As a Hawaiian Airlines Pualani Platinum Flyer, amongst other things, I received two First Class upgrade certificates for use between Hawaii and the US mainland. The problem is, they are virtually impossible to use, certainly on the routes I use (HNL-JKF for example) when I commute from my home in Kaua'i to my house in France. Basically you can request an upgrade from 7 days to 4 hours prior to the flight. By then, however, it is always totally booked out in First. My view is that it is all a bit of window dressing which looks and sounds good but is actually totally pointless and useless. I'd be curious to know if anybody has actually ever received an upgrade such s I describe? I am sure on more "obscure" routes it might be possible.

I did write to the CEO direct, asking about this (I will get more certificates in December 2012 when I qualify for Pulani Platinum for 2014 as well) although I merely received a referral to PR and a polite "non response" which actually said nothing! Amongst US airlines generally they are better so I quite like Hawaiian Airlines. And, they are upgrading planes between HNL-SYD. I have flown some really clapped out ones in the past and it is not fun when your tray table in first is faulty!