How to Save on Flights from West Coast?

[theworldneedscolor]

We are flying from Oregon to Orlando in May 2014. We are starting to figure out our budget, so I have been pricing flights for this May. They are about $400 each, which, for four people adds up to $1600! I would really like to stay in the $1000-$1200 range on flights. Any tips to finding low rates? How far in advance to book, which airlines, etc.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Airfares for May 2014 won't even be released by most airlines until June 2013. You should start tracking fares now for this May, which will give you some idea of what you will likely pay next May. You probably won't be finding any $1,000 RT price for 4 people, but keep checking after fares are released.

 

[stargazertechie]

Not sure if it makes you feel better, but our flight from Chicago this summer is 400 per person round trip.

 

[Greysword]

We are in the same bike lane as you, and last spring, I was asking myself the same questions.

First, I suggest using the ITA Fare Matrix at: http://matrix.itasoftware.com/
This tool will give you airfares for most airlines, but not Southwest (WN). The best fares consistently are on United (UA) at just under $400 (~$386ish), and they generally have red-eye flights, which will help with spending all day flying only to arrive lat at night.

Second, look for fares to both Orlando (MCO) and TPA (Tampa), as sometimes a combo will elicit the lowest fares (even over WN) from PDX.

Third and my main suggestion, if you are able, look into a co-branded airline credit card. Several offer good bonus points after meeting a minimum spend (changeable into free flights) or have companion fare options.

- We just got the US Airways card from Barclays, as it has the option for two $99 companion tickets (plus tax/fees added to any ticket) with purchase of regular fare $250 or more. In addition, the offer has 40,000 Dividend Miles (US Airways frequent flier miles) with first purchase. If I buy a ticket for me at $450, the taxes/fees are $40 per person, I could fly 3 people for about $728 ($243pp), and I'd use the miles to fly the fourth for a modest tax fee (usually $10 or so).

- Other cards have companion fares, such as Alaska Airlines (from BoA) and Delta (from AMEX)

- Some cards have great miles bonuses as a signup bonus with minimum spend (of regular household expenses, otherwise not worth it). Chase has both a Southwest card and a United Airlines card (both at 50,000 I think), which can offset the price of one or two fares. In addition, Chase has the Sapphire Preferred that has a bonus of 40,000 points, that can be transferred to United. (Since US Airways and United are in the same alliance, it is possible to use one airline's miles for tickets on the other).

- Plus, many of the cards come with a free bag (varies by airline so read T&Cs) that can save real money, priority boarding (access to overhead bin space), and other card features (rental car insurance (primary on United card), purchase protection, etc).

Just a few ideas, but I decided to research this angle, since it was the actual least expensive route for our family (in aggregate) while supporting an airline via a co-branded card.

Good luck!

 

[bumbershoot]

I'm not a total expert on this, as we have mainly used Miles to book so far, but the main advice is to get familiar with normal rates, check rates from other airports. Of course, since seatac is probably your closest other major airport, remember that parking there is horribly expensive especially compared to PDX, so plan to park offsite if you are going to use seatac).

If you see a nonstop on Alaska that works for you time-wise and financially, book it! I have yet to snag the SEA-MCO nonstop because I'm too slow to get it at a good rate/miles. I just always have to think about things before booking.

United (from SEA at least) seems to always make a stop in Chicago, which we actually like as long as the layover is long enough. We snag a caprese sandwich from Brioche Doree, look around the United terminal, and enjoy the long walk to the next gate.

I don't think Virgin America has a PDX to MCO run, but if they do, check into it.


Anyway, my point is, get to know the airlines that go out there, know their baggage fees (and keep on top of if they change them), get to know their usual flights (like the mythical sea-mco nonstop), etc, so that you know a bargain when you see it.


Also know that Alaska will give you fee-free credit if you book and then the price drops. They even have a webpage form to do that automatically without needing to call. SW also gives you credit, and I believe Jet Blue does too, though their wording isn't as obvious as Alaska and SW. So with those two (maybe 3) airlines, you're still safe if the rates drop after booking, assuming you'll be able to use the credit, of course.

 

[Scotch]

We're in a similar boat. We used to go to WDW at least once a year when we lived in the midwest. We haven't visited WDW since moving to OR several years ago, and I'm stunned at how much it costs to fly to MCO -- and not a single nonstop flight from PDX. (What is up with that?) I'm looking into Xmas 2013 in WDW and I've been checking out sample Dec prices since last Fall. It looks like ~ $500-$650 pp RT for the holidays. Only United and US Air has released some seats for the end of the year right now and it's not looking pretty. Alaska only has redeye to MCO from PDX; that's not worth it with kids. If prices don't fall into the under $400 pp range, I don't think this trip is going to happen. It'll just be DL/CA again. I miss WDW.

 

[Greysword]

Of course, since seatac is probably your closest other major airport, remember that parking there is horribly expensive especially compared to PDX, so plan to park offsite if you are going to use seatac).

...I don't think Virgin America has a PDX to MCO run, but if they do, check into it.

No offense to the Emerald City metro area, but I don't think I'd drive 2+ hours just to get a slightly lower flight out of SEATAC vice PDX Many in Tallahassee would drive 3 hours to JAX (Jacksonville, FL) to get a cheaper flight in the 1980s, but the difference was $500+ dollars.

As a data point, I check VX every now and then to see if something goes from PDX to MCO, and they don't allow the flight. there isn;t a viable connection for the trip on a single day, as all the MCO flights leave before the PDX flight arrives.

We're in a similar boat.

... I'm looking into Xmas 2013 in WDW and I've been checking out sample Dec prices since last Fall. It looks like ~ $500-$650 pp RT for the holidays. Only United and US Air has released some seats for the end of the year right now and it's not looking pretty. Alaska only has redeye to MCO from PDX; that's not worth it with kids. If prices don't fall into the under $400 pp range, I don't think this trip is going to happen. It'll just be DL/CA again. I miss WDW.

Come into the Matrix, Scotch, come in and be free

On the ITA Matrix: http://matrix.itasoftware.com, there is currently a couple flights on UA (United) for <$400pp. You'll need a bit of flexibility, but the following is from Dec 23rd - Dec 30th:

Portland (PDX) to Orlando (MCO) - Mon, Dec 23
United Portland (PDX) to Newark (EWR) - Mon, Dec 23
United 1021 Dep: 7:30AM Arr: 3:38PM 5h 8m Boeing 737 Economy (K)

Layover in EWR 2h 12m

United Newark (EWR) to Orlando (MCO) - Mon, Dec 23
United 1109 Dep: 5:50PM Arr: 8:38PM 2h 48m Boeing 757 Economy (K)



Orlando (MCO) to Portland (PDX) - Mon, Dec 30
United Orlando (MCO) to Houston (IAH) - Mon, Dec 30
United 1261 Dep: 11:55AM Arr: 1:10PM 2h 15m Boeing 737 Economy (K)

Layover in IAH 1h 20m

United Houston (IAH) to Portland (PDX) - Mon, Dec 30
United 1511 Dep: 2:30PM Arr: 5:06PM 4h 36m Boeing 737 Economy (K)


Cost per passenger (including taxes & fees) $340.10 x 2 (2 adults)
Cost per passenger (including taxes & fees) $340.10 x 2 (2 children)
Total cost for 4 passengers $1,360.40

Not sure of your exact dates, but not too bad if price is the main factor. Also, just wait a bit, as prices fluctuate all the time. last year, prices went up and down but hovered about $35-450 on UA, and even dropped to that range for DL (Delta) and US (US Airways), too.

I have the ITA Matrix app on my phone, so I save a couple of itineraries and check them every day/every other day to see how things look for my up coming trips where I still need airfare. Takes a few seconds, and if I see something, I'll jump on it.

To be honest, my personal perspective is a bit out of whack when it comes to airfares. I grew up in Tallahassee, FL, where fares in the 1980s ran over $1,000 per person easily. As such, $400 to fly across the country is pretty great!

Also keep in mind, that it costs about $0.13 per seat mile for an aircraft to fly from point A to point B. That said, a $400 ticket to MCO or TPA would come to the average $0.13 per mile. This just covers the operating costs (labor, fuel, etc), so the price isn't too unreasonable from the west coast.

Reference report:
http://web.mit.edu/airlinedata/www/...ble Seat Mile (CASM ex Transport Related).htm

Reference main site with other reports:
http://web.mit.edu/airlinedata/www/Expenses&Related.html

Remember, the Matrix is your friend, Mr. Anderson.

ETA: You can see flights on the ITA Matrix, but it isn't a travel site. You'd take the flight info (including the codes in the bottom section I didn't copy/paste) and call the airline. You then have the info to walk them through the flights you want.

 

[Scotch]

Come into the Matrix, Scotch, come in and be free

On the ITA Matrix: http://matrix.itasoftware.com, there is currently a couple flights on UA (United) for <$400pp. You'll need a bit of flexibility, but the following is from Dec 23rd - Dec 30th:
Not sure of your exact dates, but not too bad if price is the main factor. Also, just wait a bit, as prices fluctuate all the time. last year, prices went up and down but hovered about $35-450 on UA, and even dropped to that range for DL (Delta) and US (US Airways), too.

I have the ITA Matrix app on my phone, so I save a couple of itineraries and check them every day/every other day to see how things look for my up coming trips where I still need airfare. Takes a few seconds, and if I see something, I'll jump on it.

Thanks. I use Kayak; I'll have to compare it with ITA Matrix. I saw those fares, but unfortunately the dates won't work. The dates that will work are outrageous (currently in the $300+ for one way rates). But I'll keep checking. And just signed up for a SW Visa with the big 50,000 points bonus mentioned on the Budget board. That'll give us enough rapid reward points to cover over $800 of Want to Get Aware fare equivalents.

 

[Greysword]

Kayak is ok, but it searches the online travel agencies for availability. The advanced users on FlyerTalk use the ITA matrix to put together complicated international and domestic bookings. In addition, the Matrix is good to search whole regions for prices, so it is pretty sweet. ITA doesn't have any skin in the game (not a booking service), so it is an impartial list of airfares.

As for dates, I just looked at the calendar (in the matrix) and chose flights as a guess. Good luck!

 

[Anal Annie]

Hi - dumb question here. I am BEYOND frustrated and keep hoping for some sort of a sale that doesn't appear to be going to happen. Every day I look for our flights for this August and every day and at least one of the legs goes up. I have tried your Matrix site but it's the same old, same old. I'm now up close to $200 over what it was 2-3 weeks ago. Smaller airlines like Jet Blue allow the same price whether booking 1-way or round-trip while the big guys like Delta & UA are often higher for 1-way than round-trip. It's driving me NUTS. Anyway, if I book a "multi-city" deal and it uses a combination of 2 or 3 airlines do I still have to pay all of the airlines bag fees individually? Likewise, if I book 1 airline for multiple legs but there is a plane change do I pay the checked bag fee once or twice? I am trying to figure in bag fees for my over-all expenses. Thx

 

[PatMcDuck]

I booked Virgin America for a DL trip, PHL to LAX about 6 weeks ago, I think it was about $165-174 each way. Not fantastic, but I could live with it, for nonstops.

Last year I took SW to John Wayne, connecting flights, for about the same.

I rarely fly out of Newark, PHL is usually cheaper.


Good luck!

 

[Greysword]

I have tried your Matrix site but it's the same old, same old. I'm now up close to $200 over what it was 2-3 weeks ago. Smaller airlines like Jet Blue allow the same price whether booking 1-way or round-trip while the big guys like Delta & UA are often higher for 1-way than round-trip. It's driving me NUTS.

The tool only shows what is currently advertised. You could call the airline and book the legs individually at the price indicated at the bottom of the results page. Sometimes the websites aren't as smart, but booking with an agent usually incurs a booking fee (unless you tell them the website keeps dropping out on you during the process).

Anyway, if I book a "multi-city" deal and it uses a combination of 2 or 3 airlines do I still have to pay all of the airlines bag fees individually?

The short answer is yes, with a caveat. If the airlines have an interline agreement for baggage and the various airlines are on the same itinerary, then the baggage can be checked to the destination for one fee. However, if they are two separate tickets, then the bags would need to be collected and rechecked, while checking into the next flight. Also, some airlines (US Airways) recently changed their interline policies to force a second fee.

For example, if someone in Tampa, FL was taking an Air France flight from New York to Paris, they need to get to New York. If they are flying on Delta (a codeshare and interline partner of AF), then Air France could issue the ticket from Tampa to NY on the same itinerary as NY to Paris, thus the traveler would check their bags once in FL to France. However if the traveler decided to buy a ticket on Southwest airlines (WN) to NY, then they would need to claim their luggage in NY and recheck it with AF to Paris, since WN and AF don't have an interline agreement.

A third scenario be if a travel agent booked a flight on American Airlines (from Tampa to NY), then NY to Paris on AF, I'm pretty certain the bag could be checked on AA to Paris, since AF and AA likely have an interline agreement, despite the two airlines not being alliance partners or having a codeshare relationship.

The trick is in the ticketing. If you see a great fare on one airline to Kansas City and another airline from KC to LAX that don't have a relationship (AA and Delta), then it is probable you would get the bags checked through to LAX, since they have an interline agreement (especially if the flights are on the same itinerary, such as those done by a travel agent or Expedia). Just google the airline's interline agreements for the carriers in question.

Note, WN, Allegiant, and Spirt don't share with anyone, so you'd need to claim baggage and recheck with these carriers.

Likewise, if I book 1 airline for multiple legs but there is a plane change do I pay the checked bag fee once or twice? I am trying to figure in bag fees for my over-all expenses. Thx

If it is the same airline and you go through multiple cities on the same PNR (Passenger Name Record)without a stopover (ie leaving the airport during a long layover), then yes, the airline should check your bag to the final destination for one fee. Some airline hobbiests use this to their advantage. They book mileage runs that go through three or more cities to get additional legs for the same price.

 

[OurDogCisco]

We fly frequently from Northern California to Orlando and lately the flights have not been cheap. I use to get them around $300 to $400 a person. Right now I'm looking for Thanksgiving this year and the flight I want is at $689 per person. I've never paid that much. The cheapest flight is at $621 but the times are horrible.

For November 2012 we booked a cruise for Thanksgiving week. I was hoping to fly into Orlando but again the cheapest I could find was in the $700 range. We ended up flying through Tampa at $428 per person (that includes taxes and fees). The base ticket price was $388 and fees and taxes were $40.

I even did my trick of leaving on Thursday and coming back on Monday and there was only $20 per person price difference. I tried Tampa too and the price is not that much cheaper. Usually, when I book flight for Orlando I book it immediately when they are released and have no problems getting good prices. This time the flight originally started off at $1000 per person. I've never had luck waiting until closer to the date to book. Also, I'm looking for a red-eye there as it is much easier for us to get on Florida time.

So, I'm waiting until February after my CC billing cut off date to book them. Then, I can pay them with my March work bonus. Probably our last time we can afford to go at these rates. Sad....

 

[Anal Annie]

The tool only shows what is currently advertised. You could call the airline and book the legs individually at the price indicated at the bottom of the results page. Sometimes the websites aren't as smart, but booking with an agent usually incurs a booking fee (unless you tell them the website keeps dropping out on you during the process).


The short answer is yes, with a caveat. If the airlines have an interline agreement for baggage and the various airlines are on the same itinerary, then the baggage can be checked to the destination for one fee. However, if they are two separate tickets, then the bags would need to be collected and rechecked, while checking into the next flight. Also, some airlines (US Airways) recently changed their interline policies to force a second fee.

For example, if someone in Tampa, FL was taking an Air France flight from New York to Paris, they need to get to New York. If they are flying on Delta (a codeshare and interline partner of AF), then Air France could issue the ticket from Tampa to NY on the same itinerary as NY to Paris, thus the traveler would check their bags once in FL to France. However if the traveler decided to buy a ticket on Southwest airlines (WN) to NY, then they would need to claim their luggage in NY and recheck it with AF to Paris, since WN and AF don't have an interline agreement.

A third scenario be if a travel agent booked a flight on American Airlines (from Tampa to NY), then NY to Paris on AF, I'm pretty certain the bag could be checked on AA to Paris, since AF and AA likely have an interline agreement, despite the two airlines not being alliance partners or having a codeshare relationship.

The trick is in the ticketing. If you see a great fare on one airline to Kansas City and another airline from KC to LAX that don't have a relationship (AA and Delta), then it is probable you would get the bags checked through to LAX, since they have an interline agreement (especially if the flights are on the same itinerary, such as those done by a travel agent or Expedia). Just google the airline's interline agreements for the carriers in question.

Note, WN, Allegiant, and Spirt don't share with anyone, so you'd need to claim baggage and recheck with these carriers.


If it is the same airline and you go through multiple cities on the same PNR (Passenger Name Record)without a stopover (ie leaving the airport during a long layover), then yes, the airline should check your bag to the final destination for one fee. Some airline hobbiests use this to their advantage. They book mileage runs that go through three or more cities to get additional legs for the same price.

Hummm. We are going to DL for 4 nights then on to Hawaii for 10 nights (7 at Aulani and 3 on Maui). I am considering flying Jet Blue from Dulles to Long Beach then Delta round-trip between LAX and HNL (booking our inter-island flights separately on Hawaiian Airline). THEN taking Virgin America home from LAX to Dulles. I am trying to be very conscious of the time in-between flights on that return from HNL. What I have been looking at is approx. 2 hours between the Delta and VA flights. Because I don't usually mix things up like this it never even occurred to me that we might have to claim our luggage at LAX and RE-check it. Not sure that I am a fan of this plan now. (Tho I've heard good things about VA and sort of wanted to try them.) I was sort of trying to avoid using United as we used them last summer for the first time in AGES and we HATED them. Tight, tight seats...overhead entertainment rather than individual seatback TV's etc.... DRATS!!

 

[Anal Annie]

The tool only shows what is currently advertised. You could call the airline and book the legs individually at the price indicated at the bottom of the results page. Sometimes the websites aren't as smart, but booking with an agent usually incurs a booking fee (unless you tell them the website keeps dropping out on you during the process).


The short answer is yes, with a caveat. If the airlines have an interline agreement for baggage and the various airlines are on the same itinerary, then the baggage can be checked to the destination for one fee. However, if they are two separate tickets, then the bags would need to be collected and rechecked, while checking into the next flight. Also, some airlines (US Airways) recently changed their interline policies to force a second fee.

For example, if someone in Tampa, FL was taking an Air France flight from New York to Paris, they need to get to New York. If they are flying on Delta (a codeshare and interline partner of AF), then Air France could issue the ticket from Tampa to NY on the same itinerary as NY to Paris, thus the traveler would check their bags once in FL to France. However if the traveler decided to buy a ticket on Southwest airlines (WN) to NY, then they would need to claim their luggage in NY and recheck it with AF to Paris, since WN and AF don't have an interline agreement.

A third scenario be if a travel agent booked a flight on American Airlines (from Tampa to NY), then NY to Paris on AF, I'm pretty certain the bag could be checked on AA to Paris, since AF and AA likely have an interline agreement, despite the two airlines not being alliance partners or having a codeshare relationship.

The trick is in the ticketing. If you see a great fare on one airline to Kansas City and another airline from KC to LAX that don't have a relationship (AA and Delta), then it is probable you would get the bags checked through to LAX, since they have an interline agreement (especially if the flights are on the same itinerary, such as those done by a travel agent or Expedia). Just google the airline's interline agreements for the carriers in question.

Note, WN, Allegiant, and Spirt don't share with anyone, so you'd need to claim baggage and recheck with these carriers.


If it is the same airline and you go through multiple cities on the same PNR (Passenger Name Record)without a stopover (ie leaving the airport during a long layover), then yes, the airline should check your bag to the final destination for one fee. Some airline hobbiests use this to their advantage. They book mileage runs that go through three or more cities to get additional legs for the same price.

So now I am rethinking EVERYTHING. I could still book Jet Blue from Dulles to LAX since that's a completely separate thing. But I found this itinerary on your Matrix site. Do you think we would have problems booking with US Air even tho some of the flights are operated by other airlines?? We have never used US Air...sigh. I was really trying to use seat guru.com to find the best planes / flights since they're long flights. I feel like I am starting all over again. Some of these flights are operated by US Air, some by Hawaiian & some by United.

Aug 7 US 6467 LAX 8:40AM HNL 11:14AM 5h 34m Boeing 757 Economy (W)
Aug 14 US 8422 HNL 11:30AM OGG 12:08PM 0h 38m Boeing 717 Economy (W)
Aug 17 US 31 OGG 10:30PM PHX 7:07AM 5h 37m Boeing 757 Economy (V)
Layover in PHX 1h 23m
US 6556 PHX 8:30AM IAD 3:45PM 4h 15m Airbus A320 Economy (V)
$1,010.00 + the bag fees and the Jet Blue flight. But the important thing IS do you think we can get by on the way home without having to retrieve our bags & go through security etc. all over again??

 

[SuzanneSLO]

So now I am rethinking EVERYTHING. I could still book Jet Blue from Dulles to LAX since that's a completely separate thing. But I found this itinerary on your Matrix site. Do you think we would have problems booking with US Air even tho some of the flights are operated by other airlines?? We have never used US Air...sigh. I was really trying to use seat guru.com to find the best planes / flights since they're long flights. I feel like I am starting all over again. Some of these flights are operated by US Air, some by Hawaiian & some by United.

Aug 7 US 6467 LAX 8:40AM HNL 11:14AM 5h 34m Boeing 757 Economy (W)
Aug 14 US 8422 HNL 11:30AM OGG 12:08PM 0h 38m Boeing 717 Economy (W)
Aug 17 US 31 OGG 10:30PM PHX 7:07AM 5h 37m Boeing 757 Economy (V)
Layover in PHX 1h 23m
US 6556 PHX 8:30AM IAD 3:45PM 4h 15m Airbus A320 Economy (V)
$1,010.00 + the bag fees and the Jet Blue flight. But the important thing IS do you think we can get by on the way home without having to retrieve our bags & go through security etc. all over again??

My understanding is that US no longer interlines baggage if you are connecting on separate tickets. From the US website on baggage policies:

"As of August 1, 2012: As long as you booked your flights together in one itinerary, we’ll check your bags through to your destination. We'll also check your bags through on all of your US Airways flights.

If you have two or more tickets that you booked separately, then you will need to pick up your bag and re-check it with the next airline."
-- Suzanne

 

[Anal Annie]

My understanding is that US no longer interlines baggage if you are connecting on separate tickets. From the US website on baggage policies:

"As of August 1, 2012: As long as you booked your flights together in one itinerary, we’ll check your bags through to your destination. We'll also check your bags through on all of your US Airways flights.

If you have two or more tickets that you booked separately, then you will need to pick up your bag and re-check it with the next airline."
-- Suzanne

Thanks. This morning I found a United itinerary that was even less (like $939) and they actually fly all of the flights except the inter-island flight from Oahu to Maui on which they use Island Air but they only offer like 1 flight time (and it's later than I would've picked on my own). It's really goofy tho how much the price goes UP if I omit the inter-island hop and try to book that one on my own (it's like over $200 more to SKIP that flight). United was my last choice of airline but OH WELL. It's looking like I don't have much choice at this point. I've apparently waited too long to get a decent price to include the United Dulles to LAX flight unless I want to waste the whole day and fly out in the afternoon. So I think we'll stick to the Jet Blue plan for the flight out to LA because it goes really, really early so we'll have a full first day in CA. Now I'll just need to figure out if we have to pay the bag fee once or twice on the return flight even tho we change planes in LA. I'm hoping only once.

 

[Greysword]

First and foremost, don't give up yet! You are quite far away from your travel date, and prices are likely to change between now and then.

Second, set up some searches on yapta or airfarewatchdog for the flights, and they will let you know if the prices drop.

Third, I am able to see several options. Don't forget to click on Nearby (to the left of your search box), which gives you other airports. How about this itinerary:

Ticket one (Departure):

Washington (DCA) to Los Angeles (LAX) - Sat, Aug 3
Delta Washington (DCA) to Detroit (DTW) - Sat, Aug 3
Delta 2045 Dep: 5:15PM Arr: 6:55PM 1h 40m MD-90 Economy (U)
Layover in DTW 0h 45m

Delta Detroit (DTW) to Los Angeles (LAX) - Sat, Aug 3
Delta 1845 Dep: 7:40PM Arr: 9:44PM 5h 4m Boeing 767 Economy (U)

Los Angeles (LAX) to Honolulu (HNL) - Wed, Aug 7
Delta Delta 2365 Dep: 8:40AM Arr: 11:35AM 5h 55m Boeing 767 Economy (U)

Honolulu (HNL) to Kahului (OGG) - Wed, Aug 14
Island Air Island Air 104 Dep: 2:10PM Arr: 2:45PM 0h 35m De Havilland Dash-8 Economy (S)

Cost per passenger (including taxes & fees) $561.56

Provide this information to a travel agent to help them match the fares found.
Make sure to provide the exact booking and fare codes shown.
Fare 1: Carrier DL UA21A0UY WAS to LAX (rules)
Passenger type ADT, one-way fare, booking code U
Covers DCA-DTW (Economy), DTW-LAX (Economy)
$188.83
Fare 2: Carrier DL UA00SONM LAX to HNL (rules)
Passenger type ADT, one-way fare, booking code U
Covers LAX-HNL (Economy)
$251.92
Fare 3: Carrier WP S HNL to OGG (rules)
Passenger type ADT, one-way fare, booking code S
Covers HNL-OGG (Economy)
$58.95
US Transportation Tax (US) $18.66
US September 11th Security Fee (AY) $10.00
US Passenger Facility Charge (XF) $9.00
US Flight Segment Tax (ZP) $15.60
US Alaska/Hawaii Departure Tax (US) $8.60

Subtotal per passenger $561.56




Ticket 2 (Return):

Kahului (OGG) to Washington (DCA) - Wed, Aug 14
Alaska Airlines Kahului (OGG) to Portland (PDX) - Wed, Aug 14
Alaska Airlines 822 Dep: 9:45PM Arr: 6:08AM 5h 23m Boeing 737 Economy (V)

Layover in PDX Thu, Aug 15 3h 22m

Alaska Airlines Portland (PDX) to Washington (DCA) - Thu, Aug 15
Alaska Airlines 764 Dep: 9:30AM Arr: 5:40PM 5h 10m Boeing 737 Economy (V)

Provide this information to a travel agent to help them match the fares found.
Make sure to provide the exact booking and fare codes shown.
Fare 1: Carrier AS VHASZN4 OGG to WAS (rules)
Passenger type ADT, one-way fare, booking code V
Covers OGG-PDX (Economy), PDX-DCA (Economy)
$387.25
US Transportation Tax (US) $14.75
US September 11th Security Fee (AY) $5.00
US Passenger Facility Charge (XF) $9.00
US Flight Segment Tax (ZP) $7.80
US Alaska/Hawaii Departure Tax (US) $8.60

Subtotal per passenger $432.40

All in, $994 per person, and you ride on Delta on the way out and Alaska on the way in (via our great city of Portland ).

Also, there were several options at these price points, including with Island Air.

As for interlining bags, both US Airways and Delta has said they will not interline on seprately tickets trips (like you were suggesting), plus they don't interline with Virgin America (VX) nor JetBlue (B6).

 

[Brian Noble]

They are about $400 each, which, for four people adds up to $1600! I would really like to stay in the $1000-$1200 range on flights.

Greysword has already said this (though not in so many words) but I don't think you'll be doing much better this this from PDX for a straight-cash fare.

 

[alaska8]

How about the alaska airlines visa card which gives you a $99 plus tax companion voucher (buy one ticket and take a companion for $99 plus tax).