domestic · 5h 40m · 4,150 km
Los Angeles to Kauai
3 airlines · 3 aircraft ranked
Hawaiian is the only carrier offering premium economy on this route, scoring 3.3/10.In economy, United's Economy (737-900ER) edges out the field with a 4.2/10.
Quick pick
Fly United. It scores higher across seat comfort and amenities.
If prices are similar, go with this one.
Fly Hawaiian. It has 2 more inches of legroom and a wider seat (21" vs 20").
If fares are comparable, this is the better cabin.
Select two airlines to compare head-to-head
Data verified June 2026
Find your flight
New routes and airlines added regularly. One short email when we do.
Airlines on this route
Flying with family
- Seatback screens on United. Hawaiian, American: bring your own device.
Route insights
- Hawaiian is the only carrier offering premium economy on this route, scoring 3.3/10.
- In economy, United's Economy (737-900ER) edges out the field with a 4.2/10.
- In first class, Hawaiian's First Class (A321neo) leads the field with a 3.4/10.
Frequently asked
Which is better in first: Hawaiian or American on LAX-LIH?
First Class (Hawaiian Airlines, A321neo) edges out First Class (American Airlines, A321neo) in first, scoring 3.4/10 vs 2.5. The deciding factor: multi-course dining vs complimentary meals.
Which is better in economy: Hawaiian or American on LAX-LIH?
Main Cabin (American Airlines, A321neo) edges out Economy (Hawaiian Airlines, A321neo) in economy, scoring 3.7/10 vs 3.3. The deciding factor: 18"-wide seats vs 17.3".
Which is better in first: Hawaiian or United on LAX-LIH?
First Class (Hawaiian Airlines, A321neo) edges out United First (United Airlines, 737-900ER) in first, scoring 3.4/10 vs 2.8. The deciding factor: multi-course dining vs complimentary meals. United Airlines fights back on entertainment.
Which is better in economy: Hawaiian or United on LAX-LIH?
Economy (United Airlines, 737-900ER) edges out Economy (Hawaiian Airlines, A321neo) in economy, scoring 4.2/10 vs 3.3. The deciding factor: AC + USB-C vs USB-A only. Hawaiian Airlines fights back on seat width.
Which is better in first: American or United on LAX-LIH?
First Class (American Airlines, A321neo) and United First (United Airlines, 737-900ER) score virtually the same in first: 2.5 vs 2.8/10. The biggest gap is entertainment — a 13" screen vs app_only — but neither carrier pulls ahead overall.
Which is better in economy: American or United on LAX-LIH?
Economy (United Airlines, 737-900ER) edges out Main Cabin (American Airlines, A321neo) in economy, scoring 4.2/10 vs 3.7. The deciding factor: a 10" screen vs app_only. American Airlines fights back on seat width.
What are the best seats in Hawaiian First Class on LAX-LIH?
Best: Row 1 for bulkhead legroom. All seats have 2-2 layout with aisle access. Avoid: Last row of first class near galley divider. 16 leather recliners in 2-2. No seatback IFE — tablets provided in First Class for streaming. Free Starlink WiFi (~300 Mbps). Not lie-flat (unlike the A330-200 First). Multi-course meal service.
What are the best seats in Hawaiian Extra Comfort on LAX-LIH?
Best: Window seats for leaning room on long Hawaii flights. Avoid: Middle seats in 3-3 layout. 44 Extra Comfort seats with 5 extra inches of pitch over economy. Stream to personal devices. Free Starlink WiFi. Complimentary snack service.
What are the best seats in Hawaiian Economy on LAX-LIH?
Best: Exit rows for extra legroom. Window seats for leaning. Avoid: Last rows near lavatories. Middle seats. 129 economy seats at 30-inch pitch. No seatback IFE — stream to personal devices via free Starlink WiFi. USB-A charging only (no AC outlets). Buy-on-board meal service.
What are the best seats in American First Class on LAX-LIH?
Best: Row 1A and 1L are farthest from the galley and offer the most privacy. All seats have direct aisle access in the 1-1 layout. Avoid: Row 5 is closest to the business class cabin and may experience some noise from the galley area between cabins. Only 10 suites total on this narrowbody. The 1-1 configuration is unique for a single-aisle aircraft. Sliding doors on all suites. This fleet is being phased out as the A321XLR enters service.
What are the best seats in American Main Cabin on LAX-LIH?
Best: Rows 11-16 are designated Main Cabin Extra with 35 inches of pitch. Row 11 bulkhead has the most legroom. Exit row offers additional space. Avoid: Last row (22) has limited recline and is near the rear lavatory. Middle seats (B and E) are least desirable. Half of the economy cabin (36 seats) is Main Cabin Extra with additional pitch. Seatback IFE screens with live TV in all economy seats. Only 72 economy seats total, making this a very premium-heavy narrowbody configuration. Exit row seats on the A320/A321 family offer extra legroom but do not recline. The row immediately before the exit also has limited recline due to clearance requirements.
What are the best seats in United United First on LAX-LIH?
Best: Row 1 has the most legroom as a bulkhead. 1A and 1F offer the most privacy with the wall on one side. Row 2 is the sweet spot between legroom and storage (bulkhead rows lack under-seat storage). Avoid: Row 5 seats 5A/5B do not recline; 5E/5F have roughly half the recline of other First rows. This is the biggest seat trap on the 737-900ER. Signature Interior with Collins Aerospace Pinnacle seats, 13-inch HD seatback touchscreens with Bluetooth audio, USB-A and USB-C at every seat plus AC outlet. Complimentary meal service on flights over 800 miles; snack basket on shorter flights. ViaSat Ka-band WiFi free for MileagePlus members. Starlink awaiting FAA certification for 737-900ER, expected during 2026. Majority of fleet retrofitted to Signature Interior; some older aircraft remain.
What are the best seats in United Economy on LAX-LIH?
Best: Exit row 21 has 38.8 inches of pitch — more than First Class. The 2-seat side rows 20-21 are the best economy seats on the plane. Rows 7-14 are Economy Plus with 33-34-inch pitch. Avoid: Last row (row 33) has severely limited or no recline due to the rear lavatory wall. Rows 32-33 experience galley noise and lavatory traffic. Middle seats (B, E) in any row are the tightest at 30-inch pitch. Signature Interior with 10-inch HD seatback touchscreens and Bluetooth audio. USB-A and USB-C at every seat plus shared AC outlets. ViaSat Ka-band WiFi free for MileagePlus members. 42 Economy Plus seats in rows 7-14 have 33-34-inch pitch; 117 standard Economy seats have 30-inch pitch. Three sub-variants exist (39/42/45 Economy Plus seats); Version 2 with 42 E+ is most common (~84 of ~99 aircraft).