Originally Posted by BearX220

True enough, but it should be noted that 600a-700a departures from west coast airports are standard practice for people flying east, at least, who want to get where they're going before bedtime. When you pull up to SEA at 430a or so it is pretty well teeming with people. We're used to it.

As for the long HNL layover en route to SYD, I would venture that not everyone is as un-time-pressed as you -- if it's a two-week vacation it's hard to allot four days getting there.