Is it ever too early to book flights? I didn't think so but is there a more appropriate time?
This is an interesting question. I normally only purchase tickets 1-3 months prior to a known trip, as prices tend to fluctuate wildly at times and are lowest 30-45 days before the travel date. This year has been completely different, though, so it's worth considering a change.
I bought to Cancun for November back in April, and I think that's the earliest I've ever purchased. I paid $317.50 per ticket for a non-stop to Cancun - today's price is $402 for the same dates/flight. But friends and family have seen the opposite - they bought a couple of months ago (to a domestic destination) when oil prices were climbing daily and now the fares are much lower.
How early are others buying their tickets?
I'll be at WKORV from 3/14 to 3/21 but arriving in HNL several days early and returning back from HNL several days after WKORV.
If I remember correctly from last year, the lowest cost to HNL from the west coast is about $375 pp after all fees and taxes.
Yes, that's about the fare I recall from west coast to Hawaii. Kayak shows your dates (approx, with time in HNL on both ends) starting at $762pp.
The card didn't make a whole lot of sense when it was just my wife and I. Then we had kids and traveled with the grandparents. The savings on this one trip pays for the annual dues (6 tickets). My guess is that the card saves us between $1.2k and $1.7k each year.
Absolutely. Six seats savings definitely adds up and easily justifies the card.
The extra baggage fee and the inability to accrue FF miles is non issue considering the dollars I'm saving on this trip.
I certainly understand your perspective. However, at approx 2500 miles each way six tickets = 30,000 miles, which is almost enough for a free ticket to Hawaii. That would be a future savings of $750-ish (or approx $550 at your rate). BTW, you may still be eligible for miles - and I suggest you check with AA.
As for bags... assuming you only take one bag per person you'll spend another $180. And another $50 rt for a 2nd bag per person. I'm not up to date on which airlines are charging fees yet, but these are from AAs web site. Hawaiian doesn't charge for the first bag on the intra-island flights, but does charge the same as AA to the mainland. Of course, this fee doesn't matter as much, since it's applied regardless of coach seat fare (first class or business does not pay for bags).
