Hi,
I’ve recently become interested in learning more about Hawaiian Airlines and the lifestyle of an A321 pilot. What is the schedule like? How many days off? Do pilots like the aircraft? Bases? Pay? Also is there any way you could commute from the west coast as a Hawaiian pilot? I know that is quite the commute and could be rough at times, but is it possible?
Thanks! 
Cole,
Welcome to the forum, you came to the right place to find a Hawaiian Airlines Captain, Adam I am sure will respond shortly with his experience and current outlook. A lot of your questions are public knowledge and updated on another forum called Airline Pilot Central (see link below).
For information about the company that’s public, you could reference: Hawaiian Airlines | AirlinePilotCentral.com
Please feel free to ask any other questions you may have.
Brady
Aloha Cole,
I’m the resident HAL expert as I’m a HAL 717 Capt and have been at the airline for 9yrs. I could hold the 321 but have no desire to (I’ll elaborate below). Here’s some answers:
As with EVERY airline, schedules, days off, etc etc etc vary with seniority. The senior guys get the most days off and the “best” trips, the junior guys don’t. That said the bulk of the 321 trips are West Coast 2 days. Very efficient with short overnights. What days you work and don’t again will be based on your seniority. New pilots won’t see weekends or holiday off for a while.
Our contract sets the min days off as 12 and as a new pilot that’s what you can expect. The company staffs a little lean and most lines are built to the low to mid 80hrs. If you figure the average 2 day is worth 12hrs, that’s 7trips @ 84hrs = 14 work days and 16 off for most pilots with some seniority.
HAL has one base which is HNL. The 321 however does alot of flying out off OGG, KOA and LIH which means the pilots that fly those trips start and end their trips deadheading to start. I absolutely hate dhing which is the primary reason I won’t fly the 321. At my seniority all the trips I would hold would include deadheads. Most pilots however don’t mind them.
Pay again goes up with seniority. First year pay is around $80k for all fleets. Second year jumps to about $125k , Capts top out at about $275k. That said we’re currently in contact negotiations and expect the pay to increase based on the short supply of pilots.
Many 321 pilots commute from the West Coast. I don’t but I’ve been told there are many options and it’s not bad. Very possible.
Adam
Thank you so much for the info Adam! Yeah Hawaiian seems like a great airline to possibly fly for. Currently working on my CFI and almost at 500 hours. Looking to head to the regionals in the next year or so, spend some time there, and then apply to Hawaiian when I meet the minimums.
Hi Adam! I see you’re the go to Hawaiian Airlines guy on here! You seem very helpful.
I just put my application in a few days ago and I am buzzing with excitement. I don’t have an interview yet but I’m doing everything I can to get in.
In the meantime I’m curious about the current schedule for a new hire FO in the 321 & 330. I see you gave some good insight on the 321 schedule here, but I couldn’t find anything on the 330. Do you happen to know the latest?
Mahalo!
Aloha Baillie,
Yes I’m the Hawaiian guy. Good luck with getting an interview. We’re hiring very aggressively right now and it’s a great time to start here. As long as you meet the mins you’ve got a good shot at an interview. Hopefully you’ve got some internal recs and some ties to the islands as both go a long way (if not no worries, again we’re hiring aggressively and my understanding is more people than ever are getting calls).
Obviously schedules vary based on seniority (and also know you could get the 321, the 330 or the 717). Newhires almost always start on Reserve and our contract guarantees 12 days off a month. The 321 does all West Coast flying. They’re generally very efficient (aka short overnights). The Neo has also been doing some interisland flying due to the busy summer schedule and staffing but that should end soon.
The 330 does a combo of West Coast and long haul (JFK, BOS, MCO, AUS, with some Asia and Australia. We’re not back to pre-pandemic flying but Japan is supposed to return to regular scheduled service in Aug. SYD is back. Hopefully others will follow soon). Again you’ll most likely be on Reserve which actually isn’t a bad thing (senior people call in sick more than jr pilots and vacate better trips).
The 717 only flies interisland. Personally I think it’s the best gig in aviation. We used to be home every night but the company added overnight to add efficiency but they’re really not bad. Most are short. We only fly to 5 airports. 90% of the time it’s VMC and its just fun (longest flight is about 35min, shortest is 18). Do 6 quick legs and you’re done. Interisland also has the best Reserve rules which helps when you’re new.
Regardless of which you get you’ll have a 2yr seatlock and then you can try something else. It’s a great place to be, lots of good people.
Let me know if you have any other questions and good luck!
Adam
Adam,
Thank you for the quick response! I appreciate you taking the time to answer my question.
I do have the minimums and thankfully I have a few connections. My dad flew for Hawaiian for 28 years! He was captain on the A330, B-767, DC-9, DC-10 and DHC-7. Maybe you flew with him at one point in the 330? I was born and raised on the island, and although I currently reside in California, I’ve been trying to make my way back home.
A few additional questions for you, as a new hire do you have a choice on aircraft or does it seem like most new hires get the A330? And how long are the trips on the 330? I understand everything can vary, and seniority changes everything. I’m just curious what the first year might look like.
The 717 gig sounds awesome. I see the pros and cons for each aircraft so I honestly don’t know which I would choose if I had a choice! I suppose you could try all of them at some point.
Thank you,
Baillie Barnett
Baillie,
No, most newhires don’t end up on the 330, again you could get any of the 3 (when I interviewedI was told I’d def be 330 and I was given the 717). Based on the staffing needs you may be assigned any of the 3 airplanes. If there are slots open on more than one airplane you’ll bid within your class (seniority is based on the last 4 of your SS#).
Right now the 330 trips are mostly 2 and 3 days. When we return to normal you’ll see more 3 and 4 day trips.
Honestly there’s no way of knowing what you’re first year will look like until you’re here and know what plane you’re on. The only think you can pretty much count on again is being on Reserve.
Based on your legacy status I’m sure you’ll be getting a call, unless your dad was a problem child but I don’t know any with the last name Barnett so I think you’re good 
Adam
Hey Adam I have some questions about the 717 schedule, I’m new to this forum is there a direct message option? Thanks
Willie,
The idea of this forum is so people can ask anything and everything but all can benefit from the answers. With that in mind there is no DM, simply ask away.
Adam
Okay good to know! So I just got a cjo and I have a high last 4 of social so I’m guessing I will get 717. I have family on Maui that said I can stay with them to keep my cost down first living but how much flying really starts there? And does that go more senior? I know there’s a ton of flights to HNL but just trying to get all the info I can. Also what’s reserve like these days in the right seat?
Willie,
Congrats on the job.
First off you have absolutely no way of knowing which airplane you’ll get. While a high social puts you jr in the class, a new bid just opened and most of the vacancies are showing in the 321 and 330 so it’s anybody’s guess? As for the 717 zero flying originates in OGG but we now do have some overnights there. The 330 has some flying out of OGG but ALL the OGG commuters shoot for the 321 which has the most flying out of OGG.
My understanding that Reserve in general has improved as the company has been hiring like mad and has caught up on training. That said it’s still Reserve so you’ll get what you get sooooo…
Adam
Sweet well thanks for the info! I was hoping to get the 321 just because I am from the west coast and have family all up and down the west coast so I could try to visit people. Hopefully I’ll hear back soon about a class date 
Aloha Adam,
I was curious what the length of time on reserve is approximately on each aircraft? Is it months or years?
Mahalo
With all the recent hiring I’ve been told months but that obviously can change.
Adam
Hey Adam, been thinking more and more about HAL and curious if you know how fast the upgrade could be on the 717? And also which AC do you get the most time at home?
Willie,
Right now we have pilots hired the beginning of 2022 holding 717 Capt on the new bid! It’s insanity!
Your second question is debate worthy. I fly InterIsland, and I’m therefore home every day (though not every night since we added the overnights), but the 330 pilots have the highest trip credit so they get the most days off. Lastly the 321 guys are in the middle and are also home every day, as their trips are all 2 days, but their days are generally longer so they’re home less the days they work BUT their credit is higher so they too get more days off. Short answer Id say it’s the Neo pilots.
Adam
Hello!
I was reading the above and saw some really good information, so thank you all for that!
I received an invitation for an interview the other day and I couldn’t be more excited. This is my dream airline!
Are there any tips that any of you may have for interviewing/what does the process look like?
I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself but could anybody speak to what the training looks like as well?
Thanks in advance!
Thomas,
Congrats on the interview! That in itself is no small feat.
As for the process unfortunately it’s been a while since I interviewed or was involved in the process so I really don’t have any recent details. That said I can tell you some aspects never change. The biggest, make sure you convey your desire to be at Hawaiian! They want to know you really want to be here. Second from the moment you walk into Koapaka treat EVERYONE you encounter like they’re the one making the decision, because they very well might be! You are being watched. Hawaiian is all about the culture and they want pilots who are a good “fit”. While this is true at every airline it’s more so here.
As for training the class data and footprints can vary by type but that’s a great question to ask while you’re there.
Adam
Thomas,
I’d recommend prep services! They can polish your resume, help jog your memory for stories throughout your career to answer “tell me about a time” questions and even help with technical prep. From my experience, it can take a good interview, and make it into a great one.
Most services are pricy but wouldn’t you want to do everything you can to put your best foot forward on the biggest day of your career?
Hannah