Hawaiian Business vs QF Premium Economy.

[pgsdiver]

Hello all,
I'm off to the US (Vegas) in Feb and have a lot of freedom of choice of how I get there.
Love flying business class and do most trips, usually on Hawaiian to HNL and then on to US, with a couple of days of fun in the sun one way or the other.

Any comments on whether Premium Eco on QF is a better bet (prob SYD LAX LAS and return) given I can get them at prices not too far apart?
Thanks for an informative and useful forum.
Regards,
Peter

 

[Foreigner]

In Dec 2010, I travelled to LAS via HNL on HA. Their business class was pretty good with meals and service but, then, the SYD-HNL was older B767 whereas the HNL-LAS leg was a spanking new aircraft. I'd recommend HA.

 

[eric2011]

HA business class for me everytime, plus bonus couple of days in the sun both ways

 

[eastwest101]

Any comments on whether Premium Eco on QF is a better bet (prob SYD LAX LAS and return) given I can get them at prices not too far apart?
Thanks for an informative and useful forum.
Regards,
Peter

Pay less, fly J class, avoid transfer at LAX? Talk about a no-brainer!

I am assuming you don't need to stop at Los Angeles. Just do a thread search as there have been some issues with earning VA points and not getting any SC on HA flights - there have been a lot of threads about this in the last 6-12 months.

 

[pgsdiver]

Thanks to all who replied. Yes the couple of days in Honolulu certainly count for a lot.
I'll post a review when I get back.
Regards,
Peter

 

[docjames]

I don't even have to hesitate that if the prices are close and the schedule suits then HA by miles....

 

[MEL_Traveller]

the other option is Air Pacific business class for about $3000 return including all taxes (if the fare is applicable for the dates you want - it seems to be faily consistent - but you need to book as three separate tickets for that price). Obviously no stop in HNL (and only to LAX). But full points earning and lounge privileges etc.

 

[N860CR]

HA run the new A330 to SYD now so you should get the decent product for the whole trip. Miles ahead of QF Y+.

I've done both LAX and HNL on Air Pacific. They're fine, however the product is very old. If you can get HA for about the same price then it's a no-brainer. Unless you want QFF points/SC (you can book QF codes on FJ for about the same price - sometimes less)

 

[MEL_Traveller]

HA run the new A330 to SYD now so you should get the decent product for the whole trip. Miles ahead of QF Y+.

I've done both LAX and HNL on Air Pacific. They're fine, however the product is very old. If you can get HA for about the same price then it's a no-brainer. Unless you want QFF points/SC (you can book QF codes on FJ for about the same price - sometimes less)

just interested to know how HA is miles ahead of QF PE? The seat pitch is only a couple of inches more on their A330 than QF PE, plus you get a digi-player (rather than full IFE). Is HA's food/service better?

 

[mannej]

just interested to know how HA is miles ahead of QF PE? The seat pitch is only a couple of inches more on their A330 than QF PE, plus you get a digi-player (rather than full IFE). Is HA's food/service better?

From what I can see is that the 330 has in-seat entertainment.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

From what I can see is that the 330 has in-seat entertainment.

ah ok. I just did a dummy booking and it said digi-player. Maybe that was for their 767s and just copied across. However for the hefty $6000 price tag on HA, FJ for $3000 seems pretty good. Especially given the ability to sleep on the latter.

 

[eastwest101]

just interested to know how HA is miles ahead of QF PE? The seat pitch is only a couple of inches more on their A330 than QF PE, plus you get a digi-player (rather than full IFE). Is HA's food/service better?

I just had a look at both fares in Feb-Mar next year. If we are talking SYD-LAX fares - if you can get QF PE SYD-LAX on sale for $4K return, then yes - it may be a better deal than J class with HA, which I have seen around $5K return. Others have reportedly seen HA J fares lower than QF PE fares in the past.

Once the current QF PE sale ends - it looks like HA J fares will be priced below or close to QF PE fares for SYD-LAX sectors.

The original poster definately wanted to stop in Hawaii, and also specifically wanted to go to Las Vegas - which is pretty difficult to do when flying QF, and by flying HA also avoids a transfer at LAX that some people like to avoid.

If we are talking SYD-HNL flights only - we all know that QF isn't selling PE seats because they fly B767/A330 aircraft that do not have PE, QF Y fares on this route are typically expensive, and no-one in their right mind pays the full J fare. mannej is correct that the A330 should have seat back IFE

 

[N860CR]

I've never been overly impressed with QF Y+ *for the price they charge*.

I found HA "Business" (I think they call it First) to be a wider, more comfortable seat that I was able to get some sleep in. Y+ on QF doesn't do that for me.

I found the inflight service on HA to be great (although I'm never a huge fan of QF in flight so that could be just me). The added perks like lounge access etc are also good for those without status.

And FJ to LAX is a great option on the 744 as the seat is quite comfortable. I've done the overnight NAN-HNL on the 737 and it's not quite as pleasant.

 

[pgsdiver]

Hello to all those that posted on this and provided some useful information.
I booked on HA J (Bus/First depends on who you talk to).
Their A330s are definitely much better than the old 767s but with very similar seats in terms of comfort. Might be my height but the footrests never seem to really work for me, but that's minor complaint.
Travelled SYD-HNL-LAS (with 2 days in HNL as a "decompress" before 2 weeks in LAS). Got decent sleep into HNL, which is a vote in favour of the seat given my poor sleeping track record.
The width really helped, and their service is some of the friendliest I've experienced.
Paid $5K or thereabouts, and I'm pretty pleased.
Earned 23484 points and 480 SCs, which will take me Platinum after a work trip to get the req'd sectors this month, so overall a good trip.
For those that are interested I skipped across to Boston on JetBlue for a visit with friends, and overall not a bad airline for a cheapy.

My flight back was eventful - diversion mid-flight on LAS-HNL leg saw us land in SFO with a medical emergency on board. No prob, as we had a long transit in HNL.
Then in HNL the ground crew put the airbridge up too high which damaged the door on the A330, necessitating a change of aircraft and 2 hour delay. nearly coughped myself when about 15 minutes northwest of Fiji they again called for a doctor/nurse, but thankfully continued to Sydney, arriving 1.5hrs late. Made for an interesting flight home.
Thanks again - what a great bunch the AFFers are!
PGS

 

[ozbeachbabe]

My flight back was eventful - diversion mid-flight on LAS-HNL leg saw us land in SFO with a medical emergency on board. No prob, as we had a long transit in HNL.

Then in HNL the ground crew put the airbridge up too high which damaged the door on the A330, necessitating a change of aircraft and 2 hour delay. nearly coughped myself when about 15 minutes northwest of Fiji they again called for a doctor/nurse, but thankfully continued to Sydney, arriving 1.5hrs late. Made for an interesting flight home.
Thanks again - what a great bunch the AFFers are!
PGS

Glad to hear you had a good trip. Obviously your HA flights posted to VA without any hassle & that you'll be Platinum to boot.

Re the A330 door, putting an aerobridge up too high shouldn't damage a door as the a/c door isn't opened until the aerobridge is docked against the aircraft at the correct height. After the door is opened it slides out to the left (looking at the a/c from the outside) & clicks into position unlike a B767 door which slides up inside the a/c itself thus avoiding any possibility of damage by ground equipment.

I wonder if they've opened the a/c door then failed to put the door shoe underneath which would protect the door against damage in the event the aerobridge moves up or malfunctions.

 

[jetlagger]

Hello to all those that posted on this and provided some useful information.
I booked on HA J (Bus/First depends on who you talk to).
Their A330s are definitely much better than the old 767s but with very similar seats in terms of comfort. Might be my height but the footrests never seem to really work for me, but that's minor complaint.
Travelled SYD-HNL-LAS (with 2 days in HNL as a "decompress" before 2 weeks in LAS). Got decent sleep into HNL, which is a vote in favour of the seat given my poor sleeping track record.
The width really helped, and their service is some of the friendliest I've experienced.
Paid $5K or thereabouts, and I'm pretty pleased.
Earned 23484 points and 480 SCs, which will take me Platinum after a work trip to get the req'd sectors this month, so overall a good trip.
For those that are interested I skipped across to Boston on JetBlue for a visit with friends, and overall not a bad airline for a cheapy.

My flight back was eventful - diversion mid-flight on LAS-HNL leg saw us land in SFO with a medical emergency on board. No prob, as we had a long transit in HNL.
Then in HNL the ground crew put the airbridge up too high which damaged the door on the A330, necessitating a change of aircraft and 2 hour delay. nearly coughped myself when about 15 minutes northwest of Fiji they again called for a doctor/nurse, but thankfully continued to Sydney, arriving 1.5hrs late. Made for an interesting flight home.
Thanks again - what a great bunch the AFFers are!
PGS

Also thanks for the feedback.. Was interested in the J experience.
Eventful return sectors indeed. :shock:

 

[pgsdiver]

Glad to hear you had a good trip. Obviously your HA flights posted to VA without any hassle & that you'll be Platinum to boot.

Re the A330 door, putting an aerobridge up too high shouldn't damage a door as the a/c door isn't opened until the aerobridge is docked against the aircraft at the correct height. After the door is opened it slides out to the left (looking at the a/c from the outside) & clicks into position unlike a B767 door which slides up inside the a/c itself thus avoiding any possibility of damage by ground equipment.

I wonder if they've opened the a/c door then failed to put the door shoe underneath which would protect the door against damage in the event the aerobridge moves up or malfunctions.

In case anyone is interested, the incident went like this:
We're all ready to roll, J class have had their pre-takeoff drinks and are all settled, a flight attendant comes on the PA and says "Ladies and Gentlemen, we need everyone from row 15 back to deplane for just a few minutes, the aerobridge is stuck against the aircraft door, they set it up too high."
A quick question to a flight attendant as the deplaning is happening reveals that apparently as the aircraft sank as it was loaded, the airbridge failed to lower and thus jammed somehow against the aircraft.
About 10 minutes later the senior attendant comes on the PA and announces that "Unfortunately we now need everyone on board to collect all their belongings and exit the aircraft, as the door has been damaged and we cannot take off with a damaged door" (apparently he'd gone to the 'stating the obvious' school of public speaking.

Now I will say that throughout the entire incident and the re-arrangements (change of gate and change of aircraft) that followed, HA kept us all very well informed and were true to their word when they announced a new departure time and gate about 10 minutes after we had deplaned.

I'm not naive enough to think HA is a premium airline, but they did all the right things as far as customer service is concerned in my book.
Thanks for the replies,
Peter