I sure hope this is the right place to post this - please be gentle with me :-)

Next fall will be our 40th anniversary and I would like to takes Mrs bj2757 to Hawaii (Honolulu) - she's never been. I have been there many times during my 30 years in the military, so this trip would be for her.

I am 80% disabled and for most things I'm fine, but the idea of a long flight, even with stops (like overnight in San Francisco) has kept me from proceeding with plans.

I'm now at the point where I want to go, and I realize that for me to make it I'm going to have to grin and bear it and go first class.

Financially that's something I can handle, but I've been on FT long enough to want to make the hit as soft as possible - I just don't know that I have many options :-) I'm only worried about flights - not accommodations.

After traveling constantly for 40 years, the last 5 we don't travel enough any more to have status with anyone, so I'm grasping at straws.

So I'm asking the experts - what are my options, if any. Am I pretty much going to have to suck up first class fare, or is there another option on one of the airlines that would give me enough room to move a bit to make a long flight tolerable (I'm 6'2" and 230) such as a cheaper business class or pre-paid exit row seats etc.

If I have to just pay the big bucks am I better off booking early (as soon as flights are available) or waiting until the date gets closer.

As always I appreciate your wisdom and recommendations (and yes - I have plenty of drugs, I'd just rather not use that option :-).

Brian