05-19-2015, 02:51 AM
Everybody knows by now airline fares can be all over the place, depending on many factors like the season, timeframe when reservations are made, time of day, number of stops desired, etc. etc. etc., with almost no relation to whether it is Kona or Hilo. The anecdotal description is for a very specific case.
For instance, going to the United site, a flight to LA, from either Kona or Hilo is the same price. This is when a flight from Hilo includes the connecting flight to Honolulu cost. A flight to San Francisco from Kona or Hilo is the same price, but $100 more than the flight to LA. LA is a closer to Hawaii than San Francisco.
http://www.united.com/CMS/en-US/content/...awaii.aspx
This is when United has direct from Kona but Hilo to Honolulu connecting. Kona has a longer runway and can handle the bigger body nonstop jets. Another factor for Kona being able to handle larger jets is the approach pattern. The approach to Kona is over water with very little time over populated area. The approach pattern to Hilo is from the north and directly over most of Hilotown and only a few hundred feet above it.
People can make a career of analyzing the economics of air travel cost. Consumers can do that or just use the web to find the flight and cost that fits their desire. We always remember the flights that cost us a premium but forget the flights that were bargains.
"Aloha also means goodbye. Aloha!"
For instance, going to the United site, a flight to LA, from either Kona or Hilo is the same price. This is when a flight from Hilo includes the connecting flight to Honolulu cost. A flight to San Francisco from Kona or Hilo is the same price, but $100 more than the flight to LA. LA is a closer to Hawaii than San Francisco.
http://www.united.com/CMS/en-US/content/...awaii.aspx
This is when United has direct from Kona but Hilo to Honolulu connecting. Kona has a longer runway and can handle the bigger body nonstop jets. Another factor for Kona being able to handle larger jets is the approach pattern. The approach to Kona is over water with very little time over populated area. The approach pattern to Hilo is from the north and directly over most of Hilotown and only a few hundred feet above it.
People can make a career of analyzing the economics of air travel cost. Consumers can do that or just use the web to find the flight and cost that fits their desire. We always remember the flights that cost us a premium but forget the flights that were bargains.
"Aloha also means goodbye. Aloha!"
*Japanese tourist on bus through Pahoa, "Is this still America?*