FlyerTalk Forums - Spring Break

Back in August, when we received Twiz's school schedule, we decided to spend spring break in Kona. I looked at UA's fares and was surprised to find that eight months out fares were $750 for coach. Of course they were about half that the week before and the week after.

I went ahead and booked Twiz and I SFO-KOA. I kept watching the fare, but instead of going down, within a few weeks it was up to $1000 and by November it was oversold as were all the other UA flights from SFO to Hawaii for the weekend before Easter.

My husband, Rod, was taking the new OAK-OGG flight (and then on to KOA) on Aloha. Coach was about half what we paid; first under $1000.

Our flights were scheduled to depart within about 15 minutes of each other from the two different airports. But as we live much closer to OAK, this meant Rod got to sleep an extra hour. ... what I won't do for status and bonus miles.

Twiz and I arrived at SFO to find the domestic terminal jam packed with families. In fact, we saw five families from our old neighborhood. Maui and Washington DC appeared to be the hot destinations.

Rod arrived at OAK and found the terminal pretty much empty and his flight leaving on time.

Back at SFO, we looked at the monitor to find our flight had been delayed an hour. "Due to crew," they told us. We went ahead and checked in and asked about the possibility of taking a bump. The agent said they wouldn't be bumping anyone from our flight.

Just prior to boarding the gate agent announced there would be no way they'd be getting everyone ticketed onto the plane and that they needed volunteers. Twiz and I went for it in exchange for $400 each, a four-hour delay and upgrades to business http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif.

Twiz and I hung out and ate cinnamon buns while we waited for our new flight. Twiz was wonderfully patient, but he made me promise we wouldn't take another bump that day. I told him OK because I didn't think I should eat any more cinnamon buns.

The flight was uneventful. The business cabin had about 50 percent children, in keeping with the rest of the plane. Flight attendants were indifferent. The meal was supposed to be a choice of chicken or fish, but they handed us both chicken. It didn't really matter to us anyway as we're both vegetarians and only ate the sides - mashed potatoes with corn and spinach.

I've taken this same flight in business a few times in the past few months and one complaint I have is that the flight attendants always start the meal service and the movie simultaneously. This inevitably means no less than five interruptions during the first 30-45 minutes of the movie. Very annoying. The movie, by the way, was The Talented Mr. Ripley, which was entertaining with wonderful backdrops of the Italian riviera.

Rod's Aloha service was good with what he said was a wonderful coconutty dessert called a Volcano. Aloha had nine empty seats on the 737 flight. The pilots said the new service is beginning to catch on and that they've ordered more planes to offer similar service out of Southern California. They have yet to determine the departure airport, but Orange County appears to be a good possibility. The flight is about 30 minutes longer on a 737 than on a 747, assuming all other things are equal.

We all eventually met up at KOA and went on to the Hilton Waikoloa for the week. I'll be posting a report on a somewhat disappointing stay there under the Hilton thread.

Flights back were also uneventful. No bumps this time, but Twiz and I had first row, bulk-head coach seats which provided lots of legroom. Flight attendants were also exceptionally friendly. One brought Twiz extra chocolate cookies for dessert. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Rod got to see our flight pass his Aloha flight, 1000 above and to the side. He didn't much like that we were leaving him in the dust. He did, however, like that at OAK he paid $36 for the week to park indoors, plus earned a free car wash next time he parks there, while Twiz and I paid almost $100 to park outside near SFO.

In the end, Twiz and I paid a lot (not including bump vouchers) for our bonus and status miles - higher parking rates, longer drive to the airport, crowded airport, almost same price for coach for what we could have had business for. But the painful truth is we'd undoubtedly do it again.