Fascinating time as airlines ratchet up competition on Hawaii flights and the bottom drops out of pricing.
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31 thoughts on “Some Hawaii Flight Prices Are About To Drop Below $29”
Fascinating time as airlines ratchet up competition on Hawaii flights and the bottom drops out of pricing.
Won’t belong before they pull out of Hawaii, too unfriendly, unwelcoming, and expensive once you get there. They aren’t making money on prices that low…
Competition is never a bad thing! SWA & Hawaiian will both be better for the competition.
SWA is providing much needed competition to Hawaiian, and we are all the better for it. Your bias towards Hawaiian Airlines shows through loud and clear. Southwest fly’s millions of passengers a year safely, economically, and for the most part, on time with Texas style Aloha!
I can understand the frustration with the airlines and the large number of tourists. Going to Hawaii isn’t cheap so I don’t understand what low-spending tourists are. There are other places to travel and the travel industry is very beneficial to Hawaii so I hope they don’t kill the goose that laid the golden egg. Sure, so locals do not see it this way but many rely on the travel industry for their livelyhood. Hopefully, a solution is forthcoming.
I made an earlier comment regarding the potential benefits of airline competition on Moloka’i. Just to be clear, I’m a resident and the cost to go off island for medical, dental, and, yes, some shopping for things that are not here or 3x the cost elsewhere, is monopolized by a single carrier.
This is good news for most islands but I did not see Moloka’i mentioned. We are at the mercy of Mokulele and their prices are skyrocketing faster than gasoline. They need competition especially since Ohana Air dropped out during the pandemic. Some quick research will show there is a market for Southwest on Moloka’i.
Thank you and I hope we see interisland competition coming to Moloka’i.
I find this to be a strange move by Southwest. Most visitors to Hawaii these days don’t have much interest in island hopping. It is not because of cost, it is because of convenience. When my family visits Hawaii, we prefer to go to one island and spend the duration of our vacation on that island. I think that’s how most visitors are. Each of the four major islands have so much to do! The fact that the Southwest Airlines CEO has never even visited Hawaii until now tells me that maybe he doesn’t understand how people vacation in Hawaii in the 21st century. Island hopping was a much bigger thing 40 years ago when vacations to Hawaii were more of a once in a lifetime type of experience. A lot of families take annual trips to Hawaii now.
I find it easy to understand, Island hopping became unaffordable for many after the recession of 2009-2011 which caused the demise of Aloha Airlines. Competition is the cornerstone of free markets.
My Grandparent lived on Makaha Beach in the 1960’s & 70′. I’ve flown from the mainland to one on the islands 18 times. However, to visit friends, I have to travel to Molokai. A $19 fare on Hawaiian or SW does no good when Mokulele is the only airline serving the Island and the onoy rental car company has a monompoly on cars. It costs me $1500 just to fly from Kona to Molokai and rent a car for a week.
Southwest’s game plan is to come in with artificially low rates and have the legacy carrier retract on routes. Those low fares don’t stay forever. American used to fly between Vegas and Reno, then SW drove them off the route now it is one of the most expensive short hauls since SW has zero competition.
A person can be respectful (or disrespectful) of local culture and nature no matter their socioeconomic status. I’ve met rich jerks as well as poor jerks and middle class jerks. I’ve also met nice, caring people in all categories.
Does a wealthy visitor spending all of their money with big companies who send their profits out of state help the Hawaiian economy better than our planned Mom & Pop restaurant and eatery extravaganza?
Thank you to all trying to protect paradise, but income isn’t necessarily the litmus test needed.
I disagree. We always try to do two islands – I think anyone staying 10+ days at least considers two islands