Travelers filling flights as late summer airfares fall
By Dan Nakaso
Advertiser Staff Writer
A drop in airfares to below $400 for a round trip to the Mainland has caused an unusual late summer surge in travel demand.
Airfares into and out of Honolulu — that earlier this summer were running as much as $1,000 — have dropped as airlines try to stave off the usual fall travel doldrums.
Now business is picking up at Pleasant Island Holidays and other agencies just as summer has begun to wind down.
"Up until this week, it's been kind of slow," Pleasant Island vice president Duke Ah Moo said. "The phones have really been ringing because of the ad United ran. It's regenerated travel."
United Airlines has begun advertising new, one-way ticket prices for $190 to popular destinations such as Las Vegas, Los Angeles and San Francisco. One-way tickets to New York City cost $254. Even a Paris ticket runs $449 one way.
Other airlines have similarly dropped prices between now and mid-December to keep demand alive after the summer travel season.
This summer was particularly busy because of earlier pent-up travel demand caused by the Iraq War, the SARS virus and general travel fears in a climate of global terrorism.
"The airlines want to boost their slow period," said Rachel Shimamoto, vice president of Travel Ways.
And the tactic appears to be working.
Airline tickets "are in high demand for this time of year," Shimamoto said. "It's busier than normal."
Most popular flights are already booked through August, said Stephanie Doane, a travel agent with Regal Travel.
Travelers need to read the fine print on these deals.
Many of the discounted prices are based on at least two people traveling, although some airlines such as Aloha and Northwest offer the same prices for passengers flying alone.
"A lot of customers also don't realize their ticket prices are only for one way," Doane said. "Right after we ticket them, people freak out."
United has taken out full-page newspaper ads to highlight its discounted fares.
Aloha, Northwest and American matched the new prices — although Northwest disputes who followed whom.
A few weeks ago, Northwest advertised discounted fares that included passengers flying alone, said Northwest spokesman Kurt Ebenhoch.
"Then United launched its own sale with lower fare levels, based on two or more people traveling," he said. "We then matched their levels, but on the individual level. United then matched our match. So that's where things stand.
"It's a very competitive industry."
To compete with United's $380 round-trip fares to the West Coast, Pleasant Island Holidays today will begin offering $299 round-trip flights on ATA to San Francisco and Los Angeles, Ah Moo said.
"We have to keep up with what's out on the market," he said.
Reach Dan Nakaso at dnakaso@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8085.
