Hawaii-based Airlines - HELP! opinion? please-re: Hawaiian Air from Aus-service/entertainment?

Hi I am flying from Australia to Calgary and have gotten a quote for Hawaiian--what's the service/entertainment like? I am flying on my own with a small child. i usually fly Air NZ but they have a 'black out' date for when I want to leave :mad:(14 July). Any opinions would be appreciated. We'll have to have a stop over in Honolulu too--hoped to fly direct but no can do.....thank you!

From what I understand, they fly older planes to and from Australia without AVOD in every seat. However, I've read that you can rent a portable device with similar features. I am not particularly sure that's why I asked a similar question on another thread.

The HA website tells you about the plane (767-300), the meal service (full meal + snack between HNL and SYD), and the in-flight entertainment (movie screen and/or digiplayer rental). A site like Seatguru can give you information about seating.

Of the US carriers, HA is one of the friendliest but not polished like many of the international carriers. Most of HA's passengers are going to Hawaii.

Liska, we live on the Gold Coast too and my kids have been very frequent flyers since infancy, and our annual trips to HNL are ALWAYS on Air New Zealand. If you can move your dates do, because the gulf in product is huge.

We have survived years of flying and eating in restaurants with kids by buying each of them a personal video recorder upon which they can store hundreds of hours of their favourite DVDs.

We use Archos PVRs which we order from eBay because they hold hundreds of gigabytes and you just put a cable in from your DVD player and press record. In Australia they are distributed by:

http://www.cleverhome.com.au/products/Archos-70-Internet-Tablet-Touchscreen-Home-Automation.shtml

Honestly, Archos products changed our lives. Even on Air NZ there is a limited amount of IFE suitable for each age, whereas my daughter has all her favourite shows and movies on her PVR. Yes, you can buy product on an iPod or iPad, but I find the PVR a much easier route.

I flew Hawaian a few days ago. Hiring a personal player costs $15 (US). Otherwise they show 3 films on overhead monitors just like UA do.

HA's B767 aircraft are actually newer than NZ or QF's B767s. Meals are free and a bit on the small size and nothing special, beer and wine (Argentinian/California) are also free, they charge for spirits. The flight leaves SYD at 9.20pm and I slept for nearly the whole flight... yes, even in economy! The flight back is a daytime flight leaving HNL at 2pm ish. Got served a delicious macadamia ice cream on the way back too.

Staff were excellent. Friendly, but professional. No snooty attitude that you sometimes get a la NZ or QF. They were very regularly coming through the aisles with soft drinks and water; even during the night flight.

2 x 3 seating configuration was great for 2 people travelling on the long flight.

There's an Hawaian feel sort of oozing from the furnishings, the decor, plane and staff. They were enjoyable flights & for the price, I would choose them again; even if I do miss out on the QF lounge.

You'll have to clear Customs in HNL to connect onto YYC but even Immigration therewas a sinch & took just a few minutes.

I actually like the Hawaiian product, however I have never flown ANZ so don't know how the two compare.

Like others have said the onboard service on Hawaiian is very good. They seem to get that they are there to serve the customers and do it well. For example with the food service, they start at the front of economy class and as soon as the last meal is served they start taking the trays away at the front, unlike Qantas who will leave your tray in front of you for 1+ hours.

I have regularly taken the Hawaiian flight from HNL to SYD and what I like about it most is the timing as you get into Sydney at 7.30 p.m. or thereabouts. By that time the airport workers seem keen to get home so customs, immigration and baggage seems to come out quicker. It also allows you to get back into the Australian time zone quicker.

The other thing that I like about Hawaiian is they are good at holding to the departure time. I think only once or twice have I ever been on a Hawaiian flight that has left late. We find that on the way to Oz we normally need to overnight but returning to the US you can normally make the connecting onward flights.