domestic · 5h 25m · 3,867 km
San Francisco to Honolulu
3 airlines · 3 aircraft ranked
Hawaiian is the only carrier offering premium economy on this route, scoring 4.1/10.In economy, Hawaiian's Economy (A330-200) edges out the field with a 4.9/10.
Quick pick
Fly Hawaiian. It scores higher across seat comfort and amenities.
If prices are similar, go with this one.
Fly Hawaiian. It has 39 more inches of legroom and a lie-flat bed.
A noticeably better product that justifies the pick.
Select two airlines to compare head-to-head
Data verified June 2026
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Airlines on this route
Route insights
- Hawaiian is the only carrier offering premium economy on this route, scoring 4.1/10.
- In economy, Hawaiian's Economy (A330-200) edges out the field with a 4.9/10.
- In first class, Hawaiian's First Class (A330-200) dominates the field with a 5.6/10.
Frequently asked
Which is better in first: Hawaiian or United on SFO-HNL?
First Class (Hawaiian Airlines, A330-200) dominates United First (United Airlines, 737-900ER) in first, scoring 5.6/10 vs 2.8. The deciding factor: lie-flat seat vs recliner.
Which is better in economy: Hawaiian or United on SFO-HNL?
Economy (Hawaiian Airlines, A330-200) edges out Economy (United Airlines, 737-900ER) in economy, scoring 4.9/10 vs 4.2. The deciding factor: AC + USB-C vs USB-C only. United Airlines fights back on power.
Which is better in first: Hawaiian or Alaska on SFO-HNL?
First Class (Hawaiian Airlines, A330-200) dominates First Class (Alaska Airlines, 737-900ER) in first, scoring 5.6/10 vs 2.8. The deciding factor: lie-flat seat vs recliner. Alaska Airlines fights back on seat width.
Which is better in economy: Hawaiian or Alaska on SFO-HNL?
Economy (Hawaiian Airlines, A330-200) edges out Main Cabin (Alaska Airlines, 737-900ER) in economy, scoring 4.9/10 vs 4.4. The deciding factor: complimentary meals vs buy on board.
Which is better in first: United or Alaska on SFO-HNL?
United First (United Airlines, 737-900ER) and First Class (Alaska Airlines, 737-900ER) score virtually the same in first: 2.8 vs 2.8/10. The biggest gap is seat width — 21"-wide seats vs 20" — but neither carrier pulls ahead overall.
Which is better in economy: United or Alaska on SFO-HNL?
Economy (United Airlines, 737-900ER) and Main Cabin (Alaska Airlines, 737-900ER) score virtually the same in economy: 4.2 vs 4.4/10. The biggest gap is power — AC + USB-C vs USB-C only — but neither carrier pulls ahead overall.
What are the best seats in Hawaiian First Class on SFO-HNL?
Best: Row 1 window seats (1A, 1K) for maximum privacy. Center pairs (1D, 1G) work well for couples. Avoid: Aisle seats in the 2-2-2 layout have less privacy. Center-aisle seats in row 3 are near the cabin divider. 180-degree lie-flat seats in 2-2-2 layout. No seatback IFE; iPads are distributed to passengers with movie/TV content. Free Starlink wifi fleet-wide. Multi-course meal service with Hawaiian-inspired cuisine. No amenity kit provided; blanket and pillow at seat. Center divider can be raised between paired seats.
What are the best seats in Hawaiian Extra Comfort on SFO-HNL?
Best: Row 4 bulkhead seats have the most legroom in Extra Comfort. Window pairs (A-B and J-K) avoid center section. Avoid: Center seats (D, E, F, G) in the 2-4-2 layout have no direct aisle or window access. 36-inch pitch with 6 inches of recline. Personal power outlet at every seat. Seatback IFE screens with Panasonic entertainment system. Free Starlink wifi. Complimentary meal service on mainland routes. Priority boarding included. Blanket and pillow provided.
What are the best seats in Hawaiian Economy on SFO-HNL?
Best: Window pairs in rows 13-14 (just behind Extra Comfort divider) are quieter. Row 27 exit row has extra legroom. Avoid: Center seats (D-G) in the 2-4-2 layout. Last rows near galley and lavatories. 31-inch pitch in 2-4-2 layout. Seatback IFE screens at every seat with USB-A charging port next to screen. No AC power outlets in standard economy. Free Starlink wifi for all passengers. Complimentary meal service on mainland long-haul routes.
What are the best seats in United United First on SFO-HNL?
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 SFO-HNL?
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).
What are the best seats in Alaska First Class on SFO-HNL?
Best: Row 1 for maximum legroom. Window seats in rows 1-2 are quiet and private. Avoid: Row 4 (last row of first) may have limited meal choices due to service order. 41-inch pitch is among the best domestic first class products in the US. No seatback IFE screens; stream to personal devices via Gogo 2Ku Wi-Fi. USB-A and AC outlet under center armrest. Free for T-Mobile customers. Pre-order meals system with limited choices.
What are the best seats in Alaska Main Cabin on SFO-HNL?
Best: Exit row seats (row 15/16) offer extra legroom. Avoid: Last row (34) has limited recline and is near the lavatory. Middle seats throughout. Standard domestic economy with 31-inch pitch. USB-A and AC power at every seat. No seatback screens; entertainment streams to personal devices. Boeing Sky Interior with larger overhead bins. Exit row seats on the 737 offer extra legroom but do not recline. The row immediately before the exit also has limited recline due to clearance requirements.