Forget the Aussie winter

Australia is in the grip of one of the coldest, most miserable winters in years. So what greater inspiration could there be to lay back (under a doona), close your eyes and think of Hawaii?

Hawaiian Airlines has just launched a mid year sale for flights from Australia to Honolulu, and on to the neighbor islands of Maui, Kauai and The Big Island of Hawaii.

Roundtrip prices from Sydney to Honolulu start at $1157 including taxes, and $156 for onward flights to neighbour islands.

From now until 31 August, 2007, passengers can book a range of special fares for departures from 17 Australian destinations between now and 31 March, 2008.

There are three fare levels – low season, shoulder season and high season.

The roundtrip fares below are based on Hawaiian’s Wednesday evening Mid Week Special fares, in low season, and include taxes and surcharges of approximately $347*. Higher fares apply in the shoulder and high seasons.

Travel between Sydney and other Australian destinations is with Hawaiian’s domestic airline partner, Virgin Blue. 

Low season fares apply for departures between 01 November and 9 December 2007, and again from 01 February to 31 March, 2008.

Shoulder season applies For travel from18 July to 31 August, 2007, and from 1-31 October, 2007.

High season applies for travel from now until 17 July, 2007, and again from 10-20 December, 2007.

Hawaiian Airlines departs Sydney each Wednesday, Friday and Sunday evening, enabling passengers from interstate and from regional NSW to make same-day connections.

“The partnership with Virgin Blue makes Hawaii easy to access from locations throughout Australia,” said Scott Cammell, Sales and Marketing Manager Australia for Hawaiian Airlines.

“Passengers can fly on both airlines with one ticket,” said Mr. Cammell. “And they can check their luggage all the way to Honolulu when they check in for their Virgin Blue connection flight to Sydney”.

On arrival in Sydney, there is an airside transfer bus from within the Virgin Blue terminal direct to the international terminal.

Hawaiian Airlines flight 452 – operated with dual–class Boeing 767-300ER aircraft – crosses the international dateline and arrives in Honolulu at 10.50am the same day – a flight time of approximately 9 hours and 40 minutes.

Hawaiian’s flights include island cuisine, hospitality and entertainment programming, as well as late release movies on both the main cabin screen and portable dig-E-players, which hold up to 10 movies plus television sitcoms, information programmes and music.

Meals are complimentary, as are beer, wine, soft drink and juice; Dig-E-players are free in Business Class and AUD $20 in Economy; and Economy seating is offered in a comfortable 2 x 3 x 2 configuration, with a spacious 32 inch seat pitch, compared with 31 inches on other airlines, while Business Class offers 42 inch seat pitch in a 2 x 2 x 2 cabin layout.

The mid-morning arrival into Honolulu – typically after a scenic approach over Pearl Harbour – enables passengers to clear US Customs and be on world-famous Waikiki Beach by early afternoon, or to connect with onward Hawaiian Airlines flights to neighbour islands.

And for members of Velocity, the Virgin Blue loyalty programme, it is now possible to both earn and redeem points on flights throughout the Hawaiian Airlines network.

* The prices quoted above are for Wednesday evening departures from Sydney, and must be booked and paid for by 31 August . Taxes are subject to change without notice. Seats are limited at these prices and conditions apply.

For reservations and enquiries please contact Hawaiian Airlines on 1300 669 10.

To learn more about the destination of Hawaii, visit www.hawaiitourism.com.au.

For information about Hawaiian Airlines, visit www.hawaiianair.com.au

Report by The Mole