Interisland Oahu to Kauai - timing question?
 

Hi - first time to Hawaii. We will be leaving Oahu to fly to kauai on a Friday. We can leave any time that day. We have to drive to the airport from Ko olina (Marriott). Any suggestions traffic wise for the best time of day for us to do this?

Also - how far ahead of flight do you recommend getting to the airport for these flights? Any reason to to choose Aloha or Hawaiian other than price?

Thanks a bunch, sue

Rush hour in Honolulu usually ends around 8am. It is about a 30 minute drive from Ko'Olina to the airport. Another 15-20 minutes to turn in a car and get to the terminal. You should get to interisland flights an hour before the flight.

So, plan on leaving two hours before the flight.

I've been on both airlines. No difference to me.

Two hours before your flight should be good, but remember its a friday! The freeway stretch between ko olina and the airport is notorious for traffic crashes that cause major traffic delays! The general rule is morning traffic is heavy from Ko olina into honolulu and afternoon traffic is heavy from honolulu to Kapolei/ko olina area.

We took an Aloha flight from HNL to Kona on Thursday, 29 December; the flight departed HNL at 8:15 AM or so. We were driving from Waikiki and left a full two hours ahead. Trafiic from our direction, through the city, with traffic lights was a breeze at that hour but it was already starting to get heavy moving into the city Eva to Diamond Head.

Parking at the airport (are you parking or actually dropping off a rental..you don't specify this) was easy in the garage and check in was also fast. But this was at 6:30 AM.

Open seating on the Aloha flight but it was FULL (both ways). Getting there a full hour ahead would be advisable IMO given security, etc.

Aloha Air just announced a special $60 one-way fair -- good for flights made not later than 3/9/06:
http://www.alohaairlines.com/Special...pe=interisland

Personally, we prefer Hawaiian Air -- quieter (and newer) aircraft, reserved seating, nation's best on-time record.