May 28, 2008
Heard about those round-trip airfares of $270 from the east coast to Hawaii? They lasted less than 24 hours
A considerable number of blogs were breathlessly reporting, as of yesterday morning, that United and Continental had introduced miraculous airfares of $270, round-trip between Newark or Houston, and Honolulu, for persons booking at least 21 days in advance, actually traveling after mid-August, and going only on certain specific weekdays. Imagine! $135 one-way between the east coast of the U.S. and Oahu!
I heard the news first, to their credit, on Beat of Hawaii (www.beatofhawaii.com), the smart, new website for Hawaii enthusiasts. In announcing these sensational rates, the two authors of Beat of Hawaii took pains to emphasize that fares like those would disappear in a day.
No such caution was exhibited yesterday by various purveyors of airfare bargains, who all announced these rates and urged you to consider them -- apparently, at your leisure. Never has there been a more dramatic sale, caught by bloggers who spend their lives pulling up airfares, but totally unmentioned in a single press release or other announcement by the airlines themselves.
Last last night, it became obvious why the airlines hadn't trumpeted the bonanza. I can only assume they assigned about four seats to the $270 price, because as of today, the $270 airfare has disappeared from the internet. If you'll look at one of the replies to our own post you'll see a message from Beat of Hawaii confirming that the $270 has been replaced by fares three and four times as high.
To my knowledge, no other blog has advised their readers that the airfare no longer exists. Sorry about that.
Write and read comments about this post.
I heard the news first, to their credit, on Beat of Hawaii (www.beatofhawaii.com), the smart, new website for Hawaii enthusiasts. In announcing these sensational rates, the two authors of Beat of Hawaii took pains to emphasize that fares like those would disappear in a day.
No such caution was exhibited yesterday by various purveyors of airfare bargains, who all announced these rates and urged you to consider them -- apparently, at your leisure. Never has there been a more dramatic sale, caught by bloggers who spend their lives pulling up airfares, but totally unmentioned in a single press release or other announcement by the airlines themselves.
Last last night, it became obvious why the airlines hadn't trumpeted the bonanza. I can only assume they assigned about four seats to the $270 price, because as of today, the $270 airfare has disappeared from the internet. If you'll look at one of the replies to our own post you'll see a message from Beat of Hawaii confirming that the $270 has been replaced by fares three and four times as high.
To my knowledge, no other blog has advised their readers that the airfare no longer exists. Sorry about that.
Write and read comments about this post.
Fifty years ago, 
Arthur Frommer is generally acknowledged to be the nation's foremost travel authority. He is the founder of the
