First timer....Hawaii to Cali

Author Message   Sarah New member Username: Semper_fi Post Number: 2 Registered: 06-2010 Posted From: 66.91.45.41 Posted on Wednesday, June 09, 2010 - 07:54 pm:    Thanks Nicole. I already have read the FAQ's and know the "answers"...just looking for anyone who has traveled between them and what their personal experiences have been. I know it's challenging in summer months, but we live literally down the street from the K-bay terminal, so if I don't make it to Cali on this hop then I'm not going. Just a spur of the moment thought to try. Thanks everyone! We'll see how it goes!   Nicole Villegas New member Username: Alannasmommy Post Number: 3 Registered: 06-2010 Posted From: 96.41.51.38 Posted on Wednesday, June 09, 2010 - 02:57 pm:    I am attempting to return by sunday from Cali to Oahu. I was going to hop from March to Travis as a final into Hickam or Kbay but I'm taking the alternative from North Island either Thursday (if any seats are avail) and then try again saturday if there isn't. If all else fails... Hawaiian Airlines seems to be cheapest ;)   John R Garrison Senior Member Username: Majorg Post Number: 2719 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 208.81.157.86 Posted on Wednesday, June 09, 2010 - 02:52 pm:    Sarah: Welcome to the Board! If you have not yet done so, please familiarize yourself with JohnD's SpaceA Pages (link top left), the general layout of this site and the Search Function (magnifying glass at top center) of this site. Nearly all questions can be answered from those three sources. Having read thru the FAQs is a great start and I would suggest reading thru the other sections on JohnD's site as well. In relation to your proposed trip, traveling SpaceA to/from Hawaii to California in the summer as a Cat V will be very challenging. We try to avoid the Summer (15 May to 15 Sep) as this is typically one of the busiest times (Christmas (15 Dec-10 Jan) being the other) with a lot of competition for spacea. Please ensure that you are prepared to spend more time in terminals than you can imagine. Also be prepared for additional food, lodging and expensive, last minute commercial tickets should you be time restrained upon your attempted return. As stated often on this site, experienced SPATS avoid Christmas and Summer travel whenever possible. In sum, can it be done??..Yes, Just be mentally prepared for things to not go as smoothly as you might be expecting...and be pleasantly surprised when they work out. Happy travels, John PS: You asked:"what are my chances..." JohnD's FAQs gives an answer: http://spacea.net/mediawiki/index.php?title=Space-A_Travel_FAQ#What_are_my_chanc es_of_getting_seats_on_a_particular_flight_and_how_long_will_I_have_to_wait.3F   Cherry C. Senior Member Username: Cherry Post Number: 6433 Registered: 06-2003 Posted From: 71.163.18.160 Posted on Wednesday, June 09, 2010 - 12:12 pm:    Sarah, chances out of Kaneohe or North Island are "usually" better than out of Hickam or Travis for any one given flight, simply because fewer people tend to show up at the former hoping for flights. However, there are also far fewer flights between them than at the latter. Don't count on getting to and from Hawaii for a weekend visit! You could find yourself staying with your friends for a nice long time... Things that will make a difference: your category, but also the number and type of flights, how many others with better priority than you show up, and just plain luck. As a Cat V you are very near the bottom of the heap and personally I would not chance it, in these very popular summer months when schools are out and thus hordes of Cat III families are traveling. Even if you are lucky enough to get to Oahu, be ready to buy a ticket for the return trip if necessary.   Carole G Advanced Member Username: Greengal Post Number: 245 Registered: 01-2010 Posted From: 68.205.151.181 Posted on Wednesday, June 09, 2010 - 11:29 am:    You would need to check the North Island schedule. It is available in space-a pages at the top of this page. Good luck.   Sarah New member Username: Semper_fi Post Number: 1 Registered: 06-2010 Posted From: 66.91.45.41 Posted on Wednesday, June 09, 2010 - 09:17 am:    So I am fairly new to all of this but have been reading all the pages and seem to have it down, but am going to finally follow through this week. I'm shooting for a flight from Kaneohe Bay to North Island and then back sometime the next week. Thought I'd try for an "easy" first time flight to see friends for a long weekend. How often are flights coming back to K-bay from North Island? As a Cat. V what are my chances from North Island? Suggestions? Advice?