North American Airlines to Local Destinations
Hawaiian Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Virgin America, and Great Lakes Airlines are some of the small airlines operating flights to various local destinations in North America. This article describes information about all these airlines to help you understand key similarities and differences among these airlines.
Hawaiian Airlines
Based in Honolulu, Hawaii, Hawaiian Airlines, Inc (HA) is the eighth largest commercial airline in the United States. HA serves more than 28 destinations in North America, Australia and Asia. Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. is the owner of HA. The main hub of HA is located at Honolulu International Airport. HA has another hub located at Kahului Airport on the Maui Island.
HA has grown its reputation as one of the safest airlines in the US as it claims it has never had any fatal accident in its history. HA is often referred as one of the top airlines in the US in terms of fewest overselling, fewest cancellations, and smooth baggage handling.
The current size of HA fleet is 48 planes with an average age of 8.5 years which is 2.6 years younger than the average international plane. HA allows its passengers to carry first and second checked bags free of charge, the first bag being of standard bag dimensions not exceeding 45 inches and weighting no more than 25 pounds. And the second bag should be a standard personal bag. For the third checked bag HA charges its passengers $150. Passengers are allowed to carry stroller and assistive or mobility devices free of charge.
Passengers of HA enjoy 0.79 inches of additional legroom compared to other international airlines. Economy fare passengers of HA get 2 feet 7 inches of legroom. Seats for both economy and first class HA flights are 1 foot 6 inches wide which is a little wider than an average international flight. But first class passengers enjoy 3 feet 6 inches of legroom which is 14.30 inches less than the average international flights.
HawaiianMiles is HA’s frequent flyer program that allows passengers to earn reward points for their loyalty. A passenger needs to earn at least 20,000 points to redeem a flight within the continental US.
Southwest Airlines
Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Southwest Airlines Co. (WN) serves more than 93 local destinations in North America. WN is often referred as the world’s largest low cost carrier. Every day, it operates more than 3,400 flights in North America.
Current fleet size of WN is 665 planes with an average age of 11.5 years. 74.21% of WN flights maintain strict a schedule which is slightly less than the average of all international airlines (75.64%). WN allows its passengers to carry first and second bags free of charge, with the first bag being a standard bag dimensions not exceeding 50 inches and second bag should be a personal bag. But for the third checked bag, WN charges $75. Beside these, passengers are allowed to carry Outerwear, Food, Mobility or Assistive Device, Approved Child Restraint Device and Diaper Bag free of charge.
WN flight seats are 1 foot 5 inches wide and an economy class passenger gets 2 feet 7 inches of legroom which is 0.79 inches wider than average international flight. Rapid Rewards is WN’s miles based frequent flyer program that allows it passengers to earn reward points to earn free flights, dining benefits, rental cars, hotels, and gift giving options. WN allows its passengers to redeem points for flights on a direct points-to-dollar conversion.
Virgin America
Headquartered in Burlingame, California in the San Francisco Bay Area, Virgin America, Inc. (VX) is a domestic airline in the United States. VX operates regular flights to over 21 destinations in North America.
Current fleet size of VX is 53 planes with an average age of 5.7 years. The main hub of VX is located at San Francisco International Airport. The airline has two city hubs at Dallas Love Field and Los Angeles International Airport. VX charges its passengers $25 for every checked bag that means $25 for first bag, $25 for second bag and $25 for third bag. So, no free bag allowed in VX flights. Although VX charges for every bag, its baggage fee is $20.88 less than average domestic airlines. But no standard bag more than 50 inches in dimensions is allowed in VX flights.
70% of VX flights maintain their schedule but the remaining 30% flights are delayed. Economy class passengers enjoy 2 feet 7 inches of legroom which is 2.43 inches more than average domestic flights. On the other hand, first class passengers enjoy 4 feet 6 inches of legroom space. Seats for economy class passengers are 1 foot 5 inches wide and for first class passengers is 1 foot 9 inches wide.
Elevate is VX’s miles based frequent flyer program that allows passengers to accumulate reward points to put towards free flights, vacation packages, gift-giving options and hotels. A user needs to spend at least $2500 with VX to redeem a flight within the continental US.
Great Lakes Airlines
Great Lakes Airlines is a domestic airline serving over 30 local destinations in North America. Along with scheduled domestic flights, Great Lakes Airlines operates charter services.
The headquarters of the airline is located at Cheyenne, Wyoming. The airline has three different hubs at Los Angeles International Airport, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and Denver International Airport.
The current fleet size of Great Lakes Airlines is 28. Great Lakes Airlines allow its passengers to carry first and second checked bag free of charge. Maximum dimensions for the first and second checked bags are 62 inches and 55 inches respective. And maximum weight on all checked bags is 50 pounds.
Courtesy of Tidy Space Products
