Pacific islands are open to international tourism
Most countries in the Pacific Islands region (Melanesia, Micronesia, Polynesia) are open to general tourism. The governments resumed the issuance of tourist visas, and airlines reopened their international routes to such popular destinations as Bora Bora, Hawaii, Tahiti, Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Samoa.
Cook Islands, New Caledonia, Niue, and Vanuatu have lifted all travel restrictions for arrivals. There is no mandatory quarantine or health testing for all visitors – regardless of their vaccination status. French Polynesia, Guam, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, Solomon Islands, and Tonga may still require proof of vaccination and/or a negative Covid test result to be presented on arrival.
However, the regulations may change at short notice, depending on the situation – always check the official websites before booking a flight to Pacific Islands.
Arriving in Honolulu
- If you are flying to Honolulu from abroad, you will most likely land at its main international airport — Daniel K. Inouye International Airport
HNL, (formerly known as Honolulu International Airport) — located 3 km (5 miles) northwest of Honolulus central business district. It is the largest airport in the state of Hawaii, and the only one on the island of Oahu.The airport consists of one centralized building with two levels and three airport terminals: Terminal 1, Terminal 2, and Terminal 3. There is a shuttle bus service available for passengers that provide transport between terminals.You'll find a variety of transportation options from the airport: shuttle bus, taxis, ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft, car rental and TheBus, which is Oahu's public transportation system. - Planning to explore the region? Popular destinations can be easily reached with regional low-cost carriers (LCCs) by the likes of Jetstar Airways, Avianca, JetBlue Airways, Sun Country, WestJet, and ZIPAIR. However, the “no-frills” carrier may not provide free checked baggage allowance, complimentary food, in-flight entertainment systems, and fast customer support. You may not even get to choose your seats, unless you pay extra.
Airports of Honolulu
HNL, formerly known as Honolulu International Airport, located 3 km (5 miles) northwest of Honolulus central business district. It is the largest airport in the state of Hawaii, and the only one on the island of Oahu.
What is the best time to book flights to Honolulu?
The best time to book flights to Honolulu is between 2 to 8 months before your travel date. The prime booking window (the most likely time to find the bargains) for Honolulu flights is 4–6 months before takeoff. During this period, you should monitor airfares by setting alerts on popular flight search websites. Book when you notice a significant drop in price.
Why do prices fluctuate?
Airfare prices for Honolulu flights fluctuate due to demand, seasonal trends, and competition, causing numerous price drops and increases as your departure date approaches. The airlines use sophisticated revenue management systems to adjust pricing for optimal seat sales. Generally, as seats are sold, prices tend to become more expensive.
Don’t book too early
Most airlines start selling their flights 9–12 months in advance. However, booking a ticket too early in that window can be an expensive mistake – airlines typically start by setting prices at a relatively high level to capture early demand from those willing to pay more to secure their seats
Prime Booking Window
For long-haul flights to Honolulu, the best time to book your ticket is around 4–6 months before departure. It is the “Prime Booking Window” – after some seats have already been sold, airlines start dropping prices to stimulate demand. They may also offer promotions and sales. This is the ideal time for bargain hunting.
Fly on weekdays
It makes a difference which day of the week you board the plane. Midweek travel (especially Tuesdays and Wednesdays) is less busy and likely cheaper than flying on weekends. Airlines charge higher prices for weekend travel due to the high demand from people going on short getaways or visiting family and friends.
Opt for early morning flights
To save on airfare, select a late night or early morning (1–5 am) flight. Airlines often offer discounts on their first flight of the morning (up to 15-20%) simply because of lower demand – most people are not willing to go to the airport so early. Moreover, morning flights tend to have fewer delays, and airport queues are usually shorter.
Set alerts
Track flight price fluctuations for your desired routes to Honolulu using email alerts on search sites like Google Flights to catch price drops. These drops will be your chance to book the flight at its best price.
Avoid last minute
Avoid booking flights to Honolulu less than 30 days before takeoff. Prices spike sharply then, as airlines are taking advantage of any last-minute travelers who have no choice but to pay up (learn more about last-minute pricing).
Peak seasons are expensive
Peak travel seasons are always expensive – due to higher base prices set by airlines for dates they expect to be popular. Try to avoid the high season during summer and major holidays (including holidays in Hawaii), and check the best time to fly to Honolulu. If you must travel during peak times, book a bit earlier – 6 to 8 months in advance.
Join ATC
A useful way to find discounted airfare is to sign up for a deal newsletter such as Air Traveler Club. The ATC team is constantly looking for price drops on popular routes, and we share them with our members free of charge.
Low-cost flights from Honolulu
Stay ahead of the game. Fly to popular destinations at a fraction of the regular fare.
The cheapest time to fly to Honolulu
The shoulder seasons of April to May and September to October tend to be the cheapest times to visit Honolulu – the weather is mild, there are fewer tourists, and hotels and airlines may offer lower prices. For surfers, even early November can be a great time for a Honolulu trip, as the island is still not crowded and it’s a good time to go surfing. When the high season starts in the first weeks of December, be ready for tourist crowds and sky-high prices for flights and hotels.
If you don’t mind the rainy season, late spring Mid-April to early June represents the off-peak season in Honolulu, and during these months many airlines run promotions and sales to fill the empty seats on their planes. Additionally, midweek travel is usually cheaper than weekend travel.
Summertime and the week of Christmas are peak seasons for Hawaii and Honolulu. Also, avoid the last week of April, which is the “Golden Week” in Japan – Honolulu will be flooded with Japanese tourists.
Fly to Honolulu half-price with Companion Fare
It’s one of the best ways to save money on your trip if you travel from the Midwestern US to Honolulu.
Alaska Airlines offers a Companion Fare program that allows eligible customers to purchase one full-priced ticket and bring a companion for a flat rate of just $120 ($99 basic airfare plus taxes and fees).
To take advantage of this program, you must have an Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card. Each year, on your account anniversary, you will receive a Companion Fare code which can be used to book a discounted companion fare when purchasing a qualifying fare.
The Companion Fare works for any destination that Alaska Airlines flies to, including Honolulu (the airline has many nonstop flights to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport on Oahu island). Being primarily a West Coast carrier, it operates nonstop flights to Honolulu from cities close to the Pacific coast, such as Anchorage, Los Angeles, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose and Seattle.
Promo Radar™ 2023
Ready-to-book promotions, sales and discounts from 100+ airlines
Flight sales and promotions to Honolulu
Flight promotions, ticket sales, student discounts, and airline promo codes are your best bet for saving on airfares to Honolulu. These special offers can save hundreds of dollars or give you free travel perks like seat upgrades or extra checked baggage.
OTAs miss out on most sales
Airlines flying to Honolulu often use sales and promotions as key marketing tools to attract and retain customers while boosting seat occupancy. However, when you search for airfares on popular OTA websites like Expedia, Kayak, or Skyscanner, you won’t find these heavily discounted tickets there. Airlines often reserve the most aggressive or enticing promotions for their own direct sales channels — primarily their websites.
How to find Honolulu promotions?
To take advantage of promotional flights to Honolulu — including special codes, vouchers, student discounts, and even flights discounted by up to 50% — your best strategy is to check airline websites consistently. You can also follow their social media channels and subscribe to newsletters from leading carriers.
The catch
That being said, finding truly valuable promotions can be tricky, as the uncomfortable details are often hidden in the fine print. Many sales are limited to unpopular routes, with inconvenient layovers or blackout dates. Some promotions come with strings attached or conditions that are difficult to match.
Top promotions from 100+ airlines
That’s where our team steps in. We do all the heavy lifting for you, keeping track of all ongoing sales and promotions from more than 100 airlines! We vet each sale, discount, or promotion and ensure that only quality offers with authentic value make it onto our final list.
Honolulu flight promotions can often be found among our list of best airline discounts — emailed weekly to 110,000 Air Traveler Club subscribers.
Flights to Honolulu from United States and Canada
- There are no direct flights from the US or Canada to Honolulu. However, most major hubs in Asia have non-stop flights to Honolulu, as do some larger airports in the Middle East – your journey will have at least one stop. The most common and convenient way to fly to Honolulu is by taking a direct flight from major cities in the US. Several large airlines, such as Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, American Airlines, Delta, United Airlines, JetBlue, Fiji Airways, and Japan Airlines offer non-stop flights to Honolulu from cities such as Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Houston, New York, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Portland, San Francisco, Phoenix, Seattle, and Washington. These airlines (with addition of Canadian flag carrier Air Canada) also serve direct flights from Vancouver and Calgary in Canada to Honolulu.
- Honolulu is well-served via one-stop flights from North America. Flights to Honolulu with one layover depart from most major North American airports, including Atlanta
ATL, DallasDFW, DenverDEN, ChicagoORD, Los AngelesLAX, Las VegasDFW, MiamiMIA, SeattleSEA, HoustonIAH, New YorkJFK, and San FranciscoSFOin the United States and TorontoYYZ, VancouverYVR, CalgaryLAS, and MontrealYULin Canada. Booking a flight to Honolulu with a layover in one of these major airports can sometimes be a more cost-effective option, but it will require additional travel time. - The best airlines to fly to Honolulu from the US and Canada are: Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Fiji Airways, Hawaiian Airlines, Japan Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines. They are top full-service carriers, offering exceptional customer service, in-flight comfort, a generous checked baggage allowance, and reliable customer support channels – all included in the ticket price.
Best aircraft for long-haul flights to Honolulu
For long-haul flights, the aircraft type can make a huge difference to your overall comfort on board — especially if you’re flying economy. The best aircraft have comfier seats with more legroom, USB charging ports, WiFi connectivity, superior entertainment systems, and a better passenger experience in every cabin.
When booking a flight to Honolulu, it’s worth spending a few minutes researching the type of aircraft you’ll be flying on. Look for airlines that use wide-body planes designed for long-haul flights, such as:
- Airbus A350. Best choice. Known for its advanced air filtration and higher cabin pressure, which enhance overall passenger well-being. Operated by Delta Air Lines, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, Qatar Airways, and Singapore Airlines.
- Airbus A380. Offers unparalleled spaciousness and amenities like onboard lounges and shower spas in premium classes. Used by non-US airlines such as Emirates, Qantas, Lufthansa, and British Airways.
- Boeing 767. Often features a 2-3-2 seating configuration in economy, reducing the number of middle seats. The largest operators are Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Japan Airlines and ANA.
- Boeing 777. Renowned for its wide cabin, it offers a sense of spaciousness and often includes advanced in-flight entertainment options. Used by American Airlines, United Airlines, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Korean Air, and Air France.
- 787 Dreamliner. Celebrated for its larger windows and dynamic lighting, designed to help regulate passengers’ circadian rhythms and reduce jet lag. Operated by Air Canada, American Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, United Airlines, and Etihad Airways.
Interisland flights: island hopping in Hawaii
Thanks to the close distances between the major Hawaiian islands, this archipelago is a tempting destination for island hopping. As there is no passenger ferry service from Oahu island (where Honolulu is situated) to nearby islands, the best way to explore Hawaii state is by interisland flights.
Oahu serves as the primary point of interisland travel, and you can catch a flight from Honolulu to nearly all of the major neighboring islands. Prices vary greatly depending on the time of day. It can cost $50-$150 to go island hopping in Hawaii with flights being relatively short – under one hour in most cases.
Hawaiian Airlines has always been the leading carrier for inter-island travel – they have a comprehensive route network that covers all the major islands (Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Big Island) and the smaller islands of Lanai, Molokai, and Kapalua. However, similar routes are also operated by Southwest Airlines – it’s worth keeping an eye on this carrier, as they tend to run frequent sales for inter-island flights. Another great option is provided by a less-known airline – Mokulele Airlines – the Hawaii-based small carrier which focuses solely on connecting the islands with its fleet of Cessna 208 Caravan aircraft (a capacity of a maximum of 9 passengers). It has more than 800 flights a week (!) to 10 destinations across the Aloha State. Finally, for those looking to travel directly from Honolulu to the small island of Lanai and stay at a luxurious resort like the Four Seasons, Lanai Air offers a turbo-prop option.
Flying to Honolulu with Hawaiian Airlines
While most major US airlines fly to Honolulu, choosing Hawaiian Airlines as your carrier will help you to immerse yourself into Hawaiian culture before you even set foot on the islands. There is Hawaiian music during boarding and an island color scheme onboard and on crew uniforms. Mai tais (a rum-based tropical cocktail) are available for passengers. Hawaiian Airlines flight crews a known to be friendly and more accommodating than your average domestic flight crew.
All this is coupled with relatively low fees.
Flights from the US mainland to Honolulu are at least 5-6 hours long, and even much longer from the East Coast. To help pass the time over the Pacific complimentary hot meals are served (while with other airlines you’re just going to get a snack box). You can get a free glass of wine with your meal, too.
Hawaiian Airlines often come in first in operations – it has impressively high rates of on-time performance and low cancellations, passenger rebookings and baggage mishandling. The airline’s fleet of aircraft is relatively new and well-maintained, and the airline has a good safety record – running since 1929 it has never suffered a single fatal crash.
Hawaiian Airlines operate its flights to Honolulu out of almost all major US airports: Austin, Boston, Las Vegas, Long Beach, Los Angeles, New York, Oakland, Ontario, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, and Seattle.
Know your time zone
When checking flights and airport transfer times, ensure you know the local time zones. The departure/arrival times on your plane ticket and boarding pass are based on the time zone of the departure/arrival airport – this also applies to the connecting (layover) airports.
Hawaii has only one time zone – it observes Hawaii Standard Time (HST) all year, which is UTC -10 time zone. As a result, clocks in Honolulu are 21 hours behind Sydney, 10 hours behind London and 5 hours behind New York. HST does not have an associated daylight saving time.
When you board the plane, adjust your watch to the local time of the destination – subconsciously orienting yourself to the new time will help you to reduce the jetlag a bit.
Flights to Honolulu from UK, Germany, France, Netherlands and other countries in Europe
- There are no direct flights from Europe to Honolulu — you’ll need to get a connecting flight from elsewhere in the Middle East or in Asia. The most convenient (and the cheapest) layovers for flights to Honolulu from Europe are Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, and Vancouver.
- Airlines that frequently fly from the UK, Germany, France, and other European countries to Honolulu include Air Canada, Air France, British Airways, Iberia, Japan Airlines, KLM, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, and United Airlines.
- Consider departure airports in neighboring countries to increase your chance of spotting the best deal. Especially look for large airports that serve as hubs for multiple airlines. For example, if you live in Western Europe, check air tickets to Honolulu from Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Paris, and Rome. Leverage frequent promotions from European budget carriers like RyanAir, EasyJet, and Eurowings to reach a major hub; from there, take a cheaper long-haul flight to your final destination, potentially saving hundreds of euros.
- These major European airports are excellent departure points for trips to Honolulu: London
LHRand ManchesterMANin the United Kingdom, FrankfurtFRAand MunichMUCin Germany, ParisCDGand NiceNCEin France, AmsterdamAMSin the Netherlands, MadridMADand BarcelonaBCNin Spain, RomeFCOand MilanoMXPin Italy, BrusselsBRUin Belgium, CopenhagenOSLin Denmark, OsloOSLin Norway, StockholmARNin Sweden, ZurichZRHin Switzerland, LisbonLISin Portugal, ViennaVIEin Austria, WarsawWAWin Poland, PraguePRGin the Czech Republic, and DublinDUBin Ireland.
Honolulu flight deals. How to book the best fares?
Our go-to solution for finding and booking the best deals to Honolulu is Google Flights. Whenever we send SuperDeals to 110,000 members of Air Traveler Club, we include links to Google Flights so each deal can be secured immediately.
Google Flights’ powerful engine simplifies deal hunting. It searches and compares flight prices available from airlines and online travel agencies (OTAs) such as Expedia, Opodo, or eDreams. However, it doesn’t sell flights directly to travelers—instead, it passes users on to the airline or OTA to book directly with them.
How to know if the Honolulu deal we sent you is actually saving you money? One of Google Flights’ standout features is a color-coded bar underneath the booking options. This bar provides a visual representation of the price compared to the typical fare (for the same route, class, and airline)—indicating whether it is lower, average, or higher. If the marker falls within the green zone (“price is low”), don’t hesitate to secure this deal as it is significantly — 40% to 80% — cheaper than average and unlikely to drop further.
If you see that your flight has the marker within the orange zone (“price is typical”) or in the red zone (“price is higher”), it means that the deal has already ‘expired’. Airfare deals often ‘expire’ because airlines frequently move cheaper flights further away from the departure date. This is when the Google Flights Price Graph tool comes in handy:
Using this tool, you can experiment with various dates and trip lengths. This perfect deal to Honolulu may still be available — but for different date combinations.
Last-minute flights to Honolulu. The real cost of convenience.
Last-minute flights are often touted as a great way to save money, but the reality is far from it. Booking last-minute flights to Honolulu almost always never works out. The convenience of being able to book a flight on the fly is a dangerous game of chance, and you will most likely end up paying significantly higher than booking in advance.
The common perception may be that airlines decrease ticket prices to fill empty seats as the departure date approaches. However, the truth is that airfares depend on demand. Based on years of research and current customer data, the airlines know what people are willing to pay for specific flights and dates. They are also well aware that people are willing to pay a premium for flights they need to take immediately. To make the most money, the airline will sell its cheapest fares first and then increase the prices right before the flight to take advantage of business travelers and others who are willing to pay the premium price for late booking.
Occasionally, airlines can put some seats on sale to fill the remaining seats, but these are for unusual times and unpopular places. Popular destinations and dates around peak travel times tend to sell out quickly.
Planning ahead is key to securing a good deal on your flight. Last-minute flight deals are hard to come by, so as soon as you have a tentative travel timeline, book your flight. The earlier you book, the more likely you are to save money. If you are looking for a good deal, the best time to book your flight to Honolulu is 2-8 months before the takeoff.
Looking for the best deals for Honolulu? Check different departure airports.
Airlines often have varying prices for flights to Honolulu from different airports – even if they are in close proximity to one another. So don’t limit yourself to just your nearest airport. The neighboring cities may have lower-priced flights that include a layover at Honolulu, or may even have direct flights that are more budget-friendly.
For example, if you’re looking to fly from Paris to Honolulu, it may be worth checking prices for flights departing from London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, or Rome. Yes, you may have to fly a few hundred kilometers to these hubs, but domestic low-cost airlines like EasyJet, RyanAir, or WizzAir will happily take you there for less than €100.
The same goes for long-haul flights to Honolulu from anywhere in the world. By broadening your search to include neighboring airports, you may discover lower-priced options that can save you hundreds of euros!
Domestic flights from Honolulu
Most domestic routes in Hawaii are operated by local carriers. When traveling to popular tourist destinations such as Maui, Kauai, Kailua-Kona, and Molokai from Honolulu Airport, you’ll likely fly with one of these domestic airlines: Hawaiian Airlines, Asia Pacific Airlines, Mokulele Airlines, Transair.
This is often the best transportation method, providing speed, convenience, and cost-effectiveness. Local airlines often offer multiple daily flights to key destinations, providing flexibility in scheduling and competitive pricing. They also serve smaller regional airports, enabling access to a wider range of Hawaiian destinations.
Flights to Honolulu from Australia and New Zealand
- Australia and New Zealand are well-connected with popular Asian destinations, including Honolulu. In addition to domestic airlines – Qantas, Jetstar Airways, Virgin Australia, and Air New Zealand – routes from Australasia to Asia are operated by large international carriers such as ANA, Emirates, Cathay Pacific, Garuda Indonesia, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Malaysia Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, and Thai Airways.
Currently, there are no direct flights from Australia or New Zealand to Honolulu. You’ll need a layover in one of the major hubs in Asia. Another good option is a connecting flight with a stopover in the US – Los Angeles, San Francisco, or New York. If you prefer a non-stop connection, Hawaiian Airlines, American Airlines, Jetstar, Qantas have direct flights between Australia (Melbourne and Sydney) and Honolulu. - Airfare costs can vary widely depending on the route and the airline’s pricing strategy. To find the cheapest flight to Honolulu, compare ticket prices from various international airports in Australia – Sydney
SYD, BrisbaneBNE, MelbourneMEL, PerthPER, AdelaideADL, CairnsCNS, Gold CoastOOL, CanberraCBR, and in New Zealand – AucklandAKL, WellingtonWLG, ChristchurchCHC, QueenstownZQN, and DunedinDUD. - For optimal savings, consider flying from Australia or New Zealand to a key Asian hub, then connect to Honolulu via a regional low-cost carrier. Among budget airlines that fly to Honolulu are Jetstar Airways, Avianca, JetBlue Airways, Sun Country, WestJet, and ZIPAIR.
For the first leg, use the budget carriers that fly out of Australian airports, leveraging sales and promotions they run frequently: AirAsia (connects with Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore), Cebu Pacific (Manila), Jetstar (Seoul, Singapore, Tokyo), Scoot (Singapore), VietJet Air (Ho Chi Minh City), Bamboo Airways (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Beijing), and Batik Air (Jakarta, Singapore).
“Hot seats” on long-haul flights
Those days seat selection is considered an optional, extra paid service – seats with extra legroom (front and exit rows) are usually priced higher. However, if you’re about to take a long-haul flight to Honolulu, those “hot seats” are worth considering – expect to pay $50-$100, which is much less than upgrading to Premium Economy.
If you want to choose your seats, do this early (ideally during the booking) for a more extensive selection of available options.
Booking group flights to Honolulu
Flights are cheaper when purchased in bulk rather than as individual tickets. Booking group flights to Honolulu can be a cost-effective option for a school trip, family reunion, or corporate group traveling to a conference.
To qualify for the special group rate, the group must usually have at least 10 passengers. Discounts depend on the airline, group size, and travel dates, and typically range from 5% to 20% off the regular airfare.
Airlines and flight search websites typically limit automatic group bookings to 10 passengers. This limit reflects the complexity of managing larger groups, which require personalized service and more time to coordinate. To get the price quote for your group, you’ll need to contact the airline or a travel agent directly.
If you’re open to different airlines or want more personalized service, a travel agent may be a better choice. Travel agents may have access to discounted group rates to Honolulu and can help with logistics and scheduling.
Flights to Honolulu from Bali, Bangkok, Delhi, Dubai, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Singapore, Seoul, Tokyo, and other major hubs in Asia
- Manila
MNL, SeoulICN, TaipeiTPEhave convenient direct flights to Honolulu. Numerous non-stop flights depart from Japanese cities such as TokyoHNDandNRT, OsakaKIX, NagoyaNGO, FukuokaFUK, and SapporoCTS. - Asia is probably the best continent for short-haul and mid-haul flying. The sheer scale of this most populous region on Earth is reflected in the type of aircraft operating many shorter routes: intra-Asia flyers benefit from comfortable, wide-bodied aircraft by the likes of Boeing 777, 787 or Airbus A350, A330, and A380. When booking your flight to Honolulu look for these bigger planes as they will almost always give you the best experience in every cabin, including better seat pitches, higher ceilings, and larger overhead bin space.
- Asia is also home to most of the world’s best airlines. There are only ten airlines that received the prestigious 5-star mark of quality from Skytrax, and all of them are from Asia: ANA, Asiana Airlines, Cathay Pacific, EVA Air, Garuda Indonesia, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines. Choosing one of these airlines for your trip to Honolulu will guarantee a pleasant journey – delicious meals served during the flight, great in-flight entertainment, and above-average airline customer service.
- Asia is extremely well served by low-cost regional airlines. If you are visiting Hawaii and want to see several other countries on a tight budget, they often have great sales with rock-bottom prices, while still offering a relatively comfortable flight experience. Among the best Asian budget airlines you can book without hesitation are AirAsia, Cebu Pacific, Citilink, FlyDubai, Indigo, Jetstar Airways, Scoot, SpiceJet, and VietJet Air. The cons? Being no-frills airlines they may not provide free baggage allowance, inflight meals, or onboard entertainment. The departure times may also be quite inconvenient as they try to save money by flying at off-peak hours.
- Most major Asian airports have convenient and frequent flights to Honolulu — including Changi (Singapore), Dubai (UAE), Hong Kong (China), Incheon (Seoul, South Korea), Indira Gandhi (New Delhi, India), KLIA (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), Narita (Tokyo, Japan), Denpasar (Bali, Indonesia), Soekarno–Hatta (Jakarta, Indonesia), Ninoy Aquino (Manila, Philippines), Suvarnabhumi (Bangkok, Thailand), Taoyuan (Taipei, Taiwan), and others.
Proof of onward travel – a simple hack
Travelers who go on long trips often don’t have a set itinerary and fly on one-way tickets. The problem? For many APAC countries, proof of onward travel is a legal requirement. If you arrive at the airport without an onward ticket (from Hawaii to another country), you’ll either be forced to buy one online or forbidden from boarding the plane altogether.
The cheapest solution? Renting an onward ticket! Use the websites such as OneWayFly or OnwardTicket to get a flight reservation for a limited amount of time (usually 2 to 14 days). They work by actually booking you on a real flight out of Hawaii and giving you a confirmable flight reservation with a PNR (Passenger Name Record) under your name. After the time limit, your spot on the flight is automatically canceled. Such “temporary tickets” tend to cost anywhere from $10 to $20.
Fly now, pay later
Book Now Pay Later (BNPL) plans for flights have become a popular trend in the travel industry, allowing travelers to book flights and pay in installments. Among the airlines that offer this option are American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Qantas, Turkish Airlines, and United Airlines. They partner with external financial companies to offer their loan services on the checkout page.
The BNPL plans come with varying terms and fees. Some may be interest-free but have fees for late-payments and require forced autoplay on your bank account, while others may have high annual percentage rates (up to 30-40% APR).
When considering BNPL financing for your flight to Honolulu, it’s crucial to carefully evaluate the pros and cons, and thoroughly review the terms and conditions.