Everyone wants to go to Hawaii, but too many travelers think it's too expensive to get there. We're here to prove you wrong.
Earlier this year, we were dealing with airfare rising nationwide , but the landscape is changing … and that means cheap flights to Hawaii have made a serious comeback . Get this: We've found and sent Thrifty Traveler Premium several alerts in just the last few weeks.
That includes roundtrip fares from the West Coast as low as $148 roundtrip – yes, flights to Hawaii can really get that cheap. Even a brand-new nonstop flight all the way from the Midwest to Maui (OGG) was bookable for about $500. And Thrifty Traveler Premium+ members have benefitted from points and miles deals to get to Hawaii for nearly free, with roundtrip fares as low as 13,000 Delta SkyMiles and some ultra-rare availability to get there in business class seats, too.
So what else are we seeing, flight-wise? And why does it stand out so much? We're so glad you asked.
Read more: How to Find Cheap Flights
How & Where to Find Hawaii Flight Deals
Getting a cheap flight to Hawaii is never a sure thing. Paying $600 to more than $1,000 or more per ticket can be the norm, and travelers can go months without seeing even a halfway decent deal to the islands.
But that has changed in a big way: The flight deals and fare wars between airlines to Hawaii are red-hot and ultra-frequent right now. In the last few weeks alone, we've found and sent Thrifty Traveler Premium members several flight deals from airports nationwide under $500 round-trip or much less – all for a trip in 2023 or 2024.
Exhibit A: This nationwide deal to all four major Hawaiian islands.
Get cheap flights to Hawaii like this one in your inbox with Thrifty Traveler Premium !
We've seen one-stop flights to Honolulu (HNL), Maui (OGG), Kauai (LIH), and The Big Island (KOA) nationwide at half-off or more. Now all you have to do is pick the best island to visit in Hawaii for your cheap trip.
But a nonstop flight to Hawaii is next-level … especially on the brand-new route from Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) to Maui starting in December. We weren't expecting to find cheap fares, but we always watch new routes like hawks – just in case. It paid off.
That's right: A $500 roundtrip fare flying Delta nonstop from Minneapolis to Maui next winter. If you wanted to make that nine-hour trek in lie-flat business class seats, you were in luck, too … but more on that later.
One of the secrets behind why we are finding so many low fares to Hawaii is because of a relative newcomer to the Hawaii flight game: Southwest Airlines . The quirky carrier has long offered cheap flights around the mainland. But they've upped their presence in Hawaii since launching service back in 2019 , and it's led to even more great deals.
The hotter the deal, the shorter it lasts! This deal is no longer live, but you can get the next great deal we find with Thrifty Traveler Premium !
Just because $148 roundtrip to Hawaii seems unbelievable, we came with receipts.
Use Points & Miles to Get to Hawaii
Why pay cash when you can use your points and miles to get to Hawaii instead?
On top of cheap cash flights, we've been finding some exceptional award deals to these islands and instantly alerting our Thrifty Traveler Premium+ members. Yes, our Premium+ members get award alerts to use their points and miles on top of all those cheap cash fares, too.
Want to fly Delta to Hawaii? The SkyMiles award rates are often astronomical, but there's a great workaround to get on a Delta plane to the islands for less.
That's right: Transfer your credit card points to Virgin Atlantic and you could book the nonstop Delta flights from Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP), Salt Lake City (SLC), and Seattle (SEA) for as little as 35,000 points roundtrip ! We're not exaggerating saying that these flights are routinely more than $1,000 in cash or around 100,000 Delta SkyMiles apiece.
Want to make the flight to Maui in business class seats instead? Back when it slashed prices on its new nonstop route from Minneapolis, the airline also briefly sold the same flight in Delta One business class with SkyMiles for 175,000 SkyMiles roundtrip – or roughly 148,000 SkyMiles for Delta Amex cardholders thanks to an automatic 15% discount .
After a long absence, Delta SkyMiles flash sales have made a comeback recently. And the deals don't get much better than just 13,000 SkyMiles for roundtrip flights to Hawaii!
Looking for another points and miles option? Learn how to do it for 15,000 miles roundtrip using miles from Turkish Airlines !
While we typically find fares like these from just a handful of airports, this list of cheap SkyMiles fares was robust and spread throughout the country, from Los Angeles (LAX) and San Diego (SAN) all the way to Chicago-O'Hare (ORD) and Houston-Intercontinental (IAH).
If you have some points stacked up anywhere, there's probably a comfortable and convenient way for you to fly to paradise this year. Just be ready to jump on fares like these when Delta cuts rates.
Bottom Line
Hawaii flights don't have to be expensive.
Even as flight prices neared record highs over the last year or so, airlines keep slashing flight prices to Hawaii for 2023 and beyond. This trend has built up for months, and we hope (and think) it will continue. The savings can be enormous.
And that's your chance to capitalize: Booking one of these Thrifty Traveler Premium+ flight deals is the difference between paying $800-plus for your next trip to Hawaii … or less than half that.
FAQs About Finding Cheap Flights to Hawaii
The pandemic triggered a flood of lower prices for flights to Hawaii, but many of them have stuck around. This guide is all about those recent deals.
But when it comes to finding cheap flights, it won't always be this easy. While you might find that airlines are currently slashing prices, there are some general tips and tricks to keep in mind when it comes time to book the cheapest flights to Hawaii down the line.
How do I find cheap flights to Hawaii?
We'll update this post with new deals and updates about cheap flights to Hawaii. It's a hotspot for travelers, and we're constantly on the hunt.
But if you always want to be up to date on flight deals for Hawaii and other bucket list destinations the moment they pop up, we highly recommend signing up for Thrifty Traveler Premium+! Premium+ members get all the best flight deals to Hawaii – you'll only see a fraction of them here on Thriftytraveler.com and other flight deal websites.
What is the cheapest airline to fly to Hawaii?
Looking for the best airline to fly to Hawaii on a budget? We regularly see affordable prices with direct flights to Hawaii on Hawaiian Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, and WestJet – if you live in Canada, of course.
When is the best time to book a flight to Hawaii?
We always recommend booking your flights at least three to six months before you plan to travel – especially if your travel dates are flexible.
But as with all things in finding cheap flights , the key to getting a great deal on flights to Hawaii is simple: You may need to wait for a great price to come to you, then book on the cheapest dates. Flexibility is the key to getting discounted tickets.
What is the cheapest time of year to fly to Hawaii?
It depends: A great flight to Hawaii can pop up for a trip at any time of the year.
But many find that it's cheapest to fly Hawaii in January, February, April, and September through November. During the holidays and the peak travel months of June and December, you're far more likely to encounter higher prices, so it could be worth avoiding a trip over those times.
Are there Hawaii travel restrictions currently due to COVID-19?
Not anymore.
For many months, Hawaii required a negative test for anyone coming to visit. Then, it exempted fully vaccinated visitors from testing requirements.
But in late March 2022, Hawaii dropped all travel restrictions . That means getting into the Hawaiian islands is much like it was back in 2019.
When is the best time to visit Hawaii?
If getting the cheapest flight possible to get to Hawaii is your end goal, then you might not be worrying too much about the best time to visit Hawaii – it's Hawaii, after all. However, if you're evaluating various options based on the cheapest flights to Hawaii that you've found, here are some factors to keep in mind:
Hawaii is the warmest during the summer months, and the sunny weather is accompanied by calmer waves during this time of the year if activities on the beach are the main focus of your trip.
For those looking to avoid crowds, aim to book a visit in January, February, September, October, or early November – all of which tend to be slower tourist seasons on the islands.
Planning to do some whale watching? Prime viewing for these beautiful mammals occurs from February to early March.
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