Deal alert: West Coast round-trip fares to Hawaii starting at $189

It's often said "West Coast best coast," and while I can't say I agree, that sentiment certainly holds true for today's deal showcasing round-trip flights from various cities out west — including Denver, Los Angeles and Portland, Oregon — to Hawaii.

Shout out to our friends at Scott's Cheap Flights for alerting us of this deal they sent out to their Premium members.

Fear not though, non-members can still take advantage of this deal by heading to Google Flights and searching for your desired routes and dates, as demonstrated below.

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The deal

Airlines: American, Alaska, Delta, Hawaiian and United.
Routes: ABQ/FAT/OAK/LAS/LAX/LGB/PDX/SFO/SJC/SMF and others to HNL/OGG.
Cost: Starting at $189 round-trip for select routes.
Dates: November 2021-May 2022, excluding holidays.
Pay with: The Platinum Card® from American Express for 5x on airfare booked directly with the airline or through American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year), the Citi Prestige® Card for 5x on airfare, the Citi Premier® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve for 3x on air travel, the American Express® Gold Card for 3x on airfare when booked directly with the airline or through Amex Travel, or the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card for 2x on travel.

The information for the Citi Prestige Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Routes

Sample round-trip fares in this deal include:

To Honolulu (HNL):

• Departing from Los Angeles (LAX); Oakland, California (OAK); San Francisco (SFO); and San Jose, California (SJC), for $198.
• Departing from Long Beach, California (LGB); Sacramento (SMF); and San Diego (SAN) for $203.
• Departing from Las Vegas (LAS) for $216.
• Departing from Portland (PDX) for $274.
• Departing from Alberquerque, New Mexico (ABQ); Fresno, California (FAT); Reno (RNO); Spokane, Washington (GEG); and Tucson (TUS) for $276.

To Kahului (OGG):

• Departing from San Diego (SAN) for $189.
• Departing from Burbank, California (BUR); Boise (BOI); Colorado Springs, Colorado (COS); Denver (DEN); and Las Vegas (LAS) for between $216 and 276.

Related: United tweaks Hawaii network with added flights, different planes

How to search this deal

As mentioned above, Google Flights is the easiest way to search for this deal based on your departure and origin cities and desired dates of travel. In my experience, it's always best to be flexible in searching for deals if possible, as many deals, including this one, go fast. So while you may be able to find the advertised prices for a round-trip flight, know that said deal may have already disappeared by the time you search for it. If that's the case, try playing around with your departing airport of choice to see if there are any flights departing from nearby cities.

Let's start with the below round-trip flight on Alaska Airlines from San Diego to Maui for less than $200.

Alaska Air's Main Cabin is particularly giving, with seat selection, standard boarding, the ability to change your flight if need be and a complimentary carry-on.

Similarly, here's a round-trip flight on Delta from Los Angeles to Honolulu for $198.

Related: Hawaii to extend COVID-19 restrictions due to high cases

You'll see that this is a nonstop flight in Delta's basic economy class, which includes one free carry-on but does not include seat selection or priority boarding.

In conducting a test search, I also came across some American Airlines flights in this deal, like the below from Denver to Maui, also in basic economy.

While this flight is not nonstop, it has only a brief layover each way and does include seat selection.

If you'd rather go to Honolulu, you could also fly from Tucson for the same price of $276; the same rules apply with one free carry-on and seat selection.

Read more: Dramatic changes for international travel begin today: 11 things you need to know

And finally, if you are a United loyalist or simply find their routes most suit your needs, see the below example round-trip flight from Portland to Honolulu for $216. Just know that United's basic economy class is the most restrictive among the bunch, with no free carry-on, seat selection, priority boarding or upgrades.

If you wanted to carry on a bag, upgrade to their economy class for $30.

If you tend to check a bag, keep in mind that both American and Delta charge $30 for your first checked bag, while checked luggage on Alaska and United will run you $60 and $70, respectively.

Bottom line

Hawaii has struggled with managing the resumption of tourism and COVID-19 numbers, and Hawaii Gov. David Ige continued COVID-19-related restrictions effective for certain indoor establishments starting Nov. 12. Specifically, restaurants will be required to reduce capacity to 50% for patrons unless the presiding county requires proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test for entry. Oahu and Maui counties currently require proof of vaccination or a recent negative test at indoor restaurants and bars.

In late October, Ige said it was "now safe for fully vaccinated residents and visitors to resume nonessential travel to and within the state of Hawaii" and he encouraged "fully vaccinated visitors and residents to travel for business or leisure, transpacific and interisland.”

Travelers must still take some COVID-19-related steps to travel to Hawaii, although fully vaccinated U.S-based travelers no longer have to test before travel or quarantine upon arrival. Vaccinated travelers must upload their vaccination card issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to the state's Safe Travels web program.

Unvaccinated U.S.-based travelers 18 and older must also register with the program in addition to submitting a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of departure for Hawaii.

International Hawaii-bound travelers must adhere to the new rules for international travel as of Nov. 8, which require foreign nationals to be fully vaccinated to enter the country.

Related: After telling people to stay home, Hawaii is ready for travelers to come back next month