29 thoughts on “Hawaii Air Travel Misery Confirmed by Airline CEO”
Paula
Last Sept/Oct I flew Hawaiian both ways between LAX and LIH. 3 flight attendants in coach … NONE of them ever smiled, and if you asked for something the air of resentment and the stink-eye were very scary. I heard one of them overtly complaining about the company and talking about moving to Alaska Airlines.
The flight back 1 out of 3 was moderately cheerful, the other 2 were the same girls as from the flight over. This and some other comfort factors really tainted my experience with Hawaiian Airlines. Guess I’ll just go back to American until I can use SW.
Susan D
I’m flying out next week on Hawaiian Airlines’ new HNL to Boston flight. I’m in good old economy but I’ve purchased both the inflatable travelrest pillow (https://www.travelrest.net/products/travelrest-travel-pillow) and one of the sling foot rest straps. I’ll let you know how it turns out!
Marc
Really?
I write this from Hawaii and as someone who this week flew a United 777 and is scheduled to fly out on Sunday on a United 777….
Oscar Munoz, CEO of United, has no room to talk. What people are ‘pissed’ about is how United will nickle & dime you at every step of the way. Not allowing carry-on baggage without a charge? Move your economy seat up 2 rows to another cramp economy seat for $7. Charging $85 for the honor of walking onto their plane a little earlier.
What Oscar should do is stop blaming the other obstacles of travel like TSA, airports, etc and first focus on how terrible United treats it’s own customers as they are booking their flights!
I was an avid United flyer for many years due to my work travel. I no longer travel as much, except for pleasure. I am trying to use up all my United points so that I can forever forget about United…….
Colleen
United left us stranded and scrambling and running from one end of the airport to the other in Chicago a few years back. That was our LAST United Flight. I used my miles for magazine subscriptions. Same with American. They left us (blue flu) in LA and we lost more than a day of our vaca and it screwed up our condo and auto rental to boot. No more American for us!!
That didn’t even factor in the lack of comfort.
Theresa
I work hard to get a good price, use the companion fare when possible and then pop for the Upgrade to Premium or First Class if it comes up. We can usually at least get the Premium upgrade. I pack a few essential food items and buy a water in the airport so I have SOMETHING to drink/eat before they get to the food/bev service. That’s particularly helpful if you are in a midrow and in between Galleys. It can take awhile for them to get to you and you don’t want to be ‘hangrey’ on top of everything else. Then it’s just deep breaths and hope I don’t have a screaming kid or someone kicking the back of my seat all the way there. Try to embody the Aloha spirit for as long as I can.
Bill Monas
I can understand the concerns. Back in November flew DAL to HNL, then back 8 days later. Did what I could prior to flight to make it tolerable (noise cancelling headphones, loaded movies on my Fire pad, book and food). It helped. I did fly economy on American. What also helped, was the flight crew, very easy going and helpful. (No I do not work for American)
Darlene S
Aloha,
Fly First Class!
Mahalo
Rita
That would be very nice if I could afford it. I can either afford to fly to a nice place first class and sleep on the beach. Or, cut back on the airfare by flying economy and stay at a nice place. Not everyone can afford first class.
Kevin
Some people can’t afford to fly first class Baboose! What an ignorant thing to say in this time when airlines are doing nothing for there customers, but making their trips miserable. I remember when I used to Love to fly and when younger it was always economy. Which was fine because people were comfortable they were treated with kindness and dignity. They even got a decent hot meal it wasn’t much, but it was enough to satisfy. Now you’re crammed in these narrow horribly uncomfortable seats no meal you’re lucky to get a drink or a snack. Yes the employees aren’t at their best, but would you be when you know that you’re at work to just fend off the disgust and anger from the very uncomfortable customers. CEO’s and upper management don’t care they don’t have to deal with these disgruntle customers. They are just happy than pigs in kaka because they reap the rewards off the horribly uncomfortable customers and their employees. They of course fly only First Class not ever knowing what it’s like to suffer in their economy seating. Therefore saying “just fly first class aloha & mahalo” is just an ignorant thing to say because if we all could do that there wouldn’t be any economy only First Class and we all would be once again happy to travel
Colleen
I do not foresee First Class in our future :0/ Was this a joke?
Kevin C
We recently flew to Hawaii on United. My wife has had more than one episode of deep vein blood clots, so we always pick our seats carefully so she can stretch out. This usually means an aisle seat on the right side of the plane. We carefully booked two seats on 777 aircraft in Row 40 where there are just two seats instead three. This would have worked great as she would have space where the missing seat is to stretch. On both flights, we discovered the seat configuration was changed and row 38 is the two seat configuration we booked. Our row 40 had three seats and she was in the middle. 🙁
For the flight out, we were lucky – lightly filled flight and no one in that 3rd seat so she could sit on the aisle. Yeah!
On the flight back – full flight. We had to pay $200 to upgrade seats as there was no way with her medical issues she could sit in the middle seat for 7 hours flying back to Denver.
We get it. Planes change. But when we explained this to the gate agent, our only option was to pay for better seats. We did not pick row 40 because it was our favorite row… we picked it because of the two seat configuration when we booked earlier in the year.
I would have hoped that United would have switched us to the two seat configuration, but understand that requires cooperation of the occupants in row 38. They should have at least offered to move her to an aisle seat at no charge, but the best we got was “pay for the tickets and complain later. You might get a credit.” Hardly what I would call accommodating for two people who were early for the flight, didn’t complain or get angry, and really needed some simple customer service.
This along with United’s 10 across seating on the 777 is just a horrible way to start and end a vacation to Hawaii.
Hoping that SouthWest brings the heat and maybe service, costs, and comfort might return one day.
Colleen
Shame on United Airlines.
Linda J
We always check seatguru.com for updated seating configuration. More than once we have found discrepancies between the airline’s seating map & actuality! Plus it offers additional info helpful to seat selection.
Thomas S.
We were booked a couple of years ago on a 777. When we booked, the coach configuration was 2 x 5 x 2. When I received a message that the schedule had changed, I looked and the configuration was 3 x 4 x 3. It looked like aisles were now similar to a small RJ and the seats felt more narrow. The rows were a bit staggered. It felt cramped before and now is catastrophic.
In January, we flew “premium economy” on American on 777. I think it was 2 x 4 x 2. I walked backed to use a restroom and saw their “main cabin plus” which was 3 x 4 x 3 but at least looked like you had room to move your legs, but again the aisle was so narrow and the seats in “economy” looked like miniature seats.
Although the 737 the configuration that Southwest, 3 x 3 with 32 inch pitch, seems generous, I can’t believe I’m saying generous. When Southwest gets the roll out complete, the seating comfort will be the tipping point.
Although Southwest will have the airport, parking,TSA issues as others, the seating and generally better training and service execution is a big plus to Hawaii.
Shawn C.
“…the fact that you are going to Hawaii makes this more acceptable.”
What if you’re flying home? Twice the misery.
Ron
I flew Hawaiian airlines over awhile back. No AC in our section. The lights didnt work etc. The stewards all eating lunch in galley. It was horrible until we landed.
Deb
Agreed on HAL. The Airbus equipment they used was very, very uncomfortable and I am an average size woman. The crew is mostly and I mean mostly kind, there’s always the single outlier. I have to get my head in a space that says “ommm”. Oh, and maybe a drink or two, LOL.
Comments are closed.
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Last Sept/Oct I flew Hawaiian both ways between LAX and LIH. 3 flight attendants in coach … NONE of them ever smiled, and if you asked for something the air of resentment and the stink-eye were very scary. I heard one of them overtly complaining about the company and talking about moving to Alaska Airlines.
The flight back 1 out of 3 was moderately cheerful, the other 2 were the same girls as from the flight over. This and some other comfort factors really tainted my experience with Hawaiian Airlines. Guess I’ll just go back to American until I can use SW.
I’m flying out next week on Hawaiian Airlines’ new HNL to Boston flight. I’m in good old economy but I’ve purchased both the inflatable travelrest pillow (https://www.travelrest.net/products/travelrest-travel-pillow) and one of the sling foot rest straps. I’ll let you know how it turns out!
Really?
I write this from Hawaii and as someone who this week flew a United 777 and is scheduled to fly out on Sunday on a United 777….
Oscar Munoz, CEO of United, has no room to talk. What people are ‘pissed’ about is how United will nickle & dime you at every step of the way. Not allowing carry-on baggage without a charge? Move your economy seat up 2 rows to another cramp economy seat for $7. Charging $85 for the honor of walking onto their plane a little earlier.
What Oscar should do is stop blaming the other obstacles of travel like TSA, airports, etc and first focus on how terrible United treats it’s own customers as they are booking their flights!
I was an avid United flyer for many years due to my work travel. I no longer travel as much, except for pleasure. I am trying to use up all my United points so that I can forever forget about United…….
United left us stranded and scrambling and running from one end of the airport to the other in Chicago a few years back. That was our LAST United Flight. I used my miles for magazine subscriptions. Same with American. They left us (blue flu) in LA and we lost more than a day of our vaca and it screwed up our condo and auto rental to boot. No more American for us!!
That didn’t even factor in the lack of comfort.
I work hard to get a good price, use the companion fare when possible and then pop for the Upgrade to Premium or First Class if it comes up. We can usually at least get the Premium upgrade. I pack a few essential food items and buy a water in the airport so I have SOMETHING to drink/eat before they get to the food/bev service. That’s particularly helpful if you are in a midrow and in between Galleys. It can take awhile for them to get to you and you don’t want to be ‘hangrey’ on top of everything else. Then it’s just deep breaths and hope I don’t have a screaming kid or someone kicking the back of my seat all the way there. Try to embody the Aloha spirit for as long as I can.
I can understand the concerns. Back in November flew DAL to HNL, then back 8 days later. Did what I could prior to flight to make it tolerable (noise cancelling headphones, loaded movies on my Fire pad, book and food). It helped. I did fly economy on American. What also helped, was the flight crew, very easy going and helpful. (No I do not work for American)
Aloha,
Fly First Class!
Mahalo
That would be very nice if I could afford it. I can either afford to fly to a nice place first class and sleep on the beach. Or, cut back on the airfare by flying economy and stay at a nice place. Not everyone can afford first class.
Some people can’t afford to fly first class Baboose! What an ignorant thing to say in this time when airlines are doing nothing for there customers, but making their trips miserable. I remember when I used to Love to fly and when younger it was always economy. Which was fine because people were comfortable they were treated with kindness and dignity. They even got a decent hot meal it wasn’t much, but it was enough to satisfy. Now you’re crammed in these narrow horribly uncomfortable seats no meal you’re lucky to get a drink or a snack. Yes the employees aren’t at their best, but would you be when you know that you’re at work to just fend off the disgust and anger from the very uncomfortable customers. CEO’s and upper management don’t care they don’t have to deal with these disgruntle customers. They are just happy than pigs in kaka because they reap the rewards off the horribly uncomfortable customers and their employees. They of course fly only First Class not ever knowing what it’s like to suffer in their economy seating. Therefore saying “just fly first class aloha & mahalo” is just an ignorant thing to say because if we all could do that there wouldn’t be any economy only First Class and we all would be once again happy to travel
I do not foresee First Class in our future :0/ Was this a joke?
We recently flew to Hawaii on United. My wife has had more than one episode of deep vein blood clots, so we always pick our seats carefully so she can stretch out. This usually means an aisle seat on the right side of the plane. We carefully booked two seats on 777 aircraft in Row 40 where there are just two seats instead three. This would have worked great as she would have space where the missing seat is to stretch. On both flights, we discovered the seat configuration was changed and row 38 is the two seat configuration we booked. Our row 40 had three seats and she was in the middle. 🙁
For the flight out, we were lucky – lightly filled flight and no one in that 3rd seat so she could sit on the aisle. Yeah!
On the flight back – full flight. We had to pay $200 to upgrade seats as there was no way with her medical issues she could sit in the middle seat for 7 hours flying back to Denver.
We get it. Planes change. But when we explained this to the gate agent, our only option was to pay for better seats. We did not pick row 40 because it was our favorite row… we picked it because of the two seat configuration when we booked earlier in the year.
I would have hoped that United would have switched us to the two seat configuration, but understand that requires cooperation of the occupants in row 38. They should have at least offered to move her to an aisle seat at no charge, but the best we got was “pay for the tickets and complain later. You might get a credit.” Hardly what I would call accommodating for two people who were early for the flight, didn’t complain or get angry, and really needed some simple customer service.
This along with United’s 10 across seating on the 777 is just a horrible way to start and end a vacation to Hawaii.
Hoping that SouthWest brings the heat and maybe service, costs, and comfort might return one day.
Shame on United Airlines.
We always check seatguru.com for updated seating configuration. More than once we have found discrepancies between the airline’s seating map & actuality! Plus it offers additional info helpful to seat selection.
We were booked a couple of years ago on a 777. When we booked, the coach configuration was 2 x 5 x 2. When I received a message that the schedule had changed, I looked and the configuration was 3 x 4 x 3. It looked like aisles were now similar to a small RJ and the seats felt more narrow. The rows were a bit staggered. It felt cramped before and now is catastrophic.
In January, we flew “premium economy” on American on 777. I think it was 2 x 4 x 2. I walked backed to use a restroom and saw their “main cabin plus” which was 3 x 4 x 3 but at least looked like you had room to move your legs, but again the aisle was so narrow and the seats in “economy” looked like miniature seats.
Although the 737 the configuration that Southwest, 3 x 3 with 32 inch pitch, seems generous, I can’t believe I’m saying generous. When Southwest gets the roll out complete, the seating comfort will be the tipping point.
Although Southwest will have the airport, parking,TSA issues as others, the seating and generally better training and service execution is a big plus to Hawaii.
“…the fact that you are going to Hawaii makes this more acceptable.”
What if you’re flying home? Twice the misery.
I flew Hawaiian airlines over awhile back. No AC in our section. The lights didnt work etc. The stewards all eating lunch in galley. It was horrible until we landed.
Agreed on HAL. The Airbus equipment they used was very, very uncomfortable and I am an average size woman. The crew is mostly and I mean mostly kind, there’s always the single outlier. I have to get my head in a space that says “ommm”. Oh, and maybe a drink or two, LOL.