Suggestions airfare experts?

[bobmcgraw]

OK you Hawaii airfare experts. I could use your help.

I usually use United miles to fly to Hawaii every year so I am not as well versed in buying tickets.

However, with Alaska Airlines Visa providing a $99 companion ticket every year, it made sense to buy some tickets to Hawaii and use the United miles for other stuff.

So now I am trying to figure out how to get a good price on Alaska.

Our trip is the end of July/beginning of August 2012. I don't know if I should just buy the tickets using the $99 deal now and be satisfied or if fares go down as we get closer and if they do, how far in advance of travel.

Since we are going in high-season, I am a little pessimistic the fares will go down much.

Thoughts and suggestions?

Thanks!!!

 

[vacationtime1]

The $99 Alaska voucher is an outstanding deal. Remember that using a $99 voucher reduces the impact of fare increases or decreases by half -- one of the two tickets will cost $99 regardless of the "official" fare.

Alaska doesn't fly to each destination from each mainland airport every day; for example: Oakland, CA to Kauai is not daily; San Jose, CA to Maui is. So you must consider flight days when you make your timeshare reservation.

We are using vouchers for a Kauai trip December 19 - 25. Note the number of days -- six, not seven. But the price was excellent.

 

[Eagle7304]

Using the $99 Alaskan companion ticket we paid $730.00 (including taxes & other fees-not included are the baggage fees) for round trip tickets to Maui from Sacramento at the 3rd week in May. Sat to Sun.That is almost what we would have paid for HA for one round trip ticket. Alaskan also flies direct to Maui. No stop in Honolulu....gets us to Maui about 3 hours faster.

 

[lynne]

No Risk in Purchasing Tickets Now

Even if you purchase your tickets now, if the fare drops call Alaska Airlines and they will provide an online voucher for the difference on the single ticket.

 

[BevL]

I had been tracking tickets for my sister-in-law and her husband who are coming with us. She didn't have her money until August - they would have saved a few dollars if they had bought them in March when we did, but not a lot. They are definitely quite a bit more now.

We are going in January so winter to summer might be different.

And as mentioned, you can get a credit if the price goes down.