Flying interisland can take a chunk out of the business and family budget for frequent travelers.
"As low as probably $180 dollars to $200-plus,” says Gino Rambaud, describing how much his company Philips pays to send him interisland for high-tech medical equipment repairs. “Because most of the time the call us late, so as soon as they call us, we travel."
"It keeps you from traveling to the other islands,” says Kona resident Isha Taylor, “and the other islands need business just as much as Honolulu."
"Man, it cost me $500 to switch stuff and fees for all this stuff,” said Ben Callaghan, gathering up suitcases and a surfboard to head back to the Big Island. “It's kind of crazy."
Hawaiian Airlines is responding with a set of four pre-purchase interisland travel plan options for multiple tickets for the same passenger:
* 60 one-way segments with no restrictions would be $76 dollars each segment
* 24 one-ways with 3-day advance booking and midday blackouts, $69 each segment
* 8 round trips, 7 day advance booking and other restrictions, $67 dollars each way; and
* 4 round trips booked 14 days in advance with other requirements, $64 dollars each way.
"We're very familiar with what's important to travelers here in the islands, and really the importance of travel between the islands to the way of life here," said Hawaiian Airlines President and CEO Mark Dunkerley.
Hawaiian Airlines expects thousands of customers will purchase in advance in each of the offered interisland plans. They've already tested the program with a group of fliers.
“We've worked for about a year to better understand their travel patterns and put together a package of discounts to make travel more affordable,” Dunkerley said.
Travelers say they're very likely to sign on.
“Definitely, this will work out,” Rambaud said. “We've been looking for this low price for the longest time. I travel at least 3, 4 times a month, sometimes 6 times a month to the neighbor islands for work, so this definitely will work out."
The bundles will be valid for 12 months from the date of purchase, are nontransferrable and not eligible for kids under 12, and changes are subject to a fee; other restrictions and fees may apply. Hawaiian says it all should net out as a savings for local travelers.
“I think the more people that think a little bit ahead, plan a little bit ahead, the more are going to enjoy the discounts that are baked into these travel plans,” Dunkerley said.
