We’re waiting for news on reopening of Hawaii, first locally and then after that, for travel. There will be updates forthcoming soon on those. In the meantime, we’re looking ahead at what a flight to Hawaii will look like hereafter. Airlines, airports and other providers will be looking to provide us with a new kind of comfort level in all aspects of travel associated with Hawaii vacations. But some of the initiatives that may be under consideration, do not look ideal. Read on and look at the rather odd photos.
The biggest issue airlines will be facing the rest of this year and in 2021, is addressing health concerns through implementation of new procedures. This is a huge task ahead and perhaps the largest concern facing the airlines, other than money.
Health safety to the front of the line on your next flight to Hawaii.
Changes will be both widespread and long lasting. Think 9/11 and how much that permanently transformed air travel. We’ll be moving to that kind of scenario, only this time it won’t be about security, but rather about health safety. This will be the new normal. Case in point, before 9/11, we still fondly remember the days of arriving at Hawaii airports 10 minutes before an interisland flight. So much has changed, and we haven’t even seen the beginning of it.
Pricing will be of next most importance and there, the news is good.
To get us back in the air, we have already told you that your next flight to Hawaii could easily be priced under $99 each way. We’re further suggesting it could even drop to half that when the green light first comes on.
But too many people returning too fast could present a double-edged sword. This will be fascinating, to say the least, with a balancing act between social distancing, keeping middle seats open, and the airlines’ very real need to get more of us back on the plane headed to Hawaii.
Not only will airfares be rock-bottom priced, but accommodations will also be offering significant discounts. We also think vacation rentals may be in a good position since they allow you to avoid crowded hotel lobbies and elevators. Plus, you are in more control of your food and its preparation with a kitchen of your own.
Bottom line, keep in mind that safety will be key to everything reopening, and we’re all in favor of that. With that in mind, we also expect to see reduction or eliminating of most in-flight services, and ongoing deep cleaning of aircraft. That, while we all wear masks, have our temperatures taken and are provided generous quantities of hand sanitizer.
Our lead photo may be your next flight to Hawaii.
That photo first looked like a good or well, at least an interesting idea. It allows airlines to fill the plane with a protective barrier between seats. But then we started thinking about economy seating which doesn’t look as roomy as has been pictured. And the idea of feeling claustrophobic came to mind. Also, how long will it take to really clean those partitions between flights and how thoroughly can it be done?
Then the issue of how would this work for families. And then the arm rests aren’t protected – just saying. Well, not sure this is actually useful at all, but at least you won’t have to deal with a chatty seat neighbor any longer.
Airline seat manufacturer Avio Interiors came up with the retrofit design for economy seating that alleges to provide additional safety (not sure about comfort) on-board. The controversial product has an “objective of creating an isolated volume around the passenger in order to avoid or minimize contacts and interactions via air between passenger and passenger, so as to reduce the probability of contamination by viruses or other.”
Is there something seemingly fake about this photo?
One person on Instagram noted, “My absolute favorite thing about this add is the first photo where the quintessential bro in the middle has his legs spread like he thinks he’s opening the gates of heaven and the lady on the aisle’s face clearly says “they couldn’t make the partitions go ALL the way down?”
Below is yet another version of a new concept from the same company.
Airline travel will be front and center in upcoming travel news.
We know that the FAA/DOT, the airline industry, and the health experts are all working on plans to bring back air travel. It has been strangely quiet in that regard, but that won’t last much longer. Get ready to hear what the experts have in mind for us. Jeff is still wondering when he can fly from Hawaii to Oregon, and when he might feel comfortable doing so.
What’s your take on this?
We have not heard of any airlines buying, but we know that much more will be revealed about airline travel in the next few weeks. The question remains about how far a sneeze can travel. Thus, will any of this really matter or it is just to allay our concerns?
We look forward to your comments, and remember that you can now subscribe to any comment threads you’d like.
Aloha Guys!
It seems to me that, if they push these kind of upgrades/solutions, it will come at a cost, eventually being passed on to consumers. What do you think?
Doesn’t the majority of planes in operation have hepa filtration systems that recirculate air every 20-30 minutes? My understanding is that they are comparable to hospital systems?
It seems a bit compulsive to push these kind of changes right now, especially because it’s not reasonable to expect everyone to social distance on an airplane at all, let alone for a prolonged time period, or permanently.
Wouldn’t creating and distributing comfortable masks for the immunocompromised or those that feel the need to wear them, as well as providing sanitary needs, be a far better solutiom for short term (possibly long-term) safety? You are not going to create a fool-proof way to protect people, and these seem to be very expensive solutions.
I personally don’t believe this will be necessary, when the hindsight analysis of this disease is evaluated. I am not convinced it is as deadly as originally predicted, even though it may be more contagious than most viruses. We will definitely see, as more data is revealed…
Thanks for the information. It’s interesting to see these wild ideas.
Hi Jim.
Thanks again for all your comments.
Yes we’d concur that there are more questions than answers all around this subject, especially it seems as relates to air travel. Funny photos in the news the past couple of days of people crowded into planes over the weekend. Many with no masks. It is going to all be fascinating for sure and we retain a high degree of optimism as well.
Aloha.
If we had a quick test and the logistics to do it, people could get tested at the airport immediately before they leave. The price of the test would be added to the ticket. Nothing is simple at this point. But we just can’t have visitors going to Hawaii sick and have a Tsunami wave hit Hawaii we are very few people have immunity.
Dear Beat of Hawaii – I just rebooked a cancelled April trip to Kauai for October/November. I bought Super Saver tickets on Alaska (their website says change and cancellation fees are waived even for SS fares). Surprisingly, I was also able to select seats, window and aisle, with the middle seat X’d out. There were about 14 SS seats on the Seattle to Lihue flight to choose from. I’m very happy with this arrangement. Thanks again for your excellent articles!
Hi Michael.
Thank you!
Aloha.
Dear B of H – I just used my Alaska Airlines Wallet money from the cancelled April trip to book in late October, early November. Even though I bought the Super Saver fare, I was able to book seats – window and aisle with the middle seat X’d out. There were about 14 SS seats available on the Seattle to Lihue flight. I’m very happy! Thanks for your great articles!
Mike in Pasco
You do great job. As a Kaua’i resident it is reassuring to have knowledgeable info Mahalo
Hi Conrad.
Thank you!
Aloha.
How about staggering the seats so no two guests are in the same row regardless of the middle seat? Since seats are attached to the floor this could be easily accomplished.