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The only thing better than flying to Hawaii is flying to Hawaii in comfort. But if you don’t have the dough to fly first class, you can still make a more modest upgrade by grabbing a seat in Hawaiian Airlines’ premium economy class: Extra Comfort.
Here's a look at what you get by booking Hawaiian Airlines Extra Comfort versus economy, how much it costs and how to book a ticket if you decide it’s a worthwhile splurge.
What to expect when flying Hawaiian Airlines Extra Comfort
Extra Comfort seats are available on Airbus A330s. They give you a smoother ride in a number of different ways, so you can arrive on the island relaxed and ready to start your vacation. Here are a few perks you’ll receive when booking an Extra Comfort seat on Hawaiian Airlines:
More legroom
One of the main reasons to book Hawaiian Airlines Extra Comfort seats is the five inches of extra legroom compared with an economy class seat. This benefit is available on most flights from the U.S. mainland to Hawaii, but it can vary depending on the route, aircraft and row.
If you want even more room to stretch out, you can also pay an additional fee to book an Extra Comfort seat in an exit row.
Earlier boarding
Extra Comfort passengers board before most main cabin passengers, meaning you get earlier access to the overhead bins and can get settled in your seat sooner.
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Priority airport screening
If you’ve purchased an Extra Comfort ticket, you can use the priority airport screening lane when departing from these select airports:
- Austin.
- Honolulu.
- Las Vegas.
- New York.
- Oakland.
- Sacramento.
- San Diego.
- San Francisco.
- San Jose.
Power outlet
Another perk of flying in an Extra Comfort seat is a personal power outlet to charge devices you have with you. This is in addition to a USB charging port, which is also available to those seated in the main economy cabin.
Amenity kit
Travelers who book an Extra Comfort ticket on an international flight will also receive an amenity kit. The kit includes several items that can make your flight more enjoyable, such as earphones, ear plugs and an eye shade. It also has toiletries such as a toothbrush and toothpaste, lotion, lip balm, a comb and sunscreen. Flights to Pago Pago and Papeete aren't included.
Baggage allowance
Unfortunately, you won’t get a special baggage allowance for an Extra Comfort ticket. You’ll pay the same fees as those in the main economy cabin: $30 for the first bag and $40 for the second on flights from the U.S. mainland to Hawaii.
There are, however, two ways around this:
- Earn Atmos Rewards elite status with the airline, which will give you up to three free checked bags.
- Sign up for a Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard®, which gives cardholders two free checked bags when booking directly with Hawaiian.
Food and beverage service
Extra Comfort passengers, like those in the main cabin, get a free meal on most Hawaiian Airlines flights from North America, though it’s often just a microwaved sandwich. Soft drinks and a snack are complimentary, and alcoholic drinks are available for purchase.
» Learn more: How to island hop in Hawaii
How much are Extra Comfort seats on Hawaiian Airlines?
Prices for a seat in Extra Comfort vary depending on the flight, distance traveled and time of year.
On a flight from Honolulu to Ontario in September 2022, prices started at $59 one-way for an upgrade to Extra Comfort. An 11-hour flight from New York-JFK to Honolulu in November 2022 was selling upgrades that cost up to $235 per ticket, at the time of this writing.
Another example, below, is a Los Angeles to Honolulu flight offering Extra Comfort seats for $92 to $127 one-way.
You can upgrade to Extra Comfort seats regardless of whether you paid cash or used Atmos points for your ticket, but the upgrade can’t be paid for with points — Hawaiian accepts cash only.
🤓 Nerdy Tip
If you’re looking for the best Extra Comfort seats on Hawaiian Airlines, check out rows 11 and 12 in the “mini cabin” on Airbus 330 aircraft (shown above). It has just 12 seats and is blissfully sequestered from the crowded main cabin. Plus, even though the galley is right behind you, these seats still recline. How to book seats in Hawaiian Airlines Extra Comfort
First, search for your desired itinerary on HawaiianAirlines’ website, then select a main cabin fare. (Basic fares cannot be upgraded to Extra Comfort.) Click “view seats” to pull up the map showing which seats are available.
If there are Extra Comfort seats for sale on the map, select your flights, then enter your passenger information. Before you’re asked to pay for your tickets, you’ll arrive at the “Select Your Seats” page, where you can opt to select and pay for these premium seats:
- You’ll pay the additional fee for your seats when you pay for your cash or award ticket.
- You can also upgrade to Extra Comfort after you purchase your tickets by clicking “My Trips” on the Hawaiian Airlines website, visiting the airline’s app or by calling reservations.
» Learn more: Basic economy vs. main cabin
Change and cancellation policy
If you cancel your flight, you won’t get a refund or credit for the amount you paid for your Extra Comfort seats. But if you change your flight, you may be able to apply those Hawaiian Airlines comfort plus charges to an Extra Comfort seat on your new flight, if available.
If the airline changes your flight, you may be able to get your seat charges refunded. You can read the terms here.
Is Hawaiian Extra Comfort worth it?
So is Extra Comfort on Hawaiian Airlines worth it? To decide, weigh the costs of what you’ll receive against the price of the upgrade.
On a flight from San Francisco to Honolulu in November 2022, a main cabin round-trip ticket cost $427. If you add in an additional $112 charge each way for Extra Comfort, your flight goes up to $651 — a significant increase.
Add up the total round-trip costs for your party then ask yourself whether there’s something else you’d rather do with that money. If extra legroom, priority boarding, or another premium cabin perk is worth the additional cost, go with Hawaiian Airlines Extra Comfort.
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