Originally Posted by djp98374

How are your kids on long car rides?

The flight time on a direct JFK flight is 11 hrs. about 13 hrs with a change of planes.

That is likely a long time with your kids having to sit down.

Other issue this is an all day flight where you leave around 10am and get in around 10pm (your time if not later). Unlike a red eye where your kids could sleep on the plane your kids are likely not going to sleep which means they will need to be entertained.

In order for their entertainment they will likely need electronic gizmos either games, ipads, laptops, dvd players, etc that require electircity. attery life doesnt last 4 12 hrs. How will your kids be if they are bored?

This is why I highly suggest you look to break up the flight

You drive/fly to NYC/BOS/PHL, fly to a west coast city SEA/SF/LAX (maybe spend a day or two there) but at least give your connection time around 3 hrs which would allow you to eat and find a plug to charge your electronics. Other option you fly there and do an overnight stay in LAX/SEA/SF where you get in around 8pm then fly out in the morning. The hotel room can charge your stuff easily for the next 5-6 hr leg of your flight.

From the west you can fly to either HNL or OGG directly. From the Central or East time zones its much easier to find an HNL flight that an OGG flight.. The HNL-OGG flight is a short 25 min flight.

Were you just traveling wwithout kids then the direct is fine. As adults you can handle the flight.