Exciting times. As 2018 draws to a rapid conclusion, it’s time to review 2019 predictions.
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297 thoughts on “2019 Predictions | When Will Southwest Hawaii Flights Start, Pricing & More!”
Exciting times. As 2018 draws to a rapid conclusion, it’s time to review 2019 predictions.
Get Breaking Hawaii Travel News
Hello,
I am flying to Maui out of Sacramento from Thursday, 11/15-11/22(thanksgiving) Right now flights are $526 round trip on Hawaiian airlines. Do you think I should wait or book now? Do you predict any sales? Thank you.
Hi Brittany.
Hard to predict for your dates and route. Gut says you can wait with a target in the $400’s. But only if you’re the adventuresome type.
Aloha.
Hi,I am looking to travel to Honolulu from LAX May 17 – 23rd of this year for 3 people. I see the airline prices are roughly $573.00 – 626.00. I saw a price drop on Jan 3rd. For 447$ & didn’t realize it was a 1 day sale until the next day when I went to buy. Do you predict anymore drops like that in the next 2 months for May travel dates?
Hello! I have wanted to visit Hawaii for years and look forward to your emails in hopes that one day I can go there! 🙂 I have heard that flights are going down in price, so I am hoping to plan a wonderful trip for my family of five(my kids are 20, 18, and 16) as soon as school gets out in May. I would like to go from MCO, Florida to OGG for about a week-leaving FL on May 25, for approximately a week, then off to Honolulu, Oahu on June 4th and leave for home on June 11th. I am not very experienced with booking flights. My dates don’t have to be exact, but close. I don’t know how to get the best prices/deals. Do you recommend using a travel agent or is it better to find deals online with different airlines? I am also trying to understand the best time to buy tickets. This is a new adventure for us, so I’d love for some advice/tips. Thank you so much!
Hi Kimberly.
If you aren’t comfortable with doing the planning and buying online yourself, then yes, a travel agent, well qualified and with lots of Hawaii experience, might be very useful. You should budget about $750 per person for airfare, plus inter-island flight. Right now your dates are priced higher, but that should come down over next month or two.
Hope that helps.
Aloha.
Hello,
Planning a trip with several adults and children traveling to Oahu May29-June 5th. Tickets now are roughly $775-$825. Is it better to purchase tickets now, or wait and see if prices will drop?
Thank you.
Hi Delia.
You didn’t indicate where you are traveling from but based it looks like Tucson. If you’re actually flying from Phoenix, then there’s a very good chance of lower prices for May to early June. Tucson less likely. But your return date is a Saturday and that probably won’t see good pricing no matter what. So consider changing to mid-week if possible.
Aloha.
I apologize, yes we will be traveling from Phoenix to Honolulu airport. Traveling dates Tuesday may 29th returning Tuesday June 5th. Will hold out for cheaper tickets, thank you!
Aloha!
My family and I are planning a trip to Kauai the end of March to the beginning of April. We’re flying from Los Angeles. Do you think the price will drop from $730/per person?
Thanks in advance for your advice!
Marissa
Hi Marissa.
Sometimes with spring break the price does ease up in the weeks just ahead. It’s hard to predict. It could also be unavailable.
As of today there are $533 nonstops on Delta for your time frame. Xlnt price.
Aloha.
Great blog post, thank you!
I’m so excited to take the kids to Hawaii for their, and my, first visit! My boyfriend lived there for a few years, so he’s thrilled to show it to us.
We’re going to be flying from Boston sometime in early April, we’re open as to dates, as we’re taking the kids out of school for it. Any suggestions? Everything I’m seeing right now is over $700 pp – is that what I should expect, or do you think there are fare drops coming?
Thank you in advance!
Hi Jenn.
The best we usually see is in low $700’s and that’s the case for quick connection time flights in April. Not sure it will improve as there is nothing we are anticipating.
Aloha.
Planning a family trip for 2018 7 adults 3 kids, looking at late June through july, Aug, or Nov Thanksgiving week : LAX to Kona what is best month for flight prices and when should we start looking given the southwest entry?
Thanks
Steven
Hi Steven.
You are looking at two of the most expensive possible times to visit (if it is late June, early July or Thanksgiving). Probably equally so. Not sure Southwest will be here in time for summer, but perhaps fall. We’ll know more about that soon. Mid-August will have good prices on your route if you wait. So, if that time frame works for you, and you’re a betting person, try holding off. Otherwise, you’ll have to pay up.
My husband and I are planning a trip to Hawaii for the last two weeks in October 2018. Our trip will be open jaw: going from ORD-HNL non-stop first class on United (the only non-stop from ORD), one week on Oahu, then inter-island from Oahu to Maui, one week on Maui, then OGG-PHX or another west coast city for one overnight before flying to MKE. We would like to fly first class for the non-stop and the flights home. I have been monitoring prices but I have no idea what a good price would be. How far in advance should we purchase these flights as well as the inter-island flight and at what price?
Hello love your blog and advice! I’m scheduled to fly to lax on July 7 2018 and not worried about getting to Hawaii from here that seems easy! Coming back to east coast looks challenging on July 19th. I have a lot of delta points which woukd help on 2 tickets. Do you thibk delta is the way to go to Pittsburgh and if so woukd you spring for first class? Talks of the different planes confuse me. Woukd you recommend first class and is 850 one way reasonable? Many thanks! Melissa
Hi Melissa.
Thanks! $850 in first class is reasonable for summer. You can look at a site like seatguru.com and see seating on various flight options. Probably we’d pick the 767 via MSP or ATL from HNL for wide-body and better first class.
Aloha.
We are looking at going to the Big Island and Kauai from the Bay Area/Sacramento in late July-flights are now $758 roundtrip including the interisland flight-do you think it will get cheaper or should we book now?
Hi Ryan.
Since 2018 will be anything but normal in Hawaii travel, yes it might go lower. Suggest waiting if you have flexibility. Also, can’t say when it might change, but chances are good you’ll thank us. 🙂
Aloha.
Hello! A group of 6 adults and 2 kids are planning a trip for May 3-10th. We have been holding out on buying tickets due to the current cost. We are flying from Seattle to Kauai. Do you think the prices will drop in January or she we not wait and book now at the current prices? We are afraid to wait too much longer and miss out on a flight.
Thank you!
Hi Jordana.
$372 (1-stop) to $465 (nonstop). Could improve if you wait, perhaps by $50. That is unless something radical happens with competition, which in 2018 is possible. If you’re comfortable waiting and not knowing, then take that route. Otherwise, current prices aren’t bad.
ALoha.
Hi. Happy New Year!! I have been monitoring package prices on Hawaiian from SFO to Kona in May. It’s my first time to Hawaii and am taking 5 other people. I just saw it’s $696 per person for flight condo and car but thinking it still might come down in January or later. Any ideas on what price I should be looking for? Any advice would be so much appreciated !!
Thank You and have a great day !!
Hi Cindy.
Happy New Year! We don’t get involved in evaluation of packages because there are too many variables with accommodations and car. We can address airfare. Today we published $353 nonstop on Hawaiian in May and you should without question jump on that this minute if you can. Fabulous price. Then buy the other elements separately.
Aloha.
I’ve emailed twice before and have not heard back from you. Maybe my email didn’t make it to you. I’ll give it another try …..
I’m traveling with 8 family members from Phoenix to Maui 06/23/18 and returning from Maui back to Phoenix 07/07/18. What is your opinion on fares at that time? We’ve always flown HA in the past, but would certainly consider another airline if airfare was less than HA. Do you think that prime summer travel from Phoenix to Maui will also see some fare reduction? Or, do you believe that airfare will continue to hover around the normal $900.00 per person mark because of summer demand?
I respect BOH opinion. You’re usually close to th mark on your predictions.
Mahalo,
TJ
Hi TJ.
We responded to the two comments you made earlier this month. THey are as follows:
Hi TJ.
Possible but not exactly likely. As new routes get added, competition tends to temporarily get a bit out of control. And thus sales even at peak times (such as for your dates) is possible. Could go either way. Sorry to not know more, but as flights are announced, that will be the indication.
Aloha.
(and this response)
Hi TJ.
No real encouragement for your dates unfortunately. Those Saturdays are the most peak dates of summer.
Aloha.
I’m ready to book a trip from LAX to KOA in mid-July 2018 as part of a package deal, with the airfare running about $700 on United. Now I’m wondering if I should wait a bit and book things separately if the airfare is going to be drastically reduced. Do you think this might happen for a July trip, or is it too much of a peak season to be affected. Mahalo!
Hi Gail.
We just don’t know. Kona certainly saw unexpected price drops on today’s post: https://beatofhawaii.com/hawaiian-airlines-deals-winter-airfare-sale/. Could that happen even in mid summer? No one knows. Kona and Kauai are set to benefit most from new route based competition.
Bottom line is are you a betting person? If so then wait. If not then buy.
Aloha.
Going to Kauai this year from Detroit. Undecided between week or two before Thanksgiving as one resort said is their slowest time or early December. Any suggestions on which migh be better travel time and cost? The hanks for any help!
Hi Cathy.
Think we’d suggest early November, or even October. First, more predictable weather. Second, December window of deals is much smaller than earlier in fall.
Aloha.
Thanks so much for the great fare information. I’m going to Maui on 5/8/18, and then to Honolulu for a week. I purchased my airfare from Chicago months ago. I was afraid to wait, thinking the fares good go up. I received a fare of $795, and I was happy. Having lived in Honolulu for 25 years, I have family on Oahu and Maui, so I go every year. How many months ahead should I book.Thanks again for all the great information.
Hi Linda.
We appreciate your many comments!
In 2018 all the rules we’ve learned doing this for 10 years are out the window. Reason being that unprecedented competition is stiring. This is evidenced by the nearly daily fare sales and new lows in prices that are totally unexpected. That is only going to accelerate from here. In addition, there’s always the possibility of the long talked about Hawaiian Air route from Chicago materializing.
Typically we would suggest buying for low season about 90 to 120 days in advance. But that was before all this started.
Aloha.
Hi! We are taking the entire family with grand babies to Kauai from Salt Lake City August 4-11 2018. I’m excited at the prospect of competing airlines. When do you think the best time to buy airfare would be?
Any chance that Alaska Airlines will be running Alaska metal from LAX to LIH by summer?
Do any of the airlines offer bereavement fares? My brother passed away last week and I will need to travel from PDX to HNL, but cannot book until I have date information, etc.
Hi,
First off thanks for your blog! Super helpful! I am planning a trip for July with a family of 4 and prices right now from Bay Area airports is about 640 rt. Both my wife and I have the southwest companion pass so that each of our daughters can get the free flight. Do you think I should keep waiting for Southwest or should I go ahead and book now through Hawaiian. I’m just afraid that if I keep waiting and Southwest doesn’t come through that prices will go up. Thanks for your help!
Danny
Hi Danny.
Thank you! July from Bay Area is tricky. Our gut call might indicate waiting – but ONLY if you’re the adventuresome kind. Reasoning is this. Normally cost wouldn’t go down, but we expect new flights in that time frame from the bay area. When there are new flights introduced, currently static competition goes awry and deals can erupt even at unexpected times of year. On SWA, concur it isn’t likely to happen by then. Possible, but it is a long shot for July. They’re still busy getting their ducks in a row.
Aloha.
Looking at flying to Maui in Mid April for two weeks. We have rates at $853 on American from our local airport. Think worth waiting? Or should we grab these now?
Hello, I have been monitoring flights out of Albuquerque to the Kona. This last month I have seen AA prices go from $844 to $730 for roundtrip flights in mid-July. Is it likely that prices will continue to drop any lower within the next few months?
Thank you for the help!
Hi Miko.
That fare is excellent for July and we would not expect it to go any lower. If anything it is likely to move up. Suggest buying.
Aloha.
We are going to Maui the week of May 13 2018, leaving from the NYC area. Right now prices for Hawaiian airlines are a about $1040 round trip. There are cheaper options but we really want to fly Hawaiian. When we went 5 years ago in May we paid $688 RT, haven’t seen prices that low this year! Hoping prices will at least go down a little. When do you think will be the best time to buy?
I will be traveling from lax to ogg in early june 2018 and returning from hnl to phx in june I have been to hawaii many times but not in june mostley sept. I see that the air fares on hawaiian and american are high now 764.00 per person do you think the price will drop a little around jan.-feb or should I book now Thank you
Hi Robert.
First week of June will have better pricing ahead. Later in June may or may not – that’s part of the unknown for next summer. Typically mid to late June is peak pricing.
Aloha.
Are airfares from Los Angeles (LAX) to Lihue likely to go below $886 per person round trip? Leaving on June 16, 2018 and returning on June 23, 2018
Hi Karen.
It is entirely possible give the unknown competition for next year. But it is anything but certain.
Aloha.
Will mid June fares go lower? I got one way award tickets to Lihue but am looking to buy return fares for June 16 or June 18. The lowest I have seen for one way from Lihue to Los Angeles is $417. Do you think there will be summer sales coming up after Christmas?
Hi Sue.
Next year is a bit of a crap shoot because of new flights. You can try to wait it out and see what happens. Sales to Hawaii in summer is generally speaking an oxymoron.
Aloha.
Aloha !
My sister is getting married March 24, 2018 on the big Island. I’m flying from Indianapolis or Chicago. Right now it’s tickets are around $1200. Flying on the 22nd and returning the 29th or 30th. Any chance of seeing this price go down?
Hi Juli.
Peak spring break dates. Not likely any downward price adjustments unless you want to wait towards last minute.
Aloha.
We are a family of 4 traveling from east coast to Maui, Kauai and Honolulu April 20-May 5, 2018. R/t on Hawaiian Air is currently pricing about $1200 per person including island hopping ($175). Souls we book now or hope to see lower rates?
Flying in July 2018 from Chicago to Maui (one way) $985 for 2 people and returning from Kauai to Chicago for $780. Checked bags extra. Also will need to get an inter island flight. With United adding lots of additional flights in January…should I wait or is this a good deal? These are one stop flights. I would LOVE to fly non-stop to Honolulu and take an inter island flight to Maui but that is very, very expensive.
Thank you!!
Hi Connie.
We find $930 total in July with good connetion for ORD-OGG and LIH-ORD. Price is as expected. Not sure it will improve by waiting and has potential to go higher.
Aloha.
Hi. Just read your article. We are a family of 4 flying from Spokane, WA, via Seattle, to Kona, June 29-July 6. Fares are upwards of $1150 now on AS (have AS credit card) and have been for the last 45 days. Would waiting until year-end be smart to see what develops or just get it booked? Thanks for your helpful insights!
Hi Carrie.
Pretty much most expensive week of summer you’ve picked. Might improve based on new routes, but are you willing to bet on that? If it does, Spokane won’t play in new deals, so you might be hoofing it to Seattle to take advantage of that.
Aloha.
What about flight to Vegas? Will the prices go lower than 553?? For January 2018?
Hi, I’m traveling with my family of four, March 8-13, Los Angeles to Maui (LAX to OGG). I have been seeing tickets priced at $500 each for the last few weeks.
Trying to figure out if I should buy now or wait. Thanks!
Hi Maryam.
$489 today on Hawaiian. Probably won’t improve much if at all because it is a little early for the new planes.
Aloha.
Planning a family trip for 7 from Oakland to Oahu towards the end of June 2018. Round trip on Hawaiian is currently about $650. Should I wait to book? Do you think price will drop?
Hello! My Fiance and I are going to Kauai for our honeymoon from July 4- July 15 2018. Prices right now for flights are around $950. Do you think I should wait for the price drop to (hopefully) happen? Thank you!! 🙂
Hi Corinne.
One doesn’t normally expect a price drop at one of the most expensive times of year. However next year, with more flights, it is possible. Hard to predict and you didn’t say where you are traveling from.
Aloha.
Hi! I’m looking for flights from LAX to Kauai for mid-May 2018. With the changes, when should I be looking to pull the trigger on flights? Today they are approx. $570.
Thanks for all the advice!
Aloha,
Gina
Hi Gina.
Suggest waiting. Target price of $400.
Aloha.
We have a family reunion vacation planned for the end of April 2018 to Kauai. We have kids flying from LAX, Las Vegas and Pasco WA. Prices are in the $545 range at LAX, $638 from LV and $792 from Pasco. Shall we wait a few months or do you think these are decent prices?
We have a trip planned for our entire family from June 1 – June 9, 2018. I have been watching flights for several months from Dallas to Honolulu. The flight prices have pretty much stalled in the $900s. This seems to high in my eyes, but I would like be to know your opinions please. Should we continue to wait or will they not get any better? Thank you for you time.
Hi Ryan.
Friday/Saturday flights are causing it to be more expensive. There are mid $700’s for mid week travel with good connections. About $1,000 for nonstop. Not sure these will improve by waiting for your specific travel dates.
Aloha.
We are a family of 4 (2 adults, 2 15 year olds) looking to fly out of Phoenix to Maui (OGG) around March 16 or 17 2018. So far, the cheapest flights we have seen are around the $800 mark. Should we book the cheapest flight we can find now, or wait until early next year to see if rates go down? Thank you for all the helpful information!
Hi Carlos.
Spring break – probably won’t improve. You can wait if you’re flexible but again it isn’t encouraging for those dates.
Aloha.
Hello husband and young teen will be tracing third week of March until April 1 from Chicago to Hawaii. They want to spend 4 nights in Maui and 6 nights in Kona. The back and forth flights seem hard to manage price and timing. What is best to do round trip to Maui and then look at smaller fights to Kona. And prices are about $1200 per person do you think they will drop?
Thanks so much for the valuable information on airfares. I always book my hotel first, I know I cancel a few days before I arrive. I’ve been checking fares from Chicago since June. I just kept looking. I finally found a website “FlightHub” I would check every day. Finally booked yesterday. Locked in a fare of $750 on American to Kaualui,flying back from Honolulu.
Thanks again for all the wonderful information. You’re the best
Aloha! My husband and I are planing a trip to The Big Island (KOA) from STL the last week of Feb. 2018. Rates just dropped on United today…….Should I do it now or wait??