No doubt about it, Hawaii is hot as ever. These airlines reminded us today how much they value your Hawaii business. Our heads are left spinning as Hawaii travel goes from zero to a hundred seemingly overnight. Here’s what’s happening in terms of flights to Hawaii.
HawaiianMiles no longer expire.
First, bellwether Hawaiian Airlines just announced a significant and helpful change to their mileage program HawaiianMiles. “Effective immediately, your HawaiianMiles will never expire.” That according to Senior VP of Marketing, Avi Mannis.
While on the surface, this may seem minor, it is not. How many of you have lost significant miles with airlines due to onerous and difficult to remember expiration rules? We both have.
This comes at a great time since most of us did not fly in the past year during COVID. Avi said, “We are committed to emerging from this crisis a stronger airline, even more deeply committed to guests and our purpose of connecting people with aloha.”
This comes as airlines including Hawaiian have removed change fees from all but their cheapest-priced tickets.
American Airlines stakes out east coast to Hawaii.
Coming as somewhat of a surprise, American Airlines has just increased its Hawaii foothold substantially. Starting May 6, the carrier will offer daily widebody service between their hub at Charlotte and Honolulu. It will operate at least through December 28, 2021, and longer if the demand is adequate.
Hawaiian Airlines is in the midst of a major route expansion.
Announced last December, Hawaiian has new flights operating between Honolulu and Austin, Orlando, and Ontario and between Maui and Long Beach.
- Long Beach to Maui flights started last month on narrow-body A321 aircraft. This adds to the prior Long Beach to Honolulu route.
- Ontario to Honolulu started last month, also on narrow-body A321 aircraft. This resurrected route has been asked and helps visitors from the Inland Empire and Orange County.
- Orlando to Honolulu started in March on wide-body A330. This complements Hawaiian’s other long-haul domestic routes, New York and Boston. The flight will operate two to three times weekly.
- Austin to Honolulu starts next week on wide-body A330 aircraft. This route is a first to the southwestern part of the country for Hawaiian.
United Airlines Hawaii flights expand.
On May 6, United will bring back long-requested nonstop service between Orange County and Honolulu. The flight departs SNA at 830 am and arrives in Honolulu at 1130 am. Return is from Honolulu at 1250 pm, arriving in Orange County at 910 pm. The flights are onboard Boeing 737-700 aircraft.
The airline said, “With the additional new flights, United will offer nonstop service on more than 20 routes between the mainland and Hawaii.”
Chicago to Kona flights on United starts June 3. These are the first nonstop flights ever on the route, which will operate Thursdays through Sundays.
New York to Maui flights on United is also set to begin June 3 and operate Thursdays through Sundays only as well.
Southwest Airlines Adding Flights.
The airline recently started flying nonstop between Long Beach and Maui. This is Southwest’s second Hawaii route from Long Beach.
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Thank you for all of the great information you provide and please forgive me if I am asking a question that has been answered over and over. Is July 4th and after the time when vaccinated travelers can avoid the mandatory quarantine (on Oahu)?
Thank you so much.
Hi Shannon.
We hope to have the answer to your question soon. The state has not yet indicated when that will happen.
Aloha.
Very interesting that the locals tend to say that the people causing problems on the islands are not from Hawaii. My wife was born on Oahu and we travel to the Big Island often. Last time we were there an entire “local” campground had to be shut down because of all the trash left behind by the locals. Many of these people were native to the islands and the local authorities called them out for their behavior. Please don’t always assume that if you are not from Hawaii that you don’t respect Hawaii. I can assure you my wife and I and our kids have more respect for the islands than many of the locals who claim they are the great protectors of the islands as they throw their garbage everywhere. Just take a drive down the Kona coast and you will see what I am talking about. This trash isn’t generated by the tourists people! Wake up and learn how to respect your guests. Our son has been screamed at and called a howlie just trying to cross the street. We live in Alaska and we respect our land and our visitors as well. Many of the so called locals, especially the younger generation, need to learn to do the same. Aloha
Very interesting that the locals tend to say that the people causing problems on the islands are not from Hawaii. My wife was born on Oahu and we travel to the Big Island often. Last time we were there an entire “local” campground had to be shut down because of all the trash left behind by the locals. Many of these people were native to the islands and the local authorities called them out for their behavior. Please don’t always assume that if you are not from Hawaii that you don’t respect Hawaii. I can assure you my wife and I and our kids have more respect for the islands than many of the locals who claim they are the great protectors of the islands as they throw their garbage everywhere. Just take a drive down the Kona coast and you will see what I am talking about. This trash isn’t generated by the tourists people! Wake up and learn how to respect your guests. Our son has been screamed at and called a howlie just trying to cross the street. We live in Alaska and we respect our land and our visitors as well. Many of the so called locals, especially the younger generation, need to learn to do the same. Aloha
Lets hope Car Rental industry catches up!
Bob D. Hello everybody. Very excited to be coming to Maui next week. I have seen some info that United Airlines is offering covid “pre-clearance” at some locations. Our Hawaii flight will originate from Denver. Does anyone have any information regarding Denver airport offering the “pre-clearance”. Can’t wait, our first time staying on Maui. Thanks. Bob D.
Hi Bob.
United has announced that it is available at all gateways. We can’t confirm that from personal experience, but perhaps someone else can.
Aloha.
Hello,
Appreciate the updates, great newsletter! Suggest advising readers on testing if they plan to hop from island to island. i.e. Test 72 hrs before leaving mainland, stay in Honolulu 4 nights, must test again on Oahu 72 hrs before flying to Big Island, Kauai, or Maui.
Mahalo
Hi Marie.
Thanks. Here’s where that is contained: https://beatofhawaii.com/ultimate-guide-to-hawaii-travel-during-covid/.
Aloha.
Thank you BOH for the continuous updates and information.
Very happy to see new alternatives coming up.
Glad Maui has instilled the second Test upon arrival. This has worked well for the Big Island and containing cases.
We are looking forward to getting back to HNL and KOA in about a month. 🙂 fully vaccinated, however may need to do a PCR once again. Small price to pay to go back to paradise and enjoy the beautiful islands.
Thank you again for all you do.
Hi Julieta.
Thanks. We appreciate your comments. Glad you can return to Honolulu and the Big Island next month.
Aloha.
Thanks for all the updates.
Mahalo Rob and Jeff for the great information on the airlines.
The news is all positive until you get to the testing boondoggle.
Please keep us updated on the ever changing testing, more testing and even more testing situations! It’d be funny if it so wasn’t.
Please think about limiting the extremely hate filled rants by some of our island inhabitants. (I call them this because most aren’t from our islands, they’re from various areas on the mainland, like last Tuesday they arrived and became hateful “locals” that don’t want tourists to come)
Loco to think about but we need Aloha not hatred.
Mahalo again. Stay blessed 🌺
Hi Pam.
Thanks. Many comments don’t get published. Which is to say we are trying to keep this a civil environment at the least.
Aloha
I had a vision yesterday to lookup flights to Maui from Oakland. We are currently booked for an April 22 flight to Maui but changing planes in HNL. My original direct flight was canceled back in February (I booked it in November 2020). Now, it’s back and with another flight #, so I called SWA last night and was able to change our flight BACK to the direct to Maui flight again! Happy Days!! Oh, and when we called Alamo to update the new arrival time, they said no worries, even if the Reservation System says “no cars available”. Our trip from NJ to Paradise cannot come fast enough, with everything going on at home! Mahalo for the Daily Updates BOH! Your emails are my Good News everyday!
Hi Steve.
Thanks. Congrats on being persistent and achieving a good outcome. So many good things in travel have come out way from doing just that.
Aloha.
Hi Steve. We are headed to Maui the day before you. We are also from Jersey (Vineland). How long ago did you book your car rental? With all of the national brands, we would need to mortgage the house to pay for it and all the local rentals are completely booked (one fella laughed when I asked about cancellations). We re-booked from last September and fully expected to be the only people on the beach. Wroooong. No tables at Momma’s, Lahaina luau sold out, no cars. I am very nervous about getting the virus testing right, have ya’s got that figured out? Stressful, but still can’t wait, enjoy your trip. Bob D
All of these carriers are smart in not adding any flights to Maui. They need to wait till through the summer when hopefully the second Covid19 test has been stopped. I personally do not know anyone who is going to Maui because of the second test requirement. And those that use to fly through Maui onto Lana’i are now flying through HNL.
So Kona is not doing a 2nd covid test upon arrival. Only Maui?
We are going to Kona mid May.
Debi