How do we get there?

[StitchesGr8Fan]

So by some miracle I was able to book 6 nights during spring break. Now we need to figure out how to get there. So 2 questions:

1.Best airline to fly from Chicago?
2. How do we get from the airport to Aulani?

We have 2 younger kids (8&5) so we are potentially willing to pay more for more space on the plane. 4 of us total.

 

[Lew]

You don't mention dates; however, it appears United is the only airline offering nonstop flights.

We would be renting a car...Uber or taxi are another options.

 

[OKW Lover]

I'd look for whichever airline has a non-stop from chicago to HNL. American?

At any rate, once you get to HNL, you can simply take a taxi (Charle's taxi) has f flat rate from the airport to Aulani.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

We are ok without nonstop. I think nonstop would be too long? We are flying down March 20

 

[happymommy]

We are ok without nonstop. I think nonstop would be too long? We are flying down March 20

I’ve flown many, many times (from the East Coast), and some trips just the kids and me. Trust me, take the nonstop if you can. Getting kids situated for one longer flight saves time and is just more practical. Each stop adds time to deplane, find something to do (or eat), of course more potty breaks. I have only gone with one stop (although next trip we’re doing the 10 hour nonstop from Dulles in first class; I’m not flying economy over 50 now lol).

 

[Kristie71]

I'd look for whichever airline has a non-stop from chicago to HNL. American?

At any rate, once you get to HNL, you can simply take a taxi (Charle's taxi) has f flat rate from the airport to Aulani.

I am from Chicago. Your only option is United for non stop flights

 

[Daisy7425]

We would 100% choose nonstop. It is a brutally long travel day even just going direct and having a stop will add hours and hours to an already long day. I always look at layovers as an another chance to lose luggage too.

You'll definitely want to get a rental car while staying at Aulani. We took the rental from HNL to Aulani.

 

[bigtimmy]

Been there twice. Once we went with like 3 stops , next time went non stop, go none stop, trust me. The non stop was 6 hours from the Midwest, the first flight took literally 2 days. So the value is definitely non stop.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

We are ok without nonstop. I think nonstop would be too long? We are flying down March 20

We've done the flight with kids aged 5, 2, and 8 months pregnant. I highly recommend nonstop going out to Honolulu and then taking a pit stop on the way home and spending the night overnight in a California hotel.

ORD to HNL
HNL to LAX
LAX to ORD

Book those last two legs as separate one way flights, not a single flight with a layover. That way you can really spread them out and have a real night of sleep in a hotel. It also gives you the option to mix and match airlines to get the best rates. If you book it as one flight, you're going to have to do a redeye which has failed every time my family has tried it, and my kids are what I'd consider "expert" fliers.

If you have the budget, pay for Extra Comfort or Comfort Plus or whatever they call it on the airline you choose and try to get seats on the bulkhead. Try to get a route with a wide body jet (2-4-2) instead of narrow body (3-3). Even in coach, the extra space of the bigger plane makes a huge difference.

Been there twice. Once we went with like 3 stops , next time went non stop, go none stop, trust me. The non stop was 6 hours from the Midwest, the first flight took literally 2 days. So the value is definitely non stop.

Have you done this with kids? The only nonstops are redeyes and little kids don't do well on redeyes if you can avoid them.

 

[Suzabella]

We are ok without nonstop. I think nonstop would be too long? We are flying down March 20

You are so right!! We were to fly from Indy several years ago. Delta called and offered us flights out of Cincinnati closer to our home. We booked Indy because the cost was significantly less. They offered us non-stop on the return trip which we thought was great until we did it. Never again. Those seats were really uncomfortable by the time we landed and we've flown to the UK non-stop but planes used for 'domestic' travel just aren't as comfortable. I don't think we'll ever fly nonstop to Hawaii again.

 

[cgattis]

I’ll just throw out that we are the exception. Our family does better with a break in between. There are pros and cons either way, and cost is usually what primarily drives our flight choices. And my DH is the problem child on red eyes, not the actual kids

 

[Kasarro81]

We travel standby as my husband works for United. We intended on breaking up the flight with a stop on the west coast but because seats filled up we had to fly ORD-KOA, then connected an hour later to HNL on Hawaiian. My kids were 4 and 7 and did amazing going straight through, I thought for sure my youngest would be a disaster midday on a 10 hour flight. We had to fly home HNL via Denver onto ORD and they did ok with that too but surprisingly handled the direct flight much better

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I’ll just throw out that we are the exception. Our family does better with a break in between. There are pros and cons either way, and cost is usually what primarily drives our flight choices. And my DH is the problem child on red eyes, not the actual kids

Our family is entirely dependent on which direction we're flying. Flying West, get us there as quickly as possible. Flying East, we desperately need that break in between.

 

[cedricandsophie]

We have been to aulani/Hawaii from chicago many times. I would always fly nonstop. I just want to get there. I don’t want to chance missing a connection, losing luggage, etc. we only fly United because I’m a Millon Miler and have status that gets us two free economy plus upgrades. Snd then we buy two more upgrades got the kids. Well worth the cost. As is business class if you can afford it. We have upgraded to business using miles as well as cash. Again, well worth it for me.

 

[Airb330]

I am from Chicago. Your only option is United for non stop flights

Yep AA canceled their ORD-HNL (I was on it this December ). We prefer nonstops if possible. From Philly, it isn’t so we try to go through ORD/DFW on American so we can be on the large widebody planes. Or on United from EWR.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Yep AA canceled their ORD-HNL (I was on it this December ). We prefer nonstops if possible. From Philly, it isn’t so we try to go through ORD/DFW on American so we can be on the large widebody planes. Or on United from EWR.

If you're willing to drive to Newark, you could also consider Hawaiian Airlines from BOS or JFK. Much (much much much) friendlier service than what you get from American or United in my experience, and they have a superior premium economy product.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

would always fly nonstop. I just want to get there. I don’t want to chance missing a connection, losing luggage, etc.

That's how I feel flying West but my kids just can't cut it flying East because nonstop 100% means a red-eye. Red-eye with kids for us means nobody sleeps. I almost fell asleep at the wheel driving home from Boston last time because I hadn't slept a single second the night before. This next trip we'll spend a night near LAX to sleep in real beds and then get home the next afternoon.