Hawaii

[brucek]

Given the state of the A$ Vs the US$ at this time, it is likely that Australians may start to consider travelling to the US once again in reasonable numbers for leisure purposes.

What airlines fly between Australia and Hawaii these days, either direct, or via an intermediate location? Once this was a simple question to address as nearly all airlines had to transit via Hawaii, etc, for a technical stop. For some years now, esspecialy since the advent of the B747-400 et al, such is no longer the case.

I have to take my family to Hawaii circa April 2008, along with a cast of others, for a wedding, and would like to start investingating the best way to get there and where to stay, etc.

Cheers

 

[Mal]

Qantas - Three seperate ways (Direct from SYD), Codeshared with Jetstar and Codeshared with Air Pacific (through Nadi).
Jetstar from SYD or MEL.
Air Canada - From SYD. (I think this service is being changed to a direct SYD-Vancouver though at some stage).
Hawaiian Air - From SYD (Have some very cheap fares at times).
Air New Zealand - Australia-AKL-HNL

Air Pacific might as well, but I've never really seen it advertised.

Of course there are also more obtuse ways to go... try SYD-Tokyo-Honolulu, SYD-Korea-Honolulu or SYD-Los Angeles-Honolulu just for kicks

 

[maninblack]

Air Pacific is an option if you would like a Fiji stopover, I think they have 2 services a week into HNL. Pretty sure AC will be dumping the SYD-HNL flight later this year when they commence the direct SYD-YVR service. HA is a very ordinary standard of service. The QF service is now operated on 763 aircraft and is pretty ordinary.....which leads you straight to where Qantas really wants you to go....YEP, JETSTAR

Interestingly everyone thought QF would drop HNL after bringing in Jetstar but it's still scheduled right through to April 2008, perhaps due to OW commitments and apparently if the route stays it will be getting A330-300's or 787's in around 2009.

 

[serfty]

...which leads you straight to where Qantas really wants you to go....YEP, JETSTAR

Interestingly everyone thought QF would drop HNL after bringing in Jetstar but it's still scheduled right through to April 2008, perhaps due to OW commitments and apparently if the route stays it will be getting A330-300's or 787's in around 2009.

Yeah, part of this I believe relates to the reasons that caused oneworld to drop JQ for it's RTW product.

Also, while Qantas can get $10-$13K out of a Business class traveller over the Pacific ocean to LAX and back, why would they invest more in the predominantly tourist $?

I mean, HNL-LAX/DFW/ORD first class is really no different to QF SYD-HNL in J.

 

[aus_flyer]

Yeah, part of this I believe relates to the reasons that caused oneworld to drop JQ for it's RTW product.

Can you elaborate?

 

[serfty]

Can you elaborate?

Only surmising ...

• Until April 1st, flights on JQ metal were available for xONEx's as long as they commenced out of the SWP.
• Since then they are no longer valid.
• As to why they were dropped I guess it could possibly be put down to Airline Politics.
• I believe HNL is frequently visited by many people using the xONEx product for their RTW's. (Not AFFers or FTers of course - HNL tends to cause a very inefficient use of segments.)
• With the removal of JQ from the rules, If QF ceased to operate OZ/HNL there would be no way to travel directly between these points. (Note that one can still get from HNL to OZ using JAL but this would be via Asia).

 

[maninblack]

Aha. And quite right too. JQ is not a full service airline and does not fit in with the company, eg BA, CX, etc. though may be as good as MALEV and as we saw from the recent JQ problem in HNL they have little backup either.

And get this. QF is selling JQ Starclass as a codeshare at a full Business class fare, my goodness, have they no shame at all :evil:

With the strong $AUD Hawaii is really back on the radar for Aussie holiday makers and as a stop off to or from North America. I know many people who take a Hawaii stop-off and don't want JQ, not that the current QF service is much to speak of. Similarly many RTW tourists from North America and Europe want the Hawaii stop too. The QF service to HNL is one of their longest standing routes. I have the hunch that despite it not being very profitable, it may be around for some time to come. Of course its a kind of catch 22 for QF, the route doesn't seem to be profitable and they have fleet shortages with premium aircraft so they run their bottom tier aircraft on the route which only serves to make it less attractive to travellers.

 

[NM]

Aha. And quite right too. JQ is not a full service airline and does not fit in with the company, eg BA, CX, etc. though may be as good as MALEV and as we saw from the recent JQ problem in HNL they have little backup either.

I see you didn't include AA in your comparison

And get this. QF is selling JQ Starclass as a codeshare at a full Business class fare, my goodness, have they no shame at all :evil:

Shame, Shame, Shame. Now that is just asking for complaints. That really does surprise me. JQ Star Class is not international business class in anyone's interpretation of the product.

 

[maninblack]

I see you didn't include AA in your comparison

Shame, Shame, Shame. Now that is just asking for complaints. That really does surprise me. JQ Star Class is not international business class in anyone's interpretation of the product.

Yep, it is quite extraordinary, they sell the fare on the basis of a J class ticket, even though they tell you it is not business class, so they are honest about that. Seriously, i don't know if anyone would actually be silly enough to purchase it but it is in the QF booking system.

One could also say, "AA Business Class is not international business class in anyone's interpretation of the product." except they now have http://www.howwillyourtimefly.com/ which whilst a little pokey certainly puts QF 763 and 743 services to SHAME. And again QF25/26 will be on 743's for a large number of flights this year. MORE SHAME They really need those promised A380's...and fast.

 

[simongr]

Yep, it is quite extraordinary, they sell the fare on the basis of a J class ticket, even though they tell you it is not business class, so they are honest about that. Seriously, i don't know if anyone would actually be silly enough to purchase it but it is in the QF booking system.

One could also say, "AA Business Class is not international business class in anyone's interpretation of the product." except they now have American Airlines | Next Generation Business Class Cabin which whilst a little pokey certainly puts QF 763 and 743 services to SHAME. And again QF25/26 will be on 743's for a large number of flights this year. MORE SHAME They really need those promised A380's...and fast.

I am not sure I am so concerned about them selling the seat as busines class. I mean I have sat in a 743 AKL-LAX and they called that business class Would it better if they called premium economy and charged business class price?

Re AA - the downside is that they are currently refitting about 1 plane per year it seems...

 

[NM]

One could also say, "AA Business Class is not international business class in anyone's interpretation of the product." except they now have American Airlines | Next Generation Business Class Cabin which whilst a little pokey certainly puts QF 763 and 743 services to SHAME. And again QF25/26 will be on 743's for a large number of flights this year. MORE SHAME They really need those promised A380's...and fast.

AA's international business class is generally ok (but not great), especially if you score one of their upgraded 763s, and that is now better than 50% chance and increasing quickly (faster than QF's Skybed rollout).

But their domestic F is a joke on some routes where you can have a 2.5 hour flight with a bag a pretzels.

 

[simongr]

Dont forget the superheated cookie!!!

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

But their domestic F is a joke on some routes where you can have a 2.5 hour flight with a bag a pretzels.

Or even no food at all (and yes I'm stretching things to class pretzels as food) that on a mid-con redeye in F.

 

[NM]

I am not sure I am so concerned about them selling the seat as busines class. I mean I have sat in a 743 AKL-LAX and they called that business class Would it better if they called premium economy and charged business class price?

743 has Dreamtime Seats (has for a few years now), which make for a very pleasant trans-Tasman flight. But a Millennium seat at 36" pitch for a 9-10 hour overnight flight is a very different prospect.

I can't count how many 14-15 hour overnighters I did in Dreamtime seats trans-Pacific. I remember when we used to dream about getting a Dreamtime seat for the LAX flight as they started to roll them out. And then looked at the regos to see if we have the Dreamtimes with upgraded IFE screens - wow! And that was considered real business class luxury back in the 90's. Oh how we have become spoiled.

 

[simongr]

743 has Dreamtime Seats (has for a few years now), which make for a very pleasant trans-Tasman flight.

I can't count how many 14-15 hour overnighters I did in Dreamtime seats trans-Pacific. I remember when we used to dream about getting a Dreamtime seat for the LAX flight as they started to roll them out. And then looked at the regos to see if we have the Dreamtimes with upgraded IFE screens - wow! And that was considered real business class luxury back in the 90's. Oh how we have become spoiled.

Very much so - one of the main reasons I dislike the club world product is that it doesnt have AVOD - but I dont even watch AVOD on QF/CX when they have it!

 

[maninblack]

I am not sure I am so concerned about them selling the seat as busines class. I mean I have sat in a 743 AKL-LAX and they called that business class Would it better if they called premium economy and charged business class price?

Re AA - the downside is that they are currently refitting about 1 plane per year it seems...

No, better that they stop flying 743's on that route, period. That said the 743 seat and pitch is a big step up from JQ Starclass but a big step down from the Skybed. I have found J cabin service to be better on 763 and 743 than on the newer planes. I think the cabin crews can sense the passenger hostility

Funny though, best sleep I ever had on a plane was in Biz on a (old style) AA 767 LAX-MIA, but that was after a near 15 hour daytime flight from MEL and a 6 hour wait at LAX due to delays, fell asleep 5 minutes after takeoff and slept like a log. I think I would have fallen asleep on a concrete slab though that day.

 

[maninblack]

743 has Dreamtime Seats (has for a few years now), which make for a very pleasant trans-Tasman flight. But a Millennium seat at 36" pitch for a 9-10 hour overnight flight is a very different prospect.

I can't count how many 14-15 hour overnighters I did in Dreamtime seats trans-Pacific. I remember when we used to dream about getting a Dreamtime seat for the LAX flight as they started to roll them out. And then looked at the regos to see if we have the Dreamtimes with upgraded IFE screens - wow! And that was considered real business class luxury back in the 90's. Oh how we have become spoiled.

Agree and disagree. Yes I was the same and remember the first time I got a Dreamtime and how fab it was, though pitch and recline was always inadequate and the seat too hard. It's really about perception and value. You are going to be pissed off getting the Dreamtime these days when you are paying the same $$$ as the Skybed service, in other words QF should discount these flights.

 

[NM]

... in other words QF should discount these flights.

Shh, don't give them any ideas. They are already charging a surcharge for Skybeds on the NRT route.

 

[coco50]

I have to take my family to Hawaii circa April 2008, along with a cast of others, for a wedding, and would like to start investingating the best way to get there and where to stay, etc.

Cheers

Was in HNL last July (QF743, J class) and loved the Hawaiian experience. Will be going through there on the way to mainland LOTFAP in early June (JQ Jetsaver). Travel to other islands is really worthwhile. Have a look at Flight Centre (Octopus) for Hawaiian hotels. I can recommend the Princess Kaiulani on the corner of Kaiulani Street and Kalakaua Avenue, or the Resortquest Waikiki Circle on Kalakaua Avenue. While both might not be real flash, they are comfortable and right across the road from the beach, and pretty well located to Waikiki action. Have a great trip!

 

[JohnK]

Oh how we have become spoiled.

Some have become spoiled! Last time I looked there are more people slumming it in WHY than J or F combined!