best flight from florida?

[micminmom]

We are headed to Aulani in June and are flying from Orlando. Which airlines/ flight schedules have worked best?

 

[christianweecare]

Subscribing

 

[OKW Lover]

I'm not sure there is a "best flight". We've flown from MCO to HNL twice now, with #3 happening next month. No matter how you do it, its a long time on a plane. We fly Delta almost everywhere and have "status" on them. First trip we flew MCO>ATL>HNL. Last year we flew MCO>LAX>HNL. Next month we are repeating the first trip routing.

We settled on that one mainly because the folks we travel with have kind of corrupted us to preferring flying in first class. The plane on the ATL>HNL flight (almost 10 hours) offers very, very nice lay-flat seats. This is especially nice on the return trip because its a red-eye and we will be able to sleep overnight allowing us to arrive back on the east coast rested and ready to face the rest of the day, despite our bodies still being on Hawaii time.

Last year, when we flew through LAX, we found that to be OK but not great. The flights were too short to actually get much sleep and the change of planes in LAX just seems to be an aggravation. in the middle of a long day. Changing planes in ATL isn't as much a chore to us, perhaps because we fly through there so frequently. It also happens early enough in the trip that you are still "fresh" and you then have a long flight to recover.

Not really any good reasons to pick one over the other though.

 

[ngl]

I'm not sure there is a "best flight". We've flown from MCO to HNL twice now, with #3 happening next month. No matter how you do it, its a long time on a plane. We fly Delta almost everywhere and have "status" on them. First trip we flew MCO>ATL>HNL. Last year we flew MCO>LAX>HNL. Next month we are repeating the first trip routing.

We settled on that one mainly because the folks we travel with have kind of corrupted us to preferring flying in first class. The plane on the ATL>HNL flight (almost 10 hours) offers very, very nice lay-flat seats. This is especially nice on the return trip because its a red-eye and we will be able to sleep overnight allowing us to arrive back on the east coast rested and ready to face the rest of the day, despite our bodies still being on Hawaii time.

Last year, when we flew through LAX, we found that to be OK but not great. The flights were too short to actually get much sleep and the change of planes in LAX just seems to be an aggravation. in the middle of a long day. Changing planes in ATL isn't as much a chore to us, perhaps because we fly through there so frequently. It also happens early enough in the trip that you are still "fresh" and you then have a long flight to recover.

Not really any good reasons to pick one over the other though.

Completely agree with OKW Lover post. We flew from TPA to HNL last week, through ATL as well. We debated going through LAX but when I saw they did not have the lay flat beds in First Class (we were using ff miles), we opted for the ATL flight. (We have a 7 & 5 yr old so VERY helpful).

As also stated, no matter how you cut it, it is a long flight. If you are not traveling on miles or preferential status, I would go with the one that has the least changes (for the reasons pointed out above) and most reasonable cost. From MCO, that probably will be Delta or American.

 

[micminmom]

Thanks so much for the insight! Not looking forward to flight, but everyone says it's worth it. Can anyone comment on eating dinner that first night? I was planning a room service family dinner, but they have been discontinued. So, i made reservations for buffet at 630, figuring it would be quicker and then we could hit the hay.

 

[OKW Lover]

Thanks so much for the insight! Not looking forward to flight, but everyone says it's worth it. Can anyone comment on eating dinner that first night? I was planning a room service family dinner, but they have been discontinued. So, i made reservations for buffet at 630, figuring it would be quicker and then we could hit the hay.

Dinner that first night is really a puzzle. Last year we went to Monkey Pod but found ourselves just too tired to enjoy anything. Add to that a very perky waitress and I'm afraid the whole experience put us off. We were also planning one of those room service family dinners this time. Now it sounds like we will do some quick shopping before we check in and get something that we can heat up in the unit.

 

[ngl]

We arrived into HNL about 3pm, stopped at Target on the way in and was in the room by 6pm or so. We did a quick tour of the property, got some quick serve at Ulu Cafe and were in bed by 8pm! Like OKW Lover stated (the two of us have been on the same page about this post lol!) you don't want to sit through a long meal if you are that tired. Pizza Corner across the street had good pizza and they deliver to Aulani. I was the one that posted re no more family meals (was REALLY bummed about that!) Room service menu looked typical but didn't try it. I guess it depends on ages of those in your travel party too as to whether you may be able to sit through a meal.

 

[jtkboston]

Thanks so much for the insight! Not looking forward to flight, but everyone says it's worth it. Can anyone comment on eating dinner that first night? I was planning a room service family dinner, but they have been discontinued. So, i made reservations for buffet at 630, figuring it would be quicker and then we could hit the hay.

When my family visited last year, we stopped at Costco the first night and got a pizza and sodas for dinner. (Also got some other supplies for the week.)

 

[ratt1345]

This past October, DW and I flew Delta out of MCO and connected in LAX, both going there and coming back. Worked out great for us. Layovers each way were only 1.5 hours. I agree, any way you do it, it one looooong flight! (well, you know what I mean) That worked for us, you experience may be different.

 

[OKWJan]

We are flying to LAX and spending a couple of days at Disneyland before taking Hawaiian Air to Hawaii. It breaks the trip up....and we get to go to Disneyland

 

[jlwhitney]

We are flying to LAX and spending a couple of days at Disneyland before taking Hawaiian Air to Hawaii. It breaks the trip up....and we get to go to Disneyland

We are doing the same thing in September.

 

[Amw1064]

Last year we flew Tampa to Phoenix to Honolulu. We took American and it was an ok flight. Everyone recommended Delta so I booked this years flight Tampa to LA to Honolulu. I loved the thought of being able to get out of the plane at the half way point. Unfortunately Delta just cancelled our flight and we have to fly Tampa to Atlanta and then 9.5 hours to Honolulu. I almost cancelled the trip because of it. I am very upset. I do not think I can be on a plane that long. Trying not to think about it.

 

[ngl]

Last year we flew Tampa to Phoenix to Honolulu. We took American and it was an ok flight. Everyone recommended Delta so I booked this years flight Tampa to LA to Honolulu. I loved the thought of being able to get out of the plane at the half way point. Unfortunately Delta just cancelled our flight and we have to fly Tampa to Atlanta and then 9.5 hours to Honolulu. I almost cancelled the trip because of it. I am very upset. I do not think I can be on a plane that long. Trying not to think about it.

We just returned from Aulani using that same route, as mentioned above. No question it is a long haul. But at least the way out there is during the day so you are awake and can watch movies, etc.

Btw, Delta seems to frequently cancel the TPA-LAX route beginning in June and through Sept. I think it is "low season" for that route for some reason. I don't know if they wait to see how many people they have commit to it but seems to be the case.

As you already know, the journey will be worth it!

 

[micminmom]

This thread is so helpful! Anyone have any opinions about sleeping on the 2d leg of the trip (towards Oahu)? Will we be wrecks once we arrive if we sleep through the 8 hours from Dallas to Honolulu?

 

[OKW Lover]

This thread is so helpful! Anyone have any opinions about sleeping on the 2d leg of the trip (towards Oahu)? Will we be wrecks once we arrive if we sleep through the 8 hours from Dallas to Honolulu?

If you can sleep on that leg you would be wise to do so. Keep in mind that the time difference between Dallas and Hawaii is 5 hours. If you get to Aulani at 6pm, your body will think its 11 pm.

 

[Amw1064]

We just returned from Aulani using that same route, as mentioned above. No question it is a long haul. But at least the way out there is during the day so you are awake and can watch movies, etc.

Btw, Delta seems to frequently cancel the TPA-LAX route beginning in June and through Sept. I think it is "low season" for that route for some reason. I don't know if they wait to see how many people they have commit to it but seems to be the case.

As you already know, the journey will be worth it!

Do they provide you with movies? We didn't have anything on our flight last year on American.

 

[OKW Lover]

Do they provide you with movies?

Delta provides in flight entertainment on their flights from ATL to HNL.

 

[OKW Lover]

We are headed to Aulani in June and are flying from Orlando. Which airlines/ flight schedules have worked best?

Wondering which option the OP settled on.