Is the sky-high cost of Hawaii airline tickets another example of greedflation, or something else entirely?
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62 thoughts on “Worst-Ever Hawaii Airfares Suggest Changing Vacation Strategies”
Is the sky-high cost of Hawaii airline tickets another example of greedflation, or something else entirely?
My take is it is scary as an elderly individual that wants to visit one more time or so….I know itis a huge task to play the gamble game, but Im too old for that and rather than have to pay for refundable tickets at high price, will probably just not get to go. Im so darn sad.
Hi Sandi.
If you can get refundable at 10-15% extra, that seems very reasonable. And as Dan
pointed out (although they aren’t refundable), SWA tix are reusable.
Aloha.
Thank you. I thought I read on BOH that South West was having issues flying into Hawaii and to not use that airlines. I will rethink it after I do some Southwest research. Thank you.
You have my attention. I haven’t flown to Hawaii since last year. Now I’m curious to checkout what the prices are. All the expenses you mentioned are reasonable. It’s amazing the airlines flying to Hawaii were able to sell flights for $99. I often make purchases on board too. I always forget my air buds. I love the snacks Hawaiian Airlines sells and I love an extra glass of Koala Rum Punch. I was really cold in the cabin on a red eye so I bought a pillow and blanket set. I wonder how much money airlines make on in-flight purchases. Thank you for all the good information.
Don’t you know the fares are always high in August? They go down sometime around the last week-every year. Kids go back to school-summer vacation is over. This is nothing new. Not sure what the story is here.
Julie, I may be incorrect, but have been reading so much on BOH that airlines is one thing that will not be going down in 2023. they suggest purchase air, room, car in order. SInce Hawaiian Islands, and mostly Maui, are travel meccas, it is very unnerving to wait for last minute deals on airlines, etc. If I am wrong, please correct me on this. But please show me where you are getting your information for year 2023 prediction of fares. thanks
Hawaiian Airlines also got rid of their low price search link from their website. I always used it to adjust my schedule to get the lowest fares, but now itgone.
Aloha! Five words: You Can’t Drive to Hawaii. That leaves two options – sail or fly. Fares never should have been $99 each way to/from the mainland, sorry. You are very lucky anytime you can score a roundtrip for less than $800. Do I believe there should be special discounts for locals or those mainlanders who must commute on a regular basis, or students, or military? Definitely! But for the mainland tourist or business traveler? You Can’t Drive to Hawaii. Expect to pay a premium for a premium destination. Enough said, Mahalos!
Excellent cost analysis, thanks. We have an upcoming flight from Seattle to Maui. The first booking we tried to make was $999. My friend asked if that was round trip. I had to check–it was one way! Of course we had to change the dates we were planning.
I just spoke with my travel agent this morning concerning making reservations for a trip to Greece and she told me the airfares are just through the roof! To fly business class from the West Coast on the mainland to Greece round-trip, $11,000 total. No way are we going to spend that much money on a 10 day trip. Notified our travel agent to cancel our trip. It’s happening everywhere! And three weeks ago we were in Miami and spent two nights in Key West. The least expensive main stream nice hotel, Marriott courtyard, not modern and not on the ocean was $700 per night. the comment from the travel agent is, her business is through the roof, people are booking everything, and she sees no let up in prices!
Hi Nick.
So true. But what we suggested works. One of us wanted to go to Europe in August. From Hawaii. Business class was $12k. Watch, wait, track multiple airports in each end, keep checking, and a round trip, all lie-flat, in ual business popped up for $2,500. No joke.
Aloha.
West coast to Greece is $11,000 RT? You need to get a new travel agent. LAX to Santorini is $2,500. In June. Random date
Supply and demand. Supply and demand. Nothing more and nothing less. I’ll bet they go down after the summer season… and then go back up for Christmas, etc.
car rental strategy – Continuously, continuously check again. Costco provides 1 additional driver free so it is my go to. About 2.5 months ago my 12 day rental price was 1300+, I continue to check – last week it was 650, today it is 520. I have probably made 10 reservations and mostly cancelled them. It takes minutes (but no upfront money) but the price is now less than 1/2.
Every few days it comes down. I have done this for years and yes, it still works. Will it get into the 4’s for me (an economy was $495)? Time will tell. I usually check in the morning (8-10am PDT).
Hi Kathie.
Thanks for sharing that.
Aloha.
A little local place called lucky owl car rental… my son rented a nice large car ( for his surfboard) for 2 weeks $400! Pick up and drops you off at the airport.
Ouch, so glad we made as many trips as we did from 2001 until 2019, we left Maui on the day in March 2019 when everything began shutting down.
Just for fun: our 2001 trip was about $ 5,000 total, that included 2 round trip air, rental car, 7 days at Lahaina shores, and $ 1000 each spending money for all food and, activities and souvenirs, which we came home with some:)
Ahh, the good old days.
Mahalo for all the information we put out:)
Hi Bill.
Thanks for your many comments! Happy travels.
Aloha.
Nothing shutdown in March 2019 on Maui. What DID shutdown a few months earlier was tourism from China, as the CCP restricted travel, and that hurt the tour companies catering to Chinese tourists.
You probably meant March 2020, and shutdown did occur then.
Mahalo a me ua Pua Lei!