denise,
This Thanksgiving the prices seemed to get pretty steep around late September. This year, at this time, you probably can't even find a flight. Well, you can, but hold your wallet. Thanksgiving is very popula!
Can't tell you how far to book ahead, but for this Thanksgiving (Nov. 12-26) to Honolulu, I booked American Airlines FF Miles last May. Going to HNL was no problem, but not easy getting a return flight the 26th. The 25th or 27th was it and lose one or add a day of vacation. Put reservation on hold (14 days max.) and when I called to book it, I asked agent to check again. YES, two seats were available for the 26th. Where they came from, I don't know ... hey weren't there a few days earlier.
Hawaiian Airlines couldn't do anything either. Same "No Flights Available".
Paid cost of those flights was in the $1300 plus range for two.
We're going to Kauai October 14, 2006 and I'm going to start looking at fares ASAP. You might try,
www.hawaiianair.com if they fly from an airport near you. Or check from some other west coast airport for an idea of pricing.
Here's our scenario for departing June 3, return June 17, 2006, LAX to HNL, 7 months out! School is probably out, but summer is not really here. I bought flights yesterday, Nov. 5.
Hawaiian Airlines web fare for TWO is $1036.80 at this time.
I did get the flights we want, being HA1 going and HA2 return.
Hawaiian 'Senior Fare', available only by calling reservations was over $1200. If price drops, $75 charge (per ticket?) on phone reservations. No refund on web fare. Flights using FF Miles were there, but too many miles. Well over the usual 35,000. (Phone seemed to be higher Miles than on web)
American Airlines 'Senior Fare' is $1337.00. Flights 31 & 162, (the flight timing we like). Note that Senior Fare and regular fare were no different when my daughter checked the regular fare for me ... interesting.
Combining my wifes and my FF miles would have been $150 plus $30 fee.
To buy an extra 2000 miles would have been $375.00.
American could get us there on Hawaiian HA1, but return to LAX would be on American 284. 70,000 miles, but extra costs didn't seem to be advisable.
So, we'll live with the Hawaiian fare and will have added over 12,000 Hawaiian miles to my account. (Flight miles plus B of A VISA at 2 miles per dollar).
I really don't see the price dropping too much and the next time, I'll try using FF Miles near the 330 day out mark for the October 2006 flight.
If you can, try Hoc's idea of using RCI points for airfare.