Kokua Line
Kokua Line
Is it legal for Vacations-Hawaii to have different rates almost daily for Las Vegas? I know a person who paid $336 for the same flight in September. He made reservations a month before I called. I was quoted $376. The next day it was $416. Supply, demand affect
price of air tickets, tooThere's nothing illegal about it, said Jo Ann Uchida, executive director of the state Office of Consumer Protection.
"It's just market forces governing prices," she said, adding that consumers should shop around and be aware of restrictions placed on lower fares.
Bill Smith, general manager/vice president of Vacations-Hawaii, explained that his company was following the lead of airlines, which use a "yield management program."
For example, he said, when you book in advance with an airline, say a 60- or 90-day excursion fare, the fare is at a lower rate.
When you see flights to Las Vegas advertised for $299, $319 or $339, there may be 100 seats available at those prices, Smith said. Two days later, those seats are filled.
"As a flight gets filled, the rate increases," Smith said. "So we're losing a lot of money in the beginning. We then start to try to make the money back and, at the end, our goal is just try to break even on each flight."
Vacations-Hawaii is "here to basically get our people to our casinos in Las Vegas," he added. "How we do it is by yield management."
For the second time in a week, I've been inches away from injury when multiple numbers of cars blow through the red light at Queen Street and Ward Avenue about 7 a.m. The last time, three cars heading makai on Ward went through a red light while we waited to turn from Queen onto Ward. I don't think people can see the lights at that time of the morning because of the sun's glare. Can someone check this and adjust or change the lights? The city Department of Transportation Services did field checks "from all approaches," and concluded the signals are all clearly visible, said director Cheryl Soon.
A review of the intersection's accident history also "does not reveal an abnormal or high incident rate," she said. However, she said the city will monitor the area for red-light runners.
How will employees receive W-2 forms to file taxes next year if a company closes in August? An employer who terminates a business must provide W-2 forms to employees for the calendar year of the termination by the date the final Form 941 (Employer's Quarterly Federal Tax Return) has to be filed, said Internal Revenue Service spokeswoman Shawn George.
In your case, you should receive forms by Oct. 31.
"We advise employees to keep their wage statements as backup records and make certain your employer has your current address," George said.
To the woman in a black Buick who drove into the left-turn lane at Hekaha Street and Moanalua Road to pass me while I waited at the stop line for traffic to move, about 12:30 p.m. June 16. The sign said, "Do Not Block Intersection." You did two wrongs just to get one car ahead of me. -- Patty D. Auwe
To the woman who refused to let a couple take a photo of their daughter at last month's Kamehameha Schools commencement. The last row of students was about to receive their diplomas when I noticed the couple way off to the side, not blocking anyone, about to take a photo seconds before their daughter was to get her diploma. The woman placed her hands in front of the camera and refused to move. I was disgusted to see such insensitive behavior. -- R.R. Auwe
Need help with problems? Call Kokua Line at 525-8686,
fax 525-6711, or write to P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu 96802.
Email to kokualine@starbulletin.com
