Flying to Hawaii

[Norman Stansfield]

Cougargirl makes a good point.

My last time there last year I went from Minneapolis to Honolulu on NWA. Having done the trip three times previously from Chicago, I knew it was going to suck big-time. But this time we had what seemed like a brand-new A330, complete with those personal TVs in the seatbacks in front of us with little remotes in the armrest.

Best part: it was all free. There were 50-some movies, video games, all kinds of maps and so on. I had packed a ton of magazines and books to keep me entertained, and I wound up playing with that entertainment center for almost the whole 8-plus hours.

 

[Lyman_Bostock]

It's hard to believe Hawaii is one of the most isolated places on earth ... until you look at how long it takes to get there just from the West Coast.

 

[User 1019]

If you go through LAX, you can hit up In-N-Out, among other places.

Is there an In-N-Out in LAX? I didn't see one when I was there three years ago on the way to Kona.

Let me make myself very clear when I say this?

THERE IS NO GOOD IN-N-OUT OF LAX!

I'd rather **** Bea Arthur than fly into or out of LAX.

That is all.

 

[Norman Stansfield]

It's hard to believe Hawaii is one of the most isolated places on earth ... until you look at how long it takes to get there just from the West Coast.

It's really weird taking the red-eye back.

Flying five or six hours over the dark ocean makes it seem like you're in outer space or something. You see nothing but black.

 

[bigpern23]

Also, for health and sanity reasons, it's much better to break up long flights from the East Coast to Hawaii.

See, now, I'm just the opposite. I want to get where I'm going as fast as possible and spend as much time relaxing there as I can. Rather than going through the stress of the airport twice (four times round trip), I'd prefer to get all the stress of flying out of the way and start my vaca ASAP.

I have a pretty long attention-span, too, so that helps on long flights. Hell, when I flew to Thailand, it was 24 hours - including a 16- or 18-hour leg from NYC to Tokyo - and I don't think I was ever bored (had a couple books, music, did some sleeping).

 

[Lyman_Bostock]

Also, for health and sanity reasons, it's much better to break up long flights from the East Coast to Hawaii.

See, now, I'm just the opposite. I want to get where I'm going as fast as possible and spend as much time relaxing there as I can. Rather than going through the stress of the airport twice (four times round trip), I'd prefer to get all the stress of flying out of the way and start my vaca ASAP.

I have a pretty long attention-span, too, so that helps on long flights. Hell, when I flew to Thailand, it was 24 hours - including a 16- or 18-hour leg from NYC to Tokyo - and I don't think I was ever bored (had a couple books, music, did some sleeping).

Agreed. Having done a lot of long-haul flying, I would rather just get there and not prolong things.

I think a lot of it is mental. If you just plan on being in the plan for 14-15 hours and bring along enough stuff to entertain you for even half that stretch (sleeping/eating/talking taking up the rest of the time), you'll be OK.

But sitting in coach that long is a royal *****.

 

[Ben_Hecht]

Also, for health and sanity reasons, it's much better to break up long flights from the East Coast to Hawaii.

See, now, I'm just the opposite. I want to get where I'm going as fast as possible and spend as much time relaxing there as I can. Rather than going through the stress of the airport twice (four times round trip), I'd prefer to get all the stress of flying out of the way and start my vaca ASAP.

I have a pretty long attention-span, too, so that helps on long flights. Hell, when I flew to Thailand, it was 24 hours - including a 16- or 18-hour leg from NYC to Tokyo - and I don't think I was ever bored (had a couple books, music, did some sleeping).

Agreed. Having done a lot of long-haul flying, I would rather just get there and not prolong things.

I think a lot of it is mental. If you just plan on being in the plan for 14-15 hours and bring along enough stuff to entertain you for even half that stretch (sleeping/eating/talking taking up the rest of the time), you'll be OK.

But sitting in coach that long is a royal *****.

The lone time I went out there, I used miles, and went FC.

Glad I did. Don't expect to make it back.

 

[SoCalDude]

Another tip, if you're staying over a day and the cost isn't too much different, try Orange County. If for no other reason, the security check is 15 minutes, instead of the hour-plus at LAX.

I don't think SNA has Hawaii flights anymore, since Aloha tanked.

Well, that was an unwelcome revelation. Never dawned on me you couldn't fly direct from O.C. to the Islands anymore.
Wonder how long before some airline fills this void ... and it's a major void.

 

[dreunc1542]

Also, for health and sanity reasons, it's much better to break up long flights from the East Coast to Hawaii.

See, now, I'm just the opposite. I want to get where I'm going as fast as possible and spend as much time relaxing there as I can. Rather than going through the stress of the airport twice (four times round trip), I'd prefer to get all the stress of flying out of the way and start my vaca ASAP.

I have a pretty long attention-span, too, so that helps on long flights. Hell, when I flew to Thailand, it was 24 hours - including a 16- or 18-hour leg from NYC to Tokyo - and I don't think I was ever bored (had a couple books, music, did some sleeping).

Agreed. Having done a lot of long-haul flying, I would rather just get there and not prolong things.

I think a lot of it is mental. If you just plan on being in the plan for 14-15 hours and bring along enough stuff to entertain you for even half that stretch (sleeping/eating/talking taking up the rest of the time), you'll be OK.

But sitting in coach that long is a royal *****.

I'm really not looking forward to the 13-hour flight I have to take this summer. It was a little under 8 hours coming back from London and that was torture on my legs, I can't imagine what they will feel like this time.

 

[Football_Bat]

If you go through LAX, you can hit up In-N-Out, among other places.

Is there an In-N-Out in LAX? I didn't see one when I was there three years ago on the way to Kona.

I don't remember one in the terminal, but there's one right north of the runway.

 

[Johnsonville]

Also, for health and sanity reasons, it's much better to break up long flights from the East Coast to Hawaii.

See, now, I'm just the opposite. I want to get where I'm going as fast as possible and spend as much time relaxing there as I can. Rather than going through the stress of the airport twice (four times round trip), I'd prefer to get all the stress of flying out of the way and start my vaca ASAP.

I have a pretty long attention-span, too, so that helps on long flights. Hell, when I flew to Thailand, it was 24 hours - including a 16- or 18-hour leg from NYC to Tokyo - and I don't think I was ever bored (had a couple books, music, did some sleeping).

Agreed. Having done a lot of long-haul flying, I would rather just get there and not prolong things.

I think a lot of it is mental. If you just plan on being in the plan for 14-15 hours and bring along enough stuff to entertain you for even half that stretch (sleeping/eating/talking taking up the rest of the time), you'll be OK.

But sitting in coach that long is a royal *****.

I'll third the idea of flying all day. Been to Hawaii four times and I'd rather have 1-2 extra days in the most beautiful place in the world than anywhere else.

I flew from Atlanta to Maui and it actually was much better than going through Hononlulu.

 

[TrooperBari]

It's hard to believe Hawaii is one of the most isolated places on earth ... until you look at how long it takes to get there just from the West Coast.

Yup. It's quite the feeling, being a five-hour flight from anywhere. Works great as a tourist destination, but living there takes some adjusting.

-------------

Mahoney: If the missus absolutely, positively must stop somewhere, I'd suggest a place where you can get a Hawaiian Air flight direct to the islands. Hawaiian is the best airline I've flown, bar none, and you get free meals on flights from the mainland. Here are their non-stops:

Las Vegas, NV
Los Angeles, CA
Phoenix, AZ
Portland, OR
Sacramento, CA
San Diego, CA
San Francisco, CA
San Jose, CA
Seattle, WA

If memory serves, they also added non-stops from Oakland since Aloha Air's demise. Where are you thinking of staying, if I may ask?

 

[Lyman_Bostock]

Also, for health and sanity reasons, it's much better to break up long flights from the East Coast to Hawaii.

See, now, I'm just the opposite. I want to get where I'm going as fast as possible and spend as much time relaxing there as I can. Rather than going through the stress of the airport twice (four times round trip), I'd prefer to get all the stress of flying out of the way and start my vaca ASAP.

I have a pretty long attention-span, too, so that helps on long flights. Hell, when I flew to Thailand, it was 24 hours - including a 16- or 18-hour leg from NYC to Tokyo - and I don't think I was ever bored (had a couple books, music, did some sleeping).

Agreed. Having done a lot of long-haul flying, I would rather just get there and not prolong things.

I think a lot of it is mental. If you just plan on being in the plan for 14-15 hours and bring along enough stuff to entertain you for even half that stretch (sleeping/eating/talking taking up the rest of the time), you'll be OK.

But sitting in coach that long is a royal *****.

The lone time I went out there, I used miles, and went FC.

Glad I did. Don't expect to make it back.

That's the way to go. I got upgraded to FC on a flight from London, and it was so nice I didn't want to leave the plane.

 

[2muchcoffeeman]

Also, for health and sanity reasons, it's much better to break up long flights from the East Coast to Hawaii.

See, now, I'm just the opposite. I want to get where I'm going as fast as possible and spend as much time relaxing there as I can. Rather than going through the stress of the airport twice (four times round trip), I'd prefer to get all the stress of flying out of the way and start my vaca ASAP.

I have a pretty long attention-span, too, so that helps on long flights. Hell, when I flew to Thailand, it was 24 hours - including a 16- or 18-hour leg from NYC to Tokyo - and I don't think I was ever bored (had a couple books, music, did some sleeping).

Agreed. Having done a lot of long-haul flying, I would rather just get there and not prolong things.

I think a lot of it is mental. If you just plan on being in the plan for 14-15 hours and bring along enough stuff to entertain you for even half that stretch (sleeping/eating/talking taking up the rest of the time), you'll be OK.

But sitting in coach that long is a royal *****.

The lone time I went out there, I used miles, and went FC.

Glad I did. Don't expect to make it back.

That's the way to go. I got upgraded to FC on a flight from London, and it was so nice I didn't want to leave the plane.

I've been pretty lucky — usually I can book coach and then grab the $50 first-class upgrade at the gate. Hella cheaper than booking first class in advance.

 

[Lyman_Bostock]

Also, for health and sanity reasons, it's much better to break up long flights from the East Coast to Hawaii.

See, now, I'm just the opposite. I want to get where I'm going as fast as possible and spend as much time relaxing there as I can. Rather than going through the stress of the airport twice (four times round trip), I'd prefer to get all the stress of flying out of the way and start my vaca ASAP.

I have a pretty long attention-span, too, so that helps on long flights. Hell, when I flew to Thailand, it was 24 hours - including a 16- or 18-hour leg from NYC to Tokyo - and I don't think I was ever bored (had a couple books, music, did some sleeping).

Agreed. Having done a lot of long-haul flying, I would rather just get there and not prolong things.

I think a lot of it is mental. If you just plan on being in the plan for 14-15 hours and bring along enough stuff to entertain you for even half that stretch (sleeping/eating/talking taking up the rest of the time), you'll be OK.

But sitting in coach that long is a royal *****.

The lone time I went out there, I used miles, and went FC.

Glad I did. Don't expect to make it back.

That's the way to go. I got upgraded to FC on a flight from London, and it was so nice I didn't want to leave the plane.

I've been pretty lucky — usually I can book coach and then grab the $50 first-class upgrade at the gate. Hella cheaper than booking first class in advance.

$50? On what airline?

Do you just ask politely at the gate?

I used United's Economy Plus on my last long flight. Not quite like First, but much better than standard coach.

 

[2muchcoffeeman]

Also, for health and sanity reasons, it's much better to break up long flights from the East Coast to Hawaii.

See, now, I'm just the opposite. I want to get where I'm going as fast as possible and spend as much time relaxing there as I can. Rather than going through the stress of the airport twice (four times round trip), I'd prefer to get all the stress of flying out of the way and start my vaca ASAP.

I have a pretty long attention-span, too, so that helps on long flights. Hell, when I flew to Thailand, it was 24 hours - including a 16- or 18-hour leg from NYC to Tokyo - and I don't think I was ever bored (had a couple books, music, did some sleeping).

Agreed. Having done a lot of long-haul flying, I would rather just get there and not prolong things.

I think a lot of it is mental. If you just plan on being in the plan for 14-15 hours and bring along enough stuff to entertain you for even half that stretch (sleeping/eating/talking taking up the rest of the time), you'll be OK.

But sitting in coach that long is a royal *****.

The lone time I went out there, I used miles, and went FC.

Glad I did. Don't expect to make it back.

That's the way to go. I got upgraded to FC on a flight from London, and it was so nice I didn't want to leave the plane.

I've been pretty lucky — usually I can book coach and then grab the $50 first-class upgrade at the gate. Hella cheaper than booking first class in advance.

$50? On what airline?

Do you just ask politely at the gate?

I used United's Economy Plus on my last long flight. Not quite like First, but much better than standard coach.

US Airways and Delta have both done that for me and yes, I just check with the gate agent. It helps that I'm a member of both frequent-flyer programs.

 

[patchs]

My wife and I have done it twice.
Like others have said, I'd rather get the flying out of the way and have more time in paradise.
The last time we flew out, on United, the last leg of our flight was LAX to Honolulu, but we didn't have set seats.
Just before boarding, we went to the counter to get our assignments, the guy printed out the boarding passes and said it was the "best I can do."
He did pretty well; first class, the best flying experience of my life, the flight could have been 10 hours and I wouldn't have cared.
God, I wish was going back, I love that place so much and the fact I have a free place to stay (my brother-in-law lives there), sigh...