There are a few general rules that apply to most flights, especially domestic flights like to Hawaii that will make the fares cheaper from the beginning.
1) Normally, the farther out you can plan your trip and buy your tickets, the cheaper they will be. Try for at least 21 days out. Red eye trips may also save you money if you don't mind traveling at night.
2) Stay over a Saturday night -
If your trip is to be 5 days, you can plan it Wednesday to Sunday (for example), rather than Monday to Friday which may lower the fare price.3) Don't travel Friday evening or Monday morning - these are by far the busiest times for airlines, and they will charge extra.
4) Avoid holiday travel if you can - except sometimes you can find discounts if you travel ON the holiday (as opposed to the day before or the day after).
5) Travel between November 1 and December 15 is the slowest airline travel time all year (except during Thanksgiving when it picks up tremendously)
6) Fly from a major city. If you live near Chicago, instead of flying out of a small local airport, you may save money if you can drive or take a bus to a Chicago airport and fly out from there.
7) Domestic flights departing on Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday usually offer the lowest prices. Usually, the heaviest travel days for flying are Monday, Friday and Sunday, so the prices can be higher.
8) If you are willing to be bumped from overcrowded flights during routine airline travel, you could receive a large discount or even free tickets for future trips. If you are ever in the situation where you don't have to be at your destination right away and the airline announces the flight is overbooked (they normally are since a certain percentage of people don't show up) ask what they are offering in return. You may even want to volunteer as soon as you show up o get bumped, as it is first come-first serve, although this could limit what you get in return. When the airline starts getting desparate is when the real savings show up. My husband once got free tickets from Hawaii to New Jersey this way.
9) Use your status as a senior or a student to get discounts - maybe as much as 25% off! If you are over 55 or can produce a student ID, this is an avenue to explore.
10) When calling the airlines directly, ask for their most inexpensive flight. It is not always coach. They may be having a special on business travel or something else that you could qualify for.
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Hawaii Travel Tips
Also be sure to check out information on the individual islands of Hawaii
 Flying to Hawaii is different than flying to many other destinations. Many plants and animals from elsewhere in the world can be harmful to Hawaii’s unique environment, agriculture, and communities. Aboard your flight to Hawaii, you will be required by state law to fill out an agriculture declaration form. • Passengers arriving with fresh fruits & vegetables; cut flowers & foliage; rooted plants & plant cuttings, or algae; raw or propagative seeds or bulbs; soil, growing media, sand; live seafood (lobsters, clams, oysters); cultures of bacteria, fungi, viruses or protozoa; or insects, live fish, amphibians, etc., must declare them and submit them for inspection to a Hawaii Plant Quarantine Inspector in the baggage claim area. • If you are traveling with live animals, you must declare them and notify a cabin attendant on your flight prior to deplaning. • All live animals must be turned in to the airport’s Animal Quarantine Holding Facility by the airline, not the passenger, upon arrival. For further information on importing plants and animals into the state, please visit the Hawaii State Department of Agriculture’s Quarantine Office website.
• Do NOT pack or take prohibited items to the
airport. Please visit
http://www.tsa.gov/public/interapp/editorial/editorial_1012.xml
to obtain a listing of prohibited items. If you bring a prohibited
item to the checkpoint you may be criminally and/or civilly
prosecuted or, at the least, asked to rid yourself of the item. A
screener and/or law enforcement officer will make this determination
depending on what the item is and the circumstances. Bringing a
prohibited item to a security checkpoint, even accidentally, is
illegal.
• Beginning April 14, 2005, TSA will ban lighters (filled or unfilled) in checked baggage and within all secure areas of the airports. • Avoid wearing shoes, clothing, jewelry, and accessories that contain metal. • Refrain from packing or carrying on wrapped presents. Wrapped packages should be mailed ahead of time. Only carry unwrapped presents and wrap them once you arrive at your destination. If the wrapped package sets off an alarm, TSA will need to unwrap it to investigate the source of the alarm. • Checked baggage will go through a security screening process which may differ, depending on equipment, at each airport. • Put all undeveloped film and cameras with film in your carry-on baggage. Checked baggage screening equipment will damage undeveloped film. • Carry-on baggage is limited to one (1) carry-on bag plus one (1) personal item. Personal items include laptops, purses, small backpacks, briefcases, or camera cases. Remember, 1+1. • Checked baggage is limited to two (2) per passenger. • Do not over pack. Each checked bag may weigh 50 pounds if you are traveling domestically and 70 pounds if traveling internationally (Hawaii is considered domestic travel) without incurring additional fees. • Place identification tags in and on all of your baggage. Don't forget to label your laptop computer. Computers are one of the most forgotten items at screening checkpoints.
Arrive at the airport early. Call your airline or travel agent for
information on recommended check-in times
New passenger checkpoint screening procedures have been introduced
to increase the ability to identify explosives and potential threats
to aviation security. These include increased use of explosives
trace detection machines, expanded pat-down searches and greater
discretion for screeners to refer individuals for additional
screening.
• You will be asked to show the agent your boarding pass and identification card prior to divesting to the security screening process. Please remember that you are only allowed 1 carry on bag plus 1 personal item. • Place all carry-on baggage and any items you are carrying with you either on the belt of the x-ray machine or in the bin provided. • Put all metal objects IN your carry-on bag or in the bin provided at the security checkpoint. Metal objects includes; jewelry, loose change, keys, mobile phones, pagers, and personal data assistants (PDAs). • Take your laptop computer OUT of its’ carrying case. Place it in a bin, separate from its carrying case. • Remove ALL coats and place them in the X-ray. This includes suit and sport coats, athletic warm-up jackets, and blazers. If the coat or jacket is used as the innermost layer of clothing, you do not need to remove it. TIP: To help speed the security process, remove all coats prior to reaching the checkpoint. You will save time by consolidating your belongings - divested clothing can now be placed on top of laptops, shoes or other articles in bins submitted for X-ray. • If your bag is selected for secondary screening, it may be opened and examined on a table in your presence. Do not interfere with the secondary screening of your carry on bag. The screener will advise you when the secondary screening is complete and you may collect your bag. • Passengers are not required to take off their shoes before going through metal detectors, however if your shoes set off the metal detector, you will have to go through a secondary screening. You may want to voluntarily remove your shoes and place them in a bin provided for the x-ray machine and proceed through the metal detector barefoot. • Travelers are required to walk through a metal detector unless you require a pat-down inspection for medical reasons. • If traveler sets off the alarm on the metal detector they will undergo a secondary screening, which requires extra time. To avoid secondary screening remove all metal objects (including belts, sunglasses, objects in your pockets including change, money clips, cell phones etc.) and place them in the x-ray bins before walking through the metal detectors. • If you require secondary screening the process includes a hand-wand inspection in conjunction with a pat-down inspection. During the secondary screening process you will be asked to stand with your feet apart and the screener will pass the wand over your entire body without actually touching you with the wand. A pat-down inspection may follow the wand inspection Aloha - To insure that your international arrival at Honolulu International Airport goes as swiftly and smoothly as possible please review the following information. This will assist U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials in promptly processing all international travelers. Unprepared persons cannot be processed and admitted into the United States. For information on U.S. Customs and Border Protection rules and regulations visit the Department of Homeland Security website at: http://www.dhs.gov
During Your Flight
• Consider a red-eye flight. This increases the chance that your youngster will be able to sleep through the majority of the trip. This may not apply to your trip to Hawaii, but red-eye flights are available on the return trip, arriving on the West Coast around 6 a.m. • While any child under two is not required to have their own seat, they may be happier if they do. Purchase a ticket for your infant as well, and use a FAA certified car seat. • If you do use a car seat, make sure it has been certified for air travel. • Bring toys your children have never used—the newness will hold their attention longer. • Bring plenty of juice. Air travel can be dehydrating, especially for children. • Wrap up "surprises" for your children and pull them out when they get especially restless. • Finger foods are a great distraction. • When traveling with your baby, give him or her a bottle or pacifier to suck on during takeoff and landing. This will help normalize pressure on the ears and keep your baby comfortable. Every airline provides assistance to passengers with special needs through their skycap (porter) service. Please advise your airline in advance to arrange for any special services to ensure assistance. Traveling with your wheelchair • Most airlines transport personal wheelchairs including folding, collapsible or non-folding manual wheelchairs, and electric/battery powered wheelchairs and electric powered carts. • Typically, 48 hours advance notice and one hour for check-in on day of departure is needed for any electric/battery-powered chairs The State of Hawaii Department of Agriculture requires passengers arriving with plants, animals, and any agricultural materials to declare them on the Agricultural Declaration Form distributed aboard your flight to Hawaii. • Plant quarantine inspectors are stationed in the baggage claim area to examine all agricultural items. • For further agricultural information call the State Department of Agriculture at (808) 837-8413 WHILE ON THE AIRCRAFT ENROUTE TO THE UNITED STATES • Obtain proper arrival forms from flight crew and complete all sections on both sides in English using black or blue ink. • A Customs Declaration form is required from all arriving passengers and crew even if you have nothing to declare. o One Customs form may cover multiple persons as long as they are from the same household. o Any type of dutiable good, monies in excess of $10,000.00 U.S., food, plant, or animal product must be declared. • An Immigration form is required from all non-United States citizens except permanent U.S. residents and Canadian citizens. For more detailed information click here.
Inter-Island Flights from Honolulu
The Hawaiian Islands are served by four inter-island airlines:
Hawaiian Airlines, Aloha Airlines, Island Air, and Pacific Wings. To
view their routes and schedules, click on one of the links below: Hawaii is one of the most transportation-friendly vacation destinations in the world. And it starts the moment you arrive. Ground transportation Ground transportation is available at all airports in Hawaii. Click on one of the links below to learn more. Hilo International Airport Honolulu International Airport Kahului Airport Kona International Airport at Keahole Lihue Airport Molokai Airport • Taxi and chauffeured limousine services are available at all passenger terminals on the baggage claim level. • A taxi will cost approximately $25 to $28 from the airport to Waikiki during non-rush hour periods. • Airport Waikiki Express, operated by Roberts Hawaii, is a direct service bus that stops at many Waikiki Hotels. The cost to Waikiki via Airport Waikiki Express is $8.00 one-way and $13.00 round trip. A maximum of two bags per person is allowed. • City buses ("TheBus") on Oahu provide inexpensive transportation to and from Waikiki. Baggage is allowed if it can fit on your lap or under your seat. Backpacks with metal frames are not allowed. One-way fares are $2.00 for adults and $1.00 for children up to 18 years of age. Call (808) 848-5555 for route information. In Hawaii, you’ll discover a world of shopping opportunities. World-class malls. Luxury brand stores. Factory outlet stores. Specialty stores and boutiques, and stores selling products made only in Hawaii. Many of the major shopping areas also offer free shuttle service between their location and major hotels. • Decide which products interest you, then map out the places you’ll find them and the best way to get there. • Visit websites such as www.gohawaii.com. It features a unique trip planning search engine that includes planning your shopping trip. • Pack light enough to have one or more bags empty and available for use on your return trip. • Consider shipping purchases home. Some businesses and hotels will even assist you with shipping.
Things to Know
FRESH WATER - SWIMMING & DRINKING WATER SOURCES • For more information on leptospiroisis, please click here.
HIKING SAFETY TIPS
FLASH FLOODS
HURRICANE or SEVERE WINDSTORM:
ARRIVAL AT HONOLULU INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT o All persons arriving on international flights must first clear U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) inspection. o All passengers will walk and/or be transported via shuttle directly to the International Arrival Building (IAB) for CBP processing. • Step 1: CBP Primary inspection. o Your passport, visa (if any), and entry forms will be processed and you will be questioned regarding immigration, customs, and agricultural matters. o Have your passport, Immigration and Customs forms, and return tickets prepared and ready for the CBP officer. o Immediate family members in the same household are processed together and use one Customs Declaration form. o Friends and travel companions are processed separately. o US-VISIT enrollment will also be conducted at this point and involves collecting inkless, digital finger-scans and a digital picture to document your entry into the United States. See www.dhs.gov/us-visit for details. o Upon successful completion of Primary inspection, you then will go to the CBP Baggage inspection. • Step 2: CBP Baggage inspection. o Claim your checked baggage and then have your passport and Customs Declaration available for screening. o U.S. residents must declare all items acquired outside of the U.S. on this trip. o Visitors must declare gifts for persons in the U.S. as well as commercial goods for sale in the U.S. o You may be directed to a Customs or Agricultural inspection station during this process. o Customs Declaration forms are collected at exit. o All connecting passengers must check their bags with TSA representatives in the CBP Baggage area before exiting. For more detailed information click here
Getting around Honolulu International Airport
Honolulu International Airport is made up of three terminals. Main Terminal • Services domestic and international flights. • Baggage claim and ground transportation are located on the first (ground) floor. • Upper and lower levels of the terminal are accessible by escalator and elevator. • Loading bridges are used to enplane and deplane all passengers on the second level. Interisland Terminal • Services flights to and from the major airports on the neighbor islands. It is accessible by elevator. Commuter Terminal • Services propeller-driven aircrafts traveling to smaller commercial service airports on the neighbor islands. • Commuter aircraft use steps for enplaning and deplaning passengers; therefore lifts are used for passengers with mobility impairment. Ground Transportation • If you’re taking a taxi and are using a collapsible wheelchair, the driver will assist you in loading your chair into the car. • If you require a lift-equipped vehicle, notify a dispatcher and arrangements will be made for you. Dispatchers are located on the center curb across from baggage claim and wear white shirts and blue vests with yellow stripes, and the word “TAXI” in black and white lettering on the front. • Arrangements can be made in advance by calling (808) 831-2023. • City buses ("TheBus") are equipped with wheelchair lifts and provide inexpensive transportation to and from the airport and Waikiki. Travel Tips for Visitors with Disabilities
What You Can’t Take
• Allow plenty of time, particularly if traveling to the airport during rush hour (6:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.). • Taxis and shuttles are available from most hotels. • If you’re driving a rental car, leave yourself enough time to fill the tank if you have to, get the car turned in, and transit to the departure terminal. • Plan to arrive at the airport at least two hours prior to departure for interisland flights and three hours prior to flights to the U.S. Mainland • Before check-in, your baggage must pass through agricultural inspection. • Inspection stations are located at various points adjacent to the check-in area. • After your luggage is scanned, an inspection sticker is placed on it and you’re on your way to check-in After spending a week or two, or three in Hawaii, it’s likely you’ve accomplished some serious shopping. Keep in mind: • Airlines generally allow each ticketed passenger two pieces of checked luggage (three in first class) and one piece of carry-on luggage plus a purse, brief case, or laptop computer. • Checked and carry-on luggage is subject to weight and size limitations—checked luggage up to a maximum weight of 50 pounds and a maximum total linear dimension (length plus width plus height) of 62 inches (158 cm).
Gratuities Here in Hawai'i, "tipping" is an expression of Aloha (appreciation, honor, love) rather than obligation. We and all of our vendors (limo drivers, photo-videographers, musicians) endeavor to offer the best services at the most reasonable prices possible simply because that is what Aloha means. We all have chosen relatively modest life-styles so that we can continue to do this in spite of Hawai'i's extremely tight economy. Any blessing you wish to extend to any of us is never expected but always appreciated and gratefully accepted.
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© Copyright 1989 - 2008 Paradise Weddings of Florida, All Rights Reserved. All prices are subject to change without notice. All sales and services will be subject to Florida Sales Tax or Hawaii General Excise Tax depending on product or service requested. Dr. RC Anderson is an Independent Travel Agent of Global Travel International of Florida. All travel reservations, bookings and accommodations are made through, sold and serviced exclusively by Global Travel International of Florida, Seller of Travel: CST #2043947-40 FLSOT #20734
