Flight Help (Recommendations)

[hope3702]

Those with experience flying from NY/NJ to Hawaii when did you book your flight out...Going in August so don't know if I should wait or book...I'm looking at a JFK-Honolulu Direct Flight One Way for $560 Hawaiian Airlines...I would fly indirect but the price diff has to be significant ($150 per) and a decent layover...

Way home I'm going to go to SF so that one is easy enough...

Thanks in advance for your help

 

[buffettgirl]

Definitely wait till at least 2 or 3 months before. Prices are lowish in August.

 

[Midoria]

When I visit my family in Maryland, I like to get the train up to JFK for the daily direct flight on Hawaiian. I generally book as soon as I know that my departure date because there is only one direct flight out per day. If you really want to take that direct flight, I would book it at least one month in advance - especially since it's tourist season. If you're flexible, I'd sign up for one of those fare monitoring services.

 

[hope3702]

Does $560 sound about right? If so I would book now vs. risk it going up or losing flight...I noticed the United Direct out of Newark is almost double that...But again not sure if it is that I'm just too early (August flight)

 

[Midoria]

Does $560 sound about right? If so I would book now vs. risk it going up or losing flight...I noticed the United Direct out of Newark is almost double that...But again not sure if it is that I'm just too early (August flight)

My last summer JFK - HNL flight in late July was $539 after taxes. I flew again from JFK in mid-September and I paid $451 after taxes. I'm assuming that you have set dates for your travel? A lot of times, you can save a reasonable amount if you can play around, but I know that's not always possible.

 

[buffettgirl]

To me that sounds high ($560) for a one way flight.

 

[hope3702]

I am trying to leave on a Saturday...I will change that if I see the flight change...Sounds like $560 is close to right considering you paid $540 in July...I will wait a little and continue watching...

 

[Midoria]

To me that sounds high ($560) for a one way flight.

Not really for a 5,000 mile direct flight on a well-regarded airline during the high season.

 

[buffettgirl]

Not really for a 5,000 mile direct flight on a well-regarded airline during the high season.

I fly it a few times a year - from Honolulu to Boston. I can usually get a round trip for in the area of $600. Generally on Delta. The lowest a friend of ours paid last year was $549 I think, in February from boston to here.. High season from the east coast. Usually my flights are Boston to Atlana and then Atlanta direct, though JFK is an option that I look for. So I'm looking at the same direct flights as you are.

So yes, I think it's extremely high for one way.

 

[Midoria]

I fly it a few times a year - from Honolulu to Boston. I can usually get a round trip for in the area of $600. Generally on Delta. The lowest a friend of ours paid last year was $549 I think, in February from boston to here.. High season from the east coast. Usually my flights are Boston to Atlana and then Atlanta direct, though JFK is an option that I look for. So I'm looking at the same direct flights as you are.

So yes, I think it's extremely high for one way.

Interesting. I've never gotten fares that low. Lucky you!

 

[hope3702]

That is pretty good...Wonder if February is different from August in terms of pricing...I'll continue to watch and thanks for the input on this...

 

[Midoria]

That is pretty good...Wonder if February is different from August in terms of pricing...I'll continue to watch and thanks for the input on this...

For me, September - March warrant the best rates. But, in my case, all the flights I'm talking about in terms of fare are the same daily HA51 JFK - HNL route. Layovers are not kind to me. I've been grounded at LAX because of storms, had my luggage lost for a week, had my laptop stolen from my checked baggage (I damaged my shoulders and back in an accident and it was too bulky to carry though two airports), missed layovers due to failure for on the airline's part, and many other annoying things. Whenever I go to the DC area or NYC, the HA51 flight is the only one I will take back to Hawaii.

ETA: I should also disclose out that since I moved here 4 years ago, I rarely book round-trip tickets anymore. I often have either a firm date I have to leave or one where I have to come back, but it's rarely both. I'll often book a ticket for the firm date and then wait and buy the other ticket later on based on what I decide to do. So I'm realizing my idea of what makes a good fare may be off.