Hawaiian Airlines is putting bigger planes on its busiest neighbor island route, good news for travelers who want more seats but a hassle for anyone used to checking bags at the last minute.

• Starting October 3, Alaska Boeing 737s will fly three daily round trips between Honolulu and Kahului.
• The bigger jets add seats on the route, with Hawaiian's smaller 717s staying in service until 2028, when the fleet is set to retire.
• Also from October 3, checked bags must be dropped off at least 50 minutes before neighbor island flights, up from 30 minutes today.
• The change reflects Alaska Airlines' ownership of Hawaiian, folding Alaska's fleet and rules into the island network.

Outlook: Expect more 737s on neighbor island routes as the 717s are phased out, so build extra time into airport arrivals for interisland trips.