In response to the unprecedented economic challenges facing the airline industry, Hawaiian Airlines has announced that it is matching certain fees that its major competitors have recently adopted.

Effective with tickets purchased on or after August 1 for travel commencing on or after October 1, 2008, Hawaiian will charge $15 for passengers’ first piece of checked luggage for flights between the mainland U.S. and Hawaii.

On interisland flights between the islands of Hawaii, the first piece of checked luggage will continue to be free.

Passengers on Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air can now receive up-to-the-minute flight information via e-mail or text message for their entire flight itinerary, including segments on other airlines. The new Trip Alert System is the first airline notification solution to be powered by the FlightStats(TM) Itinerary Monitoring platform and lets customers set up a single profile
once for all future travel.

Customers who have booked a trip at alaskaair.com or with an Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air reservations call center or ticket counter since June 25, 2008, receive an e-mail inviting them to create a profile. The profile specifies the traveler’s preferences for receiving e-mail alerts to a desktop PC, PDA or mobile phone.

Alaska Airlines today will inaugurate daily, year-round service between Seattle and Kahului, Hawaii, on the island of Maui. Flights from Seattle will depart daily at 8:20 a.m. Pacific time and arrive at 11:35 a.m. Hawaii time. Return flights will depart at 1:05 p.m. Hawaii time and arrive at 9:45 p.m. Pacific time.

“Our customers have welcomed our new Hawaii service with open arms,” said Gregg Saretsky, Alaska Airlines’ executive vice president of flight and marketing. “In addition to Kauai and Honolulu, which we began serving last winter, customers now can enjoy Alaska’s unique brand of service and earn Mileage Plan miles to the beautiful island of Maui.”

Just in time to take the bite out of food prices, the Mayflower Park Hotel has created a Rise and Shine Breakfast Package for guests who have traveled the distance to stay at the historic hotel.

“With record costs to travel, we feel the need to pitch in and let our guests know we appreciate the time and money they spend in order to stay with us,” states general manager, Paul Ishii. The Rise and Shine Breakfast Package offers a classic or deluxe guestroom at the Mayflower Park Hotel, full American breakfast for two in our award winning restaurant Andaluca and complimentary valet parking. Package prices start at $215 plus tax for a classic guestroom and $235 plus tax for a deluxe guestroom.

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