Skip to content

United is bringing back its new flagship Hawaii route next summer

Oct. 19, 2021
3 min read
United Airlines Boeing 767-300 High J LAX JFK Zach Griff - 41Polaris
United is bringing back its new flagship Hawaii route next summer
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don’t cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.

United is embracing the island spirit next summer with renewed service on its flagship Hawaii route.

Over the weekend, the Chicago-based carrier extended the schedule for its newest long-haul route between Newark (EWR) and Maui (OGG). The nearly 11-hour flight will now operate between May 7, 2022, and Sept. 4, 2022, on up to five weekly frequencies.

The schedule extension was first seen in Cirium timetables and later confirmed by the airline with the following statement.

We know many customers enjoy Hawaiian vacations in the summer, and we're happy to bring back our New York/Newark to Maui flight next summer.

This move is the latest in a series of boosts for the new United flight that first took off just four months ago on June 3.

In the weeks after unveiling the route in September 2020, the airline quickly increased the frequency and extended the schedule.

It then upgauged the route with its swankiest jet, the "high-J" configuration of the Boeing 767-300ER, which features a whopping 46 Polaris pods, a 22-seat Premium Plus cabin and just 99 coach seats.

The 17-row Polaris business-class cabin (Photo by Zach Griff/The Points Guy)

Though the airline had first launched this market as a pandemic-era move to capture strong leisure demand, it seems that the airline has hit a home run with the 4,903-mile route. Assuming that demand continues at a strong pace, this new flight could become permanent, even after the pandemic subsides.

In addition to extending the schedule for the Newark to Maui route, United is also bringing back daily service between Washington Dulles (IAD) and Honolulu (HNL) this summer between June 3, 2022, and Sept. 6, 2022.

The airline had originally planned for once-weekly flights during the peak summer season, but that's now been restored to daily service, which mirrors the airline's summer schedule from before the pandemic.

Daily Newsletter
Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter
Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s experts

The additional Hawaii flights are the latest in a big growth spurt for United's long-haul network.

Last week, the carrier unveiled its largest-ever transatlantic expansion, with eight routes to five new destinations.

Additionally, the airline's three limited-time long-haul routes that were first launched last summer to destinations open to vaccinated Americans (Croatia, Greece and Iceland) are coming back for another season.

United "high-J" Boeing 767-300ER (Photo by Zach Griff/The Points Guy)

With all these successful new routes, it's perhaps no surprise that Ankit Gupta and Patrick Quayle, United's two senior vice presidents in charge of the network, both received promotions earlier this month.

Gupta "has helped us execute network strategies that would ordinarily take years to develop in a matter of months," while Quayle "continues to reshape our network in the midst of a radically different demand environment, making the most of rapidly changing economic and passenger trends," wrote Andrew Nocella, the airline's chief commercial officer, in a statement announcing the promotions.

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

TPG featured card

Rewards rate
5X milesEarn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
2X milesEarn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
Intro offer
Open Intro bonus
Enjoy a $250 travel credit & earn 75K bonus miles
Annual fee
$95
Regular APR
19.49% - 28.49% (Variable)
Recommended credit
Open Credit score description
670-850Excellent, Good

Pros

  • Stellar welcome offer of 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Plus, a $250 Capital One Travel credit to use in your first cardholder year upon account opening.
  • You'll earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, which means you won't have to worry about memorizing bonus categories
  • Rewards are versatile and can be redeemed for a statement credit or transferred to Capital One’s transfer partners

Cons

  • Highest bonus-earning categories only on travel booked via Capital One Travel
  • LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening - that’s equal to $1,000 in travel
  • Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
  • Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
  • Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
  • Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
  • Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
  • Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
  • Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
  • Top rated mobile app