When is the best time to buy airfare to Hawaii for July 2011? Right now the airfare from LAX to Honolulu seems so high.

I just got back from Hawaii. I went to www.kayak.com and purchased two one-way tickets which were about $210 each. I did this about six weeks before traveling.

I would check once a week starting now but don't feel that you need to purchase your tickets until May.

I also found that smaller airports could be cheaper because airlines want more $$ for direct flights. I flew from Oakland to Denver to LAX, to Maui. Crazy, I know, but I did get miles. The direct flight from SFO was around $800.

Have you considered packages? Do you need a hotel and rental car?

www.airtech.com

cheapos from under $199 each way

www.cheapoair.com

www.kayak.com/buzz

good screening sites keep checking but not too cheap now...

I wish we could get similar prices from where I live in Syd to Honolulu... I would be there all the time. The lowest we can get for economy is 1000 return. Darn.

One thread about low fares is a staple at the mileage run forum at flyertalk. Go here:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/mileage-run-deals-372/

Look for the Pleasant Holidays post. It is on page 2 of the posts at this time. No guarantee that these last minute packages would be available for your travel dates.

Wow, that's a great link, mrwunrfl. I go to flyertalk all the time (the United forum) but had never looked at the mileage run forum. Great information! I don't mind last minute travel, provided I have the free time to do it.

That forum is even better if you are flexible with destinations. Miami and the Everglades were lower on my list until I saw $200 roundtrips from LAX at the MR forum. I leave Saturday.