Flying 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 bitch.

 

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

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

 

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.

 

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.

 

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

 

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.

 

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.

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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?

 

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.