Alaska Airlines vs Hawaiian Airlines: A handy guide for choosing one over the other

Despite their completely different sounding names (and the fact that it’s technically one airline owned by the same parent company), the similarities in this Alaska Airlines vs Hawaiian Airlines comparison far outweigh the differences.

• Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines operate many of the same routes.
• Both airlines cover the West Coast of the United States more than many others.
• Just as odd as it may seem to go to Hawaii on Alaska Airlines, you can even go to Alaska on Hawaiian Airlines. Weird.

Choosing either of these two airlines for your next trip to Hawaii will come down to personal preference:

• If you want the full “Aloha” experience upon boarding the plane, choose Hawaiian Airlines.
• If all you’re looking for is one hell of a great fruit and cheese plate with great cabin crews, Alaska Airlines will be good enough.

For what it’s worth, given choice between the two, I’m choosing Hawaiian Airlines every time (even though it’s technically the same airline). Read on to find out why…

1. Alaska Airlines vs Hawaiian Airlines: a brief summary of all the similarities and differences

The weirdest part about this comparison is the fact that Alaska and Hawaiian are technically one airline broken up into two separate name brands. The guts of both airlines are exactly the same. But let’s do this anyway…

Similarities

• The route networks of both Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines are largely consolidated to the western half of the United States.
• Both airlines serve Hawaii (all islands) from a large number of West Coast US cities.
• Los Angeles (LAX) is the one airport that both airlines serve with more frequency than any other non-hub city.
• This is purely based on my own experience, but I find the cabin service on both airlines (in all classes) to be the best in the United States.
• Both airlines operate a variety of international routes. Hawaiian mostly serves Asia, while Alaska serves Europe. Mostly. But not exclusively.
• Because they are technically the same airline, they are both part of the Oneworld Alliance.

Differences

• Alaska Airlines operates only narrowbody aircraft (Boeing 737) between the US mainland and Hawaii. Hawaiian Airlines operates a mix of both narrowbody and widebody aircraft (Airbus A321neo and A330).
• Hawaiian Airlines offers a lie-flat first class seating option on flights between the US mainland and Hawaii. Alaska Airlines does not.

2. Seat comparison

Spoiler alert: if you’re looking for the most comfortable seat to or from Hawaii on either of these two airlines, Hawaiian Airlines is going to be your best bet.

Alaska Airlines seats

The best way to describe the seats in Alaska Airlines is to say that they’re pretty much like any other US airline. The main cabin seats are overwhelmingly average, and I wouldn’t say that they any better (or worse) than the main cabin seats on Hawaiian Airlines. But when it comes to first class, there’s a world of difference.

First class

First class seats on Alaska Airlines are nice looking, but it’s a fairly standard US domestic first class product. Interestingly enough, they are (nearly) the exact same seats that Hawaiian Airlines uses in the first class cabin on their A321neo.

Premium Class

Premium Class seats on Alaska Airlines are exactly the same as the economy seats but with a few extra inches of legroom. Alaska Airlines doesn’t officially refer to it as a true premium economy product.

Economy class

Economy class seats on Alaska Airlines are essentially the same as the economy class seats on Hawaiian Airlines. Yes, there are a handful of minor visual differences, but seat comfort and seat pitch is nearly identical on both airlines.

There’s no clear winner here unless you like having a personal video screen at every seat. Alaska Airlines does not offer this, but Hawaiian Airlines does on the A330.

Hawaiian Airlines seats

For the best possible seating experience in all cabins, choose a flight on the Airbus A330. These are the aircraft that Hawaiian Airlines uses for long haul international flights, and therefore, they feature seats with integrated video screens in economy class.

First class

Hawaiian Airlines is running two configurations of first class between Hawaii in the US mainland at the moment:

• A321neo first class
• A330-200 first class (lie flat)

Hawaiian Airlines A321neo first class is nearly identical to Alaska Airlines first class. They are (nearly) the exact same seats, but with different seat materials.

Extra Comfort

The Extra Comfort seats are exactly the same as the economy class seats, but with a few extra inches of legroom (just like the Alaskan Airlines Premium Class seat). 

Economy class

Economy class seating on all Hawaiian Airlines aircraft is nearly identical to as it is on Alaska Airlines. The only major difference is that (other than the A321neo) you’ll get a personal video screen.

3. Food comparison

Both airlines serve hot meals in first class, and decent snacks in economy. It’s first class where most of the differences are however. Hawaiian Airlines does a better job IMHO.

Alaska Airlines food

Alaska airlines has always served really good food. They completely revamped their first class menu a few years ago, and they offer a decent food for purchase option for everyone else. You’re not going to starve on Alaska Airlines.

First class

First class food on Alaska Airlines is pretty good. I’d go as far as to say that it’s even better than the food that you’ll get on Hawaiian Airlines. It looks presentable, the portions are decent, and it tastes fine.

Premium Class

Premium Class food on Alaska Airlines doesn’t even exist. It’s the exact same food that you’ll be served in economy class. Your only two options will be the complementary snacks that they serve, or to purchase something off the menu. I highly recommend the fruit and cheese plate from the menu. It’s fantastic.

Economy class

Just as it is in Premium Class, all you’re going to get in basic economy is a complementary snack and the option to purchase something off the menu.

Hawaiian Airlines food

Hawaiian Airlines food is about the same quality as Alaska Airlines food, but it’s arguably a bit more interesting. This is because the food they serve has a very Hawaiian theme to it. That doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s tastier, but it’s hard not to appreciate the effort.

First class

First class food on Hawaiian Airlines is just as decent as Alaska Airlines first class food. However, the menu features Hawaiian-themed options, which makes the experience a lot more fun.

Extra Comfort

Just as it is on Alaska Airlines, you won’t get any extra food in an Extra Comfort seat than you would would in basic economy. However, they do offer a food for purchase menu which is somewhat decent. And expensive. But Hawaiian!

Economy class

Basic economy food on Hawaiian Airlines consists of a complementary snack and a free hot meal (which is usually something Hawaiian themed). Given the choice, I’d rather eat the fruit and cheese platter off the food for purchase menu on Alaska Airlines.

4. In-flight entertainment comparison

Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines both offer a wide variety of movies, TV shows, and music to help pass the time. However, the way they go about delivering that content differs from one another.

Alaska Airlines in-flight entertainment

There are no video screens on any Alaska Airlines aircraft. Their in-flight entertainment product consists of a streaming service that you can access (for free) from your own personal device.

Some of their newest aircraft feature phone and tablet holders in the headrests of the seat back in front of you (where a video screen would normally go), which makes consuming the continent much easier.

There are also power outlets available at every seat, and Wi-Fi (for web browsing) is available for an additional cost.

Hawaiian Airlines in-flight entertainment

The selection of TV shows, movies, and music on Hawaiian Airlines is pretty good. You shouldn’t have any difficulty finding something good to watch (unless you are one picky mofo). Starlink Wi-Fi is complementary.

There are several things to note about in-flight entertainment on Hawaiian Airlines:

• There are no video screens in the first class seats on their A330’s and A321s. Instead, the flight attendants will hand out complementary iPads preloaded with a collection of TV shows, movies, and music.
• There are no video screens at all (in any class of service) on the A321. They do offer a streaming in-flight entertainment option however.
• There are videos screens in economy class and Extra Comfort on the A330.
• Not only do the Boeing 717’s have no video screens, there’s no streaming in flight entertainment either.

5. Route network comparison

Although the core of the Hawaiian Airlines network is based around the Hawaiian Islands, both airlines compete heavily on the same routes. Alaska Airlines has been focusing heavily on Hawaii for the past few years. Which is weird considering they have their own separate brand for that sort of thing…

Alaska Airlines route network

Although the majority of Alaska Airlines flights are within the western portion of the United States (including Hawaii), they have been expanding to the east coast. They also serve a variety of major destinations in Europe, Asia, and Latin America.

• The main hub for Alaska Airlines is in Seattle (SEA)
• Other hubs / focus cites include San Diego (SAN), Los Angeles (LAX), Anchorage (ANC), Portland (PDX), San Jose (SJC), and San Francisco (SFO)

Hawaiian Airlines route network

As their name suggests, most Hawaiian Airlines flights begin and end in Hawaii. In addition to serving the US mainland (primarily west coast cities), they also fly to international destinations such as Japan, South Korea, and Australia. Hawaiian Airlines also has a vast intra-island network of flights, whereas Alaska Airlines does not.

• The main hub for Hawaiian Airlines is Honolulu (HNL)
• Although they don’t officially have any focus cities, Los Angeles (LAX) is their second largest operating base in terms of passengers carried to and from the islands on any given day.
• Yes, they do fly to Alaska as well.

6. Why would you choose Alaska Airlines over Hawaiian Airlines (or vice versa)?

Personally, if given the choice between Alaska and Hawaiian on a flight between the US mainland and Hawaii, I’m almost always going to choose Hawaiian.

Why? Well, I like the feeling of being in Hawaii immediately after stepping onto the plane (thanks to the native music and liberal use of the words “aloha” and “mahalo” by the cabin crew). I also prefer widebody aircraft. And I love their first class lie-flat seats.

Choose Alaska Airlines if:

Truthfully, there are only 3 reasons to choose Alaska Airlines over Hawaiian on a flight between the US mainland and Hawaii:

1. Price
2. Schedule
3. Aircraft type (for some, they ain’t going if it ain’t Boeing)

Because they’re essentially the same airline operated by the same parent company, all the benefits of one (frequent flyer program, mileage earning possibilities, award redemptions, etc.) apply equally to the other.

Choose Hawaiian Airlines if:

• You want the “full” Hawaiian experience (native boarding music, native food, and cabin crews who wear Hawaiian themed uniforms).
• You want a lie flat seat in first class
• You prefer the option of flying more spacious widebody aircraft

Sure, Alaska Airlines will get you to and from Hawaii comfortably and safely. But if there’s any airline that knows Hawaiian culture better than all the others, it’s not the one with the portrait of an Eskimo painted on the side of their airplanes.