Originally Posted by flannbarr

That being said, I am willing to fly other airlines.

Originally Posted by wchinchen

Being FlyerTalk, we all try to maximize the hard product, even if it means flying longer. But, your option one sounds the most reasonable, as it gets you to Kauai directly without having to jump through the COVID gauntlet twice (once in HNL, then another in LIH).

A tight connection in SLC is not fun, especially if Delta schedules the flights at different terminals (Its about a 10 minute walk).

If you truly want to maximize the hard product FC experience, willing to fly longer in order to get lay flat options, with cost in mind, as other posters have said, then look at other carriers: AA out of DFW/ORD, UA out of SFO/ORD, HA LAS/JFK. AA has been the best price wise when I've been booking, but has gone up two to three folds this month on certain days.

Originally Posted by wchinchen

Or maybe Delta will revive the dreaded 767 2x2x2 domestic FC seats with the super small 1990's screens for the SLC-HNL again. One positive out of COVID, is that Delta has provided better hard product equipped planes for HNL routes. Currently on an A330-200 with herring bone configuration, for a typical 757 SEA-HNL route.

Originally Posted by xliioper

DL has only solidified their schedule through May 4th. Flights booked for June are almost certainly going to see significant changes. I'd be hesitant to book anything on DL for June with it's limited options and the high probability of changes.

Originally Posted by Lux Flyer

Alternatively, this could be a golden opportunity depending on risk tolerance/acceptability of the alternate should this not work out. But if you have a flight that you're pretty sure is going to be changed, booking that now, then letting the schedule change break the connection could give OP the golden ticket to change routing via MSP or ATL for free.

Originally Posted by kjnangre

Exactly what I was about to say. Similarly, the 31 minute SLC connection is very tempting. All it takes is a 2-minute schedule change (happens all the time) and boom, you're on the A330 for free

(29 min connection is illegal)

Originally Posted by flannbarr

In July 2021, my wife and 19 year old son are flying from Tampa, FL to Hawaii.

Originally Posted by SUPERTRAVEL

For what it's worth, Hawaiian now flies nonstop to HNL from MCO using the A330.

Originally Posted by ATOBTTR

My recommendation, consider AA unless you're able to get the A330 or 767 via ATL or MSP. On the return out of KOA on DL, you'll only be able to go via ATL or MSP if you go via HNL. If you try to do KOA-LAX, it'll be a standard domestic F seat on DL. AA runs the 777 and 787 via DFW to both HNL and KOA (as well as OGG) which will come with lie-flats This will make a huge difference on the redeye return, whereas out of KOA on DL, you'll get a DL aircraft with a standard domestic F seat unless you're willing to go via HNL and then get a flight to ATL or MSP with the A330 or 767 with lie-flats (or maybe via SLC but that is not guaranteed to be DL One and even if showing an aircraft type with lie-flats, there could be a schedule change between now and then to an aircraft with non-lie-flats). As you note later in the thread, the ATL and MSP routings, especially the returns, usually command a steep premium. Conversely, AA F is often reasonably priced.

Originally Posted by flannbarr

We are changing our Hawaii trip from July to September. The likely dates are 9/9 from TPA>LIH and 9/26 from KOA>TPA, however we are flexible in our dates. Now it is only my wife and I as our son will be in college. Flying first class preferably on Delta. It appears that 757's are primarily the options for the long hauls and nothing with Delta One seating. If anyone sees anything better, I would love to hear it.

Originally Posted by flannbarr

We are changing our Hawaii trip from July to September. The likely dates are 9/9 from TPA>LIH and 9/26 from KOA>TPA, however we are flexible in our dates. Now it is only my wife and I as our son will be in college. Flying first class preferably on Delta. It appears that 757's are primarily the options for the long hauls and nothing with Delta One seating. If anyone sees anything better, I would love to hear it.

Originally Posted by Beckles

Book the cheapest possible option and between now and September you will most likely have the opportunity to change your flights to an alternative (more expensive) itinerary due to schedule change.

We have tickets booked for Thanksgiving for LIH-MCI, we were originally booked on the cheapest LIH-LAX-MCI option, our schedule changed recently and instead of the the LIH-LAX-MCI (with a much longer layover in LAX) itinerary they switched us to, I was able to switch to LIH-HNL-SLC-MCI on the website, with the HNL-SLC flight on a flat bed aircraft (for now of course, everything's subject to change), that flight was much more expensive to book when I booked our tickets, but I had no problem switching to it with the schedule change. I was not able to switch to HNL-ATL by the online system, I did not try calling in to do it either.