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Will Southwest Sell Tickets to Hawaii Next Week? No, But Here's What Is Planned.
Summer Hull
Senior director of content
Summer Hull has been covering (and using) travel tips, rewards credit cards and loyalty programs for over a decade. She has flown close to a million miles, often on points and miles and with her family in tow.
Feb. 08, 2019
•
4 min read
Will Southwest Sell Tickets to Hawaii Next Week? No, But Here's What Is Planned.
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This was (finally) the week that we saw a Southwest Airlines plane land in Hawaii with iconic Diamond Head in the background. On Tuesday, Southwest Airlines flight 8275 landed at 2:50pm at Honolulu's Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) after flying from California's Oakland International Airport (OAK) with only FAA inspectors and Southwest ETOPS crew on the plane -- no passengers.
There is no denying that was a momentous event in the process to get Southwest customers on planes to Hawaii, but it is not the last hurdle in the race. There have been some exciting rumors circulating online that perhaps Southwest will have tickets to Hawaii on sale as early as next week. Valentine's Day was pegged as a possible target date for these rumors, which would have been a great way for Southwest to play up their 'LUV' symbol on the NYSE and home base at Dallas Love Field. But, sadly, that myth looks to be busted
TPG reached out to Southwest about next steps in getting customers on planes to Hawaii, and while the airline was tight-lipped about an exact ticket sales date, they did share the following:
"As part of the ETOPS application process, we will participate in multiple days of tabletop exercises next week to demonstrate our ETOPS procedures to the FAA. Once the FAA deems those exercises successful, we will be required to perform multiple ETOPS validation flights between the mainland and Hawaii. After we complete those tasks to the FAA's satisfaction, we will we be granted ETOPS authorization. Only after Southwest receives ETOPS authorization from the FAA will we announce sell or operate plans for Hawaii."
Essentially, next week is currently booked with multiple days of tabletop exercises where Southwest proves it has solid plans in place should unplanned events occur en route to Hawaii. Then, after that, it still has multiple validation flights to Hawaii still on the agenda. It's not going to sell tickets to Hawaii until all of that is complete, and the official ETOPS authorization is received. So, it sounds like next week is not going to be the much anticipated week when we will get to buy a Southwest flight to Hawaii.
However, we are getting close. If the government can avoid another shutdown, we could very well be within a few weeks of Southwest receiving necessary approvals to operate flights to Hawaii. Tickets to Hawaii will go on sale very shortly thereafter.
Bottom Line
You're probably going to need to come up with a different Valentine's Day present for your loved one than a Southwest ticket to Hawaii. We don't know the exact date that tickets will go on sale, but we know there are still multiple steps left in the certification process before Southwest can fly planes to Hawaii.
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All photos by Marco Garcia/The Points Guy.
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Best for dining at restaurants
TPG Editor‘s Rating
Go to reviewCard Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.