Southwest Ends Open Seating for Hawaii Flights

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Southwest Airlines has made a series of changes to its Hawaii service, including ending open seating, adding new fees for bags and seat selection, and devaluing its Rapid Rewards loyalty program. These changes have left many longtime Hawaii travelers feeling that the airline they once relied on for predictable and flexible travel to the islands is no longer the same.

Why it matters

Southwest has long been a popular choice for Hawaii travelers due to its inclusive policies like free checked bags and open seating. The new changes go against the airline's previous value proposition and disrupt the travel experience for those who have come to depend on Southwest's Hawaii offerings.

The details

Southwest has framed the changes as part of a broader "transformation," but for Hawaii travelers, the shifts have been abrupt. Interisland flight frequencies have been reduced by up to 30%, some mainland-to-Hawaii routes have been cut, and the airline's loyalty program now requires more points for Hawaii redemptions while also charging for checked bags and seat selection.

• On January 26, 2026, Southwest operated its last open-seating Hawaii red-eye flight from Honolulu to Los Angeles.
• In early 2026, Southwest began offering its first assigned-seat Hawaii flights, departing Kauai for Honolulu.

What’s next

Southwest is positioning itself to compete more aggressively in Southern California with new nonstop flights from Ontario and Burbank to Honolulu, which could attract new Hawaii travelers but may not satisfy longtime Southwest loyalists in the islands.