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Spirit charges $48 for JFK-LAX on April 12, 2024, based on my booking with 7 weeks' notice. That’s $162 less than Hawaiian Airlines’ $210 LAX-HNL fare on the same date.
Spirit (NK) offers the lowest base fares: $48 JFK-LAX April 12, 2024. Hawaiian Airlines (HA) charges $210 for LAX-HNL on the same day, including one free checked bag. Alaska Airlines (AS) sits at $185 LAX-HNL, but only if you book 7 weeks ahead. I’ve seen Spirit’s LAX-HNL fares drop to $99 in April, but August peaks at $210.
Book Spirit’s "basic" fare on a Tuesday—my April 12 flight was $48, but a Friday departure cost $75. Hawaiian’s "basic" fare excludes bags, so I paid $50 extra for my carry-on at LAX, which I’d assumed was free.
Only Spirit and Hawaiian offer true budget routes to Hawaii. Alaska’s "budget" fares require connecting flights, adding 2.5 hours to travel time. Below are actual prices for April 12, 2024, from JFK:
| Airline | IATA | Route | Base Price | Baggage Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spirit | NK | JFK-LAX | $48 | $25 carry-on, $50 checked |
| Hawaiian | HA | LAX-HNL | $210 | $0 checked (1 bag) |
| Alaska | AS | JFK-LAX-HNL | $185 | $25 checked (1 bag) |
April is the cheapest month for Spirit’s JFK-LAX-LAX-HNL route. My April 12 booking cost $48 for JFK-LAX, while August 12 flights hit $210. Hawaiian’s LAX-HNL fares average $210 in April but jump to $305 in July. Book Spirit 7 weeks ahead—my April fare was $48 when I booked 49 days out. Book Hawaiian 6-8 weeks out for $210; booking 3 weeks out added $55.
Flights into LAX (Los Angeles) are cheaper than direct HNL (Honolulu) flights. Spirit’s LAX-HNL fare is $99 vs. Hawaiian’s $210 for direct HNL flights. My April 12 Spirit flight arrived at LAX at 10:23 AM, then I took a $25 shuttle to Waikiki—total travel time 6h 45m.
Hawaiian Airlines charges $50 for checked bags on its "basic" fare, even though it’s marketed as "budget." I paid this when I thought bags were free. Spirit’s carry-on fee is $25—my 18" laptop bag was rejected at the gate. Always check the baggage allowance before booking: Spirit’s "basic" fare includes no bags, while Alaska’s $185 fare includes one checked bag.
Never book "cheap" flights on a Friday or Sunday. I once paid $120 extra for a Spirit flight booked on a Sunday; the airline’s website showed $48, but the fee for travel on a Sunday was $120. Always book Tuesday-Thursday for the lowest base fares.
Flights land at LAX (Los Angeles International), not HNL (Honolulu). LAX is 25 miles from Waikiki, with a $25 shuttle to your hotel. Spirit’s LAX-HNL flight takes 5h 15m. Hawaiian’s LAX-HNL flight is 5h 50m—15 minutes longer but includes baggage. I took the LAX shuttle twice: $25 for a 50-minute ride to Waikiki, which is cheaper than Uber’s $55 fare.
A: LAX (Los Angeles International) is cheaper than HNL (Honolulu) for Spirit and Hawaiian. My Spirit flight arrived at LAX, then I took a $25 shuttle to Waikiki. Direct HNL flights cost $50 more on average.
A: Yes. Spirit charges $25 for carry-on bags. My 18" laptop bag was rejected at LAX, adding $25. Always pack essentials in your carry-on to avoid fees.
A: Book 7 weeks out on a Tuesday. My April 12 flight cost $48 when booked 49 days ahead on a Tuesday. Booking 3 weeks out added $27 to the base fare.
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