Trip Reports - Mele Kalikimaka E: Christmas in Hawaii (DCA-DFW-LAX-HNL-DFW-DCA on AA in F/Y)

This trip report has been temporarily removed pending consolidation on a site that I control.

Again, thank you so much for your fast posting on this Trip Report. It was very humorous and extremely informative. I got a kick out of the "shiitake Steak". Please tell me it is pronounced differently from the way it looks. Surely.

After reading your report, I am extremely nervous about TSA. It really sounds like they are abrupt, brutal and uncaring. Not the type of people I like to associate with.

A few questions if I may: Do you get wanded even if you clear through the metal detector?

I know in DEN, you were wanded regardless. Heck, they even made us sit down, take our shoes off, wanded our feet, lifted our hair, undid our belt, and so much more. I've even seen people taking a sip of their drinks in front of security to make sure it's drinkable.

Another question: Although getting bumper vouchers would be nice, I don't want to be bumped. It was hard enough trying to accommodate all (mainland and interisland) flights within sequence of one another. I know our flight in coach is booked solid. Same thing goes with the following flight after ours. Please reassure me they won't force you to take another flight. Were there a lot of volunteers or did the FA have to make some people get off? How do they go about doing this if they have to force people off? I just cringe at the thought of this.

Again, thank you so much for your wonderful post. It most certainly helps!

For the most part TSA people are OK, but I think for a few the idea of authority gets to their heads. Since the encounters with TSA reported on FT tend to be mostly negative, people can get the wrong impression. I wouldn't be that concerned. The main thing to do is just go along with whatever they tell you to do and not be confrontational. If you follow all their directions and don't get in their face, they can't really do anything. It seems to be quite random as to whether people who do not set off the alarm get wanded. Sometimes they have been really rude to me, but I don't say anything. I mean after all, how exciting can their job be?

I am hoping that with time TSA will realize that not every traveler who sets off the metal detector is a terrorist.

With regards to the agricultural inspections in Hawaii, this is kind of like that tag on your mattress that says "it is a violation of some law to remove this except for the consumer." I have only been stopped once in about 30 trips to HNL, but still it was scary as I was an unaccompanied minor.

With regards to getting bumped, I wouldn't worry at all about it. I have never seen anyone involuntarily denied boarding. If this is a real concern, be sure to get to the airport 2 h early. You might also want to call AA and get solid seat assignments. Before anyone is involuntarily denied boarding, the airline will give away thousands in vouchers. Usually it is the case that there are more volunteers than spots needed. Whenever I have voluntarily been bumped, AA has always been great about rearranging my flight connections. What typically happens is that I get to my destination 3-4 hours late but have gotten as much as $1,500 in vouchers. Since it appears you are into saving money, why not give it a try? Especially on your return trip to the mainland, getting bumped would mean an extra night in Waikiki. You might be able to go to Hawaii again next year.

P.S. The Shiitake steak is pronounced She-taki.

[This message has been edited by CharlesMD (edited 01-02-2003).]

Thank you for your quick response in answering my questions.

I appreciate your trip report.

Great report. I had missed it the first time around.

Loved the report CharlesMD...

Being a native of Hawai'i, I got melancholy when I read the part about eating @ "Zippy's" - one of my favorite things! :-)

I have not flown AA to HNL yet, but by year end will do so...

Have a wonderful weekend.

Blessings.

------------------
Patrick A. Inouye, CMT
volunteer trip reports moderator

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by pallensf:
eating @ "Zippy's" - one of my favorite things! </font>

Okay, what's "Zippy's"? Just so I know for my next trip. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by yyzflyer:
Okay, what's "Zippy's"? Just so I know for my next trip. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif</font>

http://www.zippys.com/

Hey hey Doc...very happy to hear you made PLAT over AZ...I think that's where I did too!

I had the ****ake-crusted steak EZE-JFK just last month....it was actually really good for airplane steak or maybe it was the Argentine beef? I'm not sure.

Did you go to Hanama Bay (east of Waikiki)...it is the neatest beach/bay/reef and the first place I ever snorkled at the ripe age of five!

Enjoy the double-mile bonus from now on and happy travels!

Thanks for the trip report! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thumbsup.gif

Congrats on the bumps.