When The Word “Sale” Means Nothing
United Airlines New Years Fare sale lists Hawaii destinations. Come and get them quick, right? No, I don’t suggest it, and here’s why:
Chicago to Honolulu
United New Years sale: $329 each way, plus tax
Beat of Hawaii: If you’d bought as recently as yesterday, you could have flown on American Airlines, for under $350 round-trip (all-inclusive)!
Washington D.C. to Maui
United New Years sale: $349 each way, plus tax
Beat of Hawaii: You can still take advantage of the $427 round-trip (all-inclusive) offer we have been following. It presently expires on February 8, but will undoubtedly be extended and/or improved shortly.
So what is the deal?
As with retail, the airlines will resort to anything and everything to drive business in our economic doldrums. Your job is not to believe it’s a deal unless it really is.
The Hawaii airfare deals for the New Year are still cooking. They are also illusive, on-again and off-again nearly faster than I can type. Only buy them when they are hot. The difference between a great deal and these wannabee deals is virtually enough to pay for the rest of your vacation. When I put them up as great deals, they usually are. And that means that you need to buy them right then. This is yet another example of why that is true.
The deals aren’t gone, in fact they have barely begun. So perhaps skip this one and stay tuned for more real deals!
I got lucky and was able to rebook my SFO-KOA for almost half of what I paid in Aug for direct flights, and decent fares PDX-OGG, so maybe its hit or miss. Appreciate all your comments!