Which has the bigger carry-on allowance, Hawaiian or Southwest?

Hawaiian: 22 × 14 × 9 in (56 × 36 × 23 cm), up to 25 lb (11.3 kg). Southwest: 24 × 16 × 10 in (61 × 41 × 25 cm). Southwest allows the larger bag.

Do Hawaiian and Southwest include a carry-on on basic economy?

Hawaiian: A carry-on and personal item come with Main Cabin fares; check your Basic fare's details when booking. Southwest: Even the Basic fare includes a carry-on and a personal item. Checked bags cost extra on Basic, Choice and Choice Preferred fares.

Which is more reliable, Hawaiian or Southwest?

In 2025 Hawaiian arrived on time 81.9% of the time (0.8% cancelled) and Southwest 77.8% (0.8% cancelled), according to U.S. DOT data.

Which has better Wi-Fi, Hawaiian or Southwest?

Hawaiian: Free Starlink Wi-Fi on its Airbus jets; no Wi-Fi on inter-island Boeing 717s. Southwest: Free for Rapid Rewards members since October 2025.

Which cancels fewer flights, Hawaiian or Southwest?

In 2025 Hawaiian cancelled 0.8% of its flights and Southwest 0.8%, close to a tie (U.S. DOT data).

Are Hawaiian and Southwest partners?

They aren't in the same alliance (Hawaiian: oneworld; Southwest: none), so miles and status generally don't transfer between them.

HA vs WN · 2026 comparison

Hawaiian vs Southwest

Hawaiian wins on a better on-time record; Southwest wins on a bigger carry-on, a more generous carry-on weight limit and better Wi-Fi access. Here's how they compare on bags, fees, comfort, reliability and loyalty.

Verified Oct 17, 2026By Steven MoHow we check Report a correction

Hawaiian

Wins 1 category

A better on-time record

Southwest

Wins 3 categories

A bigger carry-on
A more generous carry-on weight limit
Better Wi-Fi access

Quick verdict

Hawaiian wins on a better on-time record; Southwest wins on a bigger carry-on, a more generous carry-on weight limit and better Wi-Fi access. Both include a carry-on on every fare.

Carry-on size: Hawaiian: 22 × 14 × 9 in · Southwest: 24 × 16 × 10 in
Carry-on on the cheapest fare: Hawaiian: Included on every fare · Southwest: Included on every fare
First checked bag (regular economy): Hawaiian: $45 · Southwest: $45
Wi-Fi: Hawaiian: Free on some planes · Southwest: Free for members
On-time arrivals (2025): Hawaiian: 81.9% · Southwest: 77.8%

Side by side

	Hawaiian	Southwest
Bags
Carry-on size	22 × 14 × 9 in	24 × 16 × 10 in
Carry-on on the cheapest fare	Included on every fare	Included on every fare
Carry-on weight limit	25 lb (11.3 kg)	None published
Personal item	Must fit under the seat	16.25 × 13.5 × 8 in
First checked bag (regular economy)	$45	$45
Comfort
Wi-Fi	Free on some planes	Free for members
Reliability
On-time arrivals (2025)	81.9%	77.8%
Flights cancelled (2025)	0.8%	0.8%
Network
Alliance	oneworld	None
Loyalty program	Atmos Rewards	Rapid Rewards
Main hubs	HNL	DEN, LAS, MDW, BWI, DAL

Highlighted values are better for travelers. Fees are for U.S. domestic economy flights; on-time data is 2025 U.S. DOT figures for each airline's own flights.

Bags and fees

Hawaiian allows a carry-on up to 22 × 14 × 9 in (56 × 36 × 23 cm), and Southwest up to 24 × 16 × 10 in (61 × 41 × 25 cm), so Southwest's is roomier.

Both include it on their cheapest fares.

Hawaiian caps carry-ons at 25 lb (11.3 kg); Southwest publishes no limit.

Personal items: anything that fits under the seat on Hawaiian, and 16.25 × 13.5 × 8 in (41 × 34 × 20 cm) on Southwest.

A first checked bag on Hawaiian costs $45 on flights between Hawaii and North America, and a first checked bag on Southwest costs $45 on flights within the U.S. mainland.

Basic economy

Hawaiian (Main Cabin Basic): A carry-on and personal item come with Main Cabin fares; check your Basic fare's details when booking.

Southwest (Basic): Even the Basic fare includes a carry-on and a personal item. Checked bags cost extra on Basic, Choice and Choice Preferred fares.

Seats and Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi on Hawaiian: Free Starlink Wi-Fi on its Airbus jets; no Wi-Fi on inter-island Boeing 717s. On Southwest: Free for Rapid Rewards members since October 2025.

On-time performance

In 2025, Hawaiian landed 81.9% of its flights on time and cancelled 0.8%; Southwest landed 77.8% on time and cancelled 0.8%. That makes Hawaiian the more punctual of the two. The figures come from the U.S. DOT and count each airline's own flights, not regional partners.

Loyalty and where they fly

Hawaiian is in oneworld and Southwest is not in an alliance.

Loyalty programs: Atmos Rewards (Hawaiian) and Rapid Rewards (Southwest).

Hawaiian's main hubs are Honolulu (HNL). Southwest's are Denver (DEN), Las Vegas (LAS), Chicago (MDW), Baltimore (BWI), Dallas (DAL). The best choice often comes down to which airline flies nonstop from your airport.

Which should you book?

Choose Hawaiian if you want…

a better on-time record
to earn and use oneworld miles and status
nonstops from HNL

Choose Southwest if you want…

a bigger carry-on
a more generous carry-on weight limit
better Wi-Fi access
nonstops from DEN, LAS, MDW

On a route both fly, the cheaper ticket isn't always the cheaper trip: add the bags you'll actually bring, and check the fare rules before you book.