Don’t go thinking that Hawaiian Airlines 717 Extra Comfort is going to be a huge improvement over basic economy. It’s not.
The extra legroom is nice. Getting to board before all of the other economy class passengers is pretty sweet too. Other than that? It’s exactly the same.
Do it because you want to. Not because you need to.
HA216 Honolulu, HI (HNL) – Kahului, HI (OGG) Thursday, May 8, 2025 Aircraft: 717-22A Registration: N476HA Duration: 23 minutes Seat: 5A (Extra Comfort)
Hawaiian Airlines 717-200 side view illustration by NorebboStock.comThe route from Honolulu to Kahului this morning as HA216
Checking In
My flight from Honolulu to Kahului was scheduled to depart at 9:31 AM. I checked in online the night before (and had already obtained my boarding pass), so there was no need to fight the crowds in the baggage drop area when I arrived. It was smooth sailing all the way through security.
“Let’s leave Hawaii today! – said absolutely nobody (besides me obviously).That’s more like it. Glad I’m not the only one making illogical choices this morning. Blah blah blah. I am slightly concerned about the fact that I see no mention of guava juice though. I am going to get guava juice on my flight, right? I was so concerned about the guava juice that I missed the giant churros. Idiot!Terminal A. A terminal. Works either way.This is the waiting area for all Hawaiian Airlines neighbor island flights (complete with carpet that looks like grass). Chill here until your flight number is called, and then……proceed to the gate (and wait some more). The grass-like carpet is enough to keep it amusing though.
The boarding process
The aircraft that would be taking me to OGG arrived just 25 minutes before the scheduled boarding time of 9:06 AM. Cutting it a bit too close? Nah. That’s how they do it out here in the Islands. Hawaiian Airlines 717s are busy little critters!
It’s only 8:46 AM and the Hawaiian Airlines 717 that will be taking me to Kahului this morning has already been to Kauai and back. Twice! What have you done this morning?Can you imagine how freakin’ awesome a detailed review of Hawaiian Airlines Lockheed L-188 Electra first class would be?? As long as you don’t think about the fact that every single person in this photo is probably dead, I’ll bet it would be a pretty good read.I see no mention of guava juice here on my boarding pass either. But I remain optimistic.Please be patient. It takes a while. Even with a Zone 3 boarding pass.Suck in those extremities! The 717-200 is a wee little plane.
Hawaiian airline 717 Extra Comfort seat overview
If you recall from my review of Hawaiian Airlines 717 economy, you’ll know that the interiors of these aircraft are some of the most colorful in all of the US. Some of the most uncomfortable as well.
Did I need all this leg room for a 25 minute flight? No. But boy did I ever want it. I would’ve liked to have more under seat storage place as well (but they didn’t offer it).
Extra Comfort seats are standard economy class seats with about 6 inches of extra legroom. It’s a somewhat narrow 2-3 seating layout, which makes it unique compared to other mainline aircraft. This ain’t nothin’ like Hawaiian Airlines A330-200 Extra Comfort.
Looks like I’ll be holding my guava juice on this flight. No tray tables in sight!Actually, the tray tables are located in the armrests. But I do see seat back tray tables over there in the seats across the aisle. I wonder if it was this confusing on the Electra?$20 (and a ripe pineapple) says that under seat storage space on the Electra was better as well. Too bad that everyone was ever flown on one is now dead, so I guess we’ll never know.
There are no video screens, charging ports, or audio inputs. Padding is minimal, and you may or may not appreciate the bright turquoise color. Come prepared. Or at least with an open mind.
The departure from HNL
We pushed off the gate one minute late at 9:32 AM. Exactly how that happened I’ll never know. The boarding process was chaotic, and every seat ended up being occupied. Kudos to everyone involved getting us out nearly on time.
One look out of the scratched up window tells you everything you need to know about how hard they use these 717’s. This plane has seen some action!“Is it me or does the pasty white mainlander sitting in 5A seem overly concerned about the guava juice thing?”It’s true. Hawaii looks great even when looking straight into the sun through a scratched up 717 window obscured by the glare of my lightly colored shirt. The locals already know this. And I’m totally jealous about the fact that they already know whether or not guava juice is on the menu.
The taxi over to runway 08R took just six minutes, and we were in the air and on our way at 9:46 AM.
Catch ya later Waikiki! It’s been real.If you ever end up with a sore neck after departing HNL, this is why. I recommend stretching before your flight.
Snacks and drinks
Ok. I was slightly too ambitious with the title of this section. They only serve drinks in Extra Comfort class on these inter-island flights. No snacks.
Small prepackaged cups of either juice or water were offered. That’s it.
Guava juice obtained! Ok, yeah, it’s actually guava nectar mixed with passion fruit and orange juice…and somehow the label on top says it’s only 10% juice…but my goal for the day has technically been achieved. Just three sips in and I’m willing to bet that my recommended daily allowance of sugar has been technically achieved as well. Let me tell you what: the 90% of this that isn’t even juice is pretty freakin’ good.
In-flight entertainment
Video screens? Psh. Wi-Fi? Ha! Neither exists on the Hawaiian Airlines 717. At least the scenery is nice. Sucks to be you if you’re not sitting in a window seat I guess.
Shoutout to all the fine folks down there in Lanai (all three of you).
Seat comfort
Do these Extra Comfort seats live up to their name? Yeah. I guess so. The extra legroom technically makes it extra comfortable, so I got what I paid for. There’s not much I can say about seat recline though. It’s so shallow that you may not even feel it.
Seat recline is minimal but don’t you worry about it. We’ll be landing soon.Leg room was excellent all throughout the flight, but with two man spreaders trying to occupy the same space, it gets a little tight. Hey that rhymes!
The descent and arrival into OGG
I was hoping for an approach into Kahului from the north side of Maui (just like I experienced on a Mokulele Cessna 208 once), but it wasn’t meant to be. We came in from the south today, which is a smidge less scenic. But still stunning.
Swingin’ around the southwest side of Maui. The scratched up windows of this Boeing 717 makes it all that much more Hawaiian IMHO.Those of you who have ever driven from OGG to Kaanapali know that coastal road well. Done it a few times myself (without even falling into the ocean once).Welcome to Maui!Technically, it’s Kahului. But that’s too hard to spell.
We touched down on runway 2 three minutes late at 10:09 AM. The skies were clear, the temperature was tropical, but the winds were a bit of a mofo. It was a bumpy ride all the way in.
*sigh* Why does southwest insist on sticking their noses into everything? I saw more Southwest airplanes today here than I did Hawaiian. That ain’t right. Gate 17 eh? Sure, why the heck not.Other than the fact that the under seat storage space was a little tight (and there wasn’t enough juice in my guava “beverage”), this was a pretty nice flight!“If it wasn’t juice, then what the heck was it??”
Pros and cons
I am of the opinion that there’s not a bad seat anywhere on the Hawaiian Airlines 717. Even way back in standard economy, the act of island hopping is entertaining enough to make any seat feel pretty awesome. You probably won’t even notice the extra leg room in Extra Comfort as you gawk at the scenery.
Pros
The extra legroom does indeed make it extra comfortable.
You’ll get to be one of the first economy class passengers to board.
You’ll also be one of the first to deplane once you arrive.
Cons
It’ll be one of the simplest economy class seats you’ll ever sit in. There’s not much to ‘em!
There are no USB charging ports, electrical outlets, or audio inputs.
There are no special snacks or drinks that come as part of the Extra Comfort package either. You’ll be treated like a lowly standard economy class passenger.
Quick note: this is an overview of the old Delta 767-400 economy product from 2018. I’ve since written a full…
2 Comments
I’ve never done an island hopping flight, but it’s on my bucket list. Flying at low altitudes over somewhere tropical on a small, noisy, plane actually sounds really fun!
I’m not sure whether premium economy is worth it on a flight like this though, given that HA’s 717 flights are at most 40 minutes long. I’m guessing you booked it because of your onward itinerary?
You have to do it at least once! I’d recommend doing it on Mokulele Airlines though – not Hawaiian. It’s a lot more fun (and bouncy) on a small Cessna 208.
But yes, this was a positioning flight to get me to the A321neo to San Diego.
I’ve never done an island hopping flight, but it’s on my bucket list. Flying at low altitudes over somewhere tropical on a small, noisy, plane actually sounds really fun!
I’m not sure whether premium economy is worth it on a flight like this though, given that HA’s 717 flights are at most 40 minutes long. I’m guessing you booked it because of your onward itinerary?
You have to do it at least once! I’d recommend doing it on Mokulele Airlines though – not Hawaiian. It’s a lot more fun (and bouncy) on a small Cessna 208.
But yes, this was a positioning flight to get me to the A321neo to San Diego.