ATA to Honolulu question

[kaylahszoo]

We need flights to Honolulu next June. We're flying out of Phoenix. We have checked out the market- and right now ATA is running $608 roundtrip-BUT if we wait until Southwest Airlines opens that time period- they are going for about $250 less on a roundtrip fare (at least that's what it is if you check Super Saver Fares for Oct, Nov, & Dec) Does anyone know - since SWA sells the exact same ATA flights as we looked at for $608- if we waited and booked with SWA- would we just get leftover seats scattered around the plane. For a short flight that would not be a problem- but a 7 hour to Hawaii might. So what I guess I'm getting at is- does ATA assign seats- and does SWA then just pick up the leftover ones? Thanks for any answers you might have-

[1tuckersmom]

Sorry, I do not know the answer...

I would like to know myself.

We are flying to Honolulu from Mississippi in June as well...:D

[greatam]

Two things: You are looking at the NONSTOP from PHX direct with ATA. Read on about the Southwest flights.

 

1 Southwest prices are sometimes cheaper than buying direct from ATA, but the cheapest prices on Southwest have restrictions-days of week, mostly.

 

Almost all the Southwest/ATA codeshares with cheap prices DO NOT include the ATA nonstopper out of PHX. Only occasionally will the nonstop show up on the cheaper Southwest fares. Most of the codeshare flights have at least one stop (Las Vegas) and the cheapest have two stops-usually Las Vegas and Oakland, then onto an ATA plane to HNL.

 

2. Look into a cheapie Southwest/Am West flight to LAX and book something out of LAX. Northwest currently has a $301.00 fare-LAX/HNL. Add in a $100.00 Southwest/AmWest flight to LAX and you are in HNL for $400.00. The $301 NW fare was good for most of June, except most Fridays and only limited availability after June 22. So if you are cruising early June, you could get a bargain if you want to book now.

 

Pleasant Hawaiian Holidays often has very cheap packages out of LAX. If you don't need the hotel, don't use it. Just use the plane ticket. Same thing with Site 59.

[greatam]

Better hurry-those tickets will sell fast.

[kaylahszoo]

I checked on both NWA and Expedia. I just can't see the $300 fare from LAX anywhere. I plugged in all sorts of dates on both- and both sites come up with the $600 plus fares. Looked for specials- promotions and come up blank.

I'll try site59 and Pleasant vacations next- Thanks for the suggestions!

[greatam]

Please post your dates for more help.

[kaylahszoo]

We are flying in either Sat Hune 16 or Sun June 17- cruise on the 18th- then spending a week in a house we rented and then flying back Monday July 2, 2007. Thanks for help!

[greatam]

We are flying in either Sat Hune 16 or Sun June 17- cruise on the 18th- then spending a week in a house we rented and then flying back Monday July 2, 2007. Thanks for help!

 

Sorry, you are past the dates that NW had the cheap fares. HOWEVER, snoopy me called Pleasant Hawaiian Holidays.

 

http://www.pleasantholidays.com/

 

They do not have the July prices YET. Wait two weeks. They gave me a ROUGH estimate for what you want to do-Fly in June 16 (cheapest day, as it is a Saturday), spend 2 nights in a hotel (I picked the Hotel Joy on Lewers-2 blocks to the beach-balcony rooms, I lived in HNL years ago and go there frequently-I thought this was a great hotel, even though older). Lewers Ave south of Kalakaua is a GREAT area-close to the beach and all the action, but much cheaper than a lot of beach front hotels and a d*** sight better than all those hotels north of Kalakaua (main drag through Wakiki). Great details for the hotel on this page.

http://www.orbitz.com/App/ViewSpecificHotelLP?masterId=46924&gcid=C11287x208&gtkw=46924

 

Rental car for 2 days and return to LAX on July 2-$1154.00 FOR 2. United flight out of LAX. I told them "I" would be on a cruise from the 18th to July 2. Otherwise, they will probably want you to book their hotel, which you don't want to do.

 

I think this is a bargain. Good luck from a fellow Arizonan.

[kaylahszoo]

Thank you for all the great information. We live in Cave Creek- what part of Arizona are you from? I see also from Missouri- I lived in St Louis and then Lake of the Ozarks during High School. I miss it so much that I've never been back- at least the St Louis part.

Now I'm going to throw a wrench in the gears!! There are 10 of us. Well- actually 14 of us, but 4 are flying in earlier. Of the 10 of us- 1 (my husband who dislikes cruises) is going to stay on the island and fish. He will need a car for the entire time. We will need one (or 2 ) more cars from Monday June 25- July 2. But we can deal with that later.

So- you're saying to call Pleasant holidays to get flights, hotel for 2 nights, and maybe 1 of the cars? I thought it was for complete vacation packages. Looks like I was wrong there. And you're also saying it is cheaper to jump on SWA to LAX and then book flights through Pleasant Holidays from LAX? Never even thought of that option. Okay- I'll wait 2 weeks and then call. Thanks for all the information. I learn new stuff about travel all the time!!