I've been looking for fares from Chicago to Maui for next spring break. They were high so I decided to look for fares through a travel agent from lax to maui, knowing that I could get from Chicago to lax anytime for @$200. I got a fare of $351 from lax to maui, making our round trip from chicago to maui $550. Try using a travel agent for wholesale rates from lax or sfo or oakland to maui, and then put together your own package to those points from your area using one of the discount airlines.

Sorry, should have included that the $351 fare is on American and the same flights are sold on their website at $655. The agent cut our price in half.

sss,
For the $650 R/T to Maui the travel was last week. As an example, the day after I booked (early April) the fare nearly doubled, then a couple of days later it was back in 650-700 range & so on. In fact despite all the ups & downs in the fare for capacity management, on the big day the plane wasn't even full (we flew on a Sunday).

Nina - you would think so but summer is not low season in Hawaii. Could be a combination of reasons - kids are off from school and available for a longer trip (which many people like to do when flying all the way too Hawaii) and it is honeymoon season.

Nina I love Hawaii in summer. I see what you are saying but Hawaii gets the heat without much humidity. It is actually more unbearable in NY and NJ in summer. Also the winters are wetter and I am not crazy about swimming in 70 degree weather. But I don't just go for weather I also go for the unsurpassed beauty as far as I can see. Would like to go back in winter for the condors at Kilauea lighthouse on N.S of Kauai. I have seen the whales in Mauai and on Oahu in winter that is another treat. But as far as escaping winter here. I am an avid skier.

When I lived in hawaii it seemed like the only low season was right before the kids got out for summer, March to May.So for the person trying to secure a spot for next spring break I would suggest waiting for January 1+ sales. Nevertheless you will get that price then also so you did well by grabbing it. I went for the price you mentioned two Martin Luther King holidays ago. Prices and availablity always come down Jan1-March15 in places I looked at for guests during this period. Every other time of the year people said this is High Season.

J, I used Classic Custom Vacations (must book through TA) for travel to Hawaii this July 4th. We got an amazing deal on airfare. $525/pp RT compared to 851/pp which was the cheapest I could find on the net with orbitz or expedia. Got the United flights we wanted too. Try them = )

nina, I hear you about not wanting to waste any of New England's brief summer.

But when we went to Hawaii for the last two weeks of July 1999, we were glad we did -- avoided one of those terrible eat waves, that hit Boston while we were away. Temps rarely go above 80 in Hawaii.

Do a fare watcher at travelocity .com. I've gotten some great fares. Be ready--you have to do it that day. The next day it may (probably will) jump right back up.

not condors on NS of Kauai in winter it is the albatrose

Thanks, all, for the helpful comments. The article in the WSJ was 4/18/02. I'm specifically looking for cheap fares to Hawaii from Seattle, New York and Hartford in late August. I'm concerned b/c I'm getting married there and I don't want my friends and family to have to pay an arm + leg to get there! I'd be thrilled if a summer fare war started up next week, but I'm not counting on it. Is anyone going to Hawaii with these ridiculous fares? It's not surprising that tourism is down in Hawaii! Couldn't Hawaii subsidize travel like Bermuda is doing this summer?

Bermuda is a country that relies on tourism for a significant part of its economy.

Hawaii is a state, where many residents would just as soon see tourism drop a lot.

I sure hope that you get your fare war, as unlikely as that seems. Let this be a lesson to people who plan get-away weddings!

1-4 people in Hawaii are dependent on tourism Jimbo for there livelyhood think before for you speak

From what I've seen, most of the other 75% would rather have the toursts disappear.

That is why what you have seen means nothing....

carry on, move along, only interested in informed responses here

Well, I'm basing my comments on discussions with many Hawaiians who were not involved with the tourist industry, during my stay there. They really resent the commercialization of everything and the big hotels shipping profits off to their headquarters. How many Hawaiians who are not involved wtih tourism have you talked to?

Hawaii is indeed going after more business, but they're going after conventions and business travelers, who have fewer budget concerns than regular tourists, such as J.'s guests. According to this article, the Lieutenant Governor says that one-third of Hawaii's workforce is employed in tourism.

http://www.mpiweb.org/news/tmp/2002/04/aloha.htm

I am basing my comments on a public service announcement that was broadcasted frequently when I lived there. Thanks for pointing out your knowledge base. 1-1 encounters are subjective and do not always reflect the larger community.

Maybe J. should pretend that her wedding is a conference.

Is that what the Hawiians you spoke to on your trip told you?

Ha, ha, no, they would tell J to get married in her own hometown, close to family and friends and not in a strange, expensive, exotic location.