Passengers on most Hawaiian Airlines Main Cabin transpacific flights will pay about $11.99 to $16.99 for onboard meals from July 1, after the carrier replaced its longstanding complimentary economy sandwich with a chef-curated preorder and buy-on-board program. The change was announced in a May 28 company press release and removes the standard Hot Pocket-style sandwich on most Hawaii to mainland U.S. routes, while preserving free meals only on the longer Honolulu to JFK service. Main Cabin customers can preorder meals as late as 20 hours before flight time through Hawaiian's website or app, with menu items developed by Maui chef Sheldon Simeon. Hawaiian says the move aligns meal production with guest demand and will reduce food and packaging waste.
Most Main Cabin passengers will no longer receive the free Hot Pocket-style sandwich because Hawaiian moved to a preorder model to align meal production with actual guest demand and cut waste, the airline said in its May 28 press release.
What changes on board
From July 1, Main Cabin travellers on almost all domestic transpacific flights will be offered a menu of purchasable meals priced roughly between $11.99 and $16.99, depending on item and time of day. The menu was built with Maui chef Sheldon Simeon, whom the airline identified as a James Beard Award finalist, and includes island-inspired entrees such as barbecue teriyaki chicken bento on white rice and crispy mochiko chicken with garlic noodles, plus breakfast options like French toast with Portuguese sausage. Hawaiian said some media coverage has reported breakfast and entree prices in the mid-teens.
Hawaiian framed the shift as an upgrade in choice and quality rather than a simple rollback. "By moving to a preorder model, we’re expanding beyond a single standard meal to offer a broader menu that reflects how our guests want to dine today," Alisa Onishi, managing director of Hawaii marketing for Hawaiian Airlines, said in the press release. Chef Sheldon Simeon said the onboard dishes are intended to showcase Hawaiian flavours.
How the preorder system will work
Under the new system, Main Cabin customers can select meals through the airline’s website or app as late as 20 hours before flight time. Hawaiian already offers preorder options to premium customers and said it will expand that capability to Main Cabin travellers. The carrier says matching production to preorders will let it rotate menus seasonally and reduce packaging and food waste.
Even when travellers opt not to purchase a Main Cabin meal, Hawaiian will continue to provide a complimentary welcome beverage and a locally made snack plus a sweet treat. The airline emphasised that the free beverage and snack remain part of the Main Cabin experience even as the standard sandwich is phased out on most routes.
The policy applies to nearly all Hawaii to continental U.S. services, with one clear exception: the longer Honolulu to JFK route will continue to offer complimentary meals in Main Cabin. The change also affects connecting itineraries. Passengers flying from Australia to Hawaii will still receive complimentary meals on the first international segment when those airlines provide them.
Airports will be subject to the new buy-on-board rules.
Hawaiian positioned the move as a demand-driven operational change rather than a straight cost cut. It told investors in a recent filing by its parent, Alaska Air Group, that it's pursuing multi-year investments in guest experience and aircraft interiors even as it adjusts service offerings.
The commercial impact will fall chiefly on Main Cabin leisure and business passengers who fly between Hawaii and the continental United States. Historically, Hawaiian had been among the last U.S. carriers to offer a complimentary economy meal on domestic long-haul routes. The decision follows a wider industry trend toward buy-on-board and preorder dining options, a shift that has seen other carriers limit complimentary economy meals on similar sectors.
Operationally, moving to preorders should reduce how much food is loaded aboard aircraft, which Hawaiian argues lowers waste and the volume of disposable packaging used on flights. The airline also said expanding the preorder capability will allow for greater menu variety and seasonal offerings that better reflect local tastes and chef collaboration.
For customers, the trade-off is clear: more choice and potentially higher-quality, island-inspired meals if travellers are willing to pay, and fewer guaranteed free options for those who don't preorder. Hawaiian hasn't said it will reintroduce a free standard sandwich in Main Cabin on affected flights once the new system is live.
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The new Main Cabin preorder and buy-on-board program takes effect on July 1. Originally reported by USA Today.
This article was created with AI assistance.
