Airfare Questions

[suzanne]

For our trip to Hawaii in Oct/Nov. fares are still pretty high. We are flying from Florida to Honolulu to the Big Island back to Florida.

Orbitz is cheapest at $2185.00 total, for the 2 of us. Flights are on United with the jump from Honolulu to Big Island on Hawaiian Air.

I can book same flights on United's Website from Florida to Honolulu and back from Big Island to Florida. But I have to book the Hawaiian Air segment thru Hawaiian Air's website, United's site doesn't let me book this segment. Total for the entire trip booking this way is $2214.78 which is $29.78 more than Orbitz for total trip.

I have checked Bing, Kayak, Hotwire, they all are $2254.00 for same flights.

My question is should I book using the United and Hawaiian websites even though the difference is a bit more or book with Orbitz. I have never used anyone but the airlines for flights before. If you use someone like Orbitz if something goes wrong with flights how good are they at fixing it as opposed the airlines?

Suzanne

 

[artringwald]

When are you flying and from what city? If you can fly out of Orlando, it can be as low as $1,879.20 on Delta's web site. Delta has direct flights from LA to Kona, but you may also have to stop over in Atlanta.

 

[cissy]

I've never had a problem booking with Orbitz, Travelocity or Kayak, and have booked many, many times. I had a problem with Hawaiian, and will avoid them if at all possible in the future.

 

[winger]

I've never had a problem booking with Orbitz, Travelocity or Kayak, and have booked many, many times. I had a problem with Hawaiian, and will avoid them if at all possible in the future.

Are you trying to answer Suzanne's question?
If you use someone likeOrbitz ifsomething goeswrong with flights how good are they at fixing it as opposed the airlines?

Suzanne

 

[linsj]

But I have to book the Hawaiian Air segment thru Hawaiian Air's website, United's site doesn't let me book this segment.

That doesn't make sense since I frequently book HA segments on united.com, along with my ORD to whatever island. It just shows up in the options. You might try a multicity reservation and put in HNL for a segment.

It's definitely better to have all segments on the same PNR in case of irregular ops. It'll also save on baggage fees, so you don't have to pay twice if you check luggage.

 

[suzanne]

When I try to do a multi city search on United's website, I get error message, (No Flights Match Your Criteria, Please try again or call Customer Service for help. I'm entering: West Palm Beach (PBI) to Honolulu (HNL), Honolulu (HNL) to Big Island (KOA), then Big Island (KOA) to West Palm Beach (PBI).

I can book and get flights from PBI to Honolulu and from KOA to PBI, its the Honolulu to Big Island segment that seems to be the issue.

I will try to call them Monday to see if they can do it over phone. As for Orlando, we are 3 hours south of there, same with Miami and Fort Lauderdale, 2 hours north. By time we figure in time, transportation and parking for 3 weeks, its cheaper to fly out of West Palm Beach.

Thank you all for your help.

Suzanne

 

[linsj]

Suzanne, I looked at united.com and see your dilemma. It must be because I fly from ORD that HA always shows up with interisland segments. From Palm Beach, you get routed through Houston and end up with three segments, which would certainly break up that l-o-n-g trip. On the plus side, the price is less than $1000 right now.

 

[tompalm]

I would call United and ask what's up and tell them there is a problem with internet booking. If you are catching a flight from HNL to Kona on the same day that you arrive in Honolulu, United should cover your interisland flight if they cause you to miss it. It would be easier to work with an United Agent at the airport than to call a travel agent. If your flight to Kona is on a different day, I don't think it matters who you book the fight with.

I always book with the airlines directly in case there is a problem, I can talk to a customer service agent at the airport. Only one time did I need to do that, or I should say that it made a difference, so the odds are low that it will make a difference. But, the one time was about a Visa issue going to Japan and they were going to not let me on with a one way ticket because of the 90 day rule and wanted me to buy a ticket home when I didn't have my travel dates. When I told them that they had booked the ticket, they let me on using the one way ticket. So, it saved me a lot of money that day.

 

[tompalm]

One other thing to consider is taking the earliest flight from Florida. If you take the mid day flight and get to the west coast for your connecting flight to HNL and miss it, you should hope to be there early enough to catch the last flight to Hawaii that day. If your scheduled flight is on the last flight to Hawaii that day and it breaks down, or your first flight ran late, you will be spending the night on the west coast, or maybe Chicago, Denver, or wherever that connection was. The odds are small, but I always have a back up plan and the other thing is that it is nice to land in Hawaii early afternoon vs night.

 

[cissy]

Are you trying to answer Suzanne's question?
If you use someone likeOrbitz ifsomething goeswrong with flights how good are they at fixing it as opposed the airlines?

Suzanne

Travelocity was able to rebook a flight at no additional cost even though I was told at the airport, and by the carrier that there were no seats left on any flight for the time I needed. I did it over the phone in 5 minutes. The original problem was due to weather problems. A number of flights had been cancelled, and numerous people had to be rebooked. Just my experience. Hope it helps.

 

[suzanne]

Thanks all for your help. The flight leaves Palm Beach at 6:30 AM goes thru Houston and arrives in Honolulu at 1:10 PM. We leave Honolulu a week later for Big Island where we will be for 2 weeks, time of flights for that leg are not issue. The return flight leaves Kona at 1:30 PM arrives back in Palm Beach next day at 11:00 AM. its routed from Kona thru San Francisco, Houston, Palm Beach. Other flights go thru Los Angeles or Newark for return flight. Having grown up in Atlanta, I avoid the Atlanta Airport if at all possible. It is a nightmare.

Suzanne