Best flight to LIH or Honolulu
 

Hi All

I've got Amex MR points as well as AA, Aloha and Hawaiian miles and wonder what your thoughts are on the best first class service to Hawaii. Our ultimate destination is Lihue but I can take the short flight there if we have excellent servie to Honolulu .. of course direct is best.
We're in the Bay Area and can fly SJC, SFO and OAK. It will be 2 adults, 3yo and 2mo baby next Summer (June/July)
Any thoughts on the best way to get there with the mileage I've got and as well as the best airline(s) experiences?

Many thanks

AFAIK, United runs the only nonstop from the Bay Area to Lihue. With kids, getting onto one of these flights is obviously your best bet. I don't have experience with Aloha or Hawaiian miles, but it looks like your Aloha miles can be redeemed for UA flights.

I've flown to/from Hawaii in J/F on both UA and AA. Service was fine in all cases. I don't think any carrier is known for running spectacular international-quality F service to Hawaii. I thought of it as just a little better than regular domestic F. If I had it to do over again, I'd just find flights with good coach seat assignments available and leave it at that.

I preferred widebody J over narrowbody F, but not enough to insert an unnecessary connection into my trip. I would definitely go for that UA 757 nonstop to LIH if you can get it: you and the kids will all be infinitely happier than you would schlepping through HNL looking for the next cattle car to Kauai.

First off, this thread most likely belongs on the Hawai'i board and would benefit from the expertise of our seasoned travelers to the islands there. Secondly, try the thread below as a starting point and do a search for answers to your questions. It has been addressed a couple times in the past.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=284629

FWIW, ATA also has a seasonal flight from SFO-LIH.

aloha