Any Lie Flat/Angle Business Class options to Hawaii from Australia?-

[Spizz]

And just by the way to the OP - the SYD-HNL trip is often under 9 hours. In fact last trip I did was under 8.5 hours. Trip back is often 10+ though.

Thanks mate. Makes it sound a bit more bearable as I get travel sickness (always have) and so I save up and spring for the Lie Flat/Angle product whenever I travel to make the trip bearable for me as I sleep most of the way. I don't even eat on the plane (due to the travel sickness) which makes it waste as I really would of liked to have eaten the food when I went First Class on the A380 to LAX.

Which airline did you find that offers lie-flat-seats LAX-HNL for the 5+ hours which that flight takes?

Well I have been researching that as well, and I assume you know the answer already, none. I thought like when I flew First Class with United from LAX-NY with the Lie Angle seating, they would (or another airline like AA) offer a similar service to Hawaii. They do not.

So I might have to suck it up and just go with Jetstar or Qantas to Hawaii (depending whom has the better deal at the time) or hope that one of the Airline's finally upgrades their Business/First product to Hawaii.

Maybe it's just not a popular enought route to justify the airlines doing that.

 

[dk4]

Maybe it's just not a popular enought route to justify the airlines doing that.

American Airlines use to do it, and with an LAX based International Crew accompanying the NGBC seat on a 767-300... & let me tell you, it was a fantastic experience, but alas no more.

I had the opportunity to fly that route a few times with one of the best FAs I have ever experienced, (obviously senior due to his consistency in getting that route bid allocated, and always working the F cabin) his flights were always memorable... some of the best ones were when flying LAX-HNL; during decent he would look out the window and give a PA announcement better than most would get on a guided tour - pointing out things of interest, offering personal tips about what to do, and generally epitomizing the Aloha spirit. It was a fantastic arrival for those Hawaii first timers onboard, but he went further in my case, as he would recognise me(presumably from previous flights, rather than just the manifest), and made my trips on his sectors an absolute pleasure.

To get NGBC on regular scheduled 763 AA services to/from HNL these days, you need to fly from/to DFW or ORD.

 

[maninblack]

I had it from a senior source at QF that the route was going A332 several years ago but it did not happen, then the A380 engine dramas hit and again it did not happen. HNL is currently profitable and carrying good loads for QF, much moreso than some other routes. There is talk that they will be using 744's there from this November. Who knows despite flying to HNL regularly and knowing a number of QF and industry people involved in the route all my sources on the matter have proven unreliable so far

One thing is for sure, it's an embarrasment for Qantas staff at this time but Alan Joyce is more concerned about eating steak sandwhiches on masterchef than he is about paying passengers. And please can we get rid of that Neil Perry character once and for all.

 

[docjames]

The 763 "Cradle" Dreamtime seats are quite comfortable - I find them not greatly different in comfort to the Mk1 Skybeds.

I wouldnt be going via LAX just to get a lie flat seat and avoid the 763 product.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I had it from a senior source at QF that the route was going A332 several years ago but it did not happen, then the A380 engine dramas hit and again it did not happen. HNL is currently profitable and carrying good loads for QF, much moreso than some other routes. There is talk that they will be using 744's there from this November. Who knows despite flying to HNL regularly and knowing a number of QF and industry people involved in the route all my sources on the matter have proven unreliable so far

What you need is a reliable source of information such a an aircraft refueller or cleaner.

 

[kamchatsky]

What you need is a reliable source of information such a an aircraft refueller or cleaner.

Or Hairdresser of AJ and his spouse! :mrgreen:

 

[Spizz]

Hahaha :mrgreen:

 

[maninblack]

Qantas Domestic Experience Upgrade with Qantas Next Generation and Menu Changes - Business Travel News

I don't think either of these guys has a hairdresser but they sure need one

Reality is QF wanted to dump HNL a few years ago but OW contractual commitments meant they had to keep it. Now with the high A$ it just keeps on keeping on. One of the only international routes I still fly regularly with QF and it is an utter disgrace for a mid-long haul service. (the crew try their best though)

 

[Spizz]

Reality is QF wanted to dump HNL a few years ago but OW contractual commitments meant they had to keep it. Now with the high A$ it just keeps on keeping on. One of the only international routes I still fly regularly with QF and it is an utter disgrace for a mid-long haul service. (the crew try their best though)

Well put and I agree with the latter part.

 

[Spizz]

American Airlines use to do it, and with an LAX based International Crew accompanying the NGBC seat on a 767-300... & let me tell you, it was a fantastic experience, but alas no more.

I had the opportunity to fly that route a few times with one of the best FAs I have ever experienced, (obviously senior due to his consistency in getting that route bid allocated, and always working the F cabin) his flights were always memorable... some of the best ones were when flying LAX-HNL; during decent he would look out the window and give a PA announcement better than most would get on a guided tour - pointing out things of interest, offering personal tips about what to do, and generally epitomizing the Aloha spirit. It was a fantastic arrival for those Hawaii first timers onboard, but he went further in my case, as he would recognise me(presumably from previous flights, rather than just the manifest), and made my trips on his sectors an absolute pleasure.

Wow. I would of loved to of had that AA experiemce you had.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

What part of it is an utter disgrace? Obviously not the crew if you say "try their best". :?:

 

[serfty]

What part of it is an utter disgrace? Obviously not the crew if you say "try their best". :?:

I enjoyed my Dreamtime seat a couple of years ago to HNL.

Shame that the FA's did not do a drinks run until ¾ hours after the seat belt signs went off and I received my meal ¾ hours after that (1¾ hours after takeoff).

 

[maninblack]

What part of it is an utter disgrace? Obviously not the crew if you say "try their best". :?:

The aircraft. Grubby old first generation Dreamtime seats in J with the teeny weeny screen and horrid old seats with no IFE in Y. For the past 15 years Qantas have used their oldest and most clapped out rattling junkbuckets on this route. Even MNL gets A330's. When you are coming from MEL it's a 16 hour trip, so it is just not on anymore and I do it twice a year. It's not cheap either. It isn't that Qantas doesn't have more modern aircraft that could be switched onto this route. For inexplicable reasons they just won't. :?:

The crew are generally great up front. They try to make up for the shortcomings of the overall product.

 

[simongr]

I checked prices last year for this and it was coming out at $11K per person SYD-HNL... I could get to LHR on an A380 for that...

 

[Spizz]

It's not cheap either.

I checked prices last year for this and it was coming out at $11K per person SYD-HNL... I could get to LHR on an A380 for that...

And their inlies one of the major problems with the pricing with Qantas on this route. They price it the same as going to LAX on an A380 on a Lie Flat Product in Business and still have change left, when they should be looking at the pricing of Jetstar/Hawaiian whom price their Business class product with the same sort of seats at between $3-$5k.

 

[simongr]

I am thinking of going to HNL next year (in the Sep/Oct school holidays though ) and am looking at $3K for *Class as a reasonable option.

 

[Limewood]

Been on both QA & JQ in J seats, as said all these aircraft are very old, the J seats in QA are larger and roomier and more so if front pax seat if reclined, but JQ price is half and one still gets the QFF Status points, for a 10 hour flight its a no brainer. We are doing same JQ trip in J again in Nov., got seats on JQ sale a while back for $2150 each ret. SYD/HNL/SYD, dam cheap for a sort of business class.

 

[dajop]

There's always lie flat economy class QF version is OK for shorter people (and is 3x QF economy fare), JQ is better for taller passengers (and is 4x JQ economy fare).

 

[mannej]

I would hardly call the JQ planes very old in the scheme of things (They are under 10 years old...)

(Yes they may be tired inside, but that is different to being old)

 

[Flying High]

Air Australia (rebranded Strategic Airlines) now an option from Dec - but only for BNE-HNL and MEL-HNL. Business Class seating looks not too bad for approx $2,500 return. Not lie flat seats, but pretty decent leg room if the photo on the website is to be believed.