Bellingham businessman Jeff Vaughan realized he had a "fantastic way" to take his wife, Laura, on a romantic getaway during the short period they had to celebrate their 30th anniversary earlier this year.
"We've had a really busy year," says Vaughan, a marketing manager who frequently travels cross-country. "We had only a little time to fit in a special trip."
Their answer: Bellingham-to-Honolulu via Alaska Airlines for a four-day weekend.
"It was a no-brainer," Vaughan says. "We realized we could be sitting in Hawaii in the same amount of time it would take us to drive to Cannon Beach (a resort they enjoy in Oregon)."
The Vaughans, who have lived in Bellingham seven years, endured the challenge of flying to Hawaii via Seattle two years ago. Now they rave about the convenience of Alaska's daily takeoffs from Bellingham International Airport, which began Jan. 7.
Because the trip consumed less of their travel time, Vaughan says he and his wife had more time for fun in Hawaii.
"We crammed a lot into four days," he says. "We went snorkeling and watched surfers on the north shore. Our favorite food experience was a produce stand where we bought homemade passion fruit ice cream served inside half a papaya. We also had time to do shopping in Honolulu."
POPULAR RUN
The Bellingham-to-Honolulu flights proved so popular that in the first three months of 2011 more than 11,000 people participated, says Bobbie Egan, media relations manager for Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air.
The flights leave Bellingham daily at 5:20 p.m. Pacific time and arrive at 8:38 p.m. Hawaii time. Returns leave Honolulu at 9:40 p.m. Hawaii time and arrive in Bellingham at 6:26 p.m. Pacific time.
Frank Zurline, the owner of Bellingham Travel & Cruise, had been to Hawaii 30 to 40 times since he was a kid - (his folks owned the travel business before him) - so Alaska's new flights fulfilled his dream of being able to fly direct from his hometown.
"Hawaii has the most reliable weather you can find within the United States for a five-hour trip," he says.
Zurline and his wife, Christine, managed to escape some especially poor weather when they visited Hawaii in March.
"We hiked to the top of Diamondhead for the first time," he recalls. "We rented a car and drove around Oahu. Then we took a city bus ride around the island for only $2.50 to Diamondhead and back. Those buses are great!"
THE RIBBON CUTTER
Mount Vernon businessman David North is such a frequent flier with Alaska Airlines that he was invited to do the ribbon cutting for the first Bellingham-to-Honolulu flight in January.
North knows all about the challenge of getting to Seattle, having flown to Hawaii many times out of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. So he, too, was excited when Bellingham built a runway last year big enough to handle Alaska's 737-800s.
"I fly to Hawaii about every two weeks, so having direct flights from Bellingham is absolutely wonderful," he says.
He also loves saving on parking: $9 a day at the Bellingham airport, compared to $28 in Seattle.
AIRPORT PARKING
Expanded flights out of the Bellingham airport, including to Hawaii, have been good news for businesses that provide related parking and taxi service.
Andy Ryser recently opened a secure parking lot a few minutes away from the airport, on Pacific Highway. Ryser, who owns Designated Taxi, moved his taxi office to the lot and provides taxi service to and from the bustling airport.
"The airport has grown," he says. "It's being referred to as Vancouver airport, south."
Ryser charges motorists $5 a day to park in the lot for the first week, and $4 a day thereafter. A taxi ride from the parking lot to the airport is $5.
Ernie and Velma Henken operate Wiki Wiki Park n Shuttle, also close to the airport on Pacific Highway.
"We charge $8 per day, and that includes free shuttle service," Velma Henken says. "We even serve free mai-tai drinks!"
