A Comprehensive Walkthrough for Traveling with Children on Hawaiian Airlines [2025] edition
Hawaiian Airlines, the flag carrier of Hawaii, offers a unique loyalty programme called HawaiianMiles. This programme is free to join and miles are earned by flying, not by spending on the airline or with co-branded credit cards. Here's a guide to help families make the most of their HawaiianMiles when travelling with Hawaiian Airlines.
Families can strategically redeem HawaiianMiles to create value and enjoy flexible booking options. One such strategy is to book one-way award flights separately instead of searching for round-trip awards, which may increase availability and lower mileage costs per segment. For instance, flying into one island and out of another can offer more options and savings.
Considering off-peak travel times, such as fall, can also be beneficial. Award space tends to be better and less expensive during these periods, with fewer crowds and lower mileage costs for main cabin seats, often under 10,000 miles on some routes. This time also offers a better experience for families with easier parking and shorter lines at popular spots.
If possible, families should focus on nonstop flights with partners. Hawaiian Airlines partners with other carriers that might offer award flights with fewer stops, although this requires checking partner availability and possibly booking through partner programs.
Pooling miles within the family (if applicable) can also help families redeem miles faster. Although Hawaiian Airlines does not currently offer free miles pooling, families can strategize by transferring points from flexible transferable programmes such as Chase Ultimate Rewards, then redeeming HawaiianMiles collectively for family travel.
Flexible seat options and class upgrades are also worth considering, especially on longer flights. Hawaiian Airlines sometimes offers upgrades or preferred seating for a fee even within economy fare classes.
Lap children are free to travel to neighbouring islands or North America, but require 10% of the accompanying adult fare, taxes, and fees for international travel. If an adult is travelling with 2 children under 2 years old, at least 1 child must have a purchased seat.
Hawaiian Airlines offers a range of elite status levels, with Pualani Gold and Pualani Platinum being the two elite status levels in HawaiianMiles. Elite status perks include complimentary access to preferred seats, discounted award bookings, the first 2 bags free, and priority baggage handling.
Families with children under 2 are allowed to board during early boarding on Hawaiian Airlines. Bassinets are available by request on most international flights. Lap infants cannot be older than 2 years old and only 1 lap child may be assigned per ticketed adult. Lap infants on Hawaiian Airlines must be at least 7 days old and have a letter of approval from a physician dated within 1 day of travel.
Hawaiian Airlines operates nonstop flights from North America, Asia, and the South Pacific to the Hawaiian Islands. The airline also serves destinations like Osaka (KIX), Fukuoka (FUK), and Sapporo (CTS), Japan; Auckland (AKL), New Zealand; Cook Islands (RAR); and Papeete (PPT), French Polynesia.
In addition, Hawaiian Airlines offers a Plumeria Lounge to select business class and first class travelers, offering amenities like hot food, beer, wine, snacks, and more. The Premier Club is available to select Hawaiian Airlines guests and offers amenities like a dedicated customer service agent, snacks, and nonalcoholic drinks. Both lounges feature high-speed Wi-Fi and charging outlets.
As Hawaiian Airlines merges with Alaska Airlines, it will join the Oneworld alliance, expanding its network and partnerships. However, it currently does not belong to any airline alliance. The fee for unaccompanied minors (5-11 years old) on domestic flights within Hawaiʻi is $35 per flight segment, and $100 per flight segment for flights between North America and Hawaiʻi.
Hawaiian Airlines does not offer child-specific amenities on board, but it does offer kids' snack packs for purchase and kids' meals on international flights. Families with children under 14 are allowed to board during early boarding and Hawaiian Airlines tries to seat them with an accompanying family member.
In conclusion, families looking to maximize HawaiianMiles should search for one-way award availability separately, travel during less crowded fall periods, explore partner awards for nonstop routes, and coordinate miles usage among family members by transferring points from flexible programmes where possible. This approach can help secure the best value and convenience for family travel on Hawaiian Airlines.
- Families can strategically redeem their HawaiianMiles to create value and enjoy flexible booking options by booking one-way award flights separately, rather than searching for round-trip awards.
- Considering off-peak travel times, such as fall, can be beneficial as award space tends to be better and less expensive during these periods, with fewer crowds and lower mileage costs for main cabin seats.
- If possible, families should focus on nonstop flights with partners, as Hawaiian Airlines partners with other carriers that might offer award flights with fewer stops.
- Pooling miles within the family can help families redeem miles faster, by transferring points from flexible transferable programmes such as Chase Ultimate Rewards, then redeeming HawaiianMiles collectively for family travel.
- Lap children are free to travel to neighbouring islands or North America, but require 10% of the accompanying adult fare, taxes, and fees for international travel.
- In addition to traditional seating, flexible seat options and class upgrades are worth considering, especially on longer flights, as Hawaiian Airlines sometimes offers upgrades or preferred seating for a fee even within economy fare classes.
