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

[maninblack]

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.

Top photo shows a big lounger and pitch looks much more than the 48 inch advertsied. Bottom photo says 42-44 and looks pretty tight like 42 max but not bad for A320, anyway they won't be going to HNL. Wonder how many A330's they have?

Good grief who made that website

 

[simongr]

Those A320 seats look awful like the pax in front is lieing in your lap almost...

 

[maninblack]

Those A320 seats look awful like the pax in front is lieing in your lap almost...

I think it's just bad photography. Looks just as roomy as QF domestic J or JQ starclass, perhaps better. Couldn't find any Business class pricing for HNL on their booking engine. As I said, not much of a website.

 

[maninblack]

So the good news is that NZ is switching to B772 aircraft AKL-HNL from June 2012, I've just made a booking

The first lie-flat service from MEL-HNL is finally scheduled. A modern business class service. Requires an overnight in AKL but a very good connection coming home, B772/B773.

So QF's ongoing disregard for it's paying customers with their very overpriced and utterly antiquated product means more lost revenue for them and movements to other airlines.

2012 may be the first year in I don't know how long where I don't buy a QF ticket :!:

 

[Spizz]

Great news. The very first ones, even though its not direct and overnight, but still good on Air New Zealand. I will give them a serious look at for my September trip next year.

Hopefully with Qantas and their changing the seats on the planes, that they will extend that to the aircraft on the MEL-HNL run.

 

[docjames]

Except not all the MEL-AKL services are lie-flat (in fact, one per day only on the 777). And it departs AKL 1115am when the 777 leaves MEL at ~ 1700 so you'd have to overnight in AKL.....

So the good news is that NZ is switching to B772 aircraft AKL-HNL from June 2012, I've just made a booking

The first lie-flat service from MEL-HNL is finally scheduled. A modern business class service. Requires an overnight in AKL but a very good connection coming home, B772/B773.

So QF's ongoing disregard for it's paying customers with their very overpriced and utterly antiquated product means more lost revenue for them and movements to other airlines.

2012 may be the first year in I don't know how long where I don't buy a QF ticket :!:

 

[Spizz]

docjames- He mentions the overnight part in the quote and that is only on the way over. It is the only caveat IMO.

Hopefully Qantas switches planes or upgrades the seats sometime during now and mid next year on the HNL run to a lie flat option. :-|

 

[docjames]

IMO the overnight really negates the benefit of lie flat.

It also doesnt seem possible currently to book MEL-HNL on the .au website.

 

[maninblack]

IMO the overnight really negates the benefit of lie flat.

It also doesnt seem possible currently to book MEL-HNL on the .au website.

Don't mind the overnight now there is the new airport hotel. I also won't mind spending a few nights in AKL as I have friends there.
There is no problem booking these flights. A TA can also do it for you.

As you can gather from my previous comments my position is somewhat political. I am a regular on the HNL route. A small, financially strapped airline like NZ has chosen to upgrade this route into the 21st century and has a focus on customer service. QF despite all of it's general bragging and breast beating and marketing continually refuses to despite many many complaints from me and other customers.

So finally, they've lost my business. End of story.

 

[docjames]

Don't mind the overnight now there is the new airport hotel. I also won't mind spending a few nights in AKL as I have friends there.
There is no problem booking these flights. A TA can also do it for you.

As you can gather from my previous comments my position is somewhat political. I am a regular on the HNL route. A small, financially strapped airline like NZ has chosen to upgrade this route into the 21st century and has a focus on customer service. QF despite all of it's general bragging and breast beating and marketing continually refuses to despite many many complaints from me and other customers.

So finally, they've lost my business. End of story.

Don't get me wrong - I would agree NZ is the best option for you and QF grossly under-serves this route, especially at the business end of the market (because they can). Hopefully Air Aus can make a go of BNE/MEL-HNL and push QF to life their game, if on price at least if not product. I wasnt having a go - I think you've done the right thing, just pointing out the issues for others. I had assumed you realised the connection issues. It's intersting you cant book it on the NZ.au website (wonder if they'll fix this) - from MEL and with a decent connection (sacrificing lie-flat trans-tasman) it would pick up some decent traffic.


FWIW, I'd be using Air Aus or overnighting in AKL if flying to HNL. JQi lost me when they plumped up the price to add points / SCs etc for Star Class. QF never had me due to their price and poor product.

 

[Spizz]

So the good news is that NZ is switching to B772 aircraft AKL-HNL from June 2012, I've just made a booking

The first lie-flat service from MEL-HNL is finally scheduled. A modern business class service. Requires an overnight in AKL but a very good connection coming home, B772/B773.

So QF's ongoing disregard for it's paying customers with their very overpriced and utterly antiquated product means more lost revenue for them and movements to other airlines.

2012 may be the first year in I don't know how long where I don't buy a QF ticket :!:

Just tried some dummy bookings in September 2012 and all Im getting in both directions is the 767-300.

 

[Spizz]

maninblack- Can you verify that that has now changed?

With no Lie-Flat option looks like I will go direct. I have 2 options. I need to get to both HNL first and LAS second so here are the options. J Class all the way through. I will use Hawaiian for a direct HNL-LAS flight. Also my return flight from LAS back to Oz will be Lie-Flat either way with Virigin (777) or Qantas (A380).

Virigin Australia- ADL-SYD, SYD-HNL (Codeshared with Hawaiian), LAX-MEL, MEL-ADL- $5750
Qantas- ADL-SYD, SYD-HNL, LAX-MEL, MEL-ADL- $9250

As Qantas has the best of the old style products I guess I will need to wait until Qantas has another LAX business class sale which hopefully will affect the Multi price. But as it stands currently between the 2 its a big $$$ difference.

 

[trooper]

AFAIK the 772 is only operating AKL-HNL from June - August. It is NOT a permanent change....

 

[Spizz]

AFAIK the 772 is only operating AKL-HNL from June - August. It is NOT a permanent change....

Ah that explains why I couldnt find it for my September dates. What a shame. Hopefully Qantas upgrades their seats on that run, but then again that hope has been going on for years. Thanks for the info.

 

[Spizz]

An email response I got from ANZ-

Dear Spero,

Thank you for your email regarding the aircraft type between Honolulu and Auckland.

At this stage there are no plans for the Boeing 777-200 to be extended in to September. However, Air New Zealand constantly reviews its route and the type of aircraft used subject to operational requirements.

Spero, thank you for taking the time to contact Air New Zealand and we look forward to having you travel with us again and trust we will better meet your expectations in the future.

Yours Sincerely

Greg
Direct Sales
Air New Zealand

 

[maninblack]

An email response I got from ANZ-

Alas only a seasonal change for the winter peak. Going from 2 weekly 763's to 3 weekly 772's. Never fear, it will be back.

 

[lovestotravel]

The Air NZ 767's - Well they will be replaced with 787's one day :evil:

Seems to the the 773 operating AKL-HNL-AKL some days in Feb/March at least too! :mrgreen:

 

[maninblack]

The Air NZ 767's - Well they will be replaced with 787's one day :evil:

Seems to the the 773 operating AKL-HNL-AKL some days in Feb/March at least too! :mrgreen:

But the good news is that (at least I'm betting) the NZ J class product on those 787's will be a ripper

 

[Timtammi]

I too am looking at HNL booking. I looked at HA yesterday and it appears as though they are now flying an A330 on this route? At least in July which is what I am looking for. Its a bit confusing though as EF still shows VA (HA) codeshare as a 767 but the HA flight as an A330? Does anyone know what sort of seats HA have in J on the A330 if that is what they are flying?

Cheers

Timmi

 

[markis10]

HA have recliners in their F cabin - 222 config and AVOD, but that is the main difference.