We’ve continued to have many questions about planning for upcoming summer 2018 Hawaii vacations. Concerns revolve around resumption of delivery for the new A321 fleet coming to Hawaiian Airlines and the impact this will have on competition and prices. As you know, deliveries were again halted several months ago due to engine issues on the new planes. Arrivals are expected to resume, however, as soon as within the next month.
Hawaiian will be receiving five additional airplanes between now and July. They’ll then receive two more this fall. “We have been working hard with Airbus and Pratt & Whitney to firm up our schedule.” –Alex Da Silva, HA Corporate Communications.
If you are traveling from west coast cities and can live with the uncertainty of pausing your Hawaii summer vacation planning, we suggest waiting on summer 2018 flight purchases. Read on for more details.
When flying from other than the west coast, we recommend a traditional strategy of buying for peak summer travel at this time.
1. Will Southwest Hawaii routes either fly by summer 2018 or be announced by then?
No, they will not. We expect to see Southwest Hawaii flights touch down sometime between December 2018 and February 2019 . You should be able to purchase tickets for those Southwest Hawaii flights no later than this October.
2. Will Hawaiian Airlines’ new fleet result in reduced flight costs this summer?
Yes. This should still occur as Hawaiian announces which (new and existing) routes will be served by their fleet of narrow body A321neo aircraft. These were to have started flying late in 2017. There have been two delays since then, however, which isn’t entirely unexpected for a new aircraft type.
More routes should soon be announced for summer 2018. With those will come introductory fares, as is traditionally the case. Thereafter other airlines including Alaska, Delta and United will react with competitive pricing. More fare wars remain a distinct possibility. We saw earlier this year two rounds of $99 Hawaii airfares, as an example of how extreme competition may get. Thus, great opportunities for summer and beyond Hawaii deals lie ahead. In fact we expect to see some of the best Hawaii deals ever in the next six months.
3. What is the time frame for buying for summer 2018?
No one knows either exactly which new routes will be announced, or when. These additional planes will undoubtedly impact summer 2018 flights and prices from the west coast. Are you are a betting person (that means either being willing to pay more later or delay your vacation if need be)? If so, then it is a good idea to wait a little longer, then buy on both the announcements and competitive sales. Otherwise, this is a good time to be buying for summer 2018.
4. Will any of these changes results in price reductions beyond the traditional west coast markets?
Next new routes will almost without question be from the west coast, and could include San Diego, Bay Area and the Pacific Northwest. Places like Salt Lake City and Denver for example, will probably not be in the next group of announcements. Thus, cities further afield are not likely to benefit at this time. And while Hawaiian could announce other flights from someplace like Chicago, we don’t anticipate that right now while they are busy focusing on the west coast deployment and getting their new planes situated.
Also see: The Cheapest Time to Fly to Hawaii.
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I have been trying to hold out for our travel to HNL from SMF in July and I am afraid I have missed any affordable flights! There are 5 of us flying and even the expensive flights don’t have many seats left. Do the airlines typically add more flights during these peak months as it gets closer or are we stuck at this point?
Hello ,
My family is flying from San Francisco to Maui on the 19th of November and returning on the 27th . Prices are around 750 .00 currently . Do you anticipate the price reducing ?
SNA, anyone? While I doubt it would ever happen, as an Orange Countian it would be stupendous if flights from SNA-Hawaii could resume. Both Aloha and Continental flew this route using 737-700s and while the flights were usually full, they often had to block out seats due to SNA’s short runway. If not SNA, then I’m really hoping that someone will operate flights to the islands out of ONT.
Here’s hoping!!!
Aloha: I traveled r/t from pdx-hnl this past March. I flew on Hawaiian and the cabin service was excellent. However, on both the inbound and outbound experience at hnl were beyond deplorable. Both times it took me more than 90 minutes to rent a car and clear TSA and AG inspections. I hope this situation improves as I will travel on another airline just to avoid the Hawaiian terminal.
Mahalo!!
We are going to Kaanapali in July with a party of 10. Rental car costs are outrageous. Any tips for getting great deals? I use to bid on Priceline but they stopped. 2 weeks of rental car is
~1000$.
What’s a good fare for flying out of Florida? Very flexible on dates. What would the fare have been when there was a $99 fare special going on?
Hi. We have a group of 7 adults and 3 kids needing travel from west coast to Kauai the beginning of November 2018. (approx. Nov 2-10). Any suggestions? From this article, it seems best to wait. Do I understand correctly? Thanks for your help!
Hi Teri.
Yes probably a good idea unless today’s offer works for you. That’s an excellent price of $362RT. https://beatofhawaii.com/united-hawaii-summer-sale/.
Aloha.
Hi, so I found tickets from Seattle to Maui, maui to kina and back to Seattle again. I can get the flights I want for as cheap as 715 per ticket ( this includes the hopper flight directly to where we are staying close to Waikaloa. Or I can purchase them separate and buy the return ticket now which is really cheap. On the return we would have a couple stops and layovers but we want a straight flight TO our vacation. Another thing I saw is I could purchase a ticket directly to the big island which has a stop in Maui and we could just get off there but would if they let us take our connection days later? Or I could purchase the round trip from Seattle to Maui and back and hope that the hopper tickets come down on price and get those tickets at a later date. Is this clear as mud? I only want to fly on Hawaiian there but I’m ok not flying them home. I have my reasons. Any suggestions? I’ve been looking at hopper and kayak. Pretty much the same info. Thanks!
Hi Lisa.
Yes exactly – clear as mud and no dates or season indicated. Couple of things though. No you cannot get off the outbound flight and have any remaining flights work. They will be cancelled. Since SEA-OGG is really cheap most of the time, yes it might be best to work with that or with that plus KOA-SEA return. You need a car for the Big Island and so not sure why you are wanting to fly into Waimea. It won’t save you much time if any and a car is bound to be much more costly.
Aloha.
Any chance we’ll be seeing a deal on low airfare from DENVER anytime soon?
Hello! We are planning a trip out of San Diego to Maui in April. Likely between April 6-11 and returning April 16, 2018. Do you recommend waiting on airfare to see if it goes down, or buying now? LAX is an option, too, if the fare is more competitive. Love to know your thoughts! Thank you!
Hi Jen.
If you’re flexible and okay to wait, it probably will work out to be below $400. That isn’t the case at the moment. Can’t say how long that might take to happen. Give it several months.
Aloha.
Thank you so much! Very helpful!
We (family of 6 including parents , grandparents, grandchildren) are going to Kona, Hawaii the end of June early July for a big birthday celebration. We will be flying from San Diego or LAX or John Wayne airports. When should we buy airlines tickets? Thanks.
Hi Patti.
Everything we know is in the post on which you commented. You’ll be flying from San Diego or LAX.
Aloha.
Good morning We’re looking for an inexpensive luau on the big island of Hawaii Do you have any suggestions thank you
Hi Rodney.
Suggest using Yelp or TripAdvisor. Or perhaps someone else will comment. We don’t know.
Aloha.
Hello how much would it be for 1 adult and to children going to Honolulu for vacation early March 2018
Good afternoon I’ve been watching the airfare out of LAX into either Kona or Honolulu going up-and-down over the past 2 For 3 month Were going to Kona for 10 days March 31st to April 10th when do you think would be a good time to buy tickets thank you very much
Hi Rodney.
Peak of spring break for your departure. Looks like it will be about $700, which is as expected. Not sure waiting will improve situation.
Aloha.