With a potential acquisition of Hawaiian by Alaska Air Group looming in the future, I thought it prudent to make a comparison of their different onboard products as they stand today. This will be a series of posts covering one product type at a time. And, today’s post will be Alaska vs Hawaiian-main cabin comparison.
When you think economy class, you think of undesirable, barebones seats with minimal amenities, but not all economy class offerings are created equal. In fact, between these two airlines, they couldn’t be more different. Trust me, I’d know. I’ve flown both multiple times over the years.
Alaska vs Hawaiian-Main Cabin Comparison
To make this Alaska vs Hawaiian-Main Cabin comparison easier to digest, I threw everything into a spreadsheet. For simplicity’s sake, I’m focusing on mainline aircraft only – no Horizon/Skywest aircraft will be included. That said, it’s worth noting that Alaska’s E175s have the same seat pitch as Hawaiian’s 717s but have 0.25″ wider seats. Also, Alaska’s E175s and 737-700s (there are only 11 of these left) don’t feature in-seat power, which doesn’t really matter given their use – as is the case with Hawaiian’s 717s.
Note: the seat type cell for the A330 is blank because I couldn’t figure out who the manufacturer is.
As you can see in this Alaska vs Hawaiian-Main Cabin comparison, Alaska Air generally has better seat pitch than Hawaiian, with the exception of the upcoming Boeing 787s. On the other hand, seat width is worse than most of Hawaiian’s fleet, save for certain seats towards the back of the plane on the A330. That said, that and (I guess) the free food are the only areas where Hawaiian “wins” in the Economy Class comparison.
While you have to bring your own device on all flights, Alaska doesn’t charge to watch any movies or TV shows, and all seats come equipped with both a USB-A power port and a standard 120v A/C power outlet. Alaska’s new and refurbished aircraft also feature larger, pivoting overhead bins, which allow you to stand roller-board bags on their sides, making space for more bags than traditional bins. Finally, Alaska offers fast satellite-based WiFi with free messaging connectivity for all.
Subjective Observations
Personally, I’ve never flown on Hawaiian’s A321neos, so I can’t comment on what seat comfort is like for this Alaska vs Hawaii-Main Cabin comparison. But, the Main Cabin seats on Hawaiian’s A330s are terribly uncomfortable. Maybe it’s just me, but on my flights with them to Vegas, my butt often goes numb, and I end up with mild back pain. This hasn’t been the case for me with Alaska, American, or Delta, even though all use seats that are equally thin. This isn’t as big an issue on inter-island flights with Hawaiian, though it’s worth noting that the 717 seats are the same as Spirit’s seats.
Also, to me, Hawaiian’s “free meal” isn’t a selling point. The bakes/sandwiches they serve in the back of the plane, or the bags of sugary breakfast crap they serve on certain flights (but not West Coast red eyes – you starve on those), are tiny and, often, mediocre to terrible. I would much rather pay for Alaska’s meals, as you can pick your fresher, tastier, higher-quality, and more substantial meal.
As far as seat size goes, I haven’t really noticed that big a difference. To me, Alaska or not, a Boeing 737 of any generation feels roomier than a 717 – likely because the 717 has a lower ceiling and windows. I guess the extra inch or two of pitch you get on Alaska (and even Southwest) makes a difference, too. I do prefer the 2x4x2 layout of Hawaiian’s A330s, but the seats are just so damn uncomfortable. And, since the 787 appears to be the future of their fleet in the long term, this won’t matter much since the 787 is 3x3x3.
Alaska vs Hawaiian-Main Cabin Comparison, Final Thoughts
There’s no doubt in my mind who wins in the Alaska vs Hawaiian-Main Cabin comparison – it’s Alaska. Their Main Cabin product is far superior to Hawaiian’s. Sure, Hawaiian’s A330s (and [probably] their 787s) have seat-back IFE, but you have to pay to watch most of the content on there, save for their longest routes. Yes, they also offer free “meals,” but I think their email is an awful joke. The bakes/sandwiches are more of a snack and usually don’t even taste all that great.
So, yeah, in my opinion. Alaska’s better seats, tastier for-purchase meals, connectivity, and available power make it a better Main Cabin experience. Plus, I cannot emphasize how much of a difference Boeing’s larger bins make, so long as other passengers use them properly.