Hawaiian Airlines now allows travelers to bid for business-class upgrades on select routes between Hawai‘i and Japan and South Korea. The airline’s Bid Up service is available to ticketed main cabin guests who want a chance to move into the business cabin.
Launched in 2016, Bid Up has already upgraded more than 55,000 passengers. Eligible travelers typically receive a Bid Up invitation about 10 days before departure, giving them an opportunity to submit a bid for any available business-class seats. Successful bidders are notified roughly two days prior to departure. To qualify, an itinerary must include at least one segment between Hawai‘i and one of the airline’s 12 international destinations or one of its 12 North American gateway cities.
“Bid Up has been extremely popular since we first launched the service in 2016, and we’re excited to offer our guests in Japan and Korea a flexible and convenient way to experience our award-winning, fully-flat business class offering,” said Theo Panagiotoulias, senior vice president of global sales and alliances for Hawaiian Airlines.
Passengers who win a Bid Up upgrade enjoy the suite of premium cabin amenities, such as two complimentary checked bags, expedited check-in, access to Hawaiian Airlines Premier Club lounges where available, priority boarding, enhanced in-flight dining, and other business-class comforts designed to make travel more relaxing and convenient.
The Bid Up program provides a cost-effective option for travelers who prefer the comforts of business class but did not originally purchase a premium fare. By delivering a transparent bidding process and advance notification, the service helps passengers plan and enjoy upgraded travel with minimal hassle. Travelers interested in bidding should watch for the invitation email from Hawaiian Airlines and review eligibility and terms for their specific itinerary.