Island Air for interisland flights

[kathleenpeyer]

Now that Aloha and ATA have gone belly up, is Hawaiian Air the only safe bet for booking interisland flights? Has anyone heard any bad press about Island Air? Wondering if I should risk (?) booking them for late October/early Nov 2008. Their schedule is better than anything I could book on Hawaiian. Thanks for any advice.

 

[Icarus]

There's nothing wrong with Island Air. They fly Dash 8s, which are very small prop planes, so if you have lots of luggage, I would stick with Hawaiian.

-David

 

[rickandcindy23]

You can only check 50 pounds of luggage per person on Island Air, and they don't allow any bags larger than a purse, or maybe a laptop case, in the planes, so you have to check everything. It was very hard for us to make the limit, after buying our souvenirs one year, so we don't risk flying with them anymore.

 

[Kauai Kid]

You can only check 50# on luggage per person on American. I like Island Air. We landed during a downpour and that Dash 8 will stop on a dime--well maybe a quarter. Really great short take off and landing distances.

Before long they will weigh you and charge by the pound like the post office.

Sterling

 

[rickandcindy23]

Sterling, I think I will be in trouble if they weigh us and charge by the pound.

 

[Icarus]

You can only check 50# on luggage per person on American.
Sterling

I think you meant that most people can check 50 pounds for free on AA, but you can go over the basic allowance and pay for it. You can't do that on a light plane. Also, the basic allowance on a full-size jet doesn't include your carry-on bags, which generally have to be checked on a light plane.

-David

 

[LLW]

You can only check 50 pounds of luggage per person on Island Air, and they don't allow any bags larger than a purse, or maybe a laptop case, in the planes, so you have to check everything. It was very hard for us to make the limit, after buying our souvenirs one year, so we don't risk flying with them anymore.

We flew on Island Air (for the first time) a week and a half ago. It was a DASH 8. We like it. We checked one big suitcase between the two of us, and each took a normal domestic carry-on and one personal item (my BIG purse and a laptop) with us. In the waiting room they tagged our carryon suitcases, and put them in the plane as we were boarding, plane-side. We got to pick them up as we deplaned. We were fine with that.

 

[tompalm]

Island Air is ok, but Hawaiian is a lot better. If a plane at Island Air has a mechanical and the plane is out of service for part of the day, the whole schedule will get out of whack. You could be waiting hours for the next flight. Hawaiian has a lot more planes and more flexibility if a plane breaks. Besides that, the jets that Hawaiian use are faster, quieter, smoother, newer, bigger and better. If you are going to Lanai, Molaki, or flying Maui to Kona, take Island Air. Otherwise, Hawaiian is a better way to go.

 

[Kauai Kid]

As of 5/22 AA is charging for the first checked bag also.

Sterling

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

Island Air is ok, but Hawaiian is a lot better. If a plane at Island Air has a mechanical and the plane is out of service for part of the day, the whole schedule will get out of whack. You could be waiting hours for the next flight. Hawaiian has a lot more planes and more flexibility if a plane breaks. Besides that, the jets that Hawaiian use are faster, quieter, smoother, newer, bigger and better. If you are going to Lanai, Molaki, or flying Maui to Kona, take Island Air. Otherwise, Hawaiian is a better way to go.

IIRC - Island Air also flies into Kapalua Airport on Maui. Mo bettah for Ka'anapali and Kahana.

 

[Jim Bryan]

We flew Pacific Wings out of Maui to BI. Checked two regular suitcases and had two carry ons. We box up all of our gifts and souvenirs and ship them home from Hawaii and save bags for clean clothes. We come back with less than we bring. Always works for us.

 

[glewis1123]

We booked Island Air after Aloha went bellyup - now I'm wondering after reading the above if we'll have problems with our luggage.

Three adults

3 regular suitcases - clothing
2 small suitcase - snorkeling gear and condo essentials
1 boogie board bag-holds 2 boogie boards

We're flying from Lihue to OGG

What do you think?

Thanks

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

We booked Island Air after Aloha went bellyup - now I'm wondering after reading the above if we'll have problems with our luggage.

Three adults

3 regular suitcases - clothing
2 small suitcase - snorkeling gear and condo essentials
1 boogie board bag-holds 2 boogie boards

We're flying from Lihue to OGG

What do you think?

Thanks

What did Island tell you when you checked with them?

 

[Mimi]

We will never fly Island Air again. They lost DH's luggage from Kauai to Maui a few years ago. We made several phone calls and unsuccessful trips to the airport in an attempt to get the bag. There was never anyone to help. The airport reps were all over the place multi-tasking. We finally got in touch with a supervisor who arranged to have our luggage delivered mid-week to Maui Schooner. Hawaiian Airlines has more flights and much better service!