Flying Interisland

[mel]

I'm starting this topic for the discussion of flying interisland on any of our various airlines. Currently flying Hawaii skies between the islands are:

Aloha Airlines (http://www.alohaairlines.com/fly/)
Hawaiian Airlines (http://www.hawaiianair.com/)
Island Air (http://www.islandair.com)
Pacific Wings (http://www.pacificwings.com/)

There are several other smaller carriers with service to various islands by charter or a limited schedule. Other airlines such as Trans Air are freight only operations. And of course we have the big domestic and foreign airlines that fly directly to and from the mainland to several neighbor island airports.

Then there are the fares. In my just completed trip I spent $79 on each flight from Honolulu to Hilo and back. And this was on Aloha, booked through their website using my AlohaPass card number. Your costs will vary on when you book, which airline you fly on, and whether or not you belong to their frequent flyer club.

Just this week I ordered 2 coupon books (http://starbulletin.com/2004/08/18/business/engle.html) for $58 each flight on Aloha Airlines. There are 5 coupons in each book. So I guess I am good for 5 neighbor island trips between now and June 2005, when the coupons expire.

Prices stated here do not include security and other fees now associated with travel.

As many people know, flight coupons were very popular options to ticketing that island residents enjoyed for over 10 years. In 2003 the coupon books were discontinued by Hawaiian and Aloha Airlines in favor of online booking and ticketing. A lot of people have complained about the lack of flexibility when flying interisland today. Coupon books return that flexibility even for only a short time through Aloha Airlines' current promotion.

This is the only state in the union where we cannot simply drive our cars from one county to another. So far, despite the upcoming arrival of a ferry system in 2006, the airlines are the only way to get off one island to go to another.

Tell us about your interisland travels, reservations and ticketing experiences, stories of lost luggage (if any), missed flights, smooth and/or bumpy plane rides, etc.

[craigwatanabe]

Having to stand in the general boarding line gave me the incentive to buy into Aloha's Executive Plus program. They have since upgraded that program but now you cannot buy into it you must be a major frequent flyer to qualify for it.

Hawaiian Airlines offer a similar program that allows you to pre-board and allows you to buy into it. I switched.

As for the superferry, I just wished it could've come into Hilo Harbor because making that 120-mile drive to Kona to get on that ferry and back doesn't make for a pleasant weekend drive to Oahu. You'll spend about 13-hours in transit total from Hilo to Oahu. In 13-hours I could've flown to Oahu from Hilo, bought everything I needed at Ala Moana, packed and shipped UPS and flown back to Hilo and still have time to go to KTA for some light grocery shopping.

My feeling is that we're making a big mistake not docking in Hilo.

[mel]

When I fly its always on the cheap. I don't belong to any Executive Club pass thing, or whatever with either airline. I don't mind standing in line and waiting like all the other grunts for the cattle call to shuttle us out of the airport into the airplane. Just did it again this week on my flight back to Honolulu.

One thing that I noticed that was different is that at Hilo Airport, they now let you wait in line on the top level near the gate of your flight instead of down below in the main lobby like before. I think this is good, because at least we can see the outside of the airport and planes taking off and landing there (though at Hilo there isn't too much air traffic except for tour helicopters coming and going).....

Flight pictures to Honolulu:

Aloha Air 737 to HNL (http://macpro-events.buzznet.com/user/?id=468607)
Goodbye Hilo (http://macpro-events.buzznet.com/user/?id=468607)
Aerial view of Mauna Kea (http://macpro-events.buzznet.com/user/?img=2&id=468615)
Arrived in Honolulu (http://macpro-events.buzznet.com/user/?img=1&id=468626)

[Miulang]

The smaller neighbor islands are getting shafted again. We're coming to Maui next week and taking a side trip to Molokai, where my father was raised on a farm. Since Hawaiian and Aloha no longer have flights to Hoolehua, we are having to fly on Island Air, which is no longer a subsidiary of Aloha.

It's costing us $378 for 2 people to fly from OGG to MKK. How are local people on Molokai supposed to afford that kind of plane fare? You can take the Molokai Princess, but that's a pretty long boat ride--tides and current permitting--and if you have business in anyplace other than Lahaina, you'd better have ohana or a rental car to get around because public transportation on Maui sucks.

Miulang

[mel]

The reasons why Hawaiian Air pulled out of Molokai/Lanai is that there was not enough demand for those flights requiring the larger jet and the fact that the longest runway at Molokai is only 4,494 ft., barely enough for the jet to take off and land on. Island Air's planes are smaller and ideally suited for short runways.

[craigwatanabe]

The reasons why Hawaiian Air pulled out of Molokai/Lanai is that there was not enough demand for those flights requiring the larger jet and the fact that the longest runway at Molokai is only 4,494 ft., barely enough for the jet to take off and land on. Island Air's planes are smaller and ideally suited for short runways.


Man you haven't lived until you land in Molokai on a Hawaiian Airlines jet. It's kinda like...like a carrier landing! As you fly in you see that manini runway and you ask yourself, "We going land on that bandaid?" To land on that runway you cannot eat up the runway by feathering your landing. Once your gears are over the runway you drop the sucker and boy those Hawaiian Airline pilots do, then they hit the reverse thrusters and slam the brakes and if you're not belted in good, you'll be kissing that upright tray in front of you.

Then you realize you still have too much forward momentum as you turn off the active runway onto the taxiway. The plane is turning but your body wants to go forward some more, hang on to your seats! More fun than riding the Bus standing up on Kapiolani Blvd.

Yeah the Molokai landing by a big jet can be the highlight of your Molokai stay. Oh then there's the take offs!

[Miulang]

Man you haven't lived until you land in Molokai on a Hawaiian Airlines jet. It's kinda like...like a carrier landing! As you fly in you see that manini runway and you ask yourself, "We going land on that bandaid?" To land on that runway you cannot eat up the runway by feathering your landing. Once your gears are over the runway you drop the sucker and boy those Hawaiian Airline pilots do, then they hit the reverse thrusters and slam the brakes and if you're not belted in good, you'll be kissing that upright tray in front of you.

Then you realize you still have too much forward momentum as you turn off the active runway onto the taxiway. The plane is turning but your body wants to go forward some more, hang on to your seats! More fun than riding the Bus standing up on Kapiolani Blvd.

Yeah the Molokai landing by a big jet can be the highlight of your Molokai stay. Oh then there's the take offs!

You don't know what that feels like unless you've landed or taken off from the San Diego Airport! You go straight down and land in between the marina and the buildings on the mainland on a very short runway. Taking off is also fun. Pittsburgh used to be the same way...if the plane missed the edge of the runway, you would have creamed right into the side of the hill that the runway was on.

My only issue is the high cost of having Island Air provide the only scheduled service between OGG and MKK. How do the folks on Molokai afford that on a regular basis? I guess they don't because that's why the majors pulled out?


Miulang

[mel]

My only issue is the high cost of having Island Air provide the only scheduled service between OGG and MKK. How do the folks on Molokai afford that on a regular basis? I guess they don't because that's why the majors pulled out?


According to Island Air's website, they are currently offering special fares of $78.50 (http://www.islandair.com/wp/Specials/52dollarspecial.htm) to a number of destinations including Molokai and Lanai. The catch is you must buy your ticket on the internet and probably book several days or weeks in advance.

If this is so, then it is like the other 2 major air carriers, Hawaiian and Aloha who also have some internet fare specials. My trip to the Big Island on Aloha cost $79 each way + those security fees. If I booked through Hawaiian, their "special" fare was $94. Both with the frequent flyer card.

Of course now, Aloha is offering coupon books for $58 each coupon in packs of 5. That offer expires August 31.

For travellers having to go off island like today or tomorrow with no prior arrangements usually have to pay the full fare of about $115 each way... for interisland. Ouch! :mad:

So for the time being anyone who bought a coupon book(s) through Aloha's current promotion will be in fairly good shape until June 2005.

[mel]

Man you haven't lived until you land in Molokai on a Hawaiian Airlines jet. It's kinda like...like a carrier landing

Many years ago Hawaiian Airlines used to fly their DC-9 jets into Waimea/Kamuela (MUE) airport on the Big Island. I loved the convenience that offered me since Waimea is only 20 minutes away by car from Honokaa. Anyway, I used to regularly fly into MUE from HNL when I was in college and also in my younger years... of course way back in the 1960s, Hawaiian only flew their propeller planes like the DC-6 and Convair 340 / 640 into that airport... however it was cool when the DC-9 jet service was implemented.

A landing at Kamuela's 5,190 ft. long runway is similar to that of Molokai. The moment the DC-9's wheels hit the ground, the pilot would throw the entire plane into reverse thrust, flaps fully in the downward position as we raced down the runway. Of course I usually like to sit in the window seat, and I know when we are running out of runway space is when the big white lines at the end show up and the plane is just about ready to stop... oh yeah, and the whole aircraft like vibrates big time when the reverse thrusters are on.... noisy and cool in a weird sort of way.

Kamuela has no taxiway, which means the plane has to do a sharp U-turn after the landing to meander its way back to the terminal.

[Miulang]

According to Island Air's website, they are currently offering special fares of $78.50 (http://www.islandair.com/wp/Specials/52dollarspecial.htm) to a number of destinations including Molokai and Lanai. The catch is you must buy your ticket on the internet and probably book several days or weeks in advance.


The whole point is I did make reservations via the Internet last week and I did qualify for the $78.50 fare. The problem is that fare is one way so for 2 people (when you count in airport taxes and whatever else they want to collect from you), the total came out to $348! How long would the aunties and uncles have to save in order to go visit ohana on the other islands?

For a long time, the major interisland carriers used to use the Mainland routes to subsidize the lower fares for the locals and between-island travel for tourists. Now, for some reason, they no longer offer "island hopper" fares to the tourists and certainly aren't doing local people any favors with the fares they are getting away with charging.

That $348 for 2 round trip tickets to Molokai is about what one SEA-OGG round trip ticket is costing us this trip. A 5-1/2 hour flight v. a 20-minute one for about the same amount of money. Gee...I can see the value of going holoholo to see the ohana! No wonder locals would rather go to Las Vegas than hop on a plane to Hilo to go see popo! Good thing you can still buy those coupon books!

Miulang

[mel]

The whole point is I did make reservations via the Internet last week and I did qualify for the $78.50 fare. The problem is that fare is one way so for 2 people (when you count in airport taxes and whatever else they want to collect from you), the total came out to $348!




That is the current cheapest fare. I too am just as vexed as you about the high fares interisland carriers are now charging to fly between islands. However with the cost of fuel and impact of direct flights to the neighbor islands not only by our 2 local major carriers, but most of the major ones too (American, United, etc.), I cannot see how the cost of flying can return to lower price points if there are not that many people flying interisland.

I hate the high cost of flying interisland even with today's discount fares. Because of that I have had to adjust and fly between here and the Big Island less than I did only a few years ago.

As individuals we all understand the power of our own buying dollar and we make adjustments accordingly. Unfortunately we are not like the government where we can turn to the taxpayers when our funds are short and ask for more money. No we have to earn it all and then prioritize our spending.

[Konaguy]

Just adding my perspective on this. Nearly 3 years ago AQ/HA considered
merging.At the time I thought it was a bad idea for a number of reasons.
But as the years go by I wonder sometimes what could've been if HA/AQ merged.

[mel]

Looks like another new player is entering the interisland passenger market. Freight carrier TransAir is starting a charter airline called "Inter Island Airways" that will fly group charters between the islands.

According to this short Star-Bulletin article, (http://starbulletin.com/2004/08/26/business/bizbriefs.html)Trans Air has acquired a new 30 passenger prop airplane and has already started service. From the article:

Hawaii air-cargo carrier TransAir has begun operating a chartered inter-island passenger service that it plans to grow into a full-fledged airline.

TransAir founder and President Teimour Riahi said the company received federal approval earlier this month to begin carrying passengers aboard a 30-seat Bombardier propeller craft recently delivered to TransAir.

I went to the Bombardier (http://www.learjet.com/) website and found out this is the company that makes LearJets. They also seem to have been the firm that bought out DeHavilland of Canada. So they make the 30 seat prop plane known as the Q100 and it turns out to be none other than the Dash 8 (http://www.learjet.com/index.jsp?id=3_0&lang=en&file=/en/3_0/3_2/3_2.jsp) which is the same plane flown by Island Air.

Kind of interesting. I don't know if Hawaii can support this many 2nd tier prop airlines. However if the price is right and they like fly to Waimea-Kamuela on the Big Island, I'd give them a try.

Of course that is after I use up all of my Aloha Airlines coupons.

[craigwatanabe]

Aloha is offering those $58 one way fare coupon books again right? That should be the cheapest fare floating around now.

[Miulang]

Looks like another new player is entering the interisland passenger market. Freight carrier TransAir is starting a charter airline called "Inter Island Airways" that will fly group charters between the islands.

According to this short Star-Bulletin article, (http://starbulletin.com/2004/08/26/business/bizbriefs.html)Trans Air has acquired a new 30 passenger prop airplane and has already started service. From the article:



I went to the Bombardier (http://www.learjet.com/) website and found out this is the company that makes LearJets. They also seem to have been the firm that bought out DeHavilland of Canada. So they make the 30 seat prop plane known as the Q100 and it turns out to be none other than the Dash 8 (http://www.learjet.com/index.jsp?id=3_0&lang=en&file=/en/3_0/3_2/3_2.jsp) which is the same plane flown by Island Air.

When I was a little kid, I used to fly interisland with my parents in Convairs, which were propeller-driven. Now it looks like we're coming full circle. If it means cheaper interisland fares, I'm all for them! But why only charters? That will only benefit the touristas on package vacations. And if it's a freight aircarrier, does that mean that the passengers will be herded aboard the planes like cargo :rolleyes: a la Southwest Airlines?

Remember what I said in another thread about history repeating itself?

As an aside, Bombardier also makes monorail systems. They were in the bidding for the monorail system up here in Seattle, but pulled out because they didn't like some of the stipulations that were put on the bid.

Miulang

[mel]

When I was a little kid, I used to fly interisland with my parents in Convairs, which were propeller-driven. Now it looks like we're coming full circle. If it means cheaper interisland fares, I'm all for them! But why only charters? That will only benefit the touristas on package vacations. And if it's a freight aircarrier, does that mean that the passengers will be herded aboard the planes like cargo :rolleyes: a la Southwest Airlines?

Yes, I used to fly with my parents on Hawaiian Airlines' old Convairs as well as other prop planes of the times. And if the price is right I too will give the new airline a try.

According to the article I cited, the charter service is only the beginning for TransAir. They probably only have 1 passenger plane for now and will eventually ease their way slowly into the airline market. Who knows.

As TransAir they normally fly a Shorts 360 cargo plane. I seen those planes here in Honolulu as well as on Kona on the Big Island.

I have never flown on Southwest, but to me most airlines seem to all herd their passengers onto the aircraft like cattle.

[pzarquon]

I have never flown on Southwest, but to me most airlines seem to all herd their passengers onto the aircraft like cattle.IIRC, the Southwest model is still slightly different, as their planes are boarded like buses - every man, woman, and child for him or herself. That is, there are no assigned seats like there are on conventional airlines. You just show up at the gate, get on the plane, and sit anywhere you can.

Perhaps it seemed silly at the time to make a change like that for minor savings, but seeing as how some airlines are now charging you to eat their awful food just to cut a couple of bucks per passenger, the "quick and dirty" travel model Southwest is using seems positively progressive.

[mel]

IIRC, the Southwest model is still slightly different, as their planes are boarded like buses - every man, woman, and child for him or herself. That is, there are no assigned seats like there are on conventional airlines. You just show up at the gate, get on the plane, and sit anywhere you can.

This is kind of what the interisland carriers do now, except with our interisland carriers they have those Ali'i Club and Premier Club things for people who want to pay more. So they get to go in the plane first and get first dibs at the seats they want before the rest of us dreks pile on at the "general boarding" cattle call.

I liked it better in the 60s and 70s where everyone was "general boarding" and there were none of these high falutin people ahead of those faithful who stood at the head of the line before the plane even shows up at the gate.

Aloha Airlines is kind of returning to this in a small way in the fact they eliminated their first class seats on all interisland flights. Hooray for Aloha!

So in this respect I could well live with a SouthWest Airlines policy. Good for them.

BTW, someone had earlier asked about what would have it been like if Hawaiian and Aloha had merged. If that awful thing would have happened the combined airline would have bled more red ink due to the sudden growth, not to mention that many jobs would have been eliminated since the interisland and even mainland routes are duplicated. A merged airline would also have been bad for the consumers since a monopoly would only encourage even higher prices than what we have now.

Of course I think an airline like SouthWest or JetBlue would have tried to enter the local market should that merger have gone through.

It is a good thing for consumers that we now have an independent 3rd airline, though unlike its predecessors Mid Pacific Airlines and Mahalo, Island Air is not playing the fare game by being the price slasher airline. That I am still waiting for.



Perhaps it seemed silly at the time to make a change like that for minor savings, but seeing as how some airlines are now charging you to eat their awful food just to cut a couple of bucks per passenger, the "quick and dirty" travel model Southwest is using seems positively progressive.

I'll agree. Most air travelers are very price sensitive. That is why when a major airline announces a $5 to $10 fare hike, if the other majors don't go along, that airline usually backs down and continues to absorb the losses.

Tough being in the airline business.

[Miulang]

IIRC, the Southwest model is still slightly different, as their planes are boarded like buses - every man, woman, and child for him or herself. That is, there are no assigned seats like there are on conventional airlines. You just show up at the gate, get on the plane, and sit anywhere you can.

Perhaps it seemed silly at the time to make a change like that for minor savings, but seeing as how some airlines are now charging you to eat their awful food just to cut a couple of bucks per passenger, the "quick and dirty" travel model Southwest is using seems positively progressive.

Yup. While most of the other carriers are crying red tears, there are only 2 more or less national scheduled carriers that are in the black: Southwest and Jet Blue. One of the ways they cut their costs is to only allow passengers to book flights through them (either via the Internet or on the phone); you can't book a Southwest or Jet Blue flight through a travel agent or through Cheaptickets or any of those alternative booking sites. Both airlines also are nonunion and yet the employees are pretty content. If you have cable TV, check the listings to see if your area gets "Airplane" (the A&E channel). They are filming episodes in LAX, Chicago and some other SWA hubs. It's a hoot sometimes to watch people willingly look like fools for the series! Guess they figure this is their only way to get their 15 minutes of fame, even though their neighbors are probably thinking, "I knew that person was a little odd, but I never could put my finger on why..."

Did you hear that United wants to start charging $15 to people who want to cash in their mileage for trips if they use the phone to do that? No charge if you use their website. They claim it is a "cost cutting" measure. Wonder if any of the other carriers will start doing the same? Sites like Cheaptickets also have started charging if you want "paper" tickets; no charge--yet--for etickets.

Miulang

[mel]

I've seen several episodes of Airline on A&E. They have it here in Honolulu on Oceanic cable. The entire series until recently focused on the everyday things at various SouthWest Airlines terminals. I recently saw a couple of episodes that were focused on a European discount airline whose name escapes me right now. In one of those episodes they showed that airline's CEO going to the Boeing plant in Washington state to pick up a brand new Boeing 737 jet.

As for the extra fees tacked on to paper tickets, they are doing it here for the 2 major interisland carriers as well (I think) as for Island Air and Pacific Wings. The airlines want everyone to buy their tickets from them, via their websites and by credit cards only.

Aloha's $58 coupon special charges a $3 fee per book if you buy the coupons through the regular mail using their forms printed on the newspaper ads. If you want your coupon book right away there is a $22 fee for FedExing, otherwise snail mail will get them to you in about 3 weeks.

I know some local travel agents who have either gone out of business or concentrate only on tours now because of how tickets are sold.

The consumers that suffer the most are the elderly and others who don't have ready computer access. They usually have to rely on friends or relatives or succumb to the $25 fee if they buy paper tickets through the phone or one of the few remaining airline ticket offices located in Honolulu and elsewhere.

The worst thing about th recent change in airline fares (besides the high prices) are the $25 change fees for interisland travel. This was something that was never implemented until the 2 major interisland airlines discontinued their coupon books in 2003. They have made travel inflexible for the budget minded.

[Konaguy]

I recently saw a couple of episodes that were focused on a European discount airline whose name escapes me right now.

I believe the name of that airline is RyanAir.They are the European version of Southwest.

[dick]

>>>This is kind of what the interisland carriers do now, except with our interisland carriers they have those Ali'i Club and Premier Club things for people who want to pay more. So they get to go in the plane first and get first dibs at the seats they want before the rest of us dreks pile on at the "general boarding" cattle call.

>>>I liked it better in the 60s and 70s where everyone was "general boarding" and there were none of these high falutin people ahead of those faithful who stood at the head of the line before the plane even shows up at the gate.

I fly interisland quite often (and to the West Coast a few times a year), and am one of those "high falutin (sic)" people with a Premier Club "thing." Since I fly so much, I trade in miles for the membership rather than pay cash. Anyone can get one of these cards if they pony up the cash (or miles) so I don't really see the problem. If I flew infrequently I probably wouldn't bother, it's really not that big a thing on the grand scheme.

[mel]

The latest on this topic...

Charter Flights Are Taking Off as Customers Tire of Airline Hassles (http://starbulletin.com/2004/09/05/business/story1.html)

OK, so charter planes are small and propeller driven. The demand for such interisland flights are attractive to many interisland travellers who are tired of the regular airline waits, security hassles and continuing higher prices.

From the Star Bulletin Article today, price comparison of interisland flights:


>> Aloha Airlines: $279.20
>> Hawaiian Airlines: $222.20
>> Pacific Wings: $159.20
>> Charter plane: $200 (for full eight-seater)
>> Self-piloting: $60 (for full four-seater)


What the article fails to take into account though is that many residents have Hawaiian and Aloha Airlines frequent flyer cards (though many like me don't fly that frequently because of escalating costs) who can get round trip flights booked at a somewhat lesser price point than those posted above. As I mentioned before my last Aloha Airlines trip was $79 each way (not including fees).

Of course those who bought Aloha's $58 coupons have a good fare and a little more flexibility until at least June 15 of next year. The coupon offer is now expired.

The second headline of the day:

Fewer Hawaii Residents Travel Interisland (http://starbulletin.com/2004/09/05/business/story3.html)

That is kind of obvious. High prices for interisland travel and fare restrictions (which were not reported in the article) have forced residents to cut back on neighbor island travel.

From the article:

The annual study by SMS Research and Marketing Inc. indicates that the number of Hawaii residents traveling interisland has shrunk by 22 percent since 2000.

However, travel to the mainland grew 19 percent in the same period, possibly a sign that local travelers are trying to squeeze more mileage out of their travel dollar in a time of rising interisland air fares.


The article went on to say that more tourists used to fly interisland than locals, but direct flights to neighbor island airports have decreased the demand for interisland travel. Duh? Yes, I guess so. Still residents need to travel interisland at times and it is a real hassle with higher fares, change fees and restrictions and the longer waits at airport terminals because of security. Of course both Hawaiian and Aloha now emphasize Hawaii to mainland travel more often than not over their interisland routes.

Hawaiian Airlines are also offering their travel club members discount fares from Maui to Portland, Maui to Seattle and HNL to LAX during the off season. From an email I received from HAL:



Honolulu and Los Angeles
Travel: Sep 1 - Dec 16, 2004

Days of the Week
Mon - Thu $122*
Fri - Sat $142*
* Taxes, fees & other restrictions apply



Is there a tabbing /table function or html we can use on this board?

Compare this to the last minute, interisland one way each trip fare of $115 and you are looking at only a $7 difference between destinations, but a distance of thousands of miles between the 2 types of trips. Ouch!

So in most cases, flying interisland sucks as far as your wallets go.

[Miulang]

OK, so we flew from OGG to MKK last Sunday on Island Air. Total cost for 2 roundtrip tickets: $348+ change. Lots of empty seats both coming and going.

With a hotel/car package: the car was about $32/day ($10 less than if booked directly through Dollar---can you say rip off?)

We watched passengers boarding the Molokai Princess on its afternoon run from Kaukanakai Harbor to Lahaina: round trip fare: $80. Boat was full, everyone lugging everything from big coolers to huge cardboard boxes on board.

At Kaunakakai Airport getting ready to leave for Kahului, we sat there and watched at least 4 Paragon Air flights and another smaller commuter airline take off and land, all appeared to be full. I think I read a roundtrip fare on one of the "nonscheduled" commuter lines was about $100.

Security: At the Kahului commuter terminal (which is what Island Air uses): no security check whatsoever. At Hoolehua, full security check (including the bomb detecting swipe of the checked luggage) and the metal detector. I guess they trust people flying to Molokai more than they do the ones leaving Molokai! What? They think Molokai people are all revolutionaries and carrying bombs or what??? :D

Anyway, I don't know how Island Air can expect to stay in business flying to either Molokai or Lanai charging the kind of fares they do unless they cater strictly to tourists who don't know about alternatives. Because I know for sure that if I was really akamai and had the time, I would look at one of the alternatives to the scheduled carriers because only humbug now to fly with the scheduled carriers!

Miulang

[Miulang]

Looks like Island Air is capitulating little on the fares between HNL and MKK. Effective immediately, the fare (based on a round trip ticket) to either Molokai or Lanai goes down to $65 (or $130 RT) as opposed to the regular $105 OW tickets they've been selling. Wonder what they plan to do about their larcenous fares between OGG and MKK? We paid almost $90 OW/ticket last month and the planes were half empty both ways...

Miulang

Maui News story: http://www.mauinews.com/story.aspx?id=2016

[marc_saenen]

I live in Molokai and have to get to Maui this afternoon. I checked Island Air-website : $165.10 for a one way ticket. Is this a joke or what ?

Next. I called Interisland Airways. I got a round trip ticket for $100. (one way = $60).
Shame on you, Island Air ! :mad:

[Miulang]

I live in Molokai and have to get to Maui this afternoon. I checked Island Air-website : $165.10 for a one way ticket. Is this a joke or what ?

Next. I called Interisland Airways. I got a round trip ticket for $100. (one way = $60).
Shame on you, Island Air ! :mad:
Eh Marc, anybody who is local and who chooses to fly Island Air is NUTS! Most locals who have to fly from MKK to OGG would probably use one of the charter flights because it's way cheaper. I was a tourist who flew to MKK from OGG and of course I chose to fly Island Air, but the planes were only half full coming and going and the Moloka'i Princess was full, as were most of the charter flights. I think Island Air caters to the tourists who don't know any better, which is why their fares are so ridiculous!

Miulang

[Kalihiboy]

I flew one of the last Hawaiian flights R/T to Lanai from Honolulu and I think it was $178 total. Going there is easy as it was a direct flight to Lanai. However, coming back we had to land in Molokai, then Maui and finally Honolulu. At least I could brag I was on 4 islands in one day.

I flew from Honolulu to the West Maui Airport in Kapalua (no hassles there whatsoever with security) and came home via Kahalui, bought them via Oahu Travel and they cost about the same.

OGG security lines were ridiculous last week, it took us 90 minutes to get through all the lines and guess what we missed our plane, we had to then wait for 3 hours on a stand-by flight before we finally made it home. Granted I might miss the IHOP and Krispy Kremes near OGG but that West Maui Airport is awesome and I really like flying there.

You HAVE to fly Island Air if you want to fly to the West Maui Airport, which is very convenient and close to Lahaina if that is where you are staying and you dont even need to rent a car if your staying in Lahaina then. A taxi ride to most hotels from West Maui Airport is about $10-15 tops. Whereas, if you fly to OGG, then you have to rent a car or get a shuttle for the 25 miles or so to Lahaina.

You can book flights on Island Air on either Hawaiian or Aloha's websites now I believe.

KalihiBoy

[oggboy]

eh, kala ma`i .... dis my 1 time on dis space so go easy.....
but any way I remember wen da aloha 737 use to fly in to Molokai
back in da 70`s. I wen take one flight from HNL to MAUI but had one stop
on Molokai. Braddah fo see how dat bird wen huki into the Hoolehua airport
wuz unreaaaalllllll..... The airport stay in one mountain area wet plenty good
size wind. But wen da big bird wen touch down. Talk about hold on to your
OKOLE....
So okay we drop off and reload whatevas... time fo we go......
The bird go all the way to almost I think the plane goin fall off on cliff
den do one 360...turn b-4 we wen do one full choke burn rubba...
But some good fun wuz dem days...
OH WELL DOSE WUZ DEM DAYS........ :D :D :D :confused:

[Miulang]

eh, kala ma`i .... dis my 1 time on dis space so go easy.....
but any way I remember wen da aloha 737 use to fly in to Molokai
back in da 70`s. I wen take one flight from HNL to MAUI but had one stop
on Molokai. Braddah fo see how dat bird wen huki into the Hoolehua airport
wuz unreaaaalllllll..... The airport stay in one mountain area wet plenty good
size wind. But wen da big bird wen touch down. Talk about hold on to your
OKOLE....
So okay we drop off and reload whatevas... time fo we go......
The bird go all the way to almost I think the plane goin fall off on cliff
den do one 360...turn b-4 we wen do one full choke burn rubba...
But some good fun wuz dem days...
OH WELL DOSE WUZ DEM DAYS........
Hui Kahului Boy! No be scaid. Nobody going bite your head off. ;) Not so scaid now land Hoolehua because oni small kine prop jets fly ova dere. Wen holoholo ova dere las year. K'kai one nani place. Neva even notice da mountains wen we wen go land. Nice place foa kick back, though.

Miulang

[mel]

The longest runway at Molokai's airport is just short of 4,500 feet. So yes, when a Boeing 737 or 717 landed there, the moment the wheels touch the pavement, the pilot has to throw the engines into reverse thrust. This is done to rapidly slow the plane down before they run out of space at the other end. I think a fully loaded jet could never land nor takeoff from the islands' shorter runways... so they would fly not at full capacity. Because of that and other factors, the 2 major airlines, Hawaiian and Aloha have discontinued flights to both Molokai and Lanai. Hawaiian last flew to Molokai in August 2004.

Long ago Hawaiian Airlines used to fly their DC9 jets into Waimea-Kohala airport on the Big Island. The runway there is only 5,100 feet long. A landing in Waimea was the same as it was on Molokai. Jet reversed thrust all the way to the end.

Today Island Air is the major island hopper to Hawaii's smaller airports. Several other smaller air taxi and charter airlines fly to these small airports too. Most notable is Pacific Wings. All of these little airlines fly prop planes into these airports. Prop planes can handle the smaller runways better than the jets.

New airline Fly Hawaii will use turboprop planes.. the ATR 72.

Links:

http://www.hawaiianair.com
http://www.alohaair.com
http://www.islandair.com
http://www.pacificwings.com
http://www.flyhawaii.com

[oggboy]

Eh Muilang,
Thanx 4 Da Comment, Now I Stay Good No Moa Sked.. I Get Ohana Live Mkk.
Jus Wen Like Let You Ohana Out Dea No. Last Time I Wen Fly In To Mkk Wuz
On Da Aloha Island Air Dash-6... Now Days Mo Betta Take The Ferry Cause
To Much Kala The Airlines Stay Like.... Anyway Wey Back Wen... We Use To Fly From Ogg To Hnl Along The North Coast Of Mkk. On Hal Wuz On Da Convairs, On Aloha Wuz On The F-27s, I Neva Get To Fly Da Viscounts...
Any Ways B-4 The Jet-props Use To Take These Routes To Hnl, Just As The Smaller Prop Planes Going To Mkk Do Now. Along Came The Jet Age And That Was It For Flightseeing.....
Now Days No Blink Your Maka Or You Wen Miss.......aaaalllloooohhhhaaaaa

[Miulang]

Eh Muilang,
Thanx 4 Da Comment, Now I Stay Good No Moa Sked.. I Get Ohana Live Mkk.
Jus Wen Like Let You Ohana Out Dea No. Last Time I Wen Fly In To Mkk Wuz
On Da Aloha Island Air Dash-6... Now Days Mo Betta Take The Ferry Cause
To Much Kala The Airlines Stay Like.... Anyway Wey Back Wen... We Use To Fly From Ogg To Hnl Along The North Coast Of Mkk. On Hal Wuz On Da Convairs, On Aloha Wuz On The F-27s, I Neva Get To Fly Da Viscounts...
Any Ways B-4 The Jet-props Use To Take These Routes To Hnl, Just As The Smaller Prop Planes Going To Mkk Do Now. Along Came The Jet Age And That Was It For Flightseeing.....
Now Days No Blink Your Maka Or You Wen Miss.......aaaalllloooohhhhaaaaa
Hala e! Good fun was watching da peeps getting off/on da Moloka'i Princess at K'kai one time. Ho da beeeg kine boxes and coolers lidat dey wen go carry on board, yeah? Next time we go holoholo K'kai (I usually stay go Maui), maybe I go take da Moloka'i Princess, too. I bet good fun when da boat go cross da channel, yeah? All kine rocka rocka foa shuah going get seasick!

Das true about da flying next to da cliffs wen go Hoolehua, though. Man, Halawa side, ho da big da mountains and da cliffs stay look! Look jess like Jurassic Park (and almost scary lidat to get to Halawa side on dat kapakahi manini kine road coming from K'kai).

Miulang

[oggboy]

Yeah mo betta next time chance-um on da ferry. Small kine rocka rocka wen u enter the mkk channel. But yeah only funny 4 watch da kin stuffs come off. I mean talk about wen buy ou K-MART, WAL-MART AND COSTCO.. some good yeah.... Oh but the ohana`s ova dea, day get`um.... sssssoooooo much ALOHA!!!!!!!! AND DAT WHAT ITS ALL ABOUT....
BUT fo real miss that secenic view of HALAWA side going island hopping during hana budda days..... oggboy

[Miulang]

Yeah mo betta next time chance-um on da ferry. Small kine rocka rocka wen u enter the mkk channel. But yeah only funny 4 watch da kin stuffs come off. I mean talk about wen buy ou K-MART, WAL-MART AND COSTCO.. some good yeah.... Oh but the ohana`s ova dea, day get`um.... sssssoooooo much ALOHA!!!!!!!! AND DAT WHAT ITS ALL ABOUT....
BUT fo real miss that secenic view of HALAWA side going island hopping during hana budda days..... oggboy
Eh, das why dey go call Moloka'i da "Friendly Island", yeah? Da peeps so "real" not dakine shibai kine friendly. Wen see da Purdy MacFarm and da buggah was selling one bumpa sticka someting go like "Come visit friendly Moloka'i, spend your money and leave". Hahahaha! Too bad too many high mucka mucka kine peeps wit da kala buying up everyting and trying foa change da 'aina. You know if da ahupua'a dat has Ili'iliopae heiau still stay foa sale or wat? Das da one McAfee was going buy but wen change his mind...

Miulang

[oggboy]

I not sure if stay 4 sale. What I read in the pepa was, the bugga wen change his mind about buying the place.... As why hard wen dis guys come ova and like make pilikia with the people and the aina....
Like the term goes.....KEEP HAWAII GREEN BUT NO FOGET TO GO HOME
OGGBOY

[mel]

Fare War Reduces Prices for Interisland Travel (http://starbulletin.com/print/?fr=/2005/10/10/news/story03.html)

Not since the days of flight coupons have interisland air fares been this low, and consumers are benefiting from a fare war that has pushed round-trip prices below $90.

The catch is that the fares are only good on the first early-morning flight from Honolulu and the last evening flight back from the neighbor islands.

Still, the response has been "extremely good," said Hawaiian Airlines spokesman Patrick Dugan.

Aloha Airlines spokesman Stu Glauberman said, "The 39.50 fares have proven very popular. People are willing to get up early or stay out late on neighbor islands."

"If it's cheap like this, I'm coming every other weekend," said Maui resident Thomas Takeshita, 28, whose girlfriend is finishing school on Oahu in May.

Aloha Airlines had initially offered free return trips on interisland travel to AlohaPass members flying on the first flights out of Honolulu to Kona, Hilo, Kahului or Lihue and last flights in to Honolulu from those locations.

Glauberman explained Aloha was trying to stimulate the early and late flights, which are not as popular.

Hawaiian Airlines swung back with a $38.25 fare in a full-page ad. The Hawaiian deal gave customers the option of using the discount for one leg of a trip. But the Hawaiian rate does not include a $2.50 security fee, bringing the total to $40.75.



Read entire article at link posted above.

So is anyone taking advantage of these lower fares?

Hopefully with more competition in the marketplace by next year, we can see further reduction in fares between the neighbor islands.

[aloha-anon]

Yeah the Molokai landing by a big jet can be the highlight of your Molokai stay. Oh then there's the take offs!

the 717 is a big jet? :D If you like Molokai you'll love Lanai! Both our local jet operators go in there on a charter basis. Maybe you'll get lucky one day.

[mel]

Here are a few pics that I shot today as I flew out of HNL and to ITO on HA.

http://static.flickr.com/74/209783299_dfe18d1d99.jpg
World famous Diamond Head crater from up high.

http://static.flickr.com/70/209783298_688d6b7a25.jpg
East Oahu view and Hanauma Bay.

http://static.flickr.com/77/209777502_4505812e16.jpg
Interisland Airways charter plane parked at Hilo Airport.

Photos are taken from my album at Flickr.com (http://www.flickr.com/photos/macprohawaii/)

[mel]

With the demise of Aloha Airlines (http://www.hawaiithreads.com/showthread.php?t=14768&page=3) passenger business, everyone can safely say that the fare war started by Go! airlines 2 years ago is long over.

Today for the 3rd time this year, Hawaiian Airlines increased their interisland airfares (http://starbulletin.com/2008/05/22/news/story02.html). Go's airfare is at $59 for the cheapest seat. Hawaiian will go toe $64 soon. Those cheap seats are hard to find as most range from $64 to $94 each way.

We are back to 2004 again folks, which is why I am bumping this thread.

So what are you doing (if anything) about interisland travel? I know for sure I will be flying less. It's cheaper to stay home these days and not even drive for leisure purposes since gas prices are high everywhere.

From today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin:

Hawaiian Air lifts fares as fuel costs fly higher (http://starbulletin.com/2008/05/22/news/story02.html)

Hawaiian Airlines, citing higher fuel costs, said yesterday it will boost its lowest one-way fare for interisland flights by $10 and raise its fuel surcharge for mainland travel by $35 each way.

Both increases, which take effect Tuesday, mean that Hawaiian's lowest interisland fare will increase to $64, while mainland-Hawaii travelers will see the one-way fuel surcharge go to $100 from $65. For most of Hawaiian's non-U.S. routes, the fuel-surcharge increase will range from $35 to $55 each way.


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2136/2512114808_783a480ac0_m.jpg

Go's lowest advertised price yesterday was $59.

[joshuatree]

No surprise given that oil hit $135 a barrel. Anyone think airships for interisland will work? :D

[helen]

I suspect not. I think ships would be more practical to travel between the islands than airships.

[joshuatree]

But they go faster than the superferry and won't hit whales. ;)

[Amati]

We are back to 2004 again folks, which is why I am bumping this thread...

...So what are you doing (if anything) about interisland travel?

Probably what we did back in 2004 regarding family trips. It was just about as cheap to travel to the mainland as interisland, so we would forgo interisland travel and save up for a mainland family vacation.

When the interisland airfares were down to $9 and $18/19, it spelled doom. There was no way the airlines could afford to fly at those fares. Now, we are going to suffer for it. (Well, we won't be suffering on an Aloha Airlines flight, will we? :( )

[acousticlady]

So what are you doing (if anything) about interisland travel? I know for sure I will be flying less. It's cheaper to stay home these days and not even drive for leisure purposes since gas prices are high everywhere.


We have to go to Oahu in August. We're going to try the ferry.

[mel]

Superferry prices each way will be $49 per person and $65 per standard size vehicle. The $49 is cheaper than the cheapest published air fare of $54, $59 or $64. And the chances of finding one of those seats on any local airline is slim. Most seats are selling for more than $64.

With the Superferry, people going to and from Maui currently have the best interisland deal. It still remains that Superferry will eventually tack on a fuel surcharge to all of their ticket prices sometime later this year.

[oceanpacific]

I just booked my flights to Kona in mid-July: $94 over, $64 return + taxes for a total tariff of $176.00. OUCH! No more $39 one-way fares, much less the $29, $19, and even $9 fares (got that once for a round trip of $18 + taxes).

Looks like I have to combine the reasons for traveling and stay on the neighbor islands 4-5 days once instead of 2-3 days twice. I'm awaiting HSF's start of Honolulu-Kawaihae service in 2009. $200 RT may also allow me to take my car. Kawaihae is a great drop-off point for me to go either to Kona or Hilo.