Read just what stunned us on our Hawaiian Airlines first class flight from Los Angeles to Hawaii.
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Read just what stunned us on our Hawaiian Airlines first class flight from Los Angeles to Hawaii.
Get Breaking Hawaii Travel News
We usually fly back home to Hawaii to visit family but over the last 5 years or so have had to fly First Class on HAL due to severe back problems. So I try to allocate some vacation $$ for the flight and points. We flew on the lie down seats this past June and were extremely pleased as I was able to stretch out and get some nap time in and rest my back. The seats in full recline were a bit short for tall people but we managed to pull our knees up. The food was wonderful and service from attendants was top notch. I require some assistance and the crew was always available to help. Mahalo
I just flew Hawaiian First Class returning from Seattle and I agree with everything you said. I would note too that sitting in 7J I had 4 windows that afforded a spectacular view. Service was Five Star exceptional. The one major downfall was not having a Firstclass lounge in Seattle. I wonder if they are planning a partnership with an affiliate airline? Also it did take me a moment to figure out the controller for the lie flat seat. While somewhat comfortable, they are by no means plush, cloud like beds.
Is the bulkhead near the window as good as, say row two?
We are flying to Vietnam on a American Airlines code-share, Hawaiian rt to Japan then JAL rt to Vietnam, all Business Class. When I was choosing our seats I was surprised that they have 6 seats across, 2-2-2, whereas the norm is 4 seats, 1-2-1. Not a fan of having to crawl over your seat mate to use the lua. So we are sitting in the middle seats and looking forward to the JAL legs. Aloha
My wife Julie and I fly exclusively with Hawaiian Airlines to Honolulu and we alway fly First Class Yearly from Seattle. It has always been a great pleasure flying with Hawaiian Airlines. With our family construction business and our Hawaiian Airlines Credit Cards help make it happen
We feel that all the flight crews are always so helpful and cheerful throughout our flights. We are also planning to go to Australia via Honolulu early next year being the Winters there are Australia’s warmer months we been told. Hawaiian Airlines is the best Airlines we feel that we fly with. But we cannot wait till the Dreamliners come on board.That will be an experience. I give Hawaiian Airlines a 10 over all in all catagories.
Aloha….
Aloha!
My new favorite thing is to fly from Hawaii to California a red eye with lie flats. I mostly have found OGG/HNL/LAX on various airlines. my problem is the price is almost double what I am used to paying/miles. Also for the return the regular F class domestic is the same price as the lie flats. My dates are 2/21/23 to 3/1/23. Do you expect prices to drop? I have always been a buy early especially with rewards but should I wait for the 21 day before window?
Mahalo for your blog. I have learned much from you.
Hi Carol.
We don’t expect dates for F to drop. They can but they are far more unpredictable in that regard than economy. Maui to LAX on Hawaiian A330 lie-flast is $990 in your selected date of 2/21. That’s a great price. And the return on your selected date of 3/1 is $889.
Aloha.
Macadamia nuts are never heated unless used for cooking or baking.
Really? All the fuss over lay flat seats and you couldn’t post one photo of them?
No photo? I see at least 2 and then there’s always Google. 😉
Based on the comments posted, it appears that some folks think that getting a first class upgrade on Hawaiian Airlines is simply a matter of having enough miles and requesting it. Getting a first class upgrade on any airline flying to Hawaii is extremely difficult, and the airlines have no incentive to do so unless you are among their top tier flyers. Even then, if you really want to fly in the front of the airplane, the only way to guarantee that is to purchase a first class ticket outright or use hundreds of thousands of airline miles to secure it.
Well that’s not quite correct. HA let’s you use miles to upgrade from a paid coach fare, approximately 50,000 miles. The question is what is the mechanism for doing that.
And as far a it costing “…hundreds of thousands of airline miles to secure it.” That isn’t quite correct either. AUS – LIH is only 70,000 in F. Pretty nice deal for 8 1/2 hours of flying time.
Just flew Hawaiian Air in July. This review is Spot On!
HAL’s A332’s will become a thing of the past when the B789’s come onboard.
My point is that it is up to the airline as to whether you will be granted an upgrade. And you will be competing with everyone else who had that same idea! Which translates into those with the highest airline status will get preferential treatment over those who do not.
We just returned from an East Coast trip to Hawaii on UA, sitting in the front of the airplanes for 300K miles pp r/t. So that is quite correct.
You paid 600,000 for two to sit up front on a UA flight? Wow! but if you got ’em might as well spend ’em.
Were you meaning 787 900’s? Not that great of a plane.
It looks like a wonderful plane, however, having had flown first class from Tokyo for the past decade there are two huge negatives about Hawaiian airlines:
1. The stewards in the galley near the cockpit speak loudly all throughout the trip including night flights. You’d think they’d speak quietly and be more aware or perhaps they just don’t care about their first class passengers, and lucky you because first class is right up close to them.
2. The food is the same as economy. It is just plain awful.
The food is terrible for that amount of money!
Yes I live on Maui, and I have flown in the lie flat seats and I did also find them to be very comfortable. I am only 5‘2“ and it accommodated me very nicely. I was able to sleep laying completely flat after a long trip to visit family and friends. It was such a relaxing experience to feel the aloha from the crew as if I was home already!
Yes, we were very pleased (shocked) they had this aircraft on the Kona to LAX flight. The trip was great and we agree as reviewed here- so much better than the United and Delta flights which do not have lie down seats. The downside to it in LAX was a very long walk(15-20 min) to baggage claim. Hopefully this is a terminal issue and has been solved.Naturally there is no such walk on the return in Kona. Well Done Hawaiian!
It’s important to note that unlike all other major carriers who increase the checked baggage weight up to 70lbs in the premium cabins, Hawaiian does not. I didn’t even bother to look into this because it is standard amongst the other major players, so the flights costs a few hundred bucks total round trip.
It may seem trivial, but that made it an easy decision to fly on United’s 777 from now on. Larger individual pods are standard on the United 777.
I was surprised to see the 10/10 rating for seats, followed by a list of things that could be better.
Hawaiian Airlines recently increased their first class r/t fare from Boston to Honolulu to $8,000!
I also flew first class with the lie back seats.. it was amazing! I suggest everyone try it once. Everything was 💯
Aloha!
Over the last 6-7 years I have flown HA, round trip, LIH/HNL to JFK, always using my points to upgrade to First class. Have also flown HA: HNL to So. Korea; and Auckland, in First class (again upgraded w/points). Three weeks ago I flew Hawaiian round trip to BOS/Logan in First class (using points to upgrade). Originally the trip was scheduled for 2020, but of course that didn’t happen. The trips were all excellent…on time, great seats (usually 2C), and the flight attendants’ service was everything you would expect or want. In fact, I think the food has actually improved! Given age and arthritis, I believe that points are best used for upgrades as it allows me to get some sleep on long flights.
Mahalo,
Lynn
My husband and I recently returned to Oakland from Honolulu first class. The gate change was never disclosed, however I had walked outside of the lounge, not much of a lounge but at least it has a restroom and found on the monitor that we had a gate change. The farthest gate, over a 1 mile hike, which wasn’t a problem for us as we knew of the change but many people didn’t know and it further delayed our take off. The flight attendants were only 4 for the entire trip and one of our first class attendants really worked hard to keep the whole plane happy and serviced. We were gracious about the lull in service and aside from one of the hardest landings in our lives, the flight was nice. Our 1st class baggage, 2 pieces were the last of
I would give them a zero out of 10. Lying flat down in first class my $1000 prescription sunglasses fell off from around my neck during my sleep. I heard a noise but I didn’t think anything of it. After I departed the plane, I noticed my glasses were not on me and I knew where they where. They where between the outer seat shell and at the back base of the seat. I told the airline the airplane number and seat and explained my situation and honestly all they tell you to do is fill out a form. I tried for a week calling where the plane landed for someone to look but no one would help. Never fly this airline again and I wouldn’t recommend them to anyone.
Not sure if 0/10 would be warranted for the whole experience for a mistake that was not the airlines fault. Please try to look at the whole picture, and understand that it had nothing to do with the actual flight, onboard service, equipment, meal and drinks, boarding, etc. The problem is losing your $1000 glasses and forgetting it was left behind. I’ve left things on board on other airlines, and I wrote them off. The chances of someone finding something small and in a crack of space in the aircraft would be low. It’s important in any situation to take care of expensive items. Best of luck in future travels. Thanks for having a broad view of airlines and traveling.
Your reply is valid but it was the lack of support in even trying to assist the customer. The staff person on the phone didn’t care and just wanted you to fill out a form. The only way they will ever look would be during a maintenance C check when they hopefully do routine maintenance on the seats. By the time that takes place, my case will be closed (as it has) and then they don’t have to worry about. What’s sad, they pulled a plane to look for a Diamond ring vs spending one evening when it’s parked just to look and reach behind the seat. No one even tried and they closed my case.
Next time put your eye glasses in the case and tuck it away in your bag. How is the airlines responsible for this experience? This review seems ridiculous just because people didn’t stop to look for your glasses your gonna suggest that no one fly’s with Hawaiian airlines.
I totally agree and I will do this from now on. I thought they would be safe around my neck.
When the plane is parked in Hawaii on the tarmac, they have ground crews who conduct A-level maintenance checks on the plane prior to departing the next day. They can simply send a note to the maintenance crew to have a look. They have pulled the plane in before for a lady’s diamond ring. I worked in the airline maintenance business for 32 years and I understand the process.
You lost your glasses then blame the airline?! Seriously? Own your own stuff!
How can you lose your glasses if you know where they are? HAL won’t get them even if I tell them the tail number and seat and where to look. Remember, I was sleeping, woke up and for over a year and a half, these glasses never fell off around my neck. I even put a floaty on the glasses. They will find the glasses when they do a D or hopefully a C maintenance check.
Wife and I have been Flying to Hawaii every winter and Spring for many years, Your review is spot-on.
As you mentioned the way to go is buy your ticket then upgrade with 50,000 hawaiian miles!
The key to getting a reasonable cost is to book at least 6 months ahead. Our tickets were around 860.00 each!
Of course we are retired, so we can plan well ahead.
Can you explain how that works?
Thanks
1. Since we love Hawaii, and know we want to travel there at least every year, we plan far ahead. Generally we study flights and and book with cash, two flights to Hawaii in coach.
2. Next, we upgrade using Hawaiian Airlines points we have collected through regular purchases On HA credit cards, (my card and the wife’s card). In short, we focus only on the goal.
For us, the key is to plan at least one year in advance. We want to collect 100,000 Hawaiian miles during the coming year.
As soon as we have collected enough points we upgrade with points to first class.
Nothing tricky or complicated here, just good planning! Aloha!
Thanks!
So book 2 coach regular coach seats and then immediately turn around and upgrade with points?
Where is the upgrade option or do yo have to call in for that?
You have to contact them to upgrade there is no app on the site
Yes you have to plan months in advance e. There is a limit to the number of seats available for all upgrades using miles. The other day there were 9 seats available but when I requested miles upgrades the agent told me there were not available for upgrades there were for purchase only. Anyone know how many are available for upgrades on each fligjt?
How do you tell which ones are for upgrades and which ones are not?
Pat. I don’t have an answer for you. I usually contact reservations and make an inquiry ut I’m think there maybe between 4 and 6 available
What kind of headphones can be contacted to the iPad they hand out?
They give them to you to borrow.
Hawaiian Airlines’ previous ‘local based’ reservation department was mediocre at best. What a low class dig on stating current reservation department as ‘foreign low cost center’. I never found a situation that I needed addressed in being not taken care of. I agree with the listing of forward cabin being somewhat deceiving… it is Business Domestic … First Class classification is a farce.
Are you kidding me. I spent over $3200 per ticket from Phoenix for first class. I recently checked and the tickets were $4700. I have another trip planned but will use my miles next time to upgrade to first class.
Our last trip was a nightmare but it wasn’t the airlines fault. We got into Kauai 24 hours late and delayed 5 hours coming back to Phoenix because of a storm. They did give me travel vouchers which u will use on my next trip.
Can you explain how the upgrade works?
Thanks
I traveled from Honolulu to Seattle in the lie flat seating in July 2022. It was a wonderful experience. 🌺🌴🤙
I guess you were vert lucky. The cheapest round trip from Honolulu to Vegas is over $4,000. Hawaiian denied my miles says they could find my reservation even thought I got created g or the Hnl to Vas leg both in 1st class. The food on the late night flights I would rate 5 out of 10. You should fo a review on the Vegas to Honolulu 1am flight
We flew HA first class from SEA 8 years ago as a retirement present to us. We were spoiled, and now it’s the only way we fly. Still spoiled. Agree with each of Jeff’s ratings, particularly the 10/10 rating for the flight attendants!
Great review, thanks for doing that – curious how a longer route holds up.
I avoid flying HA except for interisland specifically because their IT is so archaic. Where other airlines allow you to do everything include fly a plane in their app (United) – Hawaiian barely lets you do anything. The app and website are just so woefully behind the times. Customer service on the ground is usually non-existent, while in the air it’s usually pretty friendly. Not to mention the premium Hawaiian charges for business/first compared to other airlines is laughable.
Don’t mean to be a negative Nancy, just really wish Hawaiian would join the 21st century.
What premium does Hawaiian charge for F that the others don’t?
Not many airlines flying lay flat seat from so many locations.
I flew Hawaiian Airlines first class this past April from Kona to Boston. This included direct service from Honolulu to Boston. Definitely a long flight, but so worth the first class ticket. The seat was lie flat and extremely comfortable, food and beverage service was fine. The flight crew was incredible and very attentive. Will definitely do this again if traveling to the east coast.
Considering this class on AUS to LIH.
Looks like you helped me make the decision. 🙂
I agree with your ratings, except for this: My rating for Customer Service would not be a 9 out of 10, it would be at most a 1. The offshore Philippine location customer service outsourced by Hawaiian Airlines is absolutely horrible. While the agents try to do their best, they are not trained well, communicating in English is often difficult, it’s very trying, very long, very frustrating. As you point out, Southwest and Alaska for example, have US based customer service.
Good for you getting first class for less than 3 times economy.
This review is beneath this blog, and should never have been written. I spend $1100 from Seattle for economy RT, with $300/ passenger for extended leg seating.
Maybe a regular feature weekly on best rates from SEA, LAX, and San Fran would be useful from your blog.
Best rental car deals would actually help more people.
Unlike you, we poor tourists don’t have expert info all of the time.
It’s not all about you. It’s good to learn about the various offerings to and fro the mainland and Hawaii.Geez.
Wow. What a horrible and rude comment. I’m amazed these two gentlemen actually posted it. They have demonstrated their level of class and integrity again. Envy is an ugly monster. Good for them and their hard work to find such a good deal! Don’t begrudge them for it.
It is their blog and they have the right to cover any topic they see fit. I’m certain I’m in the majority in feeling this way.
I enjoy all the articles these men post and hope your anger didn’t follow you to our islands on your vacation.
Mahalo for all you do guys. 🙏
Hi Chris.
We’re appreciative of your nearly 100 comments. And thanks for the nice words here!
Aloha.
Sorry, but it’s not their job to find you the best airfare or car rentals. That’s not why I signed up for their newsletter. They have given us tips on how to do it yourself and I appreciate that. The reviews of a flight are pretty subjective (airport, time, price, plane) so I don’t pay too much attention to them.
Great review and I will have to try their first class. I just flew back from the East Coast on United Airlines first class Boeing 787-10 and it was a very nice. It will be interesting to make a comparison.
I have flown Hawaiian first class from Ontario, Ca several times to HNL. Lie flat seats are in flights from LAX. Your vacation starts when you board the plane. I love the Mai tai’s. Everything is great including boarding in Ontario and returning out of HNL. It is well worth the extra money and I like checking two free bags. I have flown American first class out of LAX and it was no comparison. I will continue to fly exclusively with Hawaiian – first class. I once flew coach and even that was a good flight. I have the Hawaiian Mastercard and get miles.
I have flown on Hawn Business class internationally and domestic. Always wonderful FA service. I don’t like calling the Hawaiian Air call center because I have been on hold from 30min to 3 hours. The accents are strong and sometimes difficult to understand their communication. It is a little backwards having to call and not based in the US. Or we shouldn’t gave to call at all.
Aloha,
Just imo but $849 for first class ticket was a deal! I have paid that that and more for Alaska first class cross country – which is basically a bigger seat, a drink, and meal… with the flat seats it seems a reasonable fare… have a feeling the price will be going up on HA…
Mahalo for the great reporting
Cheryl
I fly Hawaiian exclusively to Hawaii about 2-3 times a year .
When you live in LA it’s a quick trip. I use my Hawaiian air miles .
This summer I few the airbus A330 to Kona , normally the smaller planes to Kona but with the travel surge they were using the airbus til Sept . I flew first class and the 2 flight attendants were the best I have ever seen . They were looking for a passenger to swap seats with a young mother who was sitting in seat 1A, I volunteered. They just couldn’t thank me enough . Outstanding service !
Before I retired in 2019 I flew HA 1st class every 3 months for business. My company would only authorize economy so I paid the difference. I agree on every rating you gave especially not having a chance to preorder your meals. I remember flying out of LAX terminal 2 and having the Pualani Lounge available for its members. Bummed when they closed it. I now live in Vegas and have a flight planned in December. Hoping the experience is what I remember from my last trip.
Aloha
I agree almost word for word with your review. We only fly HA because the service in first class More than makes up for any shortcomings. I’m blown away by the price you guys got. Started doing some scouting to fly to Phoenix in May and nothing return for under 3k!! Used to be nearly half that. 😥
I bought a one way, first class ticket for July and due to getting covid, I had to reschedule for August, however it was $1200 more. So I said give me an extra comfort seat. Customer service told me they maximize the price, which means no refund of any amount and since it’s not a first class ticket, I have to pay for my extra comfort seat. It was half the price I paid, if I pay on my own. So I ended up using it for a round trip fare for December, which was still $200 less, and I still had to pay for the upgrade for extra Comfort seats. Buyer beware, on the changing of first class ticket prices, if you have to change the date.
I’ve flown first class to Hawaii several times on Alaska and only once on Hawaiian. We visit at least once every 2 years. I’ve enjoyed both, but for my family, arrivals and departure times from Kahului to San Diego are the most important consideration. Our kids are young enough that disruptive sleep is a deal breaker.
I do like Hawaiian, but am not yet convinced that it’s worth the higher cost. We can get to San Diego an hour earlier on the way home (it’s around 10:40 pm vs 11:30 pm on Alaska). That’s not enough to justify the $1200 difference for 4 passengers.
If they brought their prices down a little bit, we might travel with them as we do see a little higher level of service with them.
Using low-paid Philippine based foreign call center employees gets a low score.
This is a BIG pet peeve for me with Hawaiian. The call interaction is frustrating and many times takes waaay to long as I explain time and time again what I need done
I fly mostly American due to my Executive Platinum Status and I wish the AA flight attendants were 50% as good as your experience on Hawaiian. The AA hard product on the 787 and 777 can’t be beat, though. Once Hawaiian starts flying the 787, I may opt for status on Hawaiian, depending upon how their upgrades will work and the quality of their seat.