phillymazes

Researching the jump from Honolulu to Maui. Pls. share experiences with the local airlines, prices, convenience. We'd prefer using West Maui airport rather than the big one on the east side.

lcuy

The two main airlines are Aloha and Hawaiian. Very little difference in their inter island flights or prices.

To fly into west maui, you have to go on the tiny planes. More expensive and less frequent, plus the flights take longer and there are less car rental options on the maui end.

fdecarlo

In our experience Hawaiian is a bit friendlier and more accomodating, although we haven't had a bad flight on either airline.

Just FYI, if you have a choice of airlines from the mainland, choose Hawaiian over United. Like night and day.

auntiemaria

Because prices and schedules are now so similar, when we have the choice on our inter-island hops, we _always_ choose Hawaiian Air.

Newer, quieter planes with considerably more interior space (aisle, seats, as well as that space between my knees and the seat in front of me).

Aloha has no first class section anymore (never made sense to me anyway, since all flights are so short). Hawaiian Air still has 3 double-rows of first class seating.

kamahinaohoku

Re: using the West Maui Airport

I lived on Lower Honoapiilani Hwy (a few miles from the airport), and and having been in the travel business and having had to fly to Honolulu for meetings, I have had way too many "hair raising" flights to even consider flying into that airport again. On one flight, it was SO scary (wind shear and all) that the woman next to me spent the entire flight praying at the top of her lungs... Too many white knuckle flights for me, thanks. I'd rather drive to Kahului Airport and fly from there.