East Coast Flight choices Summer 2023

[lundve]

Seven us are strongly considering flying from MD/VA to Aulani next summer…pondering flights - we want no more then one stop.

Would you chose

1. Southwest out of BWI connecting through Phoenix, Vegas, or LA before heading to Hawaii
2. Delta out of DC connecting through Atlanta before heading to Hawaii

 

[CaptainAmerica]

#2

In my opinion, being on a wide-body jet is much more important than the particulars of the itinerary. ATL to HNL is more likely to get you that for the longer leg. Cramming into a 737 for 5 hours (and then 5 more hours) would be much less comfortable than a quick flight to Atlanta followed by a 2-4-2 for the main bit.

 

[chicagodisneyguy]

I know United runs an IAD-HNL nonstop certain times/days of the year. It will probably be more expensive than the 1-stops, but I'll usually always take a nonstop over a connection any day of the week.

If that's not the cards I also agree with the previous poster....going thru Atlanta.

 

[Lew]

I know United runs an IAD-HNL nonstop certain times/days of the year.

We flew HNL → IAD nonstop on United yesterday...arriving 45 minutes late, but still making our connection. I can tell you there's no comparing first class on United with Hawaiian...food on United was terrible...everything about Hawaiian was over the top. If there's a way you can fly on any airline other than United, do it!!

 

[CaptainAmerica]

We flew HNL → IAD nonstop on United yesterday...arriving 45 minutes late, but still making our connection. I can tell you there's no comparing first class on United with Hawaiian...food on United was terrible...everything about Hawaiian was over the top. If there's a way you can fly on any airline other than United, do it!!

That surprises me. I've never done United's leisure first class, but I've done Polaris Business Class a few times and it's incredible.

 

[Communicore1991]

I would also agree that the longer you can fly on a wide body (767, 777, 787, A330, A350) the better your flight will be. I would also go for Delta over Southwest. I haven't flown on Delta too much but all the times I have, all the flight attendants were super nice, friendly, and I just overall felt more comfortable.

 

[Communicore1991]

That surprises me. I've never done United's leisure first class, but I've done Polaris Business Class a few times and it's incredible.

There's a difference between United's "first class" and Polaris. For example on United's EWR-HNL direct route, they fly their older 767-400ERs which have not had their business class updated to Polaris so you have old seats, old screens, and for an almost 11 hour flight, you really don't get much for food.

 

[chicagodisneyguy]

We flew HNL → IAD nonstop on United yesterday...arriving 45 minutes late, but still making our connection. I can tell you there's no comparing first class on United with Hawaiian...food on United was terrible...everything about Hawaiian was over the top. If there's a way you can fly on any airline other than United, do it!!

While I agree that UA's premium cabin food is the absolute worst of any of the major carriers (AA, UA, Delta, or Hawaiian), I would still take a non-stop vs connection.

United's seat on the wide-bodies from IAD/EWR will be the older business class seats. Still lie-flat, but not the new Polaris seat (even though that's how it will be referred). But even if flying coach, I would take that nonstop over a connection.

We are going to Aulani in November and are doing ORD-HNL-ORD in the new Polaris seat. We've gone thru Dallas a few times on AA. While AA has better catering and DFW has a centurion lounge, the United nonstop will win every time with us as long as cost is similar.

 

[Lew]

That surprises me. I've never done United's leisure first class, but I've done Polaris Business Class a few times and it's incredible.

As it turns out it was not Polaris...although there was a placard on the bulkhead with the word Polaris on it. I checked my paperwork and it clearly states United First. Based on our meals in first class, I can't imagine what other classes were served.

This caused me to confirm our flight to Rome in September is in Polaris Class and it is. We have a 4½ hour layover at EWR and they have a fantastic Polaris lounge there which we plan to take full advantage of.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

EWR... they have a fantastic Polaris lounge there.

They do indeed. Stupid friggin COVID.

 

[gatechfan99]

We did Atlanta to HNL on Delta last month and I found it better than I had expected for a 10 hour flight. We did do Comfort + which is a big help on the legroom. The food wasn't a 4 star restaurant by any means but it was included and helped to get you through the flight if you didn't bring a meal on your own.

I also find their onboard entertainment very underrated. The chairback tv has probably at least 100 movies and tv shows on demand. My 3 kids didn't need anything they brought, they just watched show after show on their seatback tv.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

We did Atlanta to HNL on Delta last month and I found it better than I had expected for a 10 hour flight. We did do Comfort + which is a big help on the legroom. The food wasn't a 4 star restaurant by any means but it was included and helped to get you through the flight if you didn't bring a meal on your own.

I also find their onboard entertainment very underrated. The chairback tv has probably at least 100 movies and tv shows on demand. My 3 kids didn't need anything they brought, they just watched show after show on their seatback tv.

This doesn't help OP, but Hawaiian direct from Boston is a great service as well. We pay for the premium economy as well, plus we try to book early enough to get the bulkhead row.

Hawaiian Airlines has this mini-cabin in between first class and the rest of the plan with just 12 total seats (two on each side and two rows of four in the middle) and it's so peaceful.

 

[Lew]

By the way, if you have United lounge access, at HNL there's free Dole Whip available at the bar. One...or more...tastes before you fly out.

 

[AllisonLB1994]

We'll be flying out of DCA this June to Hawaii. On the way there we are doing AA - stopping in PHX. On the way back, we are breaking it up via Southwest. HNL to LAX then the next day LAX to BWI (nonstop for each). This way we get back at a decent time. Not sure about where you are located but we will be taking the Marc train back so it was important to not get into BWI super late for our party.

 

[JBRB828]

By the way, if you have United lounge access, at HNL there's free Dole Whip available at the bar. One...or more...tastes before you fly out.

is this a new thing? We haven’t been to Oahu in 2 years, thanks CoVid! I don’t remember seeing this in the lounge.

 

[Lew]

is this a new thing? We haven’t been to Oahu in 2 years, thanks CoVid! I don’t remember seeing this in the lounge.

I couldn't tell you...this was our first time in the United lounge at HNL. I didn't see the Dole Whip on my trip to the bar, but my eagle-eyed DW didn't miss it.

 

[fantasia73]

I had a great flight on United First Class to Hawaii from LAX, but it was the flight attendant who made the difference. He made a volcano out of the warm towels, complete with steam coming from its peak. The food wasn't anything great, but the flight attendant was constantly checking on us and bringing snacks or drinks. Craig T. Nelson was sitting next to me!! He was super nice.

 

[jimmymc]

Whichever is cheaper. I've done Detroit to Seattle/LAX to Honolulu, and I've also done short hops on either end of nonstop flights to Europe on widebody jets, and to me it doesn't make much of a difference. Either way the stop breaks up the trip, and the 5 hours or so from the west coast to Hawaii goes by pretty quickly. I'm not sure if Delta offers meals on the ATL to HNL route, but if they don't I would definitely recommend a hearty snack for the plane and eating during your layover.

If prices are close enough, I would go for the stop on the west coast. For me, a 5 hour flight is just normal, while the ATL to HNL leg is more of an event and staying in the same spot for a long time.

 

[jimmymc]

We did Atlanta to HNL on Delta last month and I found it better than I had expected for a 10 hour flight. We did do Comfort + which is a big help on the legroom. The food wasn't a 4 star restaurant by any means but it was included and helped to get you through the flight if you didn't bring a meal on your own.

I also find their onboard entertainment very underrated. The chairback tv has probably at least 100 movies and tv shows on demand. My 3 kids didn't need anything they brought, they just watched show after show on their seatback tv.

Delta specifically carries new Disney movies, which is convenient if you're travelling with kids or me.

 

[ProudMommyof2]

This doesn't help OP, but Hawaiian direct from Boston is a great service as well. We pay for the premium economy as well, plus we try to book early enough to get the bulkhead row.

Hawaiian Airlines has this mini-cabin in between first class and the rest of the plan with just 12 total seats (two on each side and two rows of four in the middle) and it's so peaceful.

This is very interesting to me.
We are RIers planning BOS to HNL June 2023.
Can you tell me specifically where are these seats on the plane?