What is the best flight plan from New England?

[happily single]

I am in the early planning stages of a trip to Aulani. We will be coming from RI and I am guessing we would want a direct flight to CA, but which city?

Do you suggest we spend a day or two in CA before travelling to Hawaii?

THEN, which airport in Hawaii do we want? Surprisingly I did not find much in terms of "getting there" support on the Disney website.

Also we are typically a JetBlue or SouthWest family. I am not sure either have routes to Hawaii. Which airline do you recommend?

 

[nkereina]

We live in Buffalo and just got back. We flew Delta and loved it - tons of entertainment options, as well as a meal and free alcohol. We flew Buffalo to Atlanta, and then Atlanta to Honolulu. The flight to Honolulu was about 8 hours but went by relatively quickly for us. It was not as bad as we thought it'd be.

I don't know if Southwest or Jetblue fly to Honolulu, but I know that Hawaiian Airlines partners with JetBlue. One of our options was to fly from Buffalo to JFK on a Jetblue flight, and then board a Hawaiian Airlines flight from JFK to Honolulu. They would move the bags for us, so we didn't have to re-check in again.

We didn't want to stop in CA because we were anxious to just get there. It was also going to be more expensive for us to fly from Buffalo to a city in California, and then from California to Honolulu. We met several people from Orange County and San Francisco, and I know LAX has flights to Honolulu as well. I'd choose whichever city offers the best prices if you want to stop in CA first. We didn't find it necessry.

 

[buffettgirl]

My two favorites are Delta: My favorite flight from Boston is Boston to Atlanta and then Atlanta straight through to Honolulu. It's a giant plane from Atlanta to Hawaii with lots of room, free entertainment screens at every seat, plugs, usb, loads of bathrooms, and they come around with snacks often, and food for sale like 3 times. If that one isn't available, I do Boston to Minneapolis. Same type of planes. Yes, the 2nd leg is long, but in total, both are usually the fastest flights AND they're usually the ones I find for the cheapest.

We used to do Bos to LAX or Phoenix, and then on to HNL. But the planes are generally smaller and more crowded, with less amenities and somehow getting off the plane after 6 hours and knowing you have to get back on is worse than just sitting there for 8 or 9 hours straight.

(oh, I just noticed that the above poster also likes the Atlanta to HNL flight)

 

[nkereina]

My two favorites are Delta: My favorite flight from Boston is Boston to Atlanta and then Atlanta straight through to Honolulu. It's a giant plane from Atlanta to Hawaii with lots of room, free entertainment screens at every seat, plugs, usb, loads of bathrooms, and they come around with snacks often, and food for sale like 3 times.

We just flew what sounds like the same flight from Atlanta to Honolulu two weeks ago. I overheard that as of 9/15/16, all fare classes including economy receive complimentary alcohol and a complimentary meal now. We were in coach and received a lunch choice of chicken or pasta. They brought out trays to everyone that had our entree choice plus a breadstick, caesar salad, cheese & crackers, shrimp, and a brownie. Later in the flight, they gave everyone a turkey sandwich. Throughout the flight, they handed out bottled water, peanuts, pretzels, and cookies. Never had to pay for any of it, and this was on the flight going and returning. I think this flight may have even gotten better!

 

[buffettgirl]

We just flew what sounds like the same flight from Atlanta to Honolulu two weeks ago. I overheard that as of 9/15/16, all fare classes including economy receive complimentary alcohol and a complimentary meal now. We were in coach and received a lunch choice of chicken or pasta. They brought out trays to everyone that had our entree choice plus a breadstick, caesar salad, cheese & crackers, shrimp, and a brownie. Later in the flight, they gave everyone a turkey sandwich. Throughout the flight, they handed out bottled water, peanuts, pretzels, and cookies. Never had to pay for any of it, and this was on the flight going and returning. I think this flight may have even gotten better!

Nice!

 

[kdonnel]

We have done it three different ways.

1. Atlanta to Los Angeles with two days at Disneyland before heading on to Honolulu.
2. Atlanta to another airport to Honolulu in the same day
3. Atlanta to Honolulu direct

I can't really say one is better than the other.

We really enjoyed the two days in California but if you are limited on time it takes away days from the Hawaii part. I say if you can add two more days to your trip do it!

The direct flight versus stop over is really a wash and we make the decision based on $$$. At the moment it is $600 more ($2400 for the four of us) to fly direct on Delta. So this april we are flying ATL-DAL-HNL, HNL-PHX-ATL. It is taking just under 2 hours longer clock time so not really a significant difference. Back in 2014 it was less than a $100 more to fly direct so we flew direct.

 

[OKW Lover]

We've flown to HNL three times now, one of which was from SE Mass. We've since moved to central FL. We've flown both the X to LAX to HNL route and the X to ATL to HNL. Our overwhelming preference is the ATL>HNL flight. However, we fly that in first class which is a huge difference on that plane.

 

[nkereina]

Our overwhelming preference is the ATL>HNL flight. However, we fly that in first class which is a huge difference on that plane.

We just did that flight in economy class on Delta and had a great experience! The first class seats are awesome on that plane (Airbus for Delta), but we found it very doable and comfortable in economy as well.

 

[jtkboston]

My family flew Syracuse-JFK-Honolulu last summer, on JetBlue/Hawaiian. Yes, they handle your luggage transfer for you, and the JetBlue terminal at JFK is pleasant.
As others have said, it's a long flight but once you get on the plane in NY, you feel like you're on the islands.
Coming back was fine for me (seasoned traveler) but my 9-year-old daughter didn't like the red-eye flight.
Next time we go, I would probably book similar flights (BOS-JFK-HNL, our home is BOS but we were visiting in-laws in Syracuse), but my daughter would prefer a stop in California. Perhaps an overnight in a hotel in CA on the way back, then daytime flight to east coast.

 

[blondietink]

We have flown American Airlines from Pittsburgh and Cleveland, both going through Dallas straight to Honolulu. On coach now you get meals also. The flight out is not bad so I would not plan a stop then, but the flight back is terrible, unless you are able to sleep sitting up. I would vote for stopping in LA or someplace on the west coast on the way back. we think we are doing this next year and take in a few days at Disneyland on the way back.

 

[Lizziemom]

Former Rhode Islander here and flew from Savannah, GA to HNL over Labor day this year. Our flight was Sav to Chicago to HNL. Flying to the islands was fine. What I would change was the flight home. Left HNL at 3PM, red eye to Chicago but only got 2 hours of sleep before they brought around breakfast. Next time I would fly a morning flight to CA, spend a night in CA with a real night sleep, then on to the east coast the next day.

MB

 

[85glht]

Last time we went to Aulani, we got a ride to a hotel just outside of JFK airport. The hotel had a free shuttle service to the terminals. Spent the night and flew nonstop to Honolulu via Hawaiian Airlines.
Spent the week at Aulani and then flew to LAX via Hawaiian Airlines, rented a car and drove to Disneyland and spent a few days there. We planned it this way due to the jet lag on the return home. Makes it a little easier to get back to our normal sleep schedule...... you will see, lol.
We flew home from LAX to BDL (Hartford CT.) via Southwest Airlines.