I am not a fan of 'special packages' where a figure that looks very, very good is dangled in front of you in an advertisement but by the time you get through the fine print, the REAL cost is nowhere near the suggested cost. A good example of that is this notice that recently came out from NorthWest Airlines. Travel to Hawaii from March 29th through Sept. 30th, stay in a participating Aston Hotel and kids stay AND fly free! Supposed fares were listed this way:
Sample Sale Prices
| air + 7 nights Aston Hawaii hotel from* | ||||
| Seattle | Big Island | Aston Kona by the Sea Includes: 1 free night; Aloha free deals; kids 12 and younger stay/play/eat free |
$654 | |
| San Francisco | Maui | Aston at the Maui Banyan Kids 12 and younger stay/play/eat free |
$690 | |
| Los Angeles | Maui | Aston at Papakea Resort Includes: 1 free night; Aloha free deals; kids 12 and younger stay/play/eat free |
$836 | |
| Atlanta | Kauai | Aston Kauai Beach at Makaiwa Includes: 1 free night; $50 food and beverage credit; Aloha free deals; kids 12 and younger stay/play/eat free |
$853 | |
| Portland | Maui | Aston Mahana at Kaanapali Includes: 1 free night; Aloha free deals; kids 12 and younger stay/play/eat free |
$901 | |
| Minneapolis/St. Paul | Oahu | Aston Waikiki Sunset Includes: 1 free night; Aloha free deals; airport transfers; kids 12 and younger stay/play/eat free |
$912 | |
| Salt Lake City | Oahu | Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel Includes: 1 free night; Aloha free deals, daily breakfast on beach; airport transfers; kids 12 and younger stay/play/eat free |
$1,010 | |
The biggest problems are these: taxes and fees are not included and that only one child per adult is allowed free. Just ONE. So if two adults are traveling and you'd think 2 kids could then travel free, you'd be wrong. I suppose you could book separate tickets but I am guessing in the fine, fine print, there will be a clause that restricts you from doing this. The maximum benefit of that free ticket is $900 and anything over that, you pay. Since some of the above fares are over $900 WITHOUT taxes and fees, it may still cost you hundreds to have one child fly FREE. Lastly, the fares shown are not necessarily available when you want to go. And of course tickets are limited too so if you think about booking this for more than a couple of days, I'm guessing that your dates will be sold out or only available at a higher price. Now for regular airfares.
Airfares from San Francisco to Honolulu straight off the Hawaiian Airlines website for July 15, returning July 22nd for 2 adults and 2 children is $2,025. At almost EVERY hotel in the United States, kids always stay free anyway. This posted 'special' actually breaks down this way. Even without taxes and fees (which I suspect will add hundreds to each ticket), the $690 fare would cost almost $2100 for three paying tickets, even with one child free. (I'm guessing that actual amounts would total over $2,900 for 3) The Aston Hotel they suggested (the Maui Banyan) is not even a hotel, it is a converted condo complex. Rates run about $130 per night when not on special, meaning you add $900 to your $2,025. What may be worse is the comments on TripAdvisor for the Banyan. Of the first seven that I looked at, one said "Not again", another said "Sorta creepy - I wouldn't go back" and a third gave a decent review but added the watchwords "Great place for the money", a euphanism for You Get What You Pay For. The other reviews were very good however, though several used the word 'dated' in their recaps.
My point is I suspect the three tickets you would have to buy are going to total close to $900 each if not more and in the end you really aren't getting anything at a discount. With so many hotels hurting in Hawaii at present and not only slashing rates but offering 4th and 5th nights free, you could probably do better than the Banyan and spend less overall. One last point, which is sort of a follow up to my recent post about non-refundable reservations, this is a non cancelable reservation. So if a week from your departure date little Timmy breaks a leg playing Little League and you can't or don't want to go, you lose the entire paid amount. With the regular fare totalling $2,025, you could change or cancel accordingly with only a change ticket fee and wouldn't lose everything.
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