Posted on: Friday, January 7, 2005

Fare cuts unkind to Hawai'i

By Lynda Arakawa
Advertiser Staff Writer

The phones at Travel Ways have been ringing with customers eager to take advantage of the new fare cuts announced by Delta Air Lines this week.

But manager Rachel Shimamoto and other travel agents can't help them because Delta's sweeping changes — as well as the cuts by other major carriers that followed — do not apply to flights to and from Hawai'i.

"A lot of people are asking me," she said. "I watch CNN, I watch Fox, and all this is splattered on the news, but it's really awful that they don't include Hawai'i.

Delta Airlines cut its most expensive fares by up to 50 percent on Wednesday, prompting other airlines to follow. The fare cuts do not apply to flights to and from Hawai'i and Alaska.

American Airlines, the nation's largest carrier, yesterday largely matched Delta's fare structure by eliminating Saturday-night stay requirements and lowering last-minute leisure and business fares in thousands of domestic markets.

Continental Airlines, Northwest Airlines, United Airlines and US Airways made more limited adjustments, copying Delta's cheaper ticket prices in select markets where they go head to head.

"I think that Delta thing is stirring up a lot of curiosity, which I'm sure will not end until they find out it doesn't apply to Hawai'i," said Shimamoto.

Shimamoto and others said airlines don't have much incentive to cut prices on flights to Hawai'i because the demand is high. She added that the fares in general are still fairly low. A roundtrip seat from Honolulu to Los Angeles on Northwest Airlines, for example, is about $300 through Feb. 17, she said.

Star Travel manager Joyce Charles said she wasn't surprised that Hawai'i flights were not included in the price cuts.

"They wouldn't cut it at this time of year to Hawai'i," she said. "This is winter on the Mainland. Why would they cut when they can hopefully make some money at this time of year when people are fleeing the cold weather?"

Regal Travel managing director Shusen Rakay said the agency has been receiving inquiries about the Delta announcement and that it can help customers planning trips within the Mainland. She said the agency also is able to offer good fares to its clients unrelated to the recent cuts.

"We know that when we talk to the airlines, they always tell us the Hawai'i market is different from the domestic market," she said. "So usually when an airline comes out with an announcement like that, we always check to see if Hawai'i is going to be included. And a lot of times it's not.

"Of course we wish it would extend to the Hawai'i market because it's good for our clients and good for the local community to take advantage of it."

Reach Lynda Arakawa at larakawa@honoluluadvertiser.com or at 535-2470.