonstop from ONT to key destinations that would otherwise require 2+ stops from PSP. Last year one of the Chinese airlines was planning nonstop service from ONT, but so far I don't see any updates on that service starting, either.
I could never understand why ONT is so underutilized given the population and businesses that rival that of many large cities with a fully functional and busy airport, so let's hope this is airport #1 on WN's Hawaii list.
Not only that, but a small premium could be charged given the savings in time, gas, parking and other hassles anyone east of the 57 freeway would need to deal with going to LAX vs ONT. Flights from ONT pull from a massive catchment stretching from around mid-way between the 605 and 57, up through the High Desert, and down the 15 into Temecula - on the east, the catchment can stretch all the way to Palm Springs assuming you can do a nonstop from ONT to key destinations that would otherwise require 2+ stops from PSP. Last year one of the Chinese airlines was planning nonstop service from ONT, but so far I don't see any updates on that service starting, either.
I could never understand why ONT is so underutilized given the population and businesses that rival that of many large cities with a fully functional and busy airport, so let's hope this is airport #1 on WN's Hawaii list.
Oct 14, 2017, 10:17 am
#65
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 14,996
ONT suffers because 1) the financial base in the Inland Empire isn't strong, 2) LAX, SNA, LAS, PSP and SAN all pull from various parts of ONT's catchment and 3) Hawaiian flies aircraft that are just too big. They flew a mix of DC-10s and 767s when they were there before, which simply isn't sustainable.
Oct 14, 2017, 10:24 am
#66
Join Date: Mar 2012
Programs: Mileage Plus 1K; Marriott Platinum; Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,355
Since the schedule "enhancement" to the islands I've been downgauged more than I've been upgauged.
Oct 14, 2017, 10:29 am
#67
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: 6 year GS, now 2MM Jeff-ugee, *wood LTPlt, SkyPeso PLT
Posts: 6,526
I would expect WN, especially given its demographic base, to only serve OGG and HNL at first. I think that the service to secondary cities by Hawaiian will actually have a bigger impact on UA than what WN is doing.
Oct 14, 2017, 1:19 pm
#68
Join Date: Apr 2011
Programs: WN, AA, UA, DL
Posts: 1,313
Pitch is pitch. There's no gaming that figure. And slimlines only increase the actual space between seats. Plus as WN installs more seats with the literature pocket up high, it opens up the legroom even more.
Oct 14, 2017, 2:09 pm
#69
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: ORD
Programs: Marriott Titanium Elite, UA Silver, AA Gold
Posts: 494
Placeholders work both ways for United. This past April, I had booked 777 pods HNL-SFO on the afternoon eastbound flight. Paid a fare premium to go on this flight versus the red eye. About two months out, the 777 was replaced by a 739.
Since the schedule "enhancement" to the islands I've been downgauged more than I've been upgauged.
Since the schedule "enhancement" to the islands I've been downgauged more than I've been upgauged.
Oct 14, 2017, 4:22 pm
#70
Moderator: Budget Travel forum & Credit Card Programs, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYJ/YVR and back on Van Isle ....... for now
Programs: UA lifetime MM / *A Gold
Posts: 14,426
NO, while pitch is pitch, as I understand it when you downgrade to slimilnes it isn't to give more room between seats, but to keep the distance the same by moving mag holder high up on the seatback in order to get an extra row or two in.
Oct 14, 2017, 5:10 pm
#71
Join Date: Apr 2011
Programs: WN, AA, UA, DL
Posts: 1,313
Slimlines are simply a seat with a slimmer profile. The pocket may be down low, it may up top--it varies. The seat itself takes up less space, so that gives the passenger more space, if pitch is held constant (it usually isn't and instead offset with tighter pitch). Moving the literature holder up high helps a bit too for knee room, and WN offers this with their newest seat.
Oct 14, 2017, 8:20 pm
#72
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: AA Platinum
Posts: 55
The worst flight I have had to HNL was from SFO on a UA 737-900, in F. Bad weather prevented me from making my 777 with pod seating connection. I was in the last row in F with NO recline. I could not believe it! This was a paid first class ticket. As UA puts smaller planes on its Hawaii routes, its competitive advantage diminishes. I usually take the N/S IAD-HNL-IAD flights when possible, but they don't run daily year round. I have read the Honolulu Star-Advertiser article on WN entering the Hawaii market and eager anticipation is palpable.
Oct 14, 2017, 8:44 pm
#73
Moderator: Budget Travel forum & Credit Card Programs, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYJ/YVR and back on Van Isle ....... for now
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Posts: 14,426
Oct 14, 2017, 9:17 pm
#74
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Tx
Programs: AA, UA, WN
Posts: 812
Can't believe this thread has devolved into a pitch debate so here are some facts. WN 738s have 32" pitch vs UA Y 738/9 at 31". SQ does not fly 737s nor single aisle aircraft nor to hawaii. WN doesn't charge for bags or rebooking fees and less for onboard alcohol. UA offers products beyond Y and BoB options. What is odd that the red vs blue battle doesnt notice that while WN hasn't changed their product, UA has stripped away amenities to the point that UA comes with less amenities than WN. WN is not an LCC anymore but the value proposition is known to flyers.
Question...if you are non elite, who should i fly in Y to Hawaii? UA is way down the list compared to other carriers including no free meals like AA or DL. Sad that UA does not offer anything unique to a non-elite Y flyer that is not offered by OAs. But hey we got 3-4-3 so at least Y flyers have that
Question...if you are non elite, who should i fly in Y to Hawaii? UA is way down the list compared to other carriers including no free meals like AA or DL. Sad that UA does not offer anything unique to a non-elite Y flyer that is not offered by OAs. But hey we got 3-4-3 so at least Y flyers have that
Oct 14, 2017, 9:48 pm
#75
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Upcountry Maui, HI
Posts: 13,303
The interesting bit is if their companion pass will work on Hawaii flights. Everybody seems to be assuming so, but they haven't said that it will.
When did that ever stop anybody in this forum? You could say the same thing in almost every thread here. 
-David
-David
Last edited by LIH Prem; Oct 14, 2017 at 9:54 pm
