Still meals on HI airlines?

Question

With the merger are complimentary meals on west coast flights to HI still a thing on HI airlines?

Answer

Great question. Yes, Hawaiian Airlines (HA) still offers complimentary meals on many flights between the U.S. mainland (including West Coast) and Hawaii — but there are some important caveats, especially now that HA is part of Alaska Air Group.

Here’s the breakdown of the current situation:

Complimentary Meals on Mainland ↔ Hawaii Flights: According to Hawaiian’s own in-flight dining page, they serve “island-inspired meals” in Main Cabin on longer North America (West Coast) flights.
Time Restrictions: For U.S. mainland flights that depart after ~8:30 PM, HA’s policy says they do not serve the full meal in Economy / Extra Comfort. Several passengers have reported getting a “light” meal or snack instead on later flights.
Red-Eye Flights: These are the most likely to *not* include a full complimentary meal.
Quality / What You Get: Reported meals include items like hot rolls, sandwiches (e.g., garlic-pesto chicken), and “pizza pocket-style” hot items. Some seem lighter than what people might expect for a “gourmet” meal.
Who Operates the Flight Matters: Because of the HA / Alaska merger, some flights are “Hawaiian-branded” but actually operated by Alaska. On those, meal service may depend on the operating carrier. Several travelers say that if the flight is HA-coded but flown by Alaska, the free meal might not be included.

Bottom Line: Yes — HA still offers free meals on many West Coast → Hawaii flights in the Main Cabin, especially on daytime flights. But if your flight leaves late (after ~8:30 PM) or is operated by Alaska (even if it’s HA-branded), there’s a risk you might only get a snack or light item. I recommend checking your specific flight’s “in-flight dining” details when you book or just before you fly.

Still meals on HI airlines?

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