Best Tips for Booking Travel to Lihue, Kauai

You’ve seen the pictures of the serene, uncrowded beaches and the lush tropical rainforests. You’re dreaming of guava juice and mai tais. 

Before you get ahead of yourself, you need to get your travel booked. 

We typically recommend looking at flights and availability for a Kauai vacation rental home simultaneously as availability and pricing for both can vary greatly by date. 

Next, you’ll want more information on how you can have the most efficient air travel trip to the Lihue airport. Because Kauai is one of the less populated islands, airlines servicing the island and flight route options are often changing.

This blog will provide currently available mainland routes, best airports for direct flight options, and which airlines are best to check for flights to Lihue.

Let’s get that flight booked to Kauai! 

Mainland U.S. Airports with Direct Flights to Lihue (LIH)

Here’s a current list of mainland U.S. locations (airports) that offer direct (non-stop) flights to Lihue Airport (LIH)on Kauai, along with the airlines that typically operate those routes. Routes and schedules can change seasonally or year-to-year, so always verify with the airline before booking.

Departure Airport (Mainland)	Airline(s) Operating Direct Flights to LIH
Los Angeles International (LAX)	American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines¹
San Francisco International (SFO)	United Airlines, Alaska Airlines (seasonal/service varies)¹
Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA)	Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines¹
Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX)	American Airlines¹
Denver International (DEN)	United Airlines¹
Salt Lake City International (SLC)	Delta Air Lines (often seasonal)¹
Portland International (PDX)	Alaska Airlines (seasonal or limited)¹
San Jose International (SJC)	Alaska Airlines, Southwest Airlines (seasonal/schedule dependent)¹
Oakland International (OAK)	Historically offered direct flights by some carriers (seasonal/varies)¹

*Routes and operating airlines are subject to seasonal schedules and changes. Some flights may operate only on select days or in peak travel seasons.

Typical Airline Operators on Mainland → LIH Routes

If you’re just starting your flight search or have flexibility on your departure destination, this list will be helpful when considering which airline to fly. Typically, these airlines offer options to fly from the mainland to Lihue, with one or no stops.

• Alaska Airlines – West Coast gateways (e.g., SEA, PDX, SFO, SJC) to LIH. iFly+1

• American Airlines – Major routes from LAX and PHX to LIH. iFly+1

• Delta Air Lines – Often from LAX, SEA, SLC (some seasonal). iFly+1

• United Airlines – Connects LIH with major hubs (LAX, SFO, DEN). iFly+1

• Southwest Airlines – Offers services from select West Coast airports (e.g., LAX, SJC, possibly OAK depending on season). iFly+1

• Hawaiian Airlines – Provides direct flights chiefly from major West Coast cities (e.g., LAX).

Tips to Remember When Booking Travel to Kauai

It’s easy to want to skip to the part where you’re drinking a mai thai on the beach, but there are important things to remember when you’re booking travel to the island of Kauai.

• Some cities (like Chicago (ORD), Dallas (DFW), New York (JFK), Miami (MIA)) may show up in some aggregated lists or scheduled flight search results as destinations served from LIH but these often refer to one-stop itineraries, not direct non-stop flights. 

• Routes can vary by season (e.g., summer vs. winter schedules), and airlines may add or remove direct flights based on demand. Google Flights can be a good resource for searching flights and finding the best deals.

• Always verify the latest schedules directly with the airline or through flight search tools when planning trips.

Current Flight Deals to Lihue, Kauai

Last updated December 2025

The following list includes current best flight deals.

Alaska Airlines Winter Escape Sale (ends 1/8/26).

Hawaiian Airlines Winter Escape Sale (ends 1/8/26).