airfare to Kauai at Christmas

[falmouth3]

Although I can't see airfare yet for Christmas week, looking at airfares for early December, I'm seeing fares of over $1000 from Boston to Lihue. For those of you who follow airfares closely, can I expect to see the airfares go up or down in the intervening months?

I also checked airfares from SFO and LAX to Lihue and they are in the $700+ range. Any suggestions?

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

Although I can't see airfare yet for Christmas week, looking at airfares for early December, I'm seeing fares of over $1000 from Boston to Lihue. For those of you who follow airfares closely, can I expect to see the airfares go up or down in the intervening months?

I also checked airfares from SFO and LAX to Lihue and they are in the $700+ range. Any suggestions?

Suggestions:

1. don't fly on the peak travel days.

2. get a credit card (such as an Alaska Airlines Signature VISA) that includes a no black-out dates companion fare ticket benefit that will get you to Hawaii. (You need to check voucher conditions to be sure that it will get you to Hawaii reasonably easy. The Alaska Airlines card, for example, can only be used on flights that are operated by Alaska. So if you were flying out of Boston you would have to make the entire trip to Hawaii on Alaska. That might put you into a very long layover in Seattle if the connecting flights don't line up.

 

[sjsharkie]

Although I can't see airfare yet for Christmas week, looking at airfares for early December, I'm seeing fares of over $1000 from Boston to Lihue. For those of you who follow airfares closely, can I expect to see the airfares go up or down in the intervening months?

I also checked airfares from SFO and LAX to Lihue and they are in the $700+ range. Any suggestions?

Fares are expensive during the holidays. Typically flying on Christmas Day is cheapest as it is the lowest demand during that time frame.

I'd also suggest flying Alaska. If fares decrease after booking your ticket, you can request a voucher for the fare drop, even when using a companion certificate. This can be done multiple times (if there are multiple fare drops), but be aware that you only can redeem one certificate per fare and it cannot be used in conjunction with the companion certificate.

-ryan

 

[falmouth3]

Although airfare is expensive, I just booked a car through Costco for $310 for a week. It seems like it was a misprint because the other rental companies on Costco were asking twice as much or more. But I got my confirmation email so I think I'm all set there. Of course I'll keep on checking, but I don't think I'll beat it.

 

[zora]

Fares are expensive during the holidays. Typically flying on Christmas Day is cheapest as it is the lowest demand during that time frame.

I'd also suggest flying Alaska. If fares decrease after booking your ticket, you can request a voucher for the fare drop, even when using a companion certificate. This can be done multiple times (if there are multiple fare drops), but be aware that you only can redeem one certificate per fare and it cannot be used in conjunction with the companion certificate.

-ryan

I booked Alaska for 4 of us to travel from hnl to den this coming spring break and used yapta. When the fare dropped, I called Alaska per the yapta instructions and the CS rep told me that I could use up to 4 vouchers to book a new flight. I only have 3 vouchers b/c I used the AA credit card companion certificate for our DS. The vouchers are not person specific and they have to be used by sept 17, 2014. The vouchers total about $550.00. :whoopie:
I'm hoping for another big drop b/4 we leave. . Then I'll get another 3 vouchers.
Alaska doesn't have the $150 change fee that the other airlines have so even if it costs a little more than the other airlines at the initial booking, I don't mind.

Suzanne.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

Alaska doesn't have the $150 change fee that the other airlines have so even if it costs a little more than the other airlines at the initial booking, I don't mind.

Suzanne.

Alaska does have change fees if you change your flight arrangements (unless you buy a refundable ticket). But if all you're doing is reticketing because of the fare drop, then there is no change fee.

 

[zora]

Steve, thank you for the clarification.

 

[Chrispee]

Alaska does have change fees if you change your flight arrangements (unless you buy a refundable ticket). But if all you're doing is reticketing because of the fare drop, then there is no change fee.

I believe Alaska now allows you to change/cancel up to 60 days prior to your flight for free. Within 60 days it is a $125 fee.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

I believe Alaska now allows you to change/cancel up to 60 days prior to your flight for free. Within 60 days it is a $125 fee.

I would check that carefully when booking. As far as I know the standard cancellation penalties after 24-hr still apply unless you buy the refundable fare.

 

[Chrispee]

I would check that carefully when booking. As far as I know the standard cancellation penalties after 24-hr still apply unless you buy the refundable fare.

Change and cancellation rules/fees are on the second chart:

http://www.alaskaair.com/content/travel-info/optional-services-fees.aspx

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

Change and cancellation rules/fees are on the second chart:

http://www.alaskaair.com/content/travel-info/optional-services-fees.aspx

You're right! I even created a thread about that when they made the change. Thanks for the reminder!

 

[Chrispee]

You're right! I even created a thread about that when they made the change. Thanks for the reminder!

Now that you mention it, I think it was you who pointed out the new rules to me originally

As a side note, I have since found out that if you use the price guarantee when your flight price drops, you have to lock in as non-refundable.