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Saying “Aloha” to Aloha—The End of an Era

When my 3-year-old daughter and I boarded Aloha Airlines Flight 240 bound from Hilo to Honolulu just three weeks ago there’s no way I could have ever imagined it would be our last. As I write this passengers are boarding the last flights Aloha Airlines will fly between the Hawaiian Islands. After 61 years in business the carrier says it is bankrupt and will end passenger service later tonight. The news means nearly 2,000 of Aloha’s approximately 3,500 employees will be out of jobs by the end of today. It also means that travelers holding reservations on Aloha are out … Continue reading →

Airline Bombshell: “Aloha” to Aloha

I took my very first plane ride nearly 30 years ago and I remember every detail as though it was yesterday. I was seven years old and my flight was bound from Hilo to Honolulu (where my family and I would then transfer to another plane en route to New Jersey). My mom bought me a new outfit for the occasion—-a pair of pale blue pants, a red, white, yellow, and blue striped short sleeved shirt (it was the ‘70s after all) and a white sweater. We were booked on Aloha Airlines Flight 160 (I still have the ticket stub … Continue reading →

Tickets to Paradise on the Rise

I have got to stop looking at airline rates to Hawaii. Doing so just depresses me. But I just can’t seem to help myself. I’ve subscribed to several travel sites that automatically send me updates on ticket prices for the dates that I am planning to travel home… and the news is not good. With record-breaking fuel prices and the recent demise of several carriers servicing the islands things are not looking sunny for my trip to the “Aloha State.” What’s more, from now until at least September, airlines have scheduled 14% fewer seats than last year between the mainland … Continue reading →

Happy National Train Day

Tomorrow is National Train Day and I can’t help but think of my pre-schooler’s favorite train joke: What kind of train can sneeze? Ah choo choo. My daughter waits for the laughter to die down before informing her “fans” that she’ll be here all week. Okay, back to National Train Day. Whether you are a regular rider of the rails or not Amtrak is encouraging you to visit one of their stations tomorrow. The nationwide campaign includes live entertainment and activities for youngsters. Amtrak hopes the hoopla will inspire travelers to consider riding a train to their next vacation destination. … Continue reading →

Say So Long to Shorts on Airplanes

Relax; major carriers are not banning shorts on their aircrafts I just thought with the sweltering summer months upon us I would provide a follow up to my blog on walking barefoot on airplanes. Whereas some airline passengers like to air their tootsies on long flights, others prefer to give their legs breathing room by donning shorts on planes. Since the majority of my trips involve jetting back and forth from the Midwest to Hawaii I have seen my share of skin on planes. Believe me when I say some passengers have no shame when it comes to exposing themselves … Continue reading →

Paradise Lost

I knew it was too good to last. Whereas I was hopeful that inter-island airfare in Hawaii would remain affordable at least until my daughter graduated from high school (in about 15 years), the recent demise of Aloha Airlines all but obliterated that dream. On March 31st, Aloha Airlines, a legend (think 60 years plus) in Hawaiian aviation, abruptly stopped flying. Two days later ATA, an airline that offered cheap flights from the West Coast to Hawaii shut down as well. The combined work stoppage meant Hawaii lost 15% of its service from the mainland, or about 1.1 million seats … Continue reading →