What is changing, how much you can expect to pay, and a cost per mile comparison of Hawaii inter-island flights.
10 thoughts on “Are Expensive Hawaii Inter-Island Flights A Thing Of The Past?”
Comments are closed.
What is changing, how much you can expect to pay, and a cost per mile comparison of Hawaii inter-island flights.
Comments are closed.
Does SWA have any short-hop airplanes it might eventually consider basing in the islands? That would let it compete on an even basis with Hawaiian.
We are occasional visitors to Hawaii, and I’ve meet locals who travel to the mainland more frequently than they travel to a neighboring island. Given the proximity of the islands to each other, car ferries would be so logical. But if the airline (and car rental companies) hold the political clout, then ferries don’t happen.
Saddens me to say, the worst CRIMINALS in Hawaii are not the drug dealers, child sex abusers, or drunk drivers. Its the politicians and corporations who do business in Hawaii! The latter steal from everyone, especially tourists (case in point, raising room tax to supplement the outrageous billions stolen from tax payers for Rail Fail) yet they are above the law, and we allow it. Hawaiian Air only PROFITTED 244M last year, up about 35% from year before. Even with having a boat load of money, I still don’t understand how they can sleep at night. Shame on them all for screwing us, yet SHAME on us, for allowing it.
The wife and I have been to Hawaii many times over the last 25 years. We usually do a couple islands on each trip and I still needed our interisland flight. I had already booked an open jaw flight into LIH and back home from HNL. The tickets were $159 less each by omitting the interisland. Surely, I figured I could do better getting that leg on my own. And since we developed a good image of what a good deal on an interisland flight should be, when I saw one-way fares for $68 each from LIH to HNL, I jumped on it. Since this brings me in way under my break-even, I really felt like I got a deal! Well, that was the case until I read this article and thought about the per mile cost. Now, it seems like all I accomplished was being less of a patsy.
There is a huge void, thus a great opportunity for an additional inter-island air service. The kamaaina are hugely disadvantaged, whether it be for health care, family celebrations, memorial services, athletic competitions, business meetings, and many other reasons for important daily travel. I can’t answer to the environmental concerns of a ferry service, but I do urge the governing leaders to take a close look at the price gouging that affects the residents of Hawaii. You are correct in conveying the good news that major airlines will get visitors to their destinations, but full-time residents don’t benefit from the mainland-to-island service. I hope that another airline, in additon to Ohana, will both hear the plea and see the potential of throwing their hat into the ring. Thank you for hearing a voice that’s not often heard.
Hi Betsy.
Good points. Only we don’t agree that island residents don’t benefit from mainland to Hawaii service. We certainly do. But that doesn’t mitigate the issues of lack of affordable inter-island transport. We still remember the coupon books for inter-island flights that started in the $20’s and ended in the $50’s per flight. And with those you could virtually get on any flight. It’s a whole different world now. We’ve paid over $300 round-trip inter-island at times.
Aloha.
I just paid $400 round trip HNL-ITO. Had limited time constraints due to a death in the family and I booked the most expensive flights of the day at $194 each way. Had to cancel a screaming deal I got from HNL-PDX, was less than this interisland trip, both on Hawaiian. I do a lot of interisland and west coast travel, mostly on Hawaiian. I want local businesses to do well and employ the community. I hope competition strengthens interisland travel while making the cost more competitive. Sure do miss the couplin books!
Thank you for bringing this most odious problem for the people of Hawaii to the forefront. Every other community throughout the world that is divided by water has a ferry system to connect its various locations. But can this community, which is obviously very much in need of a ferry service, have this very practical system to go between the islands? – absolutely not!! No, the knot-head, much misled, got nothing better to do “environmentalists” said “NO!”- might hit fish – but of course, it’s fine for all the cruise ships and all the massive numbers of freightliners, and huge military ships – why – they are ok – it’s only the ferry that might do some damage to a fish, or sea mammal. Absolute hypocrisy! The elimination, through our heavily “persuaded” judges, of this wonderful service , where people of any island could take their car and travel to another island, where visitors with their rental cars could do the same, was eliminated. Eliminated!-at great cost!- financially, but more importantly, the loss of our people to get around this wonderful State of Hawaii! Such a shame. An unfathomable loss to our people – At the hands of so few.
John P
Hawaii residents need Southwest to fly inter island – NOW and stop Hawaiian Airlines from gouging the locals as well as tourists. Yup! competition will help put an end to HA’s dominance. HA was probably behind the movement to end the great ferry service. ” Hawaii flies with us” is despicable.
You failed to mention how Hawaiian Airlines have paid off the politicians to stop cheaper inter island Ferry service.