A client is paying first class airfare, so what is the best way to travel?

I will be flying from Honolulu to Washington DC for a three day trip in mid-December.

I've limited it to a couple options --

1 stop flights on CO, AA, or UA via IAH or ORD

2-stop flights on UA or AA via California and JFK

I think I am most likely to go with Continental, but curious if I am missing something, or if ps/flagship service is worth the extra connection.

And no, I don't think I can swing a one-stop connection via Japan or Korea, but everything else is fair game.

A client is paying first class airfare, so what is the best way to travel?

I will be flying from Honolulu to Washington DC for a three day trip in mid-December.

I've limited it to a couple options --

1 stop flights on CO, AA, or UA via IAH or ORD

2-stop flights on UA or AA via California and JFK

I think I am most likely to go with Continental, but curious if I am missing something, or if ps/flagship service is worth the extra connection.

And no, I don't think I can swing a one-stop connection via Japan or Korea, but everything else is fair game.
Aloha. I've heard some horror stories about UA ps service. Not to mention you'd have to suffer through domestic seating on the HNL-SFO/LAX leg in First, which IMHO does not make up for expanded seating on the middle segment.

When traveling from Hawaii, the choice is clear if someone else is paying for First: go through IAH/EWR on CO for the international first class product, seating and IFE.

That said, flights out of HNL departing on CO past 8:30 do not get the full BF service. So, you'll have to look at booking the first HNL-IAH flight, rather than the HNL-EWR flight which leaves at 10-p.m. ish

p.s. on UA is very nice in Business and First Classes. Very average in Coach.

I've heard some horror stories about UA ps service.

Really -- even in first? I've heard a lot of grumbling about economy plus, but I would be most decidedly at the front of the bus on this trip.

Really -- even in first? I've heard a lot of grumbling about economy plus, but I would be most decidedly at the front of the bus on this trip.
I've known three people who've used p.s. service to the East Coast flying out of HNL.

Two of those had F class paid for, one was in C.

Both in the paid F class thought that the p.s. service was okay, but the real problem was with having to fly UA domestic F on the HNL-West Coast leg. Why pay all that money to sit in a standard seating F seat (no lie flat) with standard domestic service when you could just fly a premium business product straight to the East Coast on CO or a one-stop through IAH. The very fact that you have to break up your trip into two-stops should also be a determinative factor. Even flying in First, with the two-stopper, two of those segments would be in a domestic first configured jet.

Also, why not go with CO in a heartbeat as a NW plat? ;)

A client is paying first class airfare, so what is the best way to travel?
Sound asleep on the non-stop to EWR :). You leave late enough to eat a light dinner & then crash the whole way there.

Sound asleep on the non-stop to EWR :). You leave late enough to eat a light dinner & then crash the whole way there.
Only problem is that light dinner is a soup/sandwich combo. Why pay all that money if you can't get the full BF menu? ;)

When they still had the full BF menu, I didn't eat it. It was too late to eat that much food. As it is now, I skip the sundae :eek: :eek:

I have my eye shades on, ear plugs in, & I'm wrapped in a blanket by the time they finish serving the ice cream :).

I never thought I would say it, but the $$$ for that BF seat is worth every penny - even without the full blown service.

When they still had the full BF menu, I didn't eat it. It was too late to eat that much food. As it is now, I skip the sundae :eek: :eek:

I have my eye shades on, ear plugs in, & I'm wrapped in a blanket by the time they finish serving the ice cream :).
The meal for me is the best part... since I don't sleep on planes. :eek:
I never thought I would say it, but the $$$ for that BF seat is worth every penny - even without the full blown service.
Agreed!

If you don't do the CO option, you might also consider HA in F (which unlike some folks here, I generally find quite nice) to SFO/LAX, overnight in a hotel and then UA ps service. Would break the trip up. But I like more segments rather than fewer so take that into account :)

AQ in F is better than HA in F, but they don't fly to SFO/LAX, only OAK/SNA.

Thanks for all the helpful advice.

If I could spare the time, spending a night in San Francisco on the outbound trip sounds like the best plan of all.

Very good points about continental. I realize I shouldn't even hesitate, but since I'm already double platinum for the year, I guess I was curious if there was a better way. Wouldn't mind adding to my British Air miles with AA, and I still feel nostalgic about UA from time to time.

But I've decided on Continental -- it's also less than half the price of the UA or AA options. I'll fly out on the earlier IAH flight to get the full meal service (I don't sleep on planes, either). But the return is a bit more complicated.

The best time to leave for me would be early afternoon via EWR. That means flying through possibly the worst most congested airport in the world AND an 11 hour flight. Alternatively, I could take an earlier flight through IAH. Curious if there are any differences in the service -- the meals on both are identified as "Snack or Brunch". Gotta believe the meal service is pretty extensive on an 11 hour BF flight, but I'd love to know for sure.

Thanks,
Chris

The best time to leave for me would be early afternoon via EWR. That means flying through possibly the worst most congested airport in the world AND an 11 hour flight. Alternatively, I could take an earlier flight through IAH. Curious if there are any differences in the service -- the meals on both are identified as "Snack or Brunch". Gotta believe the meal service is pretty extensive on an 11 hour BF flight, but I'd love to know for sure.
Well I'm glad you finally came to your senses about CO. :p

The meal service is actually pretty much the same on the EWR-HNL flight as it is on the IAH-HNL flight. The flight times are just 2-2 1/2 hours different.

Of course, if you'd like to compare menus, here you go [December Menus]:
EWR-HNL: http://www.continental.com/web/en-US/content/travel/inflight/businessfirst/menu/ewrhnl.aspx?menuMonth=200612&SID=17345CA42D1C42EA81F8D801BE82B6CC
IAH-HNL: http://www.continental.com/web/en-US/content/travel/inflight/businessfirst/menu/iahhnl.aspx?menuMonth=200612&SID=17345CA42D1C42EA81F8D801BE82B6CC

And, the menu on HNL-IAH in December:
http://www.continental.com/web/en-US/content/travel/inflight/businessfirst/menu/hnliah.aspx?menuMonth=200612&SID=17345CA42D1C42EA81F8D801BE82B6CC

Flying out of EWR at anytime of the day is bound to be a hellish experience. Personally, I'd opt for the non-stop, but that's just me. Others would prefer the stop in IAH because they can move around. However, that's 3 hours less in a big comfy seat. But OTOH, you'd get one extra meal flying thru IAH... and get to see two of the most different cultured airports in America.

Well I'm glad you finally came to your senses about CO. :p


I'm slow, but I like to think I eventually get to the right answer eventually. I'm actually flying out of DCA, so I can bypass EWR entirely. Given the identical menus, that's exactly what I will do...

Mahalo!

I'm slow, but I like to think I eventually get to the right answer eventually. I'm actually flying out of DCA, so I can bypass EWR entirely. Given the identical menus, that's exactly what I will do...

Mahalo!
Sounds good--have a safe and pleasant trip. And FYI (if you didn't already know), you rec'v President's Club access both in HNL, IAH, and your final destination with your BusinessFirst ticket.