reservations for island hopping? (Honolulu: wedding, to buy, price)

[MaireSD]

I know that I will need to fly roundtrip Honolulu to Kauai in a few weeks. I MUST get there on time since it is for my son's wedding and I MUST get back in time to make a connection to the mainland. I know that there are many flights a day back and forth. But do I still need to make reservations? Or is it stupid to take a CHANCE that there would be a seat? And the price...is it more when you just show up instead of booking online as one would traditionally do?
Thanks so much.

[hotzcatz]

Make reservations since they are flights you have to be on. You get better fares if you book a little bit earlier, too.

[mdand3boys]

Actually, this summer, the really, really, late booked flights in/out of Hawaii are cheaper than the early bookings. However, you risk not getting the flights you want/need.

Since you know you have to be there, book the flight now. Don't risk missing the wedding to save $20.

[orangecat]

I fly back and forth between Maui and Oahu every two weeks. The best $59 fares are bought out at least 1 month from the date of departure. Sometimes seats available closer in, but you risk it. Once you get one week away, forget it, you'll be paying full fare $129- 149 one way ticket. No joke - the same as what a one way discount ticket to the mainland would cost!

Depending on time of day and day of week, there may not be any seats available if you just show up at the counter to buy a ticket. Hawaiian has got the seat to flight availability right down to a perfect science. I've yet to see any flight that had any significant number of empty seats, and the ones that do are the late night flights .

[Cloey_young]

Originally Posted by orangecat

I fly back and forth between Maui and Oahu every two weeks. The best $59 fares are bought out at least 1 month from the date of departure. Sometimes seats available closer in, but you risk it. Once you get one week away, forget it, you'll be paying full fare $129- 149 one way ticket. No joke - the same as what a one way discount ticket to the mainland would cost!

Depending on time of day and day of week, there may not be any seats available if you just show up at the counter to buy a ticket. Hawaiian has got the seat to flight availability right down to a perfect science. I've yet to see any flight that had any significant number of empty seats, and the ones that do are the late night flights .

Is the price for the flight round trip or just one way?

[Balad1]

one way

[mdand3boys]

OOPS. I missed that the person is simply flying inter-island. My comment about cheaper tickets to be had at the last minute is aimed squarely at mainland to Hawaii tickets.
Island hopping tickets need to be purchased as early as possible.