CharlotteJ

I am planning my second trip to Kauai this coming October, and have started the search for the cheapest airfare for 4 adults from Sea-Tac to Lihue. Last year I think we bought our tickets around August and paid more than I would like to pay this year.
I am just watching prices at this point and I hoping to snatch them up when/if they get to the range I would like. I was just wondering if anyone had noticed any trends that maybe helpful to me. Thanks in advance -Charlotte

1JAR

The trends I notice which will not be helpful to you now, is taht the best prices are generally offered in January but not necesarily to travel in January...

rburgess55

I bought tickets from Houston to Lihue in October for our trip in June for about $900 rt...the same tickets are $1250. LAX to LIH in June is running over $1000 rt. As long as oil prices stay up, so will airline tickets...

DebitNM

If you don't already get them, sign up for Alaska Air's emails. We flew RT from San Jose CA to Kona for $298. Bought the tickets 12/30/11 for travel in Feb 2012.

suze

I agree about signing up with the airline newsletters/frequent flyer programs. I am with Hawaiian Air and get notices about flights out of Seattle quite often.

Tomsd

There are also travel sites - which offer updates on the various fares/routes. Check around - and one of the other big name sites may be a good starting point.

Placename

General guidelines suggest 6 weeks out is an optimal time. Unless you are traveling over the Christmas holiday. In that case, I'd be buying about 6 months out, if not earlier.

October is low season. You can afford to monitor prices and get an idea of what the market will bear.

Songdoc

I think the key is to check every day. For several weeks I was finding $1208 - $1248 for the AA flights I wanted (Nashville to Lihue). It suddenly dropped to $1089 -- and I grabbed it.

Dayenu

October is low season? Oh, well, I guess, we'll risk it. We're thinking of October too.

tenthumbs

Sign up for alerts from kayak.com as well........

islandaze

If you get an Alaska Airlines credit card, you'll be awarded an annual $99 companion fare ticket. So if the fare for one is $1,000, you'll both fly for $1,099 (plus tax). Good enough deal for us last year that we flew first class for little more than the price of two coach seats.

CharlotteJ

Thanks everyone. Great advice on the airline emails. I will be signing up for those and checking prices regularly.

Dayenu... October in Kauai is beautiful and worth the risk.

I don't have the Alaskan credit card, I have debated it though. I wasn't too excited about paying an annual fee. May be worth it in the long run though.

Dayenu

Charlotte, I agree, October in Hawaii is so much better then October at work

susiedq

Just bought two round trip tickets from SF bay area to Lihue, Kauai, $800 all in.
Our first trip.

We are leaving on May 20 and returning on June 1, so 12 day stay.

Found fare on Kayak and booked through Alaska Airlines.

YIPEE !!!!!

CharlotteJ

Okay, so I have been watching airfare on every website out there trying to get the best deal. I have known plenty of people who have flown for $400-500 per person round trip to Kauai from Seattle, some for even less than that. That is the price-range I am looking for. I paid about $600 per ticket two years ago when we went and that is about what I am finding they are going for right now. Am I delusional to think I am going to find lower this year? I still have 6 months so I don't want to get too excited and miss a good deal, but I don't want them to jump to $800 per person and get stuck paying that!

CharlotteJ

Songdoc, do you remember how close you were to your travel date when it dropped?

louistraveler5

The best time to buy flights for anywhere is 3-4 months before your trip. Our last trip to Kauai was May 2011 and I bought our tickets in February 2011.
Another example: we went to Paris in October 2008 so I bought our tickets in June 2008.

I would keep a watch on the ticket prices but for a trip in October I wouldn't buy tickets until June/early July. When June/July arrives and you are comfortable with the ticket price then buy them and don't look back!

Bo2642

Topping after reading Islandaze's Mar 7 post.
Glad I read it. I have an Alaska cr card and do qualify for the once a year $99 companion ticket. Up until now I thought this was just for flights througout the continental United States. Evidently not. I just looked at the restrictions and unless I'm missing something the ticket is good for any Alaska Air route.

Shar

I don't generally find airfares goiing down these days and I am not the type of person who can wait 6 weeks b4 leaving - would freak me out if I didn't have my tix in hand. If that doesn't bother you then wait. Checking daily is a good idea. If you are looking for a pkg deal (hotel, air and car or not car) try costco.com. I have purchased several pkg deals with them and have saved several hundred $ by doing that. Very good hotels too. Just booked with them for January 2013 at the Hyatt in waikiki for a few days and saved a lot. Best of luck in finding a good airfare......

sf7307

Bo, we used the Alaska Air $99 companion ticket to fly SFO-LIH last October, and intend to do so again this year.