By Air
Finding a deal on a flight to Hawaii is like gambling – a flight one day might be $50 more or $50 less when you check the next day. I've found that the best way to get the best fare is research. Check all of the airlines websites (many have special web fares) and if you are flexible with your dates, check the different days to see the differences. These days you can buy your ticket, choose your seat and check in for your flight over the web without ever talking to anyone. In fact, many airlines charge a fee to book a flight over the phone.
Here's a list of the major airlines that travel to Hawaii:
Ata Airlines, tel. 800-435-9282, www.ata.com, offers several flights to Hawaii, including Las Vegas to Honolulu, Los Angeles to Maui, Oakland to Maui, Phoenix to Maui and Oakland to the Big Island.
Hawaiian Airlines, tel. 800-367-5320, www.hawaiianair.com, has several flights from Hawaii to the Mainland, between the islands and to Australia and the South Pacific. Flights to Honolulu depart from Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Portland and Seattle. You can also fly Hawaiian Airlines from Honolulu to Sydney, Australia, Papeete, Tahiti and Pago Pago, American Samoa.
United Airlines, tel. 800-864-8331, www.united.com, flies to the islands from Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Tokyo and Osaka.
American Airlines, tel. 800-433-7300, www.aa.com, flies to Honolulu from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago and the Dallas/Fort Worth area.
Continental Airlines, tel. 800-523-3273, www.continental.com, flies from New York, Los Angeles and Houston to Honolulu.
Delta Airlines, tel. 800-221-1212, www.delta.com, has flights from Atlanta, Los Angeles, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Seattle/Tacoma, Seoul (Korea) and Taipei (China) to Honolulu.
Korean Airlines, tel. 800-438-5000, www.koreanair.com, has one flight a day from Seoul to Honolulu.
Island Air, tel. 808-484-2222, www.islandair.com, flies between the islands and can take you to Kaua`i, Moloka`i, Maui, Lana`i and the Big Island of Hawai`i (Hilo and Kona).
Northwest, tel. 800-225-2525, www.nwa.com, has flights from Los Angeles, Memphis, Detroit, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Osaka (Japan) and Guangzhou (China) to Honolulu. The airline also flies directly from Los Angeles to Kaua`i, Maui and the Big Island of Hawai`i.
Australian newcomer Jetstar, tel. 866-397-8170, www.jetstar.com, has flights from Sydney and Melbourne to Honolulu. Jetstar started flying within Australia in May 2004 and internationally in November of the same year. It is owned by Qantas airlines but operates independently. The airline flies from Sydney to Honolulu on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturday and from Melbourne to Honolulu on Mondays and Fridays.
Qantas, tel. 800-277-4500, www.qantas.com, an Australian airline, has one daily flight from Sydney to Honolulu.
By Cruise Ship
The Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has three ships (Pride of Hawaii, Pride of Aloha and Pride of America) that roam around six Hawaiian Islands, including O`ahu. The cruise line offers its signature "Freestyle Cruising," which allows guests a more personal and flexible voyage. The cruise line also works with over 135 properties across the islands if you want to stay on one island for a longer period.
Package Vacations
The American Automobile Association (AAA) has partnered with Pleasant Holidays to provide organized tours according to your needs and preferences. The company will arrange your airfare, accommodations, activities, automobile rental and dining options. If you prefer to have your vacation pre-arranged this is a nice option and you will receive exclusive discounts at restaurants, activities and attractions. The downside is that you won't have as much flexibility as if you were on your own. If you're a member of AAA, contact your local office for more details.
