Hawaii-based Airlines - Hawaiian Air Award Availability?

Without going through my long saga, has anyone had experience that HA inter-island flights become available closer to the date? My friend and I are on the same KOA-HNL flight, but his is not confirmed (after 2 phone calls and 4 agents). I booked it over 48 hours ago, but our travel is in Sept. We can both be on the same flight 10 hours later than planned, but would prefer the flights i booked! Yes, I was told they did the long-sell since "they know how to do their job". I could have the 5k miles redeposited and purchase the flight.

Without going through my long saga, has anyone had experience that HA inter-island flights become available closer to the date? My friend and I are on the same KOA-HNL flight, but his is not confirmed (after 2 phone calls and 4 agents). I booked it over 48 hours ago, but our travel is in Sept. We can both be on the same flight 10 hours later than planned, but would prefer the flights i booked! Yes, I was told they did the long-sell since "they know how to do their job". I could have the 5k miles redeposited and purchase the flight.

Perhaps you would have better luck posting in Hawaii-based Airlines (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hawaii-based-airlines-447/), but IME the operation at KOA is just disorganized. I wouldn't think too hard about it, because the TA's/GA's will do what they have to do to get you to HNL. Gotta love the Aloha!

Please continue to follow this thread in the Hawaii Based Airlines Forum.
Thanks..
Obscure2k
Delta Moderator

I'm sorry, this is in regards to a DL SkyMiles ticket, booked with DL phone agents. I'm wondering if HA opens makes more flight available for Skymiles flights.

This doesn't pertain to Delta...but we used AA miles to book an award flight for our daughter last year. I noticed that the closer we got to the flight....the lower the availability for award tickets on Hawaiian for the interisland!!! I was hoping to get "better" times but the closer it got the less there was available so I am glad we purchased ahead of time...

Also not pertaining to Delta but I've tried to book with United miles and also found that booking earlier is better. Only recently learned to check availability with Expert Flyer and because of the process of trying to redeem the UA miles (having to call back after 12 hrs) I didn't try too often to check availability repeatedly. Was told by a friendly UA agent that there are usually only a few seats available for awards and only on certain flights (usually the early morning and late evening).

Using Hawaiian miles I've found that award seats will be available until they reach the most expensive coach category (sorry, not sure what class it is as the Hawaiian website just shows prices), but I didn't find any correlation between this and United award availability.