Earlier this month, Hawaiian Airlines unveiled four prepaid travel plans for interisland travelers in Hawai'i. The plans offer HawaiianMiles members the opportunity to purchase interisland flights in bulk, with four plans tailored to meet differing travel needs. Prepurchasing travel can be an expensive undertaking, especially for travelers who aren't entirely sure what their travel needs will be during the next 12 months, and the myriad restrictions on many of the plans can be confusing. So, we've reviewed the plans and attached our own comments.
But first, a bit of background: The interisland air travel market in Hawai'i could almost be considered one of the Aloha State's most popular spectator sports, after the University of Hawai'i Athletics Department and Halau Hula. Though jet flight times average between a half hour to forty five minutes, fares are generally high on a per-mile basis (high operating costs, particularly fuel, account for the premium), which has never set well in a state that culturally places high importance on "face time" for birthdays, anniversarys, sporting events, graduations, or just to share Aloha.
After years of vigorous price competition amid the backdrop of the boom-and-bust tourism and agriculture-based economy, longtime competitor Aloha Airlines ceased passenger operations in 2008, leaving Hawaiian Airlines the undisputed market leader in interisland travel, with a fraction of the market ceded to Mainland-based comptitor Go!Mokulele, and mere slivers carved out by niche operators Island Air and Pacific Wings.
In order to provide air travel at a discount for frequent interisland travelers, it's prudent for Hawaiian to require a more substantial investment; otherwise discounting every fare for Hawai'i Residents is tantamount to another costly fare war that history has proven disastrous for airline viability in the region.
Let's examine the details:
Alahula (My Favorite Island): This plan is designed for travelers who frequently fly to one island. It's $512 for four roundtrips in twelve months (travel must be booked roundtrip), requires 14 day advance reservations, and earns only 80 HawaiianMiles per segment instead of the actual mileage (the 500 mile minimum which was retained for HawaiianMiles elite members and Visa cardholders does not apply here). That works out to $128 per roundtrip, including taxes and fees. Hawaiian's regular interisland fares (which are capacity controlled but do not have advance purchase requirements) average between $80-$90 per nonstop segment plus $10.70 in taxes and fees, so this represents a discount of roughly one-third off the lowest regular fare. Of note, from a value standpoint is that the passes are valid for last seat availability, meaning they can be used to purchase seats on any flight with seats available for sale (full fare averages close to $200 per nonstop segment, pushing the value of the discount closer to two-thirds if full fare seats are selected), provided the other booking restrictions are met. Flights between 11:00 AM and 2:00PM, when connecting traffic from Transpacific flights reaches peak volume are blacked out, and a 4 night minimum or Saturday night stay is required.
For Kaua'i residents, your favorite island better be O'ahu, because it's the only option on this plan (Hawaiian operates nonstop from Kaua'i to Maui, but not the return). O'ahu residents can choose from Kaua'i, Maui, or the Big Island. Residents of Maui and the Big Island can choose O'ahu or beween them, however service from Maui to both Kona and Hilo is limited (one roundtrip per day between Maui and Hilo, and two between Maui and Kona, however only one falls outside the midday blackout period).
Kipa Hele (Visit & Explore): This plan is similar to the Alahula plan, offering eight roundtrips for $1078, which at $134.75 per roundtrip is marginally more expensive, but it offers the added flexibility of travel to all nonstop destinations (Kaua'i residents again are limited to O'ahu, and only O'ahu residents can travel to Kaua'i). The midday blackout period remains, but the minimum night stay is reduced to two nights or Saturday night, and only seven days advance reservation is required. HawaiianMiles are earned based on normal program rules.
Hana a Walea (Work & Play): This plan is the introductory plan that allows one-way travel, offering 24 one-way trips for $1648, or $68.66 per one-way, less than Hawaiian's lowest regular discounted average fare of $80-90 per nonstop. This pass allows the ability to book travel via Honolulu, although it would require two reservations and two one-way coupons. Lowest discounted connecting fares between Kaua'i and Maui or the Big Island can be marginally less than the value of two coupons, but the last-seat availability adds real value here. This plan also allows multi-destination itineraries (e.g. Honolulu - Maui - Kona - Honolulu). Three day advance reservation is required, and the midday blackout period still applies. Minimum stay requirements do not apply to one-way fares, and HawaiianMiles are earned normally.
Noa (Freedom): This is the proverbial "Cadillac Plan", designed for business travelers who tolerate the fewest restrictions on travel. $4,588 buys 60 one-way coupons (that's $76.46 per coupon). The midday blackout period does not apply, and HawaiianMiles are earned normally. This pass is targeted at business travelers who would normally book last minute and pay premium fares, so this pass offers significant value and the potential for travel cost reduction for business travelers with frequent business throughout the Islands of Aloha.
General Pass Restrictions: Flights must be operated by Hawaiian Airlines, which completely precludes any travel to or from Lana'i, Moloka'i, or Kapalua West Maui, which is operated by Island Air. However, these codeshares are designed to support Hawaiian's connection traffic. Hawaiian sells the segments at a non-competitive fare to Honolulu originating or terminating passengers to encourage local traffic to book directly with Island Air. Travel can only be booked online for the HawaiianMiles member that purchased the pass (it's attached to a specific HawaiianMiles account at the time of purchase), and can only be changed via Hawaiian Airlines reservations. A $30 fee applies for changes that meet the original requirements of the pass, and a $50 fee applies for changes that violate the restrictions (such as advance reservation or minimum stay requirements). These charges also apply to HawaiianMiles elite members who would normally have them waived. Other HawaiianMiles exclusions include the 72 hour guaranteed confirmed seat for some elite members, and free same day standby. Award redemptionive and elite standby upgrades to First Class are permitted, but the value of the pass cannot be exchanged to purchase a First Class fare.
The Verdict: Hawaiian has offered high-value packages to both frequent and infrequent, business and leisure travelers that can help substantially reduce the cost of interisland travel with a little planning and investment. With the advent of increase direct service to Neighbor Islands, the tourist traffic connecting via Honolulu has steadily decreased. Hawaiian served only the interisland market for over half a century, and its committment to this primary business is clearly well thought out with these prepaid travel plans.
A complete description of the travel plans can be found here.
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