Whether for escaping the blahs of winter or to make the most of when the family’s free during the summer holiday, there is nothing quite like a trip to Hawaii at any time of year.
With its tropical climate and location 2,000 miles off the southwest coast of the U.S. in the Pacific Ocean, the Aloha State feels almost like an international trip as even the closest mainland city of San Francisco is still a five-hour flight away. Tickets are also correspondingly more expensive than between two mainland cities.
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For those itching for some sun and surf, Southwest Airlines (LUV) has launched its “Wanna Get Away” sale that includes fares starting at $46 for tropical destinations like Hawaii, Florida and Puerto Rico.
Here is what you need to do to score that $50 flight to Hawaii
The sale is meant to mark the 53 years the airline has been flying (Southwest launched in San Antonio in 1967) and lasts until 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on Thursday, June 20 (yes, today!).
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While the ticket needs to be booked and paid for by midnight, the travel dates are for between Aug. 6 and Dec. 18 for flights within the mainland U.S. and Aug. 20 and Nov. 20 for flights to Hawaii and Puerto Rico.
While Southwest is able to hold these “Wanna Get Away” multiple times in the year due to having multiple blackout dates, the only day when one cannot travel to Hawaii between September and November is Sep. 3. Blackout dates for the mainland U.S. are on Sept. 2 and Oct. 14 as well as the periods between Nov. 22 to 27 and Nov. 29 to Dec. 2. The fare includes baggage but one will have to pay any taxes and airport fees at the destination they fly into to.
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These U.S. cities are also part of Southwest’s ‘Wanna Get Away’ promotion
The lowest advertised rate is for specific dates usually within the week. One will need to look through the calendar on Southwest’s website to see which “Wanna Get Away” rate will apply for the dates they want to fly. The rate is one-way but includes the two checked bags that are signature of Southwest’s baggage policy.
Other bottom rates advertised as part of the promotion include a flight between Los Angeles and Las Vegas for $46, Atlanta and Tampa for $53 and Atlanta and New York’s LaGuardia Airport for $59. When looking through the website, one will see both “Wanna Get Away” and regular rates depending on what is available at the time.
“Southwest Airlines Co. continues its birthday celebration with a sale on flights starting as low as $53 one-way in honor of the carrier turning 53,” the airline writes of the promotion.
The airline currently has numerous flights to Hawaiian islands such as Oahu, Maui and Kauai from U.S. cities of San Francisco, Oakland, Los Angeles, Long Beach, Las Vegas and Phoenix among others as well as flights to Puerto Rico’s San Juan from Houston and Orlando. The U.S. territory has also been on the airline’s radar as it looks to optimize its flight network based on travel trends and emerging destinations its customers want to get to.
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