Affording Hawaii In 2025

Above, a view of Diamond Head from Waikiki Beach. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Pretty much everything costs much more thanks to the rampant inflation we're enduring.

That also includes travel. Travel to Hawaii has skyrocketed during the past several years. People are wondering if it is too expensive.

Travel to Hawaii is more expensive, but there are ways to cutting costs. That is the topic of an article in Beat of Hawaii. 

They begin it with:

Hawaii’s soaring travel costs have left many wondering if a vacation to the islands can ever be within reach. Between rising airfare, astronomical hotel rates overall, activities, and everyday expenses, the perception is that Hawaii has become too expensive except for the wealthy. But with the right strategies, a trip to paradise can still be affordable—even in 2025. Here’s how.

To read more, go here. 

U.S.-Asia Airfares Jump 30%

Above, Japan's Narita Airport. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Now that the pandemic is over, demand for travel to Asian destinations are on the rise, and so are airfares, particularly those from the U.S. to China and Japan.

Nikkei Asia has posted an article on hikes in airfares since the pandemic ended.

They begin it with:

HOUSTON/NEW YORK -- Airfares from the U.S. to China and Japan rose about 30% last year as more travelers headed to the countries after pandemic-era travel restrictions were lifted.

Fares on 29 routes between the U.S. and Japan's Narita, Haneda and Kansai airports increased 20% to 50% on the year in 2023, according to an analysis by Nikkei and U.K. aviation information company Cirium.

The average increase was 25%, compared with a 7% rise the previous year.

Fares for travel from Denver, Colorado, to Narita rose 46%, as United Airlines' hub airport attracted Japan-bound travelers from other parts of the country.

The study analyzed 2023 economy-class fares from major U.S. airports to popular overseas destinations. Of the 200 routes that saw the highest price increases, 80 were to Japan or China.

To read more, go here. 

Cheap Flights To Japan

Above, a Singapore Air Airbus A380 I flew to Japan on 2015. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Whenever I traveled to Japan, I had several sources for budget-priced flights. My favorite was GatewayLAX. Unfortunately, they are no longer in business.

However, according to an article in Thrifty Traveler, cheap flights to Japan can still be had. One just has to dig around.

They begin with:

The cheapest economy ticket, a comfier premium economy ride, a lie-flat business class seat, and a first class travel experience can all get you the same thing in 2024: A trip to Japan.

All of these experiences in the sky are possible if you have the right combination of cash, points, and miles, but finding cheap flights to Japan isn't so straightforward. Unlike other popular destinations like Mexico, Florida, and even parts of Europe, there aren’t any tried and true flights to Japan. You really have to look – and look often – to find what you want. 

To read more, go here. 

Hawaii Tourism Drops With Recovery Expected In 2024

Above, visitors to the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Reports are saying that tourism to Hawaii has dropped.

Given the inflationary high prices of airfares and hotels, this is not at all surprising. There's also the possibility of a recession as well.

According to the Hawaii Tribune-Herald:

Demand for travel to Hawaii has fallen, especially on Maui, and travel industry experts say it’s not expected to materially recover until 2024.

Jack Richards, president and CEO of Pleasant Holidays, said travel to Hawaii was up 16.5% for 2024 before the Maui wildfires in August, and is now negative statewide.

“We are off by double digits from October to April. Recovery will build gradually over time, but we don’t believe that we’ll get back to historic levels before May or June,” he said. “Right now, demand is well below historic levels for Maui. It’s the fires, (high) prices and mixed messaging. People are unsure about coming to Hawaii.”

Some of what Richards is talking about is a continuation of what is already showing up in preliminary statistics released Monday by the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. The numbers showed that the sluggish return of visitors to Maui after the August wildfires and to the state from North America caused September arrivals and nominal spending statewide to drop year-over-year for the second month in a row.

Some 651,286 visitors came to the Hawaiian Islands in September, down 7.4% from September 2022 and moving the pre-pandemic arrivals recovery back to 88.5% from September 2019, according to DBEDT data.

To read more, go here.

Worst-Ever Hawaii Airfares

Above, a Hawaiian vacation will cost much more just to get there. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

As previously mentioned, hotels, airfares and, soon to come in October, prices for the JR Rail Pass will jump in Japan.

But Japan isn't the only destination that is gouging one's wallet. Airlines are hiking their airfares to Hawaii, which is the topic of discussion in Beat of Hawaii. 

They begin with:

If you think Hawaii hotel prices are soaring, you’d better look at what’s happening now with airline tickets. We previously reported trying to get from Hawaii to the mainland this August. Ultimately, BOH editors decided not to go to a conference rather than pay the airlines’ asking price. As editor Jeff said, “It was too insulting.” This could end up being a game of cat and mouse like we reported this past weekend on First Class Hawaii deals. We plan to keep revisiting the costs, and have alerts set that you might be doing as well.

A very rapid escalation of airline ticket prices to Hawaii has occurred over the past year or so. So it isn’t exactly new but it is decidedly unpleasant. Given that the airlines are arguably smarter and cagier than hotels, this is a bit more subtle while equally challenging. Hawaii airline ticket prices rebounded starting last year following Covid and are now, in many cases, at new highs never seen before. That’s true in all classes and across airlines, in economy, extra legroom (up to $304 more), premium economy, and business.

To read more, go here. 

Hawaii Airfare War Starting Up Again

Above, air passengers arriving at Kona International Airport. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in the day when gasoline was way under a buck a gallon, we would see "gas war" signs at gasoline stations. Each brand of gasoline competed for the dollars of consumers by lowering prices.

A similar thing is taking place between competing airlines to Hawaii. The winner of this airfare war is definitely the consumer.

Beat of Hawaii begins with:

It seems odd to us that Hawaii would continue to have that distinction. After all, once on the ground, Hawaii is usually more expensive in every way when compared with the mainland. But not when it comes to airfares, and at least not for now when you travel interisland.

This all comes as another fare war was started today between bellwether Hawaiian Airlines and still relative Hawaii newcomer Southwest Airlines. The lowest mainland price now begins at $119 each way from the west coast, and we predict they can go lower.

If one has a vacation to Hawaii in mind, now is the time to buy airline tickets.

To read more, go here.

Why Hawaii Has Cheapest Airfares In The U.S.

Above, new arrivals disembarking at Kona International Airport. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

At one time, Hawaiian Airlines was the "Big Kahuna" when it came to flights to Hawaii. Not anymore. Other airlines have entered the Hawaii travel market and competing for market share.

Now there's a price war between the airlines serving Hawaii and travelers are the beneficiaries.

Now, Hawaii has the cheapest airfares in the U.S.

Beat of Hawaii reported:

It seems odd to us that Hawaii would have that distinction. After all, Hawaii is usually more expensive in every way when compared with the mainland. But not when it comes to airfares, at least not for now.

Another fare war was started today by Southwest Airlines, still a relative newcomer to the Hawaii market. The deals are both from the mainland to Hawaii and interisland too. They were quickly joined by Hawaiian Airlines and by Alaska Airlines.

So why are we seeing the cheapest airfares in the US?

By their admitted nature, Southwest is acting aggressively relative to the other airlines and moving in on their rival’s territory with low prices. Southwest continues to look for whatever opportunities exist to expand and dominate Hawaii flights. As mentioned previously, the pilot head of SWAPA (Southwest’s pilots’ union) has described the airline’s expansion strategy this way: “Predatory and opportunistic—which we like.” In fact, there is a photo of a shark labeled “Southwest” which sits in one of the company’s offices.

 To read more, go here.

The Best Time To Book A Flight

When I bought my plane tickets (Delta Airlines) to fly from Albuquerque to Los Angeles for our high school reunion, it was in April when gasoline prices were fast rising to sky-high levels. Before taxes and fees, the price for the round-trip was $221.40. 

That would have been roughly the same price for one fill-up of gasoline for my motorhome. I would have needed at least three fill-ups for the trip had I drove. The choice was obvious.

Since then, airline ticket prices have risen, so it was a good thing that I booked my flights when I did.

Condé Nast Traveler has posted an article on the best times to book a flight according to travel experts.

They begin it with:

Every traveler has a theory on the best time to book a flight. We’ve heard it all: The lowest fares are on Tuesdays at 3 p.m. Eastern. (No, Saturday at 6 a.m. is the best time to buy!) You need to book at least two months before you fly. (No, you should fly at the last minute to score a deal!) But even with all these recommendations, there’s still no guarantee that you’ll find cheap flights.

“The notion that there’s a single best day and time to buy tickets to get a good deal is a myth that simply refuses to die,” says Willis Orlando, senior product operations specialist at Scott’s Cheap Flights. The reason it’s so persistent, Orlando explains, is that this concept used to be true decades ago when airline employees would update prices every week, meaning that savvy passengers could snag deals by booking right after those updates. But “the fact of the matter is this is just not how things work anymore, and it hasn’t been for a long time,” Orlando says. “Airfare these days is highly complex, and constantly changing, sometimes by the hour.”

Considering that the pandemic has caused shifts in passengers’ buying patterns (flexibility is king) and how airlines have responded (no more cancellation fees), the best time to book a flight formula becomes even trickier.

Luckily, there are still some reliable strategies passengers can use to score the best deals. One rule of thumb: Aim to buy tickets during what’s known in industry terms as the “prime booking window” or “optimal booking window.” This is the sweet spot several weeks—or even months—ahead of departure when deals are most likely to be had, prices aren’t as likely to fluctuate, and passengers have plenty of choice.

To read more, go here.

Some Hawaii Airfares To Go Up 250% or More

Above, dancers at a Honolulu luau. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Following the easing of restrictions of travel to Hawaii, some airlines, most notably Southwest Airlines, have been offering $39 airfares.

Naturally, airfares like this won't last long and common sense will tell you that they are not enough to sustain an airline. They are bound to go up. And, according to Beat of Hawaii, some will go up 250% or more.

According to Beat of Hawaii:

If you love the current $39 airfares being driven by Hawaii’s relative newcomer Southwest Airlines, and largely matched by bellwether Hawaiian Airlines, here’s our best suggestion:

Get them quick and enjoy them while you can. 

Your editors are taking our own advice and flying all over the state until the end of the year.

In many comments noted below, you’ve said you are grateful for the hugely reduced cost of flying interisland with both airlines. Frankly, who can complain about that?

But where is this heading? We looked around, and here’s what we can tell you. We compared the ten shortest nonstop routes that Southwest offers, both in Hawaii and on the mainland. The results are eye-opening.

To read more, go here. 

The Best Time to Book a Flight

Above, over the Nevada desert en route to Las Vegas. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Planning on doing some air travel this year?

You may be wondering, When is the best time to book your flights? Well, Travel + Leisure has posted an article on just that. It covers both domestic and international flights.

They begin it with:

Finding the best flight deals is a bit of an art form, but there's also some science — or at least economics — involved. There are only two definitive rules: Flights open for booking about a year in advance, and the airfare will change often between then and takeoff. So, as a general rule of thumb, you'll want to book plane tickets well in advance, as prices spike sharply in the days preceding the flight, taking advantage of any last-minute travelers who have no choice but to pay up.

But there are many variables that impact the dynamic pricing patterns of plane tickets, including the destination and time of year. In some cases, you can book just a couple of weeks in advance, while in others, you're better off reserving months ahead (such as a trip over a big travel holiday, when demand is high).

While travel has been upended by the pandemic for the past two years, we're seeing numbers return to normal — in its January 2022 Consumer Airfare Index Report, airfare tracking site Hopper predicts airfare will reach 2019 levels by April 2022. That said, given the general uncertainty regarding potential new variants, travelers are still holding off on booking flights until their travel dates approach, much as they did in 2020 and 2021. 

Nonetheless, good deals are still all about big-picture timing, and while travel logistics are more in flux these days, most airlines now waive change fees, making it easier for travelers to book well in advance and shift plans later, if need be.

The bottom line is that scoring the best flight deals can be tricky — and the pandemic's impact on travel and the airline industry has added more than a few challenges. But we're here to help you find the best flights for your upcoming travel. Our first tip: Start tracking flight prices as early as possible so you can keep an eye on cost fluctuations. Use Google Flights or Hopper to receive price change notifications about your tracked flights. 

To read more, go here. 

Airlines Drop Fall Fares To Lure More Travelers

Above, Magic Valley Regional Airport in Twin Falls, Idaho. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Now that the summer vacation season is over with Labor Day weekend now a memory, airlines are gearing up for autumn travelers by dropping airfares to lure more of them.

According to TravelPulse:

It’s a tried-and-true business practice that goes back centuries – drop the price and hope that the difference is made up with more volume.

That’s what airlines appear to be doing in order to lure more passengers during what is usually a downtime for leisure travelers, according to Business Insider.

While the spring and summer turned out to be a boon for carriers, which were not expecting such a rapid recovery in leisure flying following more than a year of the coronavirus pandemic, the fall was usually carried by business travelers.

But that’s not happening this year as many businesses are keeping their employees home and working off Zoom calls. Thus, airfares from September to November are expected to be lower than normal as a result. The hope is that a potential increase in the volume of passengers between now and the lucrative six-week holiday travel period from mid-November to after New Year’s – where fares are expected to be priced similar to last year – will lead to increased revenue. 

To read more, go here. 

Motley Fool: 7 Tips For Seeing Hawaii On A Budget

Above, the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa at Waikoloa Beach, Hawaii. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The state of Hawaii is opening up for tourists from the mainland and foreign countries. But, before going, check for any restrictions and requirements so that one can actually step foot there. I've read of some nightmarish problems of people who had CDC-approved proof of COVID-19 vaccinations who got rejected and had to go back to the mainland to get the "required" documentation and come back.

But, that aside, Motley Fool has an article on seven tips for seeing Hawaii on a budget. One tip is to seek out package deals. I did so five years ago and saved a lot of money through the Automobile Club. The package included round-trip airfare from the mainland, hotels, ground transportation and inter-island airfare.

Motley Fool begins their article with:

It's possible you'll enjoy your vacation more if you don't have to go into debt for it.

Like most vacations, the cost of a trip to the Hawaiian Islands depends on how far in advance you plan. Price is also determined by the steps you take to minimize "big" costs, and what you do once you're on an island. Here, we'll outline some of the easiest ways to visit Hawaii on a budget.

To read more, go here. 

Best Time To Visit Hawaii

Above, Diamond Head from Waikiki. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For those thinking about a Hawaiian vacation and may wonder when is the best time to go, Lonely Planet has an article that will answer that question.

Things to consider are the weather, accommodation prices, airfare and crowds. Along with that, what coronavirus restrictions, if any, are in place.

The article begins with:

Hawaii is the perfect destination if you've been dreaming of a tropical island vacation. From its sugary white-sand beaches, radiant sunsets and gently rustling palm trees to its rain forests, canyons and volcanoes, Hawaii is almost too amazing to explore in a brief visit. 

The biggest crowds from the US mainland arrive for summer vacation, over spring break and during winter. Off-season travel in the late spring and early fall enjoys fewer crowds with equally good weather, and may net you big savings on airfare and accommodations besides.

Editor's note: during COVID-19 there may be additional travel restrictions. Check the latest guidance in Hawaii before planning a trip, and always follow local government health advice.

To read more, go here. 

It's Getting Cheaper To Fly To Hawaii

Above, a view of Diamond Head from Waikiki. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If you live in or near Northern California and want to vacation in Hawaii, you're in luck!

An expansion of air routes with low-cost airfares are being offered.

AFAR Media reported:

With fares as low as $159 one-way, our winter travel plans just got a serious boost from Southwest Airlines’ major Hawaii expansion. 

Low-cost carrier Southwest Airlines is adding several new Hawaii routes from Sacramento, Oakland, and San Jose with one-way fares starting as low as $159. 

As of mid-January 2020, the airline will have new, daily service between Sacramento and Honolulu. There will also be new nonstop service to both Lihue Airport on Kauai and Hilo International Airport on the Island of Hawaii from both Oakland and San Jose—this will be the first time Southwest will be servicing those two Hawaii hubs. 

The flights are all currently bookable for travel into early March and range from $159 for a one-way flight midweek up to $448 for a one-way fare during the weekend, with the bulk of flights landing in the $200 to $350 range each way.

To read more, go here. 

Travel Deals To Hawaii and Elsewhere

Above, performers at a Honolulu luau. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Following Thanksgiving and Black Friday, the floodgates of travel deals have been opened with great bargains on round-trip flights to Hawaii from L.A. and other places.

The Los Angeles Times reported:

Travel Deal Tuesday isn’t a made up thing. Online travel agency Hopper looked at flight prices over time during the post-Thanksgiving shopping blitz. It found that the best prices, saving as much as 40%, fell on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. 

“The volume of fare sales [last year] was more than Black Friday and Cyber Monday combined,” a Hopper news release said. 

What that means for you is saving on your next vacation — now. Browse these Tuesday deals that Hopper confirmed with the respective airlines. And remember, some Cyber Monday deals are still in effect so it’s not to late to find a bargain. 

Hawaiian Airlines on Tuesday will be offering one-way economy fares from Honolulu to Sapporo, Japan, starting at $299 per person. The airline’s Cyber Monday deal, which continues through Wednesday, shows round-trip airfares from Los Angeles starting at $357 to Kona, Hawaii; $377 to Kauai; $457 to Honolulu, Oahu; and $477 to Maui. 

There’s also a Long Beach-Oahu ticket from $417. Fares are available for travel Mondays to Thursdays between Jan. 9 and March 13. 

Book through Wednesday at Hawaiian Airlines.

To read more, go here.

Expect Higher Airfares, American Airlines Warns

Above, the San Gabriel Mountains from an American Airlines flight. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Although the gasoline prices in New Mexico (where I live) is still about a dollar less than California's, I have noticed a steady climb (gasoline prices are about thirty cents higher than three months ago) in recent weeks. 

So has American Airlines. An article in Japan Today reports that American Airlines warns that higher fares are coming. They mainly blame rising fuel costs.

According to the article:

DALLAS - Rising fuel costs are eating into airline profits, dampening expectations for the rest of 2018, and setting the stage for higher fares. 

Fuel is the airlines' second-biggest expense after labor, so when it rises — at American it was up 40 cents a gallon from a year ago — so does the cost of providing air travel, says American Airlines CEO Doug Parker. 

"If indeed this is where fuel prices are going to stay, I would expect you would see higher fares to consumers over time," Parker said. 

American blamed higher fuel prices for a 45 percent drop in first-quarter profit, to $186 million.

To read more, go here. 

Winter Cheap Flights To Hawaii

Above, a view of the coastline on the Big Island. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

More airlines and more flights to Hawaii is causing prices to drop. This competition can only be good news for the travel consumer.

Travel + Leisure has posed an article on how to score cheap flights to Hawaii.

It starts with:

It’s becoming cheaper than ever to book a flight to Hawaii. 

As airlines like Southwest launch new flights with lower prices, other airlines are forced to compete — with spectacular results for travelers who want to book a tropical getaway. Flights from the mainland to Hawaii have recently been spotted for as low as $280 round-trip. But even if you missed out on that sale, there are more cheap flights to be found.

To read more, go here. 

Round-Trip Flights To Hawaii From $297

Above, a hilltop view of Diamond Head and Honolulu. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For those contemplating a vacation in Hawaii, there are some deals to be had. The catch is that they are only offered 2 days at most.

Condé Nast Traveler posted:

Last year, JetBlue rolled out 12 Days of Deals—daily low fares all over the Western Hemisphere, and we couldn't get enough of it. This year, the airline’s holiday surprise is the return of the ‘All You Can Jet’ pass, but we were so inspired by their last-minute holiday travel ideas, we decided to do our own 12 days of deals. Check back each day through December 22 to find some of the best cheap fares, hotel discounts, and more around the world. 

Just in time for the first day of winter, we've got the flight deal that'll crush your winter blues before they even set in. Several major airlines including Virgin, Hawaiian, and United are running cheap round-trip flights to Hawaii from the continental U.S. Fares are as low as $297 from Los Angeles to Honolulu, and $376 between Portland and Maui. If you haven't planned your spring break yet, this is the move: Booking availability spans from January to May 2018. Considering that flights to Hawaii are notoriously pricey—trips from the West Coast usually run around $650, and upwards of $900 from elsewhere—these fares are a steal. Just make sure you book fast: The deals are only projected to last a day or two at the most.

To read more, go here. 

Cheap Flights To Hawaii

Above, a Honolulu sunset. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Ever wanted to travel to Hawaii but found that airfares are too expensive?

Well, there's some good news! Airfares have just gotten cheaper! It is all due to increased competition.

According to Travel + Leisure:

Here's something good in 2017: Airfare to Hawaii has gotten cheaper. And now that winter is on its way, cheap flights to the Aloha State are looking even better. 

Flights to Honolulu, Kauai, Kona, and Maui from cities across the U.S. are available for as low as $342 for travel from this month through March 2018. 

We found the cheapest fares to Honolulu from Denver ($342), San Francisco ($342), Seattle ($352), and Portland ($362), and Scott's Cheap Flights even found fares as low as $327 on some routes. 

Flights are also cheap to Maui from San Francisco ($342), San Diego ($342), San Jose ($377), and Portland ($366). And San Diego to Kauai is starting at $342.

To read more, go here.

When Is The Best Time To Buy Airline Tickets?

Above, a Singapore Airlines Airbus A380. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

There's a lot of theories out there as to when is the "best time" to purchase airline tickets.

Condé Nast Traveler has an article that may settle that debate (at least for now). You may want to take their article into consideration before buying your tickets to Japan and other places.

They wrote:

Travelers often swap theories on the right—and wrong—time to book a flight. We've heard it all: The lowest fares are on Tuesdays at 3 p.m. ET. (No, Wednesday at 1 a.m. is the best time to buy!) You need to book at least two months before you fly. (No, you should look for a deal and fly at the last minute!) Websites like Kayak suggest when you should buy, or if you should wait—like we're all trading stocks—but there's no guarantee. And according to George Hobica of AirfareWatchdog, "There is no secret time. You need to look four times a day—minimum—every day of the week, as far in advance as you can." 

But the latest study by Expedia and the Airlines Reporting Corporation says that 2017 "could be a banner year for travelers taking to the skies," with a new ideal time to book. Based on billions (yes, billions) of passenger flights from January 1, 2016, through October 24, 2016, the study concluded that the best day to buy airline tickets is Sunday, especially if you're booking more than 21 days in advance. 

To read more, go here.