Deal Alert: First Class Hawaii Fares Less Than $900 Roundtrip

by Gary Leff

I love deep discount fares to Hawaii, but it’s a long flight and I’d much rather sit up front. I used to love it when Alaska Airlines $99 companion tickets were valid for first class travel, I’d buy first.

While first class can be cheaper to Hawaii than on similar-distance business routes, it’s rarely super cheap. So sub-$900 first class roundtrips from the West Coast are worth highlighting.

Deals are available on Hawaiian Airlines and on Delta.

Hawaiian Airlines fares are the lowest, under $900 from Oakland to two destinations and also under $1000 to Kauai. Here’s Oakland – Maui or Honolulu, Hawaiian Airlines $897 roundtrip

Key details of Maui fare basis AHX0OWT:

  • Travel permitted Monday through Thursday in each direction
  • Outbound travel permitted September 17 – December 12
  • Blackout dates to Hawaii November 15-18, from Hawaii November 23-26
  • $200 change fee

The Honolulu fare is similar though not identical. You’ll also find good deals Los Angeles – Kona.

Delta competes vigorously against Alaska Airlines in Seattle, and Alaska’s PR folks have been pitching me all week on a study finding that their fares to Hawaii are the cheapest. However right now Delta has better first class fares to Hawaii from Seattle. Here’s Seattle – Kona or Kauai on Delta Airlines from $945 roundtrip

Key details of Kona fare basis TA0SLOFI:

  • Travel permitted Monday through Thursday in each direction
  • Must purchase by Sunday, September 9
  • Must depart by December 12. Travel to Hawaii permitted through November 15, November 19 – December 12. Blackout dates to Kona are October 4-7, November 17-21, November 24-25.
  • Travel from Hawaii permitted through November 22, November 28 – December 26, January 8 – March 20, April 29 – May 23
  • $200 change fee

At these prices I don’t think it makes sense to spend miles in most programs for first class Hawaii awards. It can make sense to spend miles in credit card programs that simply buy you a ticket, however.

About Gary Leff

Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel - a topic he has covered since 2002. Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »

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Comments

  2. Those should be lie flat….I think all the airlines are going to be offering enticing deals due to Southwest’s entrance into the Hawaiian Market.

  3. 5-6 hour flights makes it marginal whether it’s worth it to pay (in miles/points or dollars) for a biz or first class seat, especially when it’s a carrier like Delta or Hawaiian.

  4. I’ll disagree about first class Hawaii being a bad value using miles.

    First, if you’re flying from the east coast, it’s almost 10 hours in the air.

    More importantly, Hawaii is a leisure route. If you’re going on a special trip, it’s exactly when you should splurge.

    Hawaii is the exception to the “cent per mile” mentality.

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