We just bought a vacation package at a charity auction that includes two round trip First Class airline tickets. We are flying from NYC to Honolulu. If cost was not an issue, who would you fly on what routes? Who has the best product? This will be our first and probably only time in first/business so want a good taste of what it is like.

With that in mind, who would you fly NYC to HNL?

Thanks for your help.....

Well the US domestic business is NOT like intercontintal business class just to make that clear. The seats on Delta domestic business for instance has 40 inches of pitch (I think there is one exception here on the flights between JFK and LAX where you get intercontinental business seats). But then agian I don't know anything more than Delta when it comes to domestic US first/class, but their service was pretty good, and they do have personal tv screens if you get the boeing 767.

Has anyone done the CO nonstop EWR to HNL? It looks like that's the only nonstop from NYC. Since it is almost 11 hours might it have an enhanced product more than just a regular domestic flight?

Definitely the CO non-stop from EWR. After that the AA flights from DFW/ORD-HNL or DFW-OGG.

it does have international BE and this is by far the best option

Here's the DL rundown.

The best DL option is going through ATL. A daily A330 goes ATL-HNL (and back) and is equipped with international-level Business Elite seats. They're tilted lie-flats. The service here is also a step up from normal domestic first (it is sometimes referred to as Business Elite-light). Two meals, ice cream sundaes, and AVOD with touchscreens.

Virtually every other DL product to HNL is the same as domestic first. You can go through LAX, SFO, SEA, or SLC. Going through SLC will get you on a 767 with AVOD with touchscreens, but nothing else fancy. SEA-HNL is on an 757-300 with just overhead screens (even in F ). I believe various 767s and 757s go out of LAX and SFO. There are flights from JFK to SFO and LAX with Business Elite service levels.

If money is no object, and you want to fly DL, definitely go through ATL. Beyond that, no special recommendations for DL.

Thanks so much for your helpful replies.

We haven't decided exactly when we are going to go on our trip but probaly sometime this year.

It looks like for our purposes, the CO nonstop is the best option. It's nonstop, and when you are traveling with kids that's a big thing.

(Oh, forgot to mention, we will be using miles to buy a 3rd ticket, however our traveling companion has status on just about everyone except US Airways. So that has nothing to do with it. It looks like there are some reasonable awards for the CO non stop on the dates we are looking at)

Glad that's a good option.

We took that HNL-ATL flight(F/C) last month and it is exactly as advertised above. I couldn't tell the difference between that flight and the intercontinental A330 flights (we also took a DL F/C flight DTW-AMS last summer). They even had the toiletry kits which I thought were only included on international flights.

Even flying from MSP, if you're flying first class, I think it would be worth going through ATL to catch that flight. The 60"-70" pitch in F/C vs. the std domestic "32-36" is a nice luxury on an 8 hour flight.

Please also see: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hawai...ns-thread.html

Hey everyone, I was directed to the forums after some intense googling and after reading twenty or so pages of this thread I must say you all seem to really know what you are talking about! With that preamble, I'll get right to it since you seem to be the right people to ask:

Flying to HNL in March 2012 with my girlfriend, set on a first-class flight experience.

My girlfriend broke her pelvis (snowboarders...sheesh) last year and still has a lot of trouble staying still and sitting for extended periods of time, so I am hoping for the most comfortable flying arrangement possible. Perhaps this can be full flat lying seats (I hope)? I'm still trying to get a handle on what pitch and angle and the other terms people use to describe seats, but I assume the most comfortable arrangement for her will be to have the option to lie down...Also, if anyone knows up to date info on entertainment options in various airlines' first class cabins that would be most helpful. I figure if I can't keep her totally comfortable I can at least keep her distracted

We live in Virginia, but are originally from NY, and lived in Colorado for a while. From reading this thread it seems like there are a few options out of ATL, EWR, and DEN. ATL is a close option, EWR would allow us to see our families for a day, and DEN would allow us to see our friends, so there are advantages to any of these departure cities. Which airline, which plane, which city is going to have the best seats for her? Price is less of a concern than comfort, although I will say shorter flight times also are probably a priority...

Another quick question, which perhaps ought to appear in a different thread, but I'll ask anyway. I've seen some replies here that advise people to apply for a certain credit card or apply for membership in a certain rewards program prior to booking a big ticket flight like this in order to reap some certain benefits...if that situation applies to any of the potential options for us, would you let me know?

Thanks so much in advance!!

Update: Turns out we have some miles to use! Not many on Delta (~9000) but lots with AA (240,000) so perhaps that can help us?

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.601 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)

Update: Turns out we have some miles to use! Not many on Delta (~9000) but lots with AA (240,000) so perhaps that can help us?"[/b]

If available at the "MileSAAver" level, your best bet would be to route via DFW each way, to take advantage of the angled flat beds on AA's 767 between DFW and HNL. But I suggest you check aa.com immediately to see if those award seats are available at the MileSAAver level for when you want to travel.

Last time to Hawaii our family went through DEN to OGG on United on their 767 in F.
The FA's were good, decent food, average IFE.
I have to say that the seats in F were very unimpressive. Basic recline with more legroom & width, enjoyable for a few hours but almost as wearisome as coach when trying to sleep on the return.
So this March we opted for AA through DFW as opposed to Delta through ATL.
The scheduling is better for us and the distance is shorter on AA.
We are looking forward to hopefully better service and much better seats. If you haven't checked, look on seatguru or seat expert to compare the pitch and the "almost" flat seats offered.
Pretty much a no brainer in one of the 2 choices because US, UA/CO don't even offer that kind of seat that I'm aware of.

And if your FF miles permit then even better.
Good luck,
Steve

No one on this thread mentioned about HA providing F service to HNL. HA flies brand new A330s to HNL from LAX, SFO and LAS. Beginning next June, they will be flying daily nonstop from JFK on their A330s. HA also flies 767s on some routes to HNL. The A330s cabins are quiet, have nice mood lighting and the latest Panasonic IFE system on board.

I haven't flown HA in F long haul so I cannot vouch personally for the service in this class but from the many posts I have read in FT, most customers rate the cabin service and catering as very good or top notch. Most FTers are used to international style F lie-flat seating. HA, having their cabins configured primarily towards the leisure market uses recliner seats and not lie-flat seats so that seems to be a major comment among FTers. You might say, HA's competition in the F category would be the overseas carriers that fly Pacific routes with similar equipment, such as NZ's 767s, NH's 767s none of which have lie-flat seats in F.

seems lieflat remains unchanged >

DL 333 (eventually getting flatbed?)
HNL - ATL

AA 763
HNL - DFW / ORD
OGG - DFW