29 thoughts on “Hawaii Air Travel Misery Confirmed by Airline CEO”
Mike
Same thing happened to us as well, twice on return flights on UAL. Very frustrating.
Marilyn C
I drive to a flyaway (bus station), park, get on bus to airport. No airport driving for me. The bus driver knows the best route and drops me off in front of the airline. No long walk pulling suitcase. Go to tsa security and stand in line – nothing you can do! I really really like getting a meal on the plane to Hawaii. That relieved stress of just getting on the flight. One aisle planes to Hawaii sucks to say it bluntly. I really enjoyed the 2-5-2 since we usually are 2.
Kristine
I flew from Florida to Hawaii 3 times last year to see my daughter who moved there. Yes, it was long and a bit uncomfortable at times. But let me tell you, I am beyond grateful that that days are gone when I would have had to spend months sailing the ocean blue to visit a child that left the nest. Not much more than 100 years ago that would have been pretty much an impossibility to even see your child again when they left for a new life overseas. Maybe the insanely rich could affford to sail but I’m sure that was no picnic. So, yes, I will endure my wait at TSA to keep me safe, a small economy seat, a tiny onboard flushing toilet with a wash bin, my peanuts and coke, and my 20 hour travel day to see my loved one and the beautiful state of Hawaii. The technology that has enabled the masses to travel the world in only hours for only hundreds of dollars and the fact that I was born into a small part of humanity that could actually afford those hundreds of dollars will never cease to amaze me and I will continue to be eternally grateful. And just maybe …someday…I will be able to afford to fly there in a more first class comfort. : )
PB
I usually fly to Maui or Honolulu from LA, with Hawaiian. They usually use their big Airbus 330 for those routes. But just this past March, I flew Hawaiian direct to Kona on the smaller Airbus Neo. Though the plane was nice and new, the seats did not recline much, and the cushions did not offer much comfort or support. I felt the whole time I was being tortured. I will never fly that plane again for a 5+ hour flight. I think if there was a limit to how much an Airline can take away from passengers, Hawaiian has pushed it too far in the Airbus Neo.
John P
Second try, first one was blocked by the Gum-Gum ad at the bottom of the page.
I know, I know, I know.
I remember when United crews would change into Aloha wear outbound from the west coast.
A 9-hour flight in a prop DC-6 was excruciating, but you could freely move about the cabin.
I don’t know how my mother managed twice a year to NYC on buying trips for the Liberty House.
Now? Audible and a large bag of trail mix saves the day.
Lehua
Just returned from my 50th trip (so it seems!) from Oregon. Let me start off by saying I try to ONLY fly Hawaiian. Despite the comments made, the FAs in Hawaiian are great; they’re not there to entertain you (ugh, Southwest). They service when needed, put up with stupid passengers who think announcements and rules don’t pertain to them, and try to do their best on mediocre planes. Say mediocre because Hawn is making a potentially fatal decision to use the Neos A321 to the West Coast and that, my friends, will be their downfall. Single aisle, three lavs for Economy? Bleh. Still it beats UAL’s knees to your throat searing, Delta’s “We don’t like any of you” attitude, and Alaska’s attempt to be Hawaiian. Complain all you like, but face it – we’ll all still fly.
Gary B
We’ve flown Hawaiian Airlines 3 times one the past 18 months from Phoenix and have never experienced anything like peo6have described. We will continue with Hawaiian and forgo anything less.
David M
I typically fly to the Islands once year. I switched from United to Hawaiian a few years ago and have always found that the Hawaiian crews were top notch. I’ve never had a grumpy FA. Can’t say that on United.
Stephen
Glad to hear reclining seats may be going away. When row spacing was several inches wider and planes were 1/3rd empty it sorta made sense. Now it’s just the rudest of intrusions on the person in the row behind you.
On a flight last year my tray table was out and the guy in-front of me threw his seat back pinning my chest in an uncomfortable position. I felt like I couldn’t breathe or speak. The steward had to come to my rescue. No wonder people freak out. It’s all on the airlines, a problem they created.
The first time I visited Hawaii it was on an MD L1011. Champagne was served during the entire flight as was an ‘almost’ restaurant meal. Flying was more elegant and perhaps more costly. Now airlines are the Greyhounds of the skies just moving the masses and collecting the fare.
Marsha L
Im almost at the point where its not worth the misery of flying. It will be better for the planet when that happens !
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Same thing happened to us as well, twice on return flights on UAL. Very frustrating.
I drive to a flyaway (bus station), park, get on bus to airport. No airport driving for me. The bus driver knows the best route and drops me off in front of the airline. No long walk pulling suitcase. Go to tsa security and stand in line – nothing you can do! I really really like getting a meal on the plane to Hawaii. That relieved stress of just getting on the flight. One aisle planes to Hawaii sucks to say it bluntly. I really enjoyed the 2-5-2 since we usually are 2.
I flew from Florida to Hawaii 3 times last year to see my daughter who moved there. Yes, it was long and a bit uncomfortable at times. But let me tell you, I am beyond grateful that that days are gone when I would have had to spend months sailing the ocean blue to visit a child that left the nest. Not much more than 100 years ago that would have been pretty much an impossibility to even see your child again when they left for a new life overseas. Maybe the insanely rich could affford to sail but I’m sure that was no picnic. So, yes, I will endure my wait at TSA to keep me safe, a small economy seat, a tiny onboard flushing toilet with a wash bin, my peanuts and coke, and my 20 hour travel day to see my loved one and the beautiful state of Hawaii. The technology that has enabled the masses to travel the world in only hours for only hundreds of dollars and the fact that I was born into a small part of humanity that could actually afford those hundreds of dollars will never cease to amaze me and I will continue to be eternally grateful. And just maybe …someday…I will be able to afford to fly there in a more first class comfort. : )
I usually fly to Maui or Honolulu from LA, with Hawaiian. They usually use their big Airbus 330 for those routes. But just this past March, I flew Hawaiian direct to Kona on the smaller Airbus Neo. Though the plane was nice and new, the seats did not recline much, and the cushions did not offer much comfort or support. I felt the whole time I was being tortured. I will never fly that plane again for a 5+ hour flight. I think if there was a limit to how much an Airline can take away from passengers, Hawaiian has pushed it too far in the Airbus Neo.
Second try, first one was blocked by the Gum-Gum ad at the bottom of the page.
I know, I know, I know.
I remember when United crews would change into Aloha wear outbound from the west coast.
A 9-hour flight in a prop DC-6 was excruciating, but you could freely move about the cabin.
I don’t know how my mother managed twice a year to NYC on buying trips for the Liberty House.
Now? Audible and a large bag of trail mix saves the day.
Just returned from my 50th trip (so it seems!) from Oregon. Let me start off by saying I try to ONLY fly Hawaiian. Despite the comments made, the FAs in Hawaiian are great; they’re not there to entertain you (ugh, Southwest). They service when needed, put up with stupid passengers who think announcements and rules don’t pertain to them, and try to do their best on mediocre planes. Say mediocre because Hawn is making a potentially fatal decision to use the Neos A321 to the West Coast and that, my friends, will be their downfall. Single aisle, three lavs for Economy? Bleh. Still it beats UAL’s knees to your throat searing, Delta’s “We don’t like any of you” attitude, and Alaska’s attempt to be Hawaiian. Complain all you like, but face it – we’ll all still fly.
We’ve flown Hawaiian Airlines 3 times one the past 18 months from Phoenix and have never experienced anything like peo6have described. We will continue with Hawaiian and forgo anything less.
I typically fly to the Islands once year. I switched from United to Hawaiian a few years ago and have always found that the Hawaiian crews were top notch. I’ve never had a grumpy FA. Can’t say that on United.
Glad to hear reclining seats may be going away. When row spacing was several inches wider and planes were 1/3rd empty it sorta made sense. Now it’s just the rudest of intrusions on the person in the row behind you.
On a flight last year my tray table was out and the guy in-front of me threw his seat back pinning my chest in an uncomfortable position. I felt like I couldn’t breathe or speak. The steward had to come to my rescue. No wonder people freak out. It’s all on the airlines, a problem they created.
The first time I visited Hawaii it was on an MD L1011. Champagne was served during the entire flight as was an ‘almost’ restaurant meal. Flying was more elegant and perhaps more costly. Now airlines are the Greyhounds of the skies just moving the masses and collecting the fare.
Im almost at the point where its not worth the misery of flying. It will be better for the planet when that happens !