Dissatisfied With Hawaiian's Business Class Seats on PPT-HNL Flight
Feb 7, 2018, 12:37 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 111
Business Class Seats
My wife and I traveled on Hawaiian Air #482 from Papeete to Honolulu last Saturday evening. We found the business class seats the most uncomfortable we have flown on any airline in recent years. We do not fly on Hawaiian Air very often since we live in Florida--but we were surprised and disappointed.
Is this their best product?
Is this their best product?
Last edited by FlyinHawaiian; Feb 8, 2018 at 5:18 am Reason: vague thread title
Feb 7, 2018, 2:08 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 111
Apr 24, 2019, 12:46 am
#5
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,143
The curved arm rest encroaches on the sleep space. They could have designed the aisle-side arm rest to retract downwards (think, e.g., UA-design lie-flats), providing easier access to the aisle and more shoulder space when sleeping (or trying to sleep as sleep is not guaranteed in this coffin.)
The seats are hard. Rock hard. And narrow due to the 2-2-2 design.
The tablet AVOD system allows for more of a feeling of openness, but one can't use it until it is distributed and after it is collected. Other carriers without tablets allow one to start watching continuously, from when one boards to deplanes.
So while I rate these seats as an A+ in aesthetics, I give them a D in comfort/utility.
I actually rate this seat configuration as the worst lie-flat J product I have flown.
Last edited by 747FC; Apr 24, 2019 at 12:55 am
Apr 30, 2019, 10:14 am
#6
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: STL/ORD/MCI/SAN
Programs: AA CK MM, AC SE100K, BA Gold, UA 1K, DL Plat, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 1,989
The pads hadn't been set up before the flight, but rather were in a plastic package at each seat. I noticed a few people seemed confused by what to do with them... an older lady in 1C had the FA come over so she could ask about it, and the FA just asked her to stand and placed it on the seat for her.
Apr 30, 2019, 10:21 am
#7
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: STL/ORD/MCI/SAN
Programs: AA CK MM, AC SE100K, BA Gold, UA 1K, DL Plat, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 1,989
The curved arm rest encroaches on the sleep space. They could have designed the aisle-side arm rest to retract downwards (think, e.g., UA-design lie-flats), providing easier access to the aisle and more shoulder space when sleeping (or trying to sleep as sleep is not guaranteed in this coffin.)
Apr 30, 2019, 10:41 am
#8
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,143
thought one nice feature was that the tray table rotates to roughly a 45 degree angle to allow aisle access even while the table is in use. That's a pretty thoughtful touch, IMO. HA does things a bit differently overall, and I suppose not everyone can be happy with every product, but I'm surprised to see so many negative reviews.
Jul 30, 2019, 7:43 pm
#10
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 259
I've been on this plane/in this seat on a number of occasions (but not on this routing). The aesthetics are great...a beautiful seat. Problem is that they obviously did not do beta testing with actual experienced J-flyers or with beta testers who stayed in the seat for 8-10 hours and tried to sleep.
The curved arm rest encroaches on the sleep space. They could have designed the aisle-side arm rest to retract downwards (think, e.g., UA-design lie-flats), providing easier access to the aisle and more shoulder space when sleeping (or trying to sleep as sleep is not guaranteed in this coffin.)
The seats are hard. Rock hard. And narrow due to the 2-2-2 design.
The tablet AVOD system allows for more of a feeling of openness, but one can't use it until it is distributed and after it is collected. Other carriers without tablets allow one to start watching continuously, from when one boards to deplanes.
So while I rate these seats as an A+ in aesthetics, I give them a D in comfort/utility.
I actually rate this seat configuration as the worst lie-flat J product I have flown.
The curved arm rest encroaches on the sleep space. They could have designed the aisle-side arm rest to retract downwards (think, e.g., UA-design lie-flats), providing easier access to the aisle and more shoulder space when sleeping (or trying to sleep as sleep is not guaranteed in this coffin.)
The seats are hard. Rock hard. And narrow due to the 2-2-2 design.
The tablet AVOD system allows for more of a feeling of openness, but one can't use it until it is distributed and after it is collected. Other carriers without tablets allow one to start watching continuously, from when one boards to deplanes.
So while I rate these seats as an A+ in aesthetics, I give them a D in comfort/utility.
I actually rate this seat configuration as the worst lie-flat J product I have flown.
Jul 30, 2019, 11:08 pm
#11
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,143
Perhaps after having a very uncomfortable attempt at sleeping in the A330, I was not as clear-headed as I should have been.Actually I've never shared the 2-4-2's middle section with a stranger, but I have a vivid imagination having flown with my wife in the 2-section on that "Devil's Chariot." It is the worst configuration hands-down.
With your help, I'll rephrase my point: While HA's A330 is not the worst lie-flat configuration in the world, it has significant shortcomings that make me question the aesthetic/functional tradeoff decisions of the HA design/implementation committee. It is hoped that future iterations will lead to greater functional utility.
Thank you for the opportunity to reflect on my transgressions, collect my thoughts and hopefully inspire a future generation of cabin designers.
Jul 31, 2019, 1:22 pm
#12
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 259
Wow, I needed that wake up call! What was I thinking??? Perhaps after having a very uncomfortable attempt at sleeping in the A330, I was not as clear-headed as I should have been.
Actually I've never shared the 2-4-2's middle section with a stranger, but I have a vivid imagination having flown with my wife in the 2-section on that "Devil's Chariot." It is the worst configuration hands-down.
With your help, I'll rephrase my point: While HA's A330 is not the worst lie-flat configuration in the world, it has significant shortcomings that make me question the aesthetic/functional tradeoff decisions of the HA design/implementation committee. It is hoped that future iterations will lead to greater functional utility.
Thank you for the opportunity to reflect on my transgressions, collect my thoughts and hopefully inspire a future generation of cabin designers.
Perhaps after having a very uncomfortable attempt at sleeping in the A330, I was not as clear-headed as I should have been.Actually I've never shared the 2-4-2's middle section with a stranger, but I have a vivid imagination having flown with my wife in the 2-section on that "Devil's Chariot." It is the worst configuration hands-down.
With your help, I'll rephrase my point: While HA's A330 is not the worst lie-flat configuration in the world, it has significant shortcomings that make me question the aesthetic/functional tradeoff decisions of the HA design/implementation committee. It is hoped that future iterations will lead to greater functional utility.
Thank you for the opportunity to reflect on my transgressions, collect my thoughts and hopefully inspire a future generation of cabin designers.
Naw, it's really a lot simpler than that. I really was curious, because I flew in the middle 2 with DW on one side, and stranger on the other side. Although I am sure we was a nice enough guy, I didn't like his left elbow, and he surely didn't like my right elbow. I'm not joking.. the arm rest is only a sliver width on each seat. Godo thing he wasn't a left-handed eater. But they are lay flats and were decent from the comfort perspective.
We plan on going to Hawaii a fair amount in the future, and HA is normally pretty pricey on those lay flats, so I am looking into the options. I appreciate the information. Cheers!
Jul 31, 2019, 2:51 pm
#13
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,143
Lol
Naw, it's really a lot simpler than that. I really was curious, because I flew in the middle 2 with DW on one side, and stranger on the other side. Although I am sure we was a nice enough guy, I didn't like his left elbow, and he surely didn't like my right elbow. I'm not joking.. the arm rest is only a sliver width on each seat. Godo thing he wasn't a left-handed eater. But they are lay flats and were decent from the comfort perspective.
We plan on going to Hawaii a fair amount in the future, and HA is normally pretty pricey on those lay flats, so I am looking into the options. I appreciate the information. Cheers!
Naw, it's really a lot simpler than that. I really was curious, because I flew in the middle 2 with DW on one side, and stranger on the other side. Although I am sure we was a nice enough guy, I didn't like his left elbow, and he surely didn't like my right elbow. I'm not joking.. the arm rest is only a sliver width on each seat. Godo thing he wasn't a left-handed eater. But they are lay flats and were decent from the comfort perspective.
We plan on going to Hawaii a fair amount in the future, and HA is normally pretty pricey on those lay flats, so I am looking into the options. I appreciate the information. Cheers!
UA also has a superior AVOD product which does not require juggling the console and having the FA's remove them an hour or so before landing. Good grief! But, 2-4-2 is ridiculous in this age of 1-2-1s.