Decent airfare to HNL at Christmas?
 

We want to go from Chicago to Hawaii for the Christmas season 2.5 weeks. What would be a reasonable price? It's been very high but right now AA is offering a $850 flight which seems very high still to me but $260 cheaper than other flights.

Candace, is that for the non-stop? If so, that is the ONLY non-stop from ORD to HNL. Once those seats are gone you are looking at 2.5 to 4 hours extra of travel time each way. Factor that into your decision. $850 is reasonable for that flight anytime, so I would grab it.

Airfare sales will start again at the end of summer. Christmas is low season in hawaii but travel will pick up immed. after. Travel rates are always high 7 months in advance.

The airfare wasn't for a nonstop. The travel books I have read say that Christmas and NewYears weeks are highest travel weeks in HI. So I don't think it can be low season that's why I have been worried.

I see, it's the special fare through San Jose, CA. The thing I don't like about that is the 13+ hour travel time.<BR><BR>I've been watching that route for six months for a good summer fare and the lowest I've spotted (for early June) was just under $700. The last time we went to Hawaii (April, 1998) we paid $700 for the non-stop, which was a very good price. <BR><BR>There are several carriers offering fares in the low $900's, so I don't think this is a life and death decision. Personally, I wouldn't expect fares to go much lower.

I wrote in above, I travel to Hawaii 3X per year, several times at XMas, the fares are always best 3-4 mos or so before travel for that time period. The fares will be high if you are departing 12/27, not returning. Looking for air rates 7 months in advance is way too soon to see any sales, those are "rack rates".

Thanks for the responses. We are planning to leave Chicago on the 18th returning the 4th. I guess I'll wait for a couple more months and see what happens.