QUESTION: I flew on a direct flight between Honolulu and San Jose, Calif., on Hawaiian Airlines in September. I am trying to make reservations again for the same direct flight, but trips are unavailable. Travelers must go through Kahului first, then land either in Oakland, Calif., or San Francisco, making it inconvenient for travelers and pickups. If we have to go through Kahului first, must we pay that portion of the trip, also? Can you find out why such a popular flight direct to San Jose has been canceled?
ANSWER: There’s no discount if you live on Oahu.
The switch to the San Jose-Kahului route was made "because we found that two-thirds of our San Jose customers are traveling to an island other than Oahu," said Hawaiian Air spokesman Huy Vo. "Since we started our Maui hub in 2012, the San Jose-Kahului (route) has been the primary means for us to get customers to the Hawaiian Islands."
As Hawaiian Air and other airlines have added international flights, he said, Honolulu Airport has become very busy at prime arrival times, so Maui has proved to be "a great option" for getting West Coast visitors not only to the neighbor islands, but also increasingly to Oahu.
"In addition, we make a strong effort to time our Kahului arrivals for easy connections to Honolulu," Vo said.
Hawaiian Air expects to add flights from other West Coast cities using the Maui hub to connect to the various islands.
Next year the airline plans to increase flights from Oakland, "because we have found that it draws more Hawaiian Airlines travelers from the San Francisco, East Bay and North Bay areas who are traveling to Honolulu," Vo said.
Beginning Jan. 5, its Oakland-Honolulu service will increase from four times a week to daily. Beginning June 13, it will offer a new 10-week summer service with nonstop flights between Oakland and Kauai and Oakland and Kona.
As for the Honolulu-to-San Jose route, six flights are scheduled for the rest of December, and two the first week of January. Five San Jose-to-Honolulu flights are scheduled for December, and three the first week of January.
After January nothing has been scheduled "until further notice," Vo said.
BUS BAGGAGE RULE
We asked Oahu Transit Services to respond to an "auwe" in the Dec. 6 "Kokua Line," about a young bus rider placing his backpack on the seat next to him while other passengers, including seniors and mothers with babies, were forced to stand.
If anyone sees this happening, notify the bus operator "so that the operator can politely inform the rider of the rule and make the seat available to others," said OTS spokeSwoman Michelle Kennedy.
She said TheBus’ baggage rule states, "Baggage that can be stored under a passenger’s seat or on a passenger’s lap, that will not protrude to another seat or otherwise interfere with other passengers, will be admitted."
Generally, it would be simple courtesy for the passenger to give up his seat to seniors and mothers with babies, Kennedy said.
However, if he were seated in the priority seating area, the operator would be able to request that he vacate the seat, she said. But she cautioned, "Please be aware that some disabilities are not visible and the person seated in the priority area may not be able to do so (give up the seat)."
MAHALO
To Kelly Griffin of Tori Richards for finding a lost company check and mailing it back to the account owner. She found the check on the street while on her walk after lunch. Her integrity and thoughtfulness are greatly appreciated. Thank goodness for people like Kelly. — Brian
MAHALO
To the Waipahu diver who found my wallet at the bottom of the ocean in Hawaii Kai. The police thought maybe I was missing, but I’m alive and well. The aloha spirit lives on. — Grateful
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
Kokua Line will be on vacation until Jan. 3. We wish all our readers a complaint-free December.
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Write to “Kokua Line” at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.
