Cheap Flights to Hawaii Includes Great News On When to Buy

Planning and tips for each season. Save money and find cheap flights to Hawaii.

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134 thoughts on “Cheap Flights to Hawaii Includes Great News On When to Buy”

  1. Hello, when will be the best time to buy airline tickets from VLD to KOA for June 28, 2022; returning July 6, 2022 for 4 adults, one child (6 y.o.), and one infant (9 mos.)? We may also consider flying out of Jacksonville, FL to KOA. Dates are not flexible as lodging has already been booked. Thank you!

    1. Hi Nora.

      With dates and circumstances such as you described, it would be best to buy when it is first available. For all airlines other than SW, that is 330 days in advance. Just pay the price, as there will be no deals.

      Aloha.

  2. Hi,
    We are taking a family trip ( 5 adults and 1 paying child) to the Big Island from Minneapolis from 1/7/22 – 1/15/22. We’re ok with 1 stop each way. What is your advice on when to purchase tickets?

    Thank you so much for your help.
    Gail

    1. Hi Gail.

      Your dates are priced at just over $700 rt. If you wait they could come down by perhaps $130. Might happen in late summer to fall.

      Aloha.

  3. Hi I’m traveling to Maui the last week of October. Should I wait to buy ticket or buy now. Also what’s the average rate of ticket for October?

  4. We are traveling from Seattle to Maui 10/22/21 and direct flights are a bit high. Do you expect they will decrease at some point this summer?

  5. Hello,
    I am planning a family vacation over our spring break leaving on March 19 and return on March 25, 2022. Right now the best flight price I can find is $1085. Chicago to Maui. One stop.
    Do I buy now or wait?
    Thanks so much for your time and help,
    Jennifer

    1. Hi Jennifer.

      Unless you can adjust days, like to one day earlier departure, then you’re right, that’s the price. And no reason to think it would improve for spring break.

      Aloha.

  6. Hi,
    I am looking to travel from Seattle to HNL from 2/19 to 2/25/2022. Alaska Airlines ticket is $1198 per person in the main cabin non-stop. Is this too high to buy now? What is a fair price for those dates?
    Thanks so much.
    SiowFong

    1. Hi SlowFong.

      Whatever is going on that weekend, that is the airfare. If you can choose other dates the week following, the airfare is $550. Weekends are running up to $200 higher. Hawaiian is about $50 or so cheaper. And if you want to consider stops, that’s cheaper too.

      Aloha.

  7. Hi! Thanks for this resource!

    I’m looking to fly to honolulu from seattle on the 17th of march through the 29th or march, 2021. Right now non-stop flights for the family are $1477 each. Should I wait on purchasing? That’s quite high.

    1. Hi Ted.

      On your dates nonstop flights are $477 to $585 rt on three airlines. Not sure what your comment about $1477 is about unless you meant $477. You are traveling over spring break and it may not get any better by waiting.

      Aloha.

  8. Hi, my fiancé and I are flying our adult kiddos over to Honolulu to get married on the beach. We have 8 flying from SLC and 3 flying from CLT, October 8th – October 17th. Starting to look for flights and hoping to find some good deals. Would sure appreciate any insight! We are all super excited to come and visit Hawaii!!! (all first time visitor’s)

    Thank you, Kim

    1. Hi Kim.

      From SLC it is about $400 with one-stop and $600 nonstop RT. That market isn’t super-competitive, so we’ll watch with you for sales, but don’t have high expectations. CLT is in the same situation but prices are about $200 higher.

      Aloha.

  9. Hi there, it sounds like you recommend to wait until mid-Summer to purchase two tickets to HNL Jan 10-17, is that right? This is from IAD (Dulles, Washington DC). We’ve found flights for $800, round trip, economy.

  10. We are looking at flights from Oakland to Kauai 12/29, return flight 1/5. Worried I missed the cheapest flights as prices are starting to climb but the flight tracking app we used suggested to wait. Do you think I should cut my losses and just buy the tickets or is there any hope they’ll go down again to where they were ~month+ ago? Thank you 🌿

    1. Hi Jennifer.

      There is $588 RT on HA nonstop. That’s a great price actually for the holidays. Suggest buying if that’s what you are looking for.

      Aloha.

      1. Thank you so much for your response. The price for that flight was under $400 a week or so ago so I wanted to hold out and see if it would go back down, but it looks like it may just be going up now which makes me nervous to hold out any longer. I may have missed out on an incredible deal to settle for a merely good one 🙂

    1. I forgot to mention…we will be flying out of New Orleans and the dates are March 16 – March 23, 2022.

      Thank you

      1. Hi Jen.

        Thanks for the added info. It is too early to know if those dates are going to break towards high season or low season, since it is right around spring break. It’s running high at about $900 with a reasonable connection, indicating it will probably be high season.

        Spring break is a weird time and it tends to move around a bit. Best suggestion here is to keep an eye on it every couple of weeks. If it stays high and surrounding dates go down, you should probably buy quickly. Otherwise, you can wait. If things go well, you could be looking at $500 or so. Hope that helps.

        Aloha.

  11. Thank you for this insight – very helpful.

    We’re looking at Dallas – Maui 2/5-2/12/22. The AA nonstop flights are $885/pp main cabin. Should we wait to purchase? Or go ahead and buy now?

    Thank you!

    1. Hi Craig.

      It looks as though that nonstop may come down by about $100 if you choose to wait. Better prices probably will surface this fall.

      Aloha.

      1. Mahalo,
        Do you think these flights will drop later in the fall or should I bite the bullet and get the AA non-stop economy flights for $885?

        Thank you so much for your info and the blog. It’s been very helpful.

        1. Hi Craig.

          Thanks. We think the price might come down about $100 for that nonstop if you choose to wait a bit and keep checking.

          Aloha.

  12. Thanks for the info! I was just wondering, we are flying out of Pittsburgh to Honolulu around 8/28/21. Should I bite the bullet and buy now or do you feel I should wait it out a little bit to see if the prices come down? Thanks for your help!

    1. Hi Tara.

      Good connections on that route for your departure date are about $600, which is really excellent already. Might or might not improve from there. If you’re flexible and can fly mid-week, then consider waiting. Otherwise, not.

      Aloha.

  13. Thank you for the information. We are planning a trip to Hawaii Nov 3-13 and first class tickets are showing $5000-$7000 for the 2 of us. Do you think those prices will come down? Wondering if I should wait and watch.
    Thank you for any thoughts you have

    1. Hi Dawn.

      Please provide your airport pairs and any other pertinent details so we can have a look and let you know.

      Aloha.

      1. We are able to fly out of San Antonio or Austin and would prefer our layover to be in Dallas (the research I’ve done shows this route has lie flat seats on American) thank you for the response!

        1. Hi Dawn.

          To Honolulu (you didn’t state destination), check just now we found approx. $2500 to over $3000 round trip per person on American for your dates. That is to be expected and it is doubtful it will go down in price. BTW, the faster the connection to/from SAT the higher the price.

          Aloha.

  14. We are flying from midwest, most likely Minneapolis to Maui next March 13-20, 2022. I found flights for $670, would you suggest purchasing now, or do you think flights will go down in price before then?

    (Could fly out of Omaha or Kansas City also)

  15. Hello,
    I am traveling to Big Island from PDX 8/9/21-8/20/2021. Prices are high and I’m not sure if I should buy now or wait it out?
    Thank you

    1. Hi Lexi.

      It looks to be quite well sold. Especially the nonstop. This is to say that it isn’t likely for those dates to go down. Possible, but not likely.

      Aloha.

  16. Looking to go 11/18 or 11/19 and come back on 11/27. Prices are very high right now. This would be Leaving from atl and going to Maui or Honolulu. When do you suggest buying the tickets?

  17. Hi,

    Looking at flying around March 16, 2022. Seeing 1500-1800 prices per person. Do you think that will improve or best to just buy now? Thank you!

    1. Hi Jamie.

      Without outbound and return dates and points of origin and destination, it is hard to say what you are looking at.

      Aloha.

      1. 3/16 to 3/26 and MSP to OGG and back. Just curious if you expect much fluctuation in flight prices in the coming weeks or I’m guessing I am just going to be best to lock in now. Wasn’t sure if that was Spring Break prime or not…it is our Spring Break week. Thanks for the feedback!

        1. Hi Jamie.

          One-stop with a fast connection on American $1,036 RT for your dates. Looks like that will be prime spring break, so not sure prices will go down except at the very end if there’s availability. Price is fair. Delta has nonstop to HNL, but it will cost more and in the end, you’ll have a stop either way.

          Aloha.

  18. Thank you for all this information. I am planning to Travel to Hawaii end of July to the beginning of August. The prices keep fluctuating and apps are predicting better prices. So I am torn between booking now or waiting until later. Do you think Should I book tickets now or wait?

    1. Hi Chelsea.

      Pricing is demand-based so no one knows for sure, including whatever apps are predicting that change. Our sense is that this year that period will not drop, but that starting after August 10, it will start to moderate down.

      Aloha.

  19. We are taking our family of 25 to Maui in Feb 2022. Should we still wait until this summer to book flights, or book now to make sure we all get on? Also does anyone know of a good way to book flights for 25 people? Thank you!

    1. Hi Joann.

      When you have 10 or more the airlines provide coordination and a group travel discount. Contact them directly. It is too soon to say how prices will shake out for February, and you didn’t provide your city pairs, so we can’t say yet when to buy.

      Aloha.

  20. Looking into flights from PA to Honolulu for June, one stop is costing $930 for round trip. Can you tell me if that is normal for that flight? Seems high still, but is that a deal due to COVID and we should book now, or would that be the going rate a year or so from now? Just curious if booking a vacation now would offer any discounts, or if it is within the normal pre-COVID prices? Thank you!

    1. Hi Mary.

      That is normal for peak summer travel from mid-June to mid-August. It will still be the rate next year, as it has been for the past 30. Last year was different, but virtually no one was traveling.

      Aloha.

    1. Hi Thuy.

      The best prices for late summer travel are typically found in early summer. We’ll be reporting any sales or significant prices fluctuations.

      Aloha.

  21. Hello, thank yiu for the information. We are looking to travel in late August/early September, are you suggesting we buy now?

    1. Hi Peggy.

      No, we are suggesting you wait until early to mid-summer to purchase for late summer travel.

      Aloha.

  22. Thank you for your help. Per you suggestions, it appears between June and August price is predicted to drop for November travel. Is that still a good time to purchase airline tickets for Thanksgiving? If I wait until then are the prices likely to go up for that week of travel?

    Thanks

    1. Hi Linda.

      No, for Thanksgiving week holiday travel, it is best to buy now. Prices are unlikely to drop unless towards the last minute and availability may be the biggest issue.

      Aloha.

  23. I’m concerned about your advice to purchase Christmas tix now – do you know that from Denver to Lihue it’s currently almost $2000? You really don’t think they’ll drop?
    Mahalo!

    1. Hi Holly.

      Appears you are looking at the nonstop. Many days at the holidays that flight is running under $1,300 RT. The other higher-priced days look like they will be sold out. We really don’t expect anything to change.

      Aloha.

  24. Last year we had to take what was available. Many flights had been combined making flights full on United out of SFO and prices were high too. This year is beginning to look more normal, that I know how to deal with. Just hoping that something doesn’t put a monkey wrench in the works.
    Aloha Gentleman.

  25. Aloha Guys,

    Wanted to say Mahalo for all the updates and info you put out to keep everyone informed of the ever changing situations in Hawaii! My wife and I are fully vaccinated and have booked our trip to Kauai at the end of May. Seeing as how the vaccine passport probably won’t be in place by the time we leave, could you please give us any info on the best travel partner to get our Covid test and results back in the time frame needed, leaving from SoCal? After living on Kauai in the early seventies, and now going back for vacations, I never would have imagined going thru so much to get back to paradise.
    Mahalo

    1. Hi Joe.

      Thank you. You have a good range of options for Southern Cal. and others will comment too about their preferences. You can do rapid testing for more money, or slower walk-in, or test by mail via Costco or Vault.

      Aloha.

      1. As a FYI, when we contacted Costco for our covid test before travel to Hawaii in January they would NOT guarantee test results within the allotted 72 hour time frame!
        I’m not sure if this still is the case. We used Vault and had no issues!

        1. Hi Mike.

          Thanks for that. A good reminder that you always need to be sure a provider can offer results within the required timeframe.

          Aloha.

  26. Planning family trip end of August/first of Sept 2021 to Maui. When do the airlines tend to announce fall sales? Thank you for your website! It helped me plan our first trip to Maui in 2019 and now we’re excited to be returning.

  27. Truly enjoy your e-mails. You provide a lot of good information, and that is greatly appreciated.

    Regarding airfare, we’re planning on visiting over Thanksgiving. Buy now?

    Thanks!

  28. Thank you for reporting this info. It gives me some hope that we will be able to plan a trip for next year, rather than partake in the high ticket sales right now. Looking forward to future updates from Beat of Hawaii.

  29. If the gov announces that starting may 11 people with the covid19 vaccine will be available to avoid the quarantine and testing for inter island travel
    What about for mainland travel to
    I hope the gov will announce that for June
    Thank you
    P.s keep me updated

  30. When do you think rates will decrease for Oct.2021 flights? I’m kicking myself for not booking just a couple weeks ago and hopeful they will at least go back to that level. Any insight is appreciated. Thanks for all your articles, they are greatly appreciated.

  31. Please, do you know how unaccompanied minors flying from San Diego to Big Island can handle advance testing requirement and “Safe Travels”? We know they will need the advance test within 72 hours of flight time, but the test results can not be downloaded to HI’s Safe Travels (the results are supposed to be downloaded to the adult traveling with them but that’s not an option since no adult will be with them). Thanks, Linda

    1. Hi Linda.

      Sorry, we do not know. Safest bet is to reach out to the state’s Safe Travels help desk at 855-599-0888 between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time.

      Aloha.

    1. Have been to Hawaii several times – last time Dec. 2019 – and never paying more than $400 or so for a week – even for a convertible. I would NEVER rent a car at those prices. I think we willjust wait a year or two for things to settle down. We are waiting for the mask mandate to end as well as testing, testing, and more testing. Hope you have fun despite the cost. I do hope someone is looking into this type of price gouging!

    2. Charles- well if you must travel during the particular time they are gouging you then you have no choice butto pay up! However, be sure to remember how they treated you next time you rent a vehicle. If it was me, I’d literally tell them to go pound sand!

    1. We booked for less than that back in January for May travel. $93 each way from Phoenix. Watch BOH! That’s how we found our cheap fares. Also booked the car back then – $340 for a week. We do have an advantage being retired, we can travel anytime. Mahalo to BOH we get to the islands about twice a year.

        1. We usually visit Kauai but since the lock down was still in effect HA only ran specials for Oahu, Maui & BI. We chose Hawaii.

          1. Hi Gary.

            Have a great time on the Big Island. That’s a perennial favorite for both of us.

            Aloha.

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