lcuy

ATA just announced it will be dramatically increasing it's service to Oahu, Kauai, Maui and the Big Island

The new flights will be starting this spring and summer and will fly out of several west coast cities and Las Vegas. They fly to Hawaii already, but this will be a big expansion.

Now, this is a budget airlines that codeshares with Southwest, so it won't be for everyone. I'm hoping it will keep some competition pressure on prices though!

Shanghainese

We used our SW mileage and took ATA to Oahu a few years ago.

JJ5

ATA had major share of Midway/Chicago and when they left it put many Aviation mechanics and others out in the cold, who I know personally. So I'll be very interested to see what they do. They are noted, IMHO, for huge plans that then get piecemealed or under-developed in reality.

I flew them about 10 times from 1996-2000. They were often late and gave me free flights twice because of cancellations. The service was not as good/reliable as SW, but when/where they went was considerable and often. I miss them tremendously.

wally34949

American Airlines to Hawaii is the pits unless flying First Class. Food for purchase from Dallas to Hawaii. Good for ATA. I hope they kill the competition.

iamq

I hope they do some non-stops from SFO/SJC/OAK to Kaua'i and the BI. Prices are way too high for those flights on the carriers that do them (United).

pila

JJ5

They will underprice their flights, they always do- so it will be less than United or American. But don't count on them leaving promptly on time, as they always have issues getting the planes to the right places.

And going across an ocean isn't going to make for improvement with that, IMHO.

Kal

\/
YEA!!!!
We flew them one year out of SFO to Honolulu. No probs.

Since I'm a "anxious flier" anyway, we got there well before the roosters even knew the sun was up and got front row seats, no first class seating, and had about what seemed to be 10' of leg room.

I hope they'll fly out of SMF!!!

38 mo' days, baby!!!

lcuy

This was reported on the news early this am, so I got the 'gist of it', but not all the details.

I'm pretty sure they said they will be having new non-stops to Kauai and Maui and more flights to Honolulu, Kona and Hilo. (I din't know mainland carriers flew direct to Hilo). Some will start late spring, others in the summer.

iamq

This just in:

$479 R/T NONSTOP OAK/LIH!

They did not waste any time! Let the wars begin!

-pila

iamq

Oh, I forgot to mention that those prices are for travel in July/August!

sistahlou

Did you just score?!

iamq

I'm not sure yet. The schedule is sort of crappy...arrives LIH at 8:25pm and it is a red-eye coming home.

Oakland is not the most convienient airport for us either, BUT I'm hoping that as part of this expansion they will add a nonstop from San Jose which is 20 minutes from home and a breeze to deal with. ATA already flies to the east from SJC.

I'm gonna keep checking and see what happens, but this may be as good as it is gonna get.

-pila