For you who live on the West Coast, there’s a new way to get to Hawaii. Alaska Airlines has announced it will start a new service from Bellingham to Honolulu on January 7.
The carrier will fly 157-passenger Boeing 737s (16 in first class), daily from Bellingham. This is especially good news for West Coast travellers — Bellingham is about 80 kms south of Vancouver. By strengthening runways this year, Bellingham Airport can now take aircraft as large as 757s. This investment makes it a competitor to YVR in Vancouver, and there are savings.
Alaska prices start at $199 US, one way to Honolulu, and most importantly there is a difference in the taxes and parking in leaving from the Washington state airport. Parking is $9 US a day in Bellingham, $15.75 in Vancouver.
I decided to compare Canadian airlines for January 14, one week after the Alaska service starts. What I found is that one-way airfares, including taxes, on that date look like this:
Alaska Airlines — $204 US
WestJet and Air Canada — $348 CAD
I realize other dates may show a lesser or greater gap. Alaska says the flights will be a “convenient alternative” for travellers in northwestern Washington and the Lower Mainland area of British Columbia.
The connection to cruising is that there are several cruises originating in Hawaii. Every week, NCL ships go through the Islands. Other lines from time to time offer one-way re-positioning cruises. Add it up and cruisers have more, and perhaps more competitive, choices.
All for now.
