It’s Labor Day and many people travel on this holiday. Of course, AAA predicts, ”This will be the lowest number of trips by air this decade for the Labor Day holiday weekend.” Be that as it may, that still translates to about 1.5 million people in the U.S.
But for those of us in Hawaii, we don’t have the option to drive to a neighbor island. Indeed, the closest we got to that was with the Hawaii Superferry. So whether it’s for business, pleasure, or just to visit friends and family, a trip from one island to another usually requires an airplane ride.
That means that we are far more aware than residents in other areas of changes in the airline industry.
Two recent changes are worth noting:
- First, the TSA now requires you to provide your full name, gender, and birthdate when making a reservation. This has been in effect for about a month for reservations booked since August 12, but for flights beginning on December 1, 2009.
- Second, Hawaiian Airlines has joined it’s competitors in assessing a first checked bag fee on inter-island flights of $10. This will be effective September 14, 2009. Of course, once again they’ve exempted certain passengers, including corporate and government fares. And a select group of their most frequent travelers, those with elite or Pualani status, like me.
While I can’t do anything about the TSA requirement, if you want to avoid that $10 fee (or baggage fees on any airline), why not book some flights on Hawaiian or Mokulele? You can achieve elite status easily – and with the current fare war, you’re unlikely to get travel deals this good for a long time.
I do not support or endorse go! Airlines, so fly them at your own risk!
Mahalo!
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Please note: The views expressed here are mine and mine alone. While I am employed by and affiliated with organizations and individuals, permission has neither been asked nor granted to write on the topics discussed here.
Blaine: Thanks for the great endorsement of Mokulele. I've heard lots of great feedback, although I haven't flown them myself. I mean, you don't get Pualani on Hawaiian by flying any other airline. :-) If ever I have to fly for work, I'll try to get a Mokulele flight, but for now, I haven't flown since they made my fly go! that one time. I even offered to pay the difference.
Bonny: See http://www.hawaiianair.com/HawaiianMiles/Pages/pua...
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