How bad is LAX?

[DebbieB]

I've been through LAX many times, it is busy but not unmanagable. I've never seen long lines, each terminal has their own check-in and security areas. Better than many airports where security for all airlines is together (example - Atlanta).

 

[beachbunny]

American, Continental, Delta, Northwest, USAir. I fly Hawaiian almost weekly. I've missed flights and not had any problem being put on the next flight on standby.

 

[BCV23]

I've flown ORD to Hawaii many, many times. The best, fastest, and cheapest way to go is to fly from ORD to HNL (8 hours) and HNL to OGG (20 minutes). Sometimes, it's cheaper to purchase two tickets - one for the ORD to HNL roundtrip and one for the HNL to OGG roundtrip. There are TONS of flights from HNL to OGG (almost every half hour from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.) so I'd schedule my interisland flights close to my mainland flights. Why waste a day of vacation sitting in LA? I'd rather recover on the beach in Hawaii.

Why would you choose nonstop from ORD to Honolulu rather than Maui? I agree the connection in Honolulu isn't bad...but why do it if you can avoid it?

Also, the flight is 9 hours these days at least on United. Has been for over 10 years as best as I can recall. Years ago, it was 8. Of course, the flight from ORD to MCO used to be 2 hours and is now nearly three.

 

[beachbunny]

I thought they had cancelled all flights from ORD to OGG. By all means, if there is a direct flight, go for it.

 

[beachbunny]

There weren't any direct flights the last time I travelled but I wanted to know if I was giving you wrong information so I did a Kayak search. Nope, no direct flights for a couple of random dates checked.

 

[BCV23]

I thought they had cancelled all flights from ORD to OGG. By all means, if there is a direct flight, go for it.

Oh, I hope not.

At least as of tonight, direct flights are still shown from ORD to OGG on UA's site.

 

[beachbunny]

I stand corrected. American terminated that route last year and I though I heard that UAL might do so too. Can you tell I hate flying through Chicago? I always go south if I have a choice - Continental through Houston.

 

[CruisinEars]

How are SEA's airport hotels? And how big is the SEA airport?

The hotels are reasonable like any airport hotel. We actually stayed at one the beginning of May because we didn't want to get up at 3 am for our flight to MCO. We stayed at Spring Hill Suites (Renton) if you want to check it out on tripadvisor dot com. My dh did a review for them. It is a few miles from the Airport and it was very nice. Comfortable and quiet. Also has a shuttle to the airport and the staff was very nice.

The airport is not huge but the recent remodel and addition of a large food court type area has made it very nice. Security has been quite fast the last several trips and I really like this airport.

The last time I was in Hawaii was 2 1/2 years ago, but the direct flights are nice. We went direct from SEA to Maui. My brother and his wife live on Oahu and are always flying back and forth. If you have any specific questions, let me know and I can ask them.

 

[MrMarv]

You can also fly American, except that you'd have to put up with that horrendously designed airport known as DFW, which has been a joke for 34 years.

 

[EpcotGuy]

Have you considered SFO or OAK?

 

[LeslieG]

Have you considered SFO or OAK?

Actually SFO was my first thought, but it looks like only United and USAir have N/S flights, and USAir seems to be at the top of the list for possible bankrupcy, which makes me a little nervous. OAK doesn't appear to have any N/S flights. I'm looking at Maui and Kauai, not HNL. Just was looking at where would give me the most options. And I have a feeling till next year, there will be even fewer flight options.

 

[MrMarv]

LAX, SFO and SEA would be the top three airports for nonstops to HNL; that's been the case for decades.

Since NWA dscontinued nonstops from HNL/DTW & HNL/MSP many years ago, that nonstop on United between HNL/ORD is the only one left for Midwesteners.