HELP! Hawaiian Airlines won't accept UK cc
 

I have just purchased our AA tickets from UK to Honolulu and back, for our holiday next June. However, I have tried to buy interisland tickets from Hawaiian Air, but they won't accept UK credit cards! Help! Flights will be full by the time we get there! And how do we get from Oahu to BI and back again if they won't accept our cc????
I'm totally puzzled, annoyed and worried!

Can you apply for a Visa or Mastercard?

You can book thru Travelocity UK site. I had same issue with Hawaiian, even if you call their reservations office they will not take the card if it is not issued in the US. Hawaiian suggested using Travelocity and it worked a treat, Expedia would be OK too.

Hi bratsandbeer

I have a Visa card and a Mastercard, but Hawaiian Airlines won't accept bookings from a UK address (ie those with their Visa or MC registered with a UK address) - it's absolute nonsense!
I am feeling a little less freaked out now though, as I can purchase from at least one booking agency. Do you think this is OK? http://www.interislandflights.com/ It comes up as Pandaonline, when you select a flight!
I tried through Opodo for a flight from Honolulu to Hilo and they took me back to the mainland first!!!!!

THANK YOU Odin! Isn't it ridiculous!

GULP!!!! Travelocity was £800+!!!!!

I'm thinking of booking with Island Air instead (as they do take UK cc's ...) are these OK, or are they likely to go the same way as Aloha?

Try the US Travelocity site. I had same issues this year trying to book HNL-OGG-HNL. Last year I booked Aloha and they accepted the UK credit card so I was really surprised at the trouble I had booking Hawaiian this year.

I also looked at Island Air but was put off by their small baggage allowance.

BTW I had to change the Hawaiian Airlines flight to a different date once I arrived in HNL and they had no problem taking my UK issued credit card for the penalty.

The US Travelocity site accepts UK address on the purchase page so this will be OK for the Hawaiian flights.

Hi again Odin
I hadn't got to checking out the baggage allowances yet - just wanted to get to BI and back!!

Thank you for all this - yes, it does look as though I can book through travelocity.com - I've gone through the 'motions' without actually booking yet, because I sent a complaint email to Hawaiian Airways and am just wondering what they might come back with. I've a half mind not to fly with them anyway, because I've never come across anything like this - it's downright discrimination as it boils down to only US, Canadian and Australian people being able to book with them directly! They must lose an awful lot of custom from Europe!

Have to be careful with the checked baggage, don't we. 2 bags allowed with AA, but only 1 (I take it?) for Hawaiian Airways? I must go and check all this!

thanks again, you've saved my bacon!

That is very strange that they won't accept your credit card. Did you ask what you can do to make reservations without using your credit card. Could you wire money to them?

http://www.hawaiisuperferry.com/

There is an inter island ferry. Would this be of any help.

I don't know anything about the flights between islands.

Good luck.

Checking their website they offer a Visa card for Hawaiian Airlines. Maybe you could ask if you signed up for that credit card would they honor it.

Hello bratsandbeer

No, I'm afraid the ferry would be useless as it only goes to Maui. Yes, it is very strange that they won't accept European credit/debit cards - there is no explanation - just look on here http://www.hawaiianair.com/Aboutus/P...Reservationand click the "I do not live in the United States ...." FAQ.
Hawaiian Airlines Visa card. Hmm. Of course, you have to be an American citizen for one of these! But I wouldn't want one anyway - why would somebody have to give all their details for (yet) another credit card, when they already have a wallet full of good Visa and MCs - and, even an American Express!!
I shall book through Travelocity.com. Just deciding how much time we'll need to get from north Oahu to Honolulu for the out flight and how much time we'll need, for the return trip to Honolulu, in order to catch out flight home to the UK.
But my vote for silly self-defeatist strange rule of the year goes to Hawaiian Airlines ...

It was the same when I tried to book LAX-HNL on the United airlines US website. It needed a US address so I booked on the UA UK site.

You can also book through a travel agent in the UK and you might even get a better fare. You could even find a travel agent in Hawaii and book through them.

It's actually not that unusual for airlines not to accept all foreign credit cards. When I went to the Philippines in September, we had a devil of a time booking flights on Cebu Pacific. It's because of fraud and very stringent payment requirements from the cc companies.

Also, you couldn't get a credit card in the US if you tried. You must have a US address and bank account.

My recollection is that inter-island flights are relatively frequent, and you can walk up, buy a ticket, and be on the next plane. Kinda reminded me of a local bus service--which, indeed, it is.

They're not like that anymore. With Aloha Air gone, seats are in short supply and many flights sell out. NOt only that, but buying at the gate is a lot more expensive.

However, June is a long time away and I am sure that if those flights get full now they'll add more flights.

Have you tried GO! airlines? They are Hawaiian's competition and might take your CC.

lcuy - I did think about buying Go tickets (and, yes, they would've taken my cc) - but, in the end, I booked Hawaiian through TripAdvisor.
bookhall - yes, they are frequent, but the 'cheap' seats sell out quickly. There was a flight available for $59 on Saturday, which was no longer available on Sunday - or it was if you were willing to pay $159!

Erm, I mean I booked Hawaiian through Travelocity ...

This morning I got a reply to my complaining email, from Hawaiian Airways. A bit late for me, but this might be useful for others in the same situation. They wrote:

"For all your Hawaiian Airlines tickets in Europe, please call or e-mail our European office.
Mahalo,
John Kelman
Hawaiian Airlines U.K. Office
The Office at Pond View,
Downyard, Compton Pauncefoot,
Somerset. BA22 7EL
Reservations:
Tel: (44) 1963 441112
[email protected]"

Somerset is just up the road from me!!