10 Tips For Hawaii Air-Travel Savings

Source: Hawai'i Convention Center, managed by SMG

1. Plan ahead. Make reservations early. Tickets purchased 60 days in advance will be the least expensive.

2. Call airline group sales. Find out what types of group programs the major airlines have available and how they can help facilitate booking for your group.

3. Ask a DMC. Destination management companies often can suggest companies that specialize in Hawaii travel, which might include access to bulk fares providing savings of 10-30 percent.

4. Book packages. Air-hotel-car packages are available from many travel companies. Economical hotels or higher-end hotels are usually available depending on your preference or budget.

5. Surf the net. Check the airline websites; many offer exclusive, reduced specials online.

6. Utilize off-peak travel. Book meetings during the off-peak fall and spring months when visitor traffic is lower. You may get an added bonus of savings on hotel rooms.

7. Ask about zone fares. Airlines divide the U.S. into eight zones, with travel between zones discounted at up to 20 percent off regular published fares.

8. Work with a travel professional. Travel agents are experts in researching travel options. Provide your criteria, whether it is best price, travel dates or both, and they will provide you with a variety of options.

9. Ask questions. Ask as many questions as needed to find out all options. Often, significantly lower fares are available just by changing a departure or return date. Or, extending a trip a day or two can result in lower fares, with the added opportunity to squeeze in extra business appointments.

10. Use frequent flyer miles. Use accumulated mileage when faced with purchasing an expensive ticket. For a destination like Hawaii, fares as low as $300 often can be obtained, but when those seats are sold out, use mileage to offset the expense.