UA Mainland-Hawaii Lie-Flats
Nov 30, 2021, 7:10 pm
#121
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: DEN/OGG
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 1,482
SFO-HI fares have been pretty good throughout the year. They’ve gone up during the holidays but looks like back down to normal after early January. Probably helps that there’s non-stop competition as well.
Some hotels in Oahu can be fairly reasonable, but Maui is pretty outrageous (e.g. $400+ for the OGG airport Courtyard).
Some hotels in Oahu can be fairly reasonable, but Maui is pretty outrageous (e.g. $400+ for the OGG airport Courtyard).
Dec 1, 2021, 11:16 am
#122
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Back in Reds Country (DAY/CVG). Previously: SEA & SAT.
Programs: DL PM 1MM, AA PLAT, UA Silver, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 10,358
Well the airfares are good, especially if you're wiling to fly Y. But the lodging and rental car rates are very high for the foreseeable future.
Could easily spend $10k for 2 weeks and you're not even staying in any special place or driving anything better than a compact car.
Could easily spend $10k for 2 weeks and you're not even staying in any special place or driving anything better than a compact car.
But hotels and rental cars are insane for February in both Maui and Kauai. Thankfully using points in Maui for a full week at the fixed redemption rates before Marriott switches to dynamic pricing but rooms were $500+ for the Courtyard Marriott by OGG and any Marriott properties in Wailea or Lahaina are $700-$800+ per night even for a basic, non-ocean view room. Thankfully Kauai was a little more reasonable for lodging but far more expensive than the last time I stayed there or even considered staying there pre-pandemic. But rental car rates are insane on both islands. As others have noted, $700+ for a basic car for a week on Maui and running $150+ per day on Kauai.
Dec 1, 2021, 12:28 pm
#123
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2009
Programs: DL, UA, AA, VS
Posts: 5,226
I'm planning to go to Maui and Kauai in February and this was my experience when booking. Airfares are still good for Y from Ohio though I'm flying F to get the lie-flats for the longest segments. UA was the best option here at booking. DL's options that involved ATL/MSP-HNL and back with a lie-flat were $2000-$2500+ one-way. UA and AA were about equal but UA (at the time) had better schedule options so I went with UA. Schedule changes have since made it to where AA would have been about an equal option but alas, what can you do?
But hotels and rental cars are insane for February in both Maui and Kauai. Thankfully using points in Maui for a full week at the fixed redemption rates before Marriott switches to dynamic pricing but rooms were $500+ for the Courtyard Marriott by OGG and any Marriott properties in Wailea or Lahaina are $700-$800+ per night even for a basic, non-ocean view room. Thankfully Kauai was a little more reasonable for lodging but far more expensive than the last time I stayed there or even considered staying there pre-pandemic. But rental car rates are insane on both islands. As others have noted, $700+ for a basic car for a week on Maui and running $150+ per day on Kauai.
But hotels and rental cars are insane for February in both Maui and Kauai. Thankfully using points in Maui for a full week at the fixed redemption rates before Marriott switches to dynamic pricing but rooms were $500+ for the Courtyard Marriott by OGG and any Marriott properties in Wailea or Lahaina are $700-$800+ per night even for a basic, non-ocean view room. Thankfully Kauai was a little more reasonable for lodging but far more expensive than the last time I stayed there or even considered staying there pre-pandemic. But rental car rates are insane on both islands. As others have noted, $700+ for a basic car for a week on Maui and running $150+ per day on Kauai.
Though I'm in CA and the weather wouldn't be that much better in HA or Thailand in February.
Dec 1, 2021, 2:03 pm
#124
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 70
I'm planning to go to Maui and Kauai in February and this was my experience when booking. Airfares are still good for Y from Ohio though I'm flying F to get the lie-flats for the longest segments. UA was the best option here at booking. DL's options that involved ATL/MSP-HNL and back with a lie-flat were $2000-$2500+ one-way. UA and AA were about equal but UA (at the time) had better schedule options so I went with UA. Schedule changes have since made it to where AA would have been about an equal option but alas, what can you do?
But hotels and rental cars are insane for February in both Maui and Kauai. Thankfully using points in Maui for a full week at the fixed redemption rates before Marriott switches to dynamic pricing but rooms were $500+ for the Courtyard Marriott by OGG and any Marriott properties in Wailea or Lahaina are $700-$800+ per night even for a basic, non-ocean view room. Thankfully Kauai was a little more reasonable for lodging but far more expensive than the last time I stayed there or even considered staying there pre-pandemic. But rental car rates are insane on both islands. As others have noted, $700+ for a basic car for a week on Maui and running $150+ per day on Kauai.
But hotels and rental cars are insane for February in both Maui and Kauai. Thankfully using points in Maui for a full week at the fixed redemption rates before Marriott switches to dynamic pricing but rooms were $500+ for the Courtyard Marriott by OGG and any Marriott properties in Wailea or Lahaina are $700-$800+ per night even for a basic, non-ocean view room. Thankfully Kauai was a little more reasonable for lodging but far more expensive than the last time I stayed there or even considered staying there pre-pandemic. But rental car rates are insane on both islands. As others have noted, $700+ for a basic car for a week on Maui and running $150+ per day on Kauai.
Dec 1, 2021, 2:10 pm
#125
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,891
I'm planning to go to Maui and Kauai in February and this was my experience when booking. Airfares are still good for Y from Ohio though I'm flying F to get the lie-flats for the longest segments. UA was the best option here at booking. DL's options that involved ATL/MSP-HNL and back with a lie-flat were $2000-$2500+ one-way. UA and AA were about equal but UA (at the time) had better schedule options so I went with UA. Schedule changes have since made it to where AA would have been about an equal option but alas, what can you do?
But hotels and rental cars are insane for February in both Maui and Kauai. Thankfully using points in Maui for a full week at the fixed redemption rates before Marriott switches to dynamic pricing but rooms were $500+ for the Courtyard Marriott by OGG and any Marriott properties in Wailea or Lahaina are $700-$800+ per night even for a basic, non-ocean view room. Thankfully Kauai was a little more reasonable for lodging but far more expensive than the last time I stayed there or even considered staying there pre-pandemic. But rental car rates are insane on both islands. As others have noted, $700+ for a basic car for a week on Maui and running $150+ per day on Kauai.
But hotels and rental cars are insane for February in both Maui and Kauai. Thankfully using points in Maui for a full week at the fixed redemption rates before Marriott switches to dynamic pricing but rooms were $500+ for the Courtyard Marriott by OGG and any Marriott properties in Wailea or Lahaina are $700-$800+ per night even for a basic, non-ocean view room. Thankfully Kauai was a little more reasonable for lodging but far more expensive than the last time I stayed there or even considered staying there pre-pandemic. But rental car rates are insane on both islands. As others have noted, $700+ for a basic car for a week on Maui and running $150+ per day on Kauai.
Marriott's I was looking at (Sheraton/Westin in Kaanapali, mostly) were pretty stable, between $7-800/night before taxes/fees at cash rate for 5 nights, It was great value on points, which did drop once or twice...I think we initially booked at 260 or 270K, but then dropped to 250K maybe about a month before we needed up. We also considered Marriott Wailea, which initially wasn't showing any rooms for points, but then they appeared maybe in Sept/Oct. for 240K and stayed there for as long as I was checking. Was very tempted, and had a held booking there for a bit, but in the end, stayed with the Sheraton, as I think Kaanapali area was a better choice of area for what we personally wanted to get out of this trip. Maybe next time we'll try Wailea?
Dec 2, 2021, 7:18 am
#126
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Back in Reds Country (DAY/CVG). Previously: SEA & SAT.
Programs: DL PM 1MM, AA PLAT, UA Silver, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 10,358
Keep checking rental car rates - they might drop closer to travel date. We first booked our Nov. 10-15 Maui trip in early July, and booked our car (weekly rate - but for 5 days), at the time for a tad under $1300. I must have re-booked 7 times or so, maybe more, I lost count - as rates dropped, sometimes a $200+ at a time, sometimes like $20 at a time, and ended up ~$390.
Marriott's I was looking at (Sheraton/Westin in Kaanapali, mostly) were pretty stable, between $7-800/night before taxes/fees at cash rate for 5 nights, It was great value on points, which did drop once or twice...I think we initially booked at 260 or 270K, but then dropped to 250K maybe about a month before we needed up. We also considered Marriott Wailea, which initially wasn't showing any rooms for points, but then they appeared maybe in Sept/Oct. for 240K and stayed there for as long as I was checking. Was very tempted, and had a held booking there for a bit, but in the end, stayed with the Sheraton, as I think Kaanapali area was a better choice of area for what we personally wanted to get out of this trip. Maybe next time we'll try Wailea?
Marriott's I was looking at (Sheraton/Westin in Kaanapali, mostly) were pretty stable, between $7-800/night before taxes/fees at cash rate for 5 nights, It was great value on points, which did drop once or twice...I think we initially booked at 260 or 270K, but then dropped to 250K maybe about a month before we needed up. We also considered Marriott Wailea, which initially wasn't showing any rooms for points, but then they appeared maybe in Sept/Oct. for 240K and stayed there for as long as I was checking. Was very tempted, and had a held booking there for a bit, but in the end, stayed with the Sheraton, as I think Kaanapali area was a better choice of area for what we personally wanted to get out of this trip. Maybe next time we'll try Wailea?
Dec 29, 2021, 3:36 pm
#127
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Back in Reds Country (DAY/CVG). Previously: SEA & SAT.
Programs: DL PM 1MM, AA PLAT, UA Silver, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 10,358
Keep checking rental car rates - they might drop closer to travel date. We first booked our Nov. 10-15 Maui trip in early July, and booked our car (weekly rate - but for 5 days), at the time for a tad under $1300. I must have re-booked 7 times or so, maybe more, I lost count - as rates dropped, sometimes a $200+ at a time, sometimes like $20 at a time, and ended up ~$390.
Marriott's I was looking at (Sheraton/Westin in Kaanapali, mostly) were pretty stable, between $7-800/night before taxes/fees at cash rate for 5 nights, It was great value on points, which did drop once or twice...I think we initially booked at 260 or 270K, but then dropped to 250K maybe about a month before we needed up. We also considered Marriott Wailea, which initially wasn't showing any rooms for points, but then they appeared maybe in Sept/Oct. for 240K and stayed there for as long as I was checking. Was very tempted, and had a held booking there for a bit, but in the end, stayed with the Sheraton, as I think Kaanapali area was a better choice of area for what we personally wanted to get out of this trip. Maybe next time we'll try Wailea?
Marriott's I was looking at (Sheraton/Westin in Kaanapali, mostly) were pretty stable, between $7-800/night before taxes/fees at cash rate for 5 nights, It was great value on points, which did drop once or twice...I think we initially booked at 260 or 270K, but then dropped to 250K maybe about a month before we needed up. We also considered Marriott Wailea, which initially wasn't showing any rooms for points, but then they appeared maybe in Sept/Oct. for 240K and stayed there for as long as I was checking. Was very tempted, and had a held booking there for a bit, but in the end, stayed with the Sheraton, as I think Kaanapali area was a better choice of area for what we personally wanted to get out of this trip. Maybe next time we'll try Wailea?
Dec 30, 2021, 7:46 pm
#128
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: SFO / Hawaii / Northern MN
Programs: Catered by me instead of FBO (semi retired)
Posts: 921
Yeah I got 220 and 75 back on my car rentals. Hotel in KOA pretty stable rate of 1049 / night for Ocean View Deluxe at Mauna Lani. Not sure lie-flat worth it from west coast.
Jan 17, 2022, 2:42 pm
#129
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2009
Programs: DL, UA, AA, VS
Posts: 5,226
Fares have really come down for J tickets as we're at or just past the Omicron peaks in many state.
In another 2 weeks or so we should be well off the peaks, at which point J fares would probably rise again?
In another 2 weeks or so we should be well off the peaks, at which point J fares would probably rise again?
Jan 17, 2022, 3:00 pm
#130
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,447
Boosters to be required soon. Expect low fares except Presidents Day weekend, Spring Break, and then up a lot starting Memorial Day until after Labor Day weekend