Hawaiian Airlines has just introduced a new premium ground experience at its hub, Honolulu Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), as reported by Sean Cudahy. This is a combination of an airport VIP service, plus an exclusive lounge, and it’s open to all Hawaiian Airlines passengers… at a steep cost.
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Hawaiian Airlines’ Premium Airport Service
Hawaiian Airlines has introduced Premium Airport Service (yes, that’s the name — not very creative!), intended to make the journey through Honolulu Airport easier for anyone who is willing to pay. This service can be booked for arriving, departing, or connecting passengers.
For those departing from Honolulu Airport, the service includes the following:
- Pre-arrival check-in on your behalf
- Curbside greeting by your host, whether arriving at the terminal or rental car facility
- Priority baggage handling
- Expedited queuing through TSA
- Access to Apt. 1929
- Private escort to your gate (for flights departing from Terminal 2, private driver service provided)
- Option to board the aircraft first
For those arriving at Honolulu Airport, the service includes the following:
- Priority baggage handling
- Aircraft door greeting by your host
- Assistance with carry-on bags
- Premium lei greeting
- Coordination with transportation
- Private escort to transportation (for flights arriving at Terminal 2 or guests with a rental car reservation, private driver service provided)
- Baggage delivery to your final Oahu location
For those connecting at Honolulu Airport, the service includes the following:
- Priority baggage handling
- Aircraft door greeting by your host
- Assistance with carry-on bags
- Private driver service within the airport facility for guests arriving at Terminal 2
- Premium lei greeting for guests with a final destination in Hawaii
- Access to Apt. 1929
- Option to board the aircraft first
While I’ll talk more about Apt. 1929 in a second, the actual ground experience otherwise sounds comparable to some of the VIP services offered by the “big three” US carriers, like American Five Star Service or Delta VIP Select. I think the one thing that stands out is the baggage delivery to the final Oahu destination that’s offered as part of the arrivals experience.
Hawaiian Airlines’ exclusive Apt. 1929 lounge
As part of Hawaiian Airlines’ new premium ground experience, the airline has introduced Apt. 1929, which is a new lounge (1929 is the year Hawaiian Airlines was founded).
The lounge is located in Terminal 1 near the Plumeria Lounge, and it can accommodate up to 24 guests at a time. This is by far the carrier’s most exclusive lounge, and it offers everything from the ability to pre-order meals, to a curated liquor menu by James Beard Award winning bar Leather Apron, to a shower to freshen up.
In terms of design, the lounge doesn’t look that exciting, though it has both an indoor and outdoor seating area. I think the main selling point here is having a private and exclusive place to relax, plus the food and drink options.
This experience starts at $500 per couple
While Hawaiian Airlines doesn’t publish a full breakdown of the pricing for this new service, the airline states that the service starts at $500 per couple. It sounds like there might be a pricing difference depending on whether you’re arriving, departing, or connecting.
If you want to book the experience or learn more, you can either call the dedicated number at 808.470.3988, or you can send an email to [email protected].
My take on Hawaiian Airlines’ new VIP service
Like all of the uber-VIP services offered by airlines, I don’t think anyone actually “needs” this, but rather it’s for people who have bottomless pockets, people who are celebrating a special occasion and want to splurge, or people who value peace of mind of being able to simplify the airport experience.
A few thoughts:
- Hawaiian Airlines’ Plumeria Lounge is kind of awful, so being able to get access to a decent lounge is worth something in and of itself, assuming you plan to spend some time at the airport
- In many ways, Hawaii seems like the ideal location for something like this, since you have lots of people taking special trips, celebrating everything honeymoons to anniversaries
- Compared to services offered by other airlines, the pricing seems competitive, given that the airline even opened a special lounge for this service
- It’s nice to see Hawaiian Airlines continue to invest in premium experiences, especially with its Boeing 787s entering service soon, though I wish the airline would open a decent lounge that’s accessible without booking this service
Bottom line
Hawaiian Airlines has introduced a new Premium Airport Service, available either on departure, arrival, or for connecting passengers. This service even includes access to an exclusive new lounge, named Apt. 1929. It’s cool to see Hawaiian Airlines investing in a premium experience like this, niche as it may be.
What do you make of Hawaiian Airlines’ new Premium Airport Service?
Really, fix up the Plumeria Lounge at Terminal 2. More comfortable seats, real food, nice water. Eek! Not too much to ask.
Does anyone think that this could trigger the Amex travel credit? It can be purchased on multiple cards to get it below $200.
I had the same thought re: Marriott Ritz Carlton card travel credits
I wish they'd say what the food options are. I hope it's more than a chicken salad.
It’s a three course meal. Six appetizers, about a dozen entrees including three kid options, and three desserts. Chicken salad wasn’t on the list.
When are you going to upgrade the Maui unit? It needs to be renewed
I'm in Hawaii currently and flying back home next week with Hawaiian. They have been emailing me, trying to sell the "premium airport service". The "starting at $500 per couple" apparently is a "Limited Time" offer, here is their reply when I inquired.
"Aloha Brandon,
For a limited time, rates are starting at $500 for two guests and then $250 per additional guest. If you are travelling with an infant who does not require...
I'm in Hawaii currently and flying back home next week with Hawaiian. They have been emailing me, trying to sell the "premium airport service". The "starting at $500 per couple" apparently is a "Limited Time" offer, here is their reply when I inquired.
"Aloha Brandon,
For a limited time, rates are starting at $500 for two guests and then $250 per additional guest. If you are travelling with an infant who does not require a seat then there is no extra charge.
Mahalo!
Laura"
They should market some sort of premium "extend your trip" service that guarantees the latest pick ups from your hotel and you will be the last to board the plane just in time. Depart Waikiki or Ko Olina less than 60 mins before departure. That would be the premium that I think folks would pay.
At least they now have a lounge that isn't a non descript dentist office
Looks nice, Hawaiian can always use a new revenue stream. In addition, HNL is already home to the official 'World's Worst' lounge (IASS), so more options are better!
Is this all *actually* new? I had an offer for Premium Service sent to me in October for an early November trip. Didn't include Apt. 1929 though.
"Pre-arrival check in on your behalf
Terminal curbside greeting by your host
Priority baggage handling
Expedited queuing through TSA
Dedicated lounge seating at The Plumeria Lounge
Exclusive lounge refreshments and meal service
Private escort to your gate (for flights departing from Terminal...
Is this all *actually* new? I had an offer for Premium Service sent to me in October for an early November trip. Didn't include Apt. 1929 though.
"Pre-arrival check in on your behalf
Terminal curbside greeting by your host
Priority baggage handling
Expedited queuing through TSA
Dedicated lounge seating at The Plumeria Lounge
Exclusive lounge refreshments and meal service
Private escort to your gate (for flights departing from Terminal 2, private driver service provided)
First-on-board privilege"
Did not take them up on it. $650 for 3 people.
This looks gorgeous, I wonder how it will hold up. Bar Leather Apron is one of the best bars in the world so getting their named attached to the beverage program is very impressive. ANA is the only other lounge in HNL with showers so this could make sense for some folks, especially with an early hotel checkout and evening redeye back to the mainland.
Do curb-side staff expect to be tipped in America?
I can never get the tipping culture in the US - it's not the monetary side but more the need to interact with people and it's like a whole country full of extreme extroverts coming at you everytime you go out.
There's been multiple occassions where I've checked into a hotel and gave a 200 dollar or so tip if the stay is for...
Do curb-side staff expect to be tipped in America?
I can never get the tipping culture in the US - it's not the monetary side but more the need to interact with people and it's like a whole country full of extreme extroverts coming at you everytime you go out.
There's been multiple occassions where I've checked into a hotel and gave a 200 dollar or so tip if the stay is for over a few nights and insisted that I'll be left alone going forward. I'm sympathetic about the screwed up system where it allows for service staff cannot expect a living wage from their employer, but it also creates this awkward interactions where people just roam around.
Everyone in the US expects it just for doing their job.
As a teenager on my first flight from the US, I didn’t know and a porter left a note in my bag “ pay a f— tip”. That’s what Americans are generally like. Why on earth should you expect a tip for doing something you’re expected to do ??
I agree that American tipping culture is ridiculous, but it's a symptom of a greater problem is society here. We have no social safety net, many people can't afford healthcare (even while working full time jobs) and so it creates an intense scarcity mindset where you have to hustle for every dollar just to survive. Swim or die in the swirling ocean that is modern day America.
Many with deep pockets live or have second and third homes on Oahu, not just Maui.
Lots of US/Japanese/Korean celebs as well.
The service will do well.
True, but we have the deepest of pockets on Maui.