Hawaiian Airlines vs, Go!
 

If the cost is identical ($49) is there any difference between these airlines? For example, one terminal really far from rental car return, or one airline with the reputation for lateness etc?

We're flying from Maui to HNL. So, it's not a huge deal. But, I thought I would ask anyway.

We flew Go! in March interisland between Maui and Oahu. The jets are small CRJ's (100/200) with about 50 seats with open seating and are smaller than what Hawaiian or even Aloha used to operate and so if you happen to have carry on luggage it is more likely to fit in the overhead compartments on the Hawaiian flight than it is to fit on the Go flight-in which case you have to check the bags.

The Go! flights from HNL are located at a smaller separate terminal from Hawaiian and Mainland flights and getting on and off the plane involved walking more distance to and from the plane unprotected from the elements ((R)) on the tarmac and using stairs instead of a jetway to get on/off.

If you want to redeem FF miles for the interisland flight and not pay $-)49, HA has more partners than Go!

Given the same price, HA would always be my first choice, please see awards link below:
http://tinyurl.com/yzaymjy

I think it was a Go airline flight crew that was cited for falling asleep and over shooting their destination. My point being smaller companies may overwork or otherwise not maintain their crew properly.

Yeah. The Go airline pilots both fell asleep and overshot Hilo airport by 15 minutes. They are darned lucky there was enough fuel to return to the airport otherwise they would have had to ditch the plane and all it's passengers in the ocean south of Hawaii.

I and many others will never take go! because of their business practice.

Well I guess that answers my questions. Will obviously book HA.

Thanks,

My only gripe with Hawaiian is that the exact same bag with the exact same stuff in it weighed in at 46 pounds with American, and 45 pounds with Island Air, but twice Hawaiian Airlines weighed it at 53 pounds. I'm sorry, but it did NOT gain then lose 7 to 8 pounds. They allowed me to take some things out and carry it on, but still. . .

I hear they actually calibrate the scales they use...

I've found that HA is more likely to enforce the baggage weight penalty coming back from Hawaii as opposed to flying out.
The problem with getting mad at airlines for trying to get extra revenue is the entire industry is poorly run and rarely profitable. HA is no different. Aloha was awful.

Dukey, did you mean they calibrate their scales to be accurate, or calibrate them to include extra weight? I'm curious what you meant by your statement.

I understood it to mean they actually calibrate them to be accurate. To do otherwise would be fraud, both civil and criminal.

We flew them both. If the price is the same, or even nearly the same, and the schedule works, I would much prefer HA.

But what would make one think that Hawaiian Airlines calibrates them to be "accurate" but the other airlines scales show 7 to 8 pounds less. Are we then suggesting the other airlines are wrong, and only Hawaiian calibrates them accurately? Hard to imagine.

By the way, the two weigh-ins by American after the two "heavy" ones by Hawaiian were 47 and 49 pounds. That made sense, as I did buy a few jams and marinades and packed them. But there is still absolutely no explanation for the two readings by Hawaiian Airlines of 53 pounds.