The Latest First Class Insights on Planning a Premium Trip to Hawaii Now and How to Save Up to 44%

September 2021
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A look at published fare trends, miles vs. points, package deals, and what flights/aircraft to get the most comfort.

Jabbed or not, any reason to go to Hawaii is a good one, so let’s find ways to get there for less, and as soon as next month.

Hawaii: A Million Reasons to Go, 4 Ways to Consider

In this special report, we’re going to look at getting to Hawaii via:

  • Published fares
  • Miles or points
  • Packages
  • Wide-body aircraft
     
Captivating Kauai and the Napali Coast

Let’s Look at the Fare Landscape

American’s Los Angeles-Honolulu nonstop Business Class fares are like riding a roller coaster lately, with fares recently falling into the $1,107 range for non-holiday travel through February and fares in the 1,300-$1,500 range February through May 2022. For reference, Los Angeles to Honolulu has run as high as $4,053 and $5,448 to Maui during Thanksgiving and Christmas for Business Class travel.

Nonstop fares are still relatively high on American’s many other routes including from Dallas. Right now, they’re ranging from $2,500 to $3,000. Meanwhile, Charlotte is in the $2,300 range round-trip, and Phoenix ranges from $1,200 to Honolulu and $1,600 to Kona, to $2,100 to Maui and $1,800-$2,500+ to Kauai.

Delta’s Los Angeles-Honolulu nonstop route has a handful of dates for $968 with non-holiday fares ranging from $1,108 to $1,528. Those prices make the handful of dates at 84,000 miles round-trip not worth it for value at 1.2 cents a mile.

United’s nonstops from Los Angeles to Honolulu have a bunch of non-holiday dates at $1,138, and many fares in the $1,300 range. However, given that we found one day at 40,000 miles one-way, a handful of dates for 42,500, and the rest in the 60,500-80,000-range one-way (although we’ve seen as high as 143,100 one-way), it’s not a great return on your miles.

Keep in mind that nonstop fares on United are still high. Their New York-Honolulu route is averaging around $2,700, while Houston and Denver are in the $2,100 range for round-trip tickets.

Save Money by Changing Your Destination

If Maui’s on your list but you don’t see a deal to Maui in the FCF newsroom, consider flying to Honolulu or connecting there. In other words, don’t be set on one destination when planning your next trip. American’s nonstop route from Phoenix to Honolulu is $1,289 while Phoenix to Maui is $2,189.

The charts show nonstop fares versus one-stop fares from a range of U.S. cities to four different island destinations.

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What About Using Miles?

If fares are high for your travel dates, check if American has award space. Even at 100,000 to 110,000 miles round-trip, you might be able to burn some miles without spending cash out of pocket. If fares are lower and you’re getting at least 2 cents per mile return on value, it’s not great. But if you have more miles than you know what to do with, go right ahead.

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Packages Now Saving Up to 44%

You’re not the only one thinking about Hawaii. When booked directly, hotels are charging up to 50% more than normal given the limited supply and pent-up-demand. We told you about it recently here.

So the savings you can get by packaging up a deal are worth mentioning again, and fresh samples shown in the chart below. Packages are negotiated way ahead so they don’t always fall prey to in-the-moment price fluctuations.

Although we didn’t find any package deals using American Airlines, United and Delta both show only West Coast departures at a decent savings.

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Wide-Body Bliss

If you’re flying from North America to Hawaii and you know the 18 American Airlines flights, the 30 Delta flights, and the 43 United flights that use wide-body international aircraft with more comfortable international Business/First Class seats, you’ll have a simple way to get an in-class seat upgrade. That’s right, a significant seat and comfort upgrade by simply knowing which particular flight to book.

In the charts below we have a rundown of all wide-body aircraft flying to Hawaii on the Big 3 U.S. carriers.

You can read more about in-class seat upgrades here and here.

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[["To Honolulu From","Nonstop","1 Stop","Difference","#colspan#"],["<strong>American<\/strong>","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["Charlotte","$2,358","$1,994","-$364","-15%"],["Chicago","-","$1,678","",""],["Dallas","$2,556","$1,620","-$936","-37%"],["Los Angeles","$1,077","$1,077","$0","0%"],["Phoenix","$1,289","$1,257","-$32","-2%"],["<strong>Delta<\/strong>","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["Atlanta","$5,749","$2,237","-$3,512","-61%"],["Los Angeles","$1,248","$1,248","$0","0%"],["Minneapolis","$3,652","$2,106","-$1,546","-42%"],["Salt Lake City","$2,525","$1,497","-$1,028","-41%"],["Seattle","$1,069","$1,069","$0","0%"],["<strong>United<\/strong>","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["Chicago","$2,540","$1,810","-$730","-29%"],["Denver","$1,770","$1,527","-$243","-14%"],["Houston","$2,228","$1,767","-$461","-21%"],["Los Angeles","$1,139","$1,139","$0","0%"],["New York","$2,700","$2,040","-$660","-24%"]]
[["To Kauai From","Nonstop","1 Stop","Difference","#colspan#"],["<strong>American<\/strong>","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["Charlotte","-","$2,495","",""],["Chicago","-","$1,946","",""],["Dallas","-","$1,966","",""],["Los Angeles","$1,939","$1,287","-$652","-34%"],["Phoenix","$1,800","$1,469","-$331","-18%"],["<strong>Delta<\/strong>","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["Atlanta","-","$2,828","",""],["Los Angeles","$2,262","$2,029","-$233","-10%"],["Minneapolis","-","$2,678","",""],["Salt Lake City","-","$1,681","",""],["Seattle","$1,572","$1,572","$0","0%"],["<strong>United<\/strong>","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["Chicago","-","$2,117","",""],["Denver","$2,251","$1,663","-$588","-26%"],["Houston","-","$2,079","",""],["Los Angeles","$2,038","$1,367","-$671","-33%"],["New York","-","$2,267","",""]]
[["To Kona From","Nonstop","1 Stop","Difference","#colspan#"],["<strong>American<\/strong>","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["Charlotte","-","$2,437","",""],["Chicago","-","$2,016","",""],["Dallas","$2,656","$2,230","-$426","-16%"],["Los Angeles","$1,739","$1,317","-$422","-24%"],["Phoenix","$1,598","$1,469","-$129","-8%"],["<strong>Delta<\/strong>","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["Atlanta","-","$2,548","",""],["Los Angeles","$2,122","$2,122","$0","0%"],["Minneapolis","-","$2,128","",""],["Salt Lake City","-","$2,204","",""],["Seattle","$1,138","$1,138","$0","0%"],["<strong>United<\/strong>","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["Chicago","-","$2,186","",""],["Denver","-","$1,669","",""],["Houston","-","$2,088","",""],["Los Angeles","$1,668","$1,328","-$340","-20%"],["New York","-","$2,268","",""]]
[["To Maui From","Nonstop","1 Stop","Difference","#colspan#"],["<strong>American<\/strong>","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["Charlotte","-","$2,530","",""],["Chicago","-","$2,286","",""],["Dallas","$3,056","$2,420","-$636","-21%"],["Los Angeles","$1,949","$1,287","-$662","-34%"],["Phoenix","$2,189","$1,407","-$782","-36%"],["<strong>Delta<\/strong>","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["Atlanta","-","$3,107","",""],["Los Angeles","$2,122","$2,122","$0","0%"],["Minneapolis","-","$2,114","",""],["Salt Lake City","$3,177","$2,694","-$483","-15%"],["Seattle","$2,112","$1,651","-$461","-22%"],["<strong>United<\/strong>","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["Chicago","-","$2,180","",""],["Denver","$2,831","$2,094","-$737","-26%"],["Houston","-","$2,215","",""],["Los Angeles","$1,479","$1,337","-$142","-10%"],["New York","$3,219","$2,783","-$436","-14%"]]
[["American Nonstop Business Class From\/To","R\/T Mileage Cost","Outbound","#colspan#","#colspan#","Return","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["#rowspan#","#rowspan#","4 to 8 Days Per Month","9 to 12 Days Per Month","13+ Days Per Month","4 to 8 Days Per Month","9 to 12 Days Per Month","13+ Days Per Month"],["Dallas - Honolulu","100,000-110,000","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Oct., Nov.<\/span>","","","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Oct.<\/span>","",""],["Los Angeles - Honolulu","#rowspan#","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Dec.<\/span>","","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Oct., Nov., Jan., Feb., May<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Dec.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Jan.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Oct., Nov.,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Jan.,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #009966;\">Feb., May<\/span>"],["Los Angeles - Kauai","#rowspan#","","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Nov.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Dec. to Feb., May<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Oct., Nov.<\/span.","Nov.","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Dec. to Feb., May<\/span>"],["Los Angeles - Kona","#rowspan#","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Oct.,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Nov.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Dec., July<\/span.","Dec., <span style=\"color: #009966;\">Jan., Feb., May , June<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Nov.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Dec., May, July<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Jan., Feb., June<\/span>"],["Los Angeles - Maui","#rowspan#","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Oct.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Oct.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Dec. to Feb.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Nov.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Oct., Jan.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">Dec.,<\/span.> <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Jan.,<\/span> <span style=\"color: #009966;\">Feb. May<\/span>"],["Phoenix - Maui","#rowspan#","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">May<\/span>","","","<span style=\"color: #009966;\">May<\/span>","",""],["Phoenix - Kona","#rowspan#","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">May<\/span>","","","","","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">May<\/span>"]]
<small>*Months in <u>black</u> at least one seat available; in <span style="color: #6699cc;"><u>blue</u></span> at least two seats; in <span style="color: #009966;"><u>green</u></span> at least four seats.</small>
[["Airline","Route","Air Only (Lowest Advance Fare 2 people)","Hotel Price","Air Ticket + Hotel Booked Separate","Package Price (Non-stop Air + 7 Nights Hotel)","Supplier","Hotel","Savings","#colspan#"],["Delta","Los Angeles - Kona","$3,256","$6,159","$9,415","$5,379","Delta Vacations","Fairmont Orchid \/ King Garden View","$4,036","43%"],["Delta","Los Angeles - Maui","$3,056","$13,791","$16,847","$9,361","Delta Vacations","Fairmont Kea Lani \/ Ocean View Suite","$7,486","44%"],["United","San Francisco - Kona","$2,576","$6,260","$8,836","$4,994","United Vacations","Fairmont Orchid \/ King Garden View","$3,842","43%"],["United","Los Angeles - Honolulu","$2,196","$2,351","$4,547","$3,127","United Vacations","Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach \/ Resort View King","$1,420","31%"]]
[["American To\/From","Flight numbers*","Days of Operation","Aircraft","Return","Days of Operation","Aircraft"],["Charlotte - Honolulu","AA569","Sunday through Saturday","777-200","AA569, AA552","Sunday through Saturday","777-200"],["Dallas - Honolulu","AA5","Monday through Saturday","787-900","AA8","Monday through Saturday","787-900"],["Dallas - Honolulu","AA115, AA123","Sunday through Saturday","787-900, 777-200, 777-300","AA102, AA115","Sunday through Saturday","787-900, 777-200, 777-300"],["Dallas - Kona","AA229","#rowspan#","777-200","AA230","#rowspan#","777-200"],["Dallas - Maui","AA119, AA7","#rowspan#","777-200, 787-900","AA116, AA6","#rowspan#","777-200, 787-900"]]
<small>*Valid for flights through September 30</small>
[["Delta To\/From","Flight numbers*","Days of Operation","Aircraft","Return","Days of Operation","Aircraft"],["Atlanta-Honolulu","DL0427","Sunday through Saturday","A330","DL0304","Sunday through Saturday","A330"],["Los Angeles-Honolulu","DL0330, DL0443, DL0480","#rowspan#","B757","DL0331, DL0368, DL0495","#rowspan#","B757"],["Los Angeles-Kauai","DL0428","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","DL0361","#rowspan#","#rowspan#"],["Los Angeles-Kona","DL0370","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","DL0509","#rowspan#","#rowspan#"],["Los Angeles-Maui","DL0362, DL0533","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","DL0355, DL0448","#rowspan#","#rowspan#"],["Minneapolis-Honolulu","DL0472","#rowspan#","A330","DL0379","#rowspan#","A330"],["Salt Lake City-Honolulu","DL0397","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","DL0347","#rowspan#","#rowspan#"],["Seattle-Honolulu","DL0444","SU\/M\/W\/TH\/FR\/SA","B767","DL0522","SU\/M\/W\/TH\/FR\/SA","B767"],["#rowspan#","DL0450","Sunday through Saturday","A330","DL0440","Sunday through Saturday","A330"],["Seattle-Kauai","DL0344","#rowspan#","B757","DL0474","#rowspan#","B757"],["Seattle-Kona","DL0565","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","DL0485","#rowspan#","#rowspan#"],["Seattle-Maui","DL0481","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","DL0429","#rowspan#","#rowspan#"]]
<small>*Valid for flights through September 30</small>
[["United To\/From","Flight numbers*","Days of Operation","Aircraft","Return","Days of Operation","Aircraft"],["Chicago-Honolulu","UA0219","Sunday through Saturday","B777","UA0218","Sunday through Saturday","B777"],["Chicago-Maui","UA0202","SU\/M\/THU\/FRI\/SA","B787","UA0348","M\/THU\/FRI\/SA\/SU","B787"],["Denver-Honolulu","UA0384, UA1801","Sunday through Saturday","B767, B777","UA0383, UA1802","Sunday through Saturday","B767, B777"],["Denver-Kauai","UA2307","#rowspan#","B767","UA1685","#rowspan#","B767"],["Denver-Kona","UA1758","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","UA1731","#rowspan#","#rowspan#"],["Denver-Maui","UA1736","Wednesday through Sunday","B777","UA1430","Wednesday through Sunday","B777"],["Denver-Maui","UA1808","Sunday through Saturday","B767","UA1720","Sunday through Saturday","B767"],["Houston-Honolulu","UA0253","#rowspan#","B777","UA0252","#rowspan#","B777"],["Los Angeles-Honolulu","UA1158","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","UA0534","#rowspan#","#rowspan#"],["San Francisco-Honolulu","UA1509, UA1591, UA2380","#rowspan#","B767, B777","UA0372, UA0396, UA0650, UA0724, UA1575","#rowspan#","B767, B777"],["#rowspan#","UA1581","Saturday","B777","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","#rowspan#"],["San Francisco-Kauai","UA1111","Sunday through Saturday","B767","UA1152","#rowspan#","B767"],["San Francisco-Kona","UA0694","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","UA1724","#rowspan#","#rowspan#"],["San Francisco-Maui","UA1614, UA1725","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","UA1288, UA1722","#rowspan#","#rowspan#"],["Newark-Honolulu","UA0363","#rowspan#","#rowspan#","UA0362","#rowspan#","#rowspan#"],["Newark-Maui","UA0042","Saturday","#rowspan#","UA0043","Saturday","#rowspan#"],["Washington, DC-Honolulu","UA0345","Thursday through Sunday","#rowspan#","UA0344","Thursday through Sunday","#rowspan#"]]
<small>*Valid for flights through September 30</small>