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For east coast, there are direct flights between Honolulu and JFK, Newark and DC (only available in summer). But for other cities like Boston, you need connecting flight. Flying to Atlanta, Florida and Texas is more humbug that you must transfer.
If you buy the ticket too late in peak season, the only affordable flights are those that you need to transfer two or even three times.
Airfare is not that expensive as compared with car rental and hotel charges. In fact, for international flight, the fare has come down a lot. I used to pay airfare that was double what I pay now to Asia ten years ago.
I forgot this is a Big Island thread. So most likely their residents have to pay about $130 extra. But if you buy tickets from Hawaiian Air, they will bundle it up and give you discount on the flights between Honolulu and Hilo/Kona.
If you want to save further, get a credit card from Hawaiian Air. Usually they offer perks like 35,000 miles after you spend $1,000 in the first three months, periodically they up their offer to 50,000 miles.
Unlike United and Delta, if you book your ticket by Hawaiian miles early, the seats are always available. There are three advantages: (1) If you don't have enough miles to book a round trip ticket, HA allows you to pay one way by cash and the other way by miles. (2) There are no other surcharges. Usually you just pay $15-$20 extra to get the ticket. (3) There is no blackout period. If you book early, you can get seats during Thanksgiving or X'mas.
I have exchanged 30,000 miles for a one way ticket from JFK to Honolulu. I also exchanged a round trip ticket to Chitose, Sapporo with 50,000 miles.
And the card does not charge you annual fee until the 12th month. So if you cancel it on the 11th month, you gain 50,000 miles without paying a dime. The remaining miles will still stay in your Hawaiian Miles account.
And if you are keen on international travel, look for those new destinations that HA offers. Usually during the first two weeks that HA debuts the flight, the fare is incredibly low. Also during the last two months after they announced to discontinue flights, i.e. Fukuoka and Taipei, the fare was also incredibly low. Much cheaper than flying to Vegas.
For east coast, there are direct flights between Honolulu and JFK, Newark and DC (only available in summer). But for other cities like Boston, you need connecting flight. Flying to Atlanta, Florida and Texas is more humbug that you must transfer.
Wow, this is great!! So it definitely can be done!!!
I am happy to hear about these tips and tricks, being as we are pretty set on living in HI (big island is probably best for us) and also being able to make a couple trips back to the mainland a year.
Our friends in hawaii are making FOUR trips to the mainland this year for weddings!
I fly to Az a couple times a year to see family, then work usually has me going to LA, NY and Vegas once each per year. I fly Hawaiian since I do a lot of interisland flying. And have the BOH miles card. It's not as good as it used to be, but still useful.
If I had a choice I would NEVER go back. My wife has family and she drags me along occasionally. I never enjoy it. It's always such a relief to get back home. I've been here for 37 years. There's nothing on the mainland for me. If family wants to see me they can come here. They can stay for free if they feed me! I'll take them to all the best restaurants and hidden beaches , up to the top of Mauna Kea, down into the Waipio Valley. Hey! It's Hawaii!! Come on!
If it wasn't for my 80 y/o Dad, I would never go to Arizona intentionally!
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