Evaluate of Hawaiian Airways’ home firstclass

Fast take: Hawaiian Airways’ Airbus A330 affords lie-flat seats and an island-inspired expertise in firstclass, although the seating configuration means not each passenger has direct aisle entry and inflight Wi-Fi is unavailable.

Professionals

• The pleasant crew affords real and customized service to every first-class passenger.
• Hawaii’s tradition and the spirit of aloha are immediately palpable on board.
• The lie-flat seats are smooth and cozy.

Cons

• Hawaiian Airways is late to the tech get together, with no onboard Wi-Fi and no method to preorder non-specialty meals.
• A cluster of flights and overwhelmed brokers meant a wait of greater than half-hour at check-in, even in designated first-class strains.
• Slender seats and few storage areas made it arduous to maintain private belongings at hand.

Ever since Hawaiian Airways upgraded its Airbus A330 fleet in 2016 with lie-flat seats and cabin decor impressed by Hawaii’s pure splendors, together with sandy tones and wavy designs meant to evoke the ocean, I used to be desirous to expertise the airline’s first-class service for myself. (As a facet be aware, the airline will start taking supply of Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners with a brand new firstclass subsequent yr.)

This is what it is like flying Hawaiian Airways’ firstclass on the A330 from Hawaii to Seattle.

How a lot does firstclass value to e book on Hawaiian Airways?

Hawaiian Airways flies the Airbus A330 from Maui’s Kahului Airport (OGG) and Honolulu’s Daniel Ok. Inouye Worldwide Airport (HNL) to varied locations within the mainland U.S. (amongst different long-haul routes). This is the place you’ll be able to at present discover the aircraft in service.

• OGG to Los Angeles Worldwide Airport (LAX) and Seattle-Tacoma Worldwide Airport (SEA).
• HNL to Austin-Bergstrom Worldwide Airport (AUS), Boston Logan Worldwide Airport (BOS), Las Vegas’ Harry Reid Worldwide Airport (LAS), LAX, New York’s John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport (JFK), Oakland Worldwide Airport (OAK), Phoenix Sky Harbor Worldwide Airport (PHX), Portland Worldwide Airport (PDX), Sacramento Worldwide Airport (SMF), San Diego Worldwide Airport (SAN), San Francisco Worldwide Airport (SFO) and SEA.

Hawaiian Airways additionally flies the Airbus A330 to varied locations within the Pacific, together with American Samoa, Australia, French Polynesia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea.

On different mainland U.S. routes, you’ll be able to anticipate to fly on the single-aisle Airbus A321neo, which is supplied with recliner seats in firstclass just like what you’d discover on most home flights on different legacy U.S. carriers. With lie-flat seats and a extra spacious cabin than the A321, attempt to e book Hawaiian Airways’ A330 if you happen to can select between the 2 aircraft sorts.

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Hawaiian operates each day flights between Maui and Seattle and sells fundamental economic system seats, commonplace economic system seats, Additional Consolation seats with extra legroom and first-class seats. This is what’s included with economic system versus first-class fares on this particular route.

Class	Change charges	Checked bag charges	Seat choice	Boarding zone
Economic system	$0 (no modifications for principal cabin fundamental)	$30 for the primary checked bag, $40 for the second checked bag	$87 to $127 for further legroom, $29 to $33 for a most well-liked location like window or aisle close to the entrance of cabin, $0 for all different seats	Principal cabin boarding (Zone 3 to six)
First-class	$0	Two free luggage	$0	First-class boarding (Zone 1)

The Hawaiian Airways® World Elite Mastercard® affords two free checked luggage for the first cardmember whenever you use your card to buy eligible tickets instantly from Hawaiian Airways. Cardholders are additionally eligible for a $100 companion low cost yearly for round-trip journey between Hawaii and North America on Hawaiian Airways after every account anniversary.

The knowledge for the Hawaiian Airways World Elite Mastercard has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.

Cardholder or not, here is what Hawaiian expenses to substantiate day-of-departure upgrades from economic system to firstclass on the Maui-to-Seattle route primarily based in your standing with the airline’s HawaiianMiles program:

• Nonmember/HawaiianMiles normal member: beginning at $489
• Discounted charge for HawaiianMiles Pualani Gold elite members: beginning at $399
• Discounted charge for HawaiianMiles Pualani Platinum elite members: beginning at $349

Hawaiian would not provide Pualani elite members complimentary first-class upgrades on non-inter-island flights, however Pualani Platinum members can use first-class improve certificates to substantiate upgrades.

As you would possibly anticipate, you’ll be able to redeem HawaiianMiles to fly firstclass on Hawaiian Airways, however be ready for blackout dates throughout peak journey intervals.

This is a have a look at round-trip airfares and award costs on this route, which can be found for most of the people, HawaiianMiles members and Hawaiian Airways elite members.

For my flight, the one-way airfare value $770.50, and we redeemed 77,050 American Categorical factors from our account with The Enterprise Platinum Card® from American Categorical to e book the ticket utilizing the Pay with Factors characteristic. If you pay with factors from the Enterprise Platinum, you may get 35% of your factors again on first- or business-class tickets on any airline. That successfully meant the ticket value 50,082 Amex factors, and I earned 3,957 HawaiianMiles, which is 150% of the flight distance.

Among the different greatest bank cards for reserving airfare embody:

You possibly can switch American Categorical Membership Rewards and Bilt Rewards factors to HawaiianMiles, however since TPG’s valuations peg HawaiianMiles at simply 0.9 cents apiece, we do not usually suggest doing so.

Checking into and boarding firstclass on Hawaiian Airways

For my flight, I traveled from Honolulu to Seattle by way of Maui, so my level of departure was the Hawaiian capital.

Twenty-four hours earlier than my flight, I checked in on the Hawaiian Airways web site, which lets you pay for checked luggage upfront and ensure seat assignments. The airline additionally has self-service kiosks at airports the place you’ll be able to print out your baggage tags and produce them to the belt.

My journey began within the early afternoon with a brief hop from Honolulu to Maui. Many flights depart presently of day, so the check-in corridor was bustling with passengers. The primary-class line had round a half-hour wait time, with a couple of half-dozen events ready for the lone agent checking passengers in.

Whereas I did not examine baggage on my itinerary, it will have been sooner to make use of the self-service kiosks and drop baggage off on the belt, regardless that there is not a chosen precedence line for this selection.

Hawaiian Airways operates two lounges in Honolulu. The Plumeria Lounge, which affords complimentary scorching meals and drinks together with alcohol, is reserved for business-class passengers on the airline’s worldwide itineraries and Pualani Platinum members touring on worldwide flights on the airline in any class, plus first-class passengers touring to JFK and BOS on the airline. Precedence Go and Lounge Key members also can entry this lounge, however it’s essential to add your self to the waitlist beforehand.

Pualani Platinum members on home flights in addition to Gold elite members and all different first-class Hawaiian Airways passengers (together with these on inter-island flights) can entry the Premier Membership. With fundamental facilities like espresso, tea, gentle drinks and pretzels (in addition to free Wi-Fi), this lounge’s choices are way more restricted than these within the Plumeria Lounge.

Moreover, Hawaiian has Premier Golf equipment with related facilities in Hilo Worldwide Airport (ITO), Kona Worldwide Airport (KOA), OGG and Kauai’s Lihue Airport (LIH).

Since I used to be flying home firstclass, I may entry the Premier Membership lounge in Honolulu and Maui. The lounge in Honolulu, located close to gate A18, was filled with passengers within the afternoon.

After arriving in Maui, it was a fast stroll to the gate for my Seattle flight. Connecting passengers certain for the mainland U.S. should go via agricultural screening, which usually takes lower than a minute. The gate space had loads of seating, although there weren’t any energy retailers on the seats.

The boarding course of on Hawaiian Airways is organized into six zones. Boarding started promptly at 2:30 p.m., with first-class passengers boarding in Zone 1 after passengers needing further time. Whereas there was a baggage sizer close to the gate to make sure carry-on luggage had been the correct measurement, the gate brokers did not appear to strictly implement the carry-on baggage coverage.

How comfy was firstclass on Hawaiian Airways?

First-class on Hawaiian Airways’ A330 has the next specs.

As quickly as you step on board Hawaiian Airways, you’re greeted with the islands’ well-known aloha spirit. The ambiance on my flight was established with movies of youngsters performing conventional hula dances set to soothing music on the cabin screens. Passengers had been provided a selection of Flor prosecco, passion-orange-guava juice or Hawaiian’s famend mai tai cocktail with recent pineapple slices.

The brown leather-based lie-flat seats in Hawaiian Airways firstclass are greatest designed for {couples} since they’re organized in a 2-2-2 sample. The legroom offered ample house for stretching out, and the seat’s padding was comfy. I chosen a window seat within the bulkhead, 1A, to be within the entrance of the cabin. That mentioned, you would possibly discover extra under-seat storage in different rows.

The restricted width and lack of storage in these seats left me juggling the offered blanket, pillow, water bottle and headphones together with my telephone and charging twine. The seat did have a small bottle holder beneath the reclining wheel change and a compact under-seat storage space positioned below the footwell.

With only a single seat management wheel, you’ll be able to solely get from upright to lie-flat with intermediate positions alongside the way in which reasonably than maneuvering particular person elements of the seat. That made it troublesome to get the seat in a cushty lounging place. I’d have most well-liked the power to lift the footrest with out reclining the seat too far again, as an example.

The overhead mild change and name buttons had been positioned just under the seat management. There was additionally a set, slender armrest on the opposite facet of the seat.

I could not assist however discover the absence of seatback screens. The flight attendants shortly distributed headphones and iPads after takeoff. The seat design consists of an extendable gadget stand for the iPads. Curiously, economic system seats have built-in seatback leisure, which I discovered myself wanting for a neater method to monitor the flight’s progress — one thing that is not potential on the iPads.

Every seat has two USB ports: one below the seat management wheel on the center armrest and one other close to the facility outlet, which is positioned between the seats.

Moreover, a not-so-private translucent display screen could be prolonged between the seats for added privateness. Whereas the divider is a considerate characteristic, I could not shake the sensation of social awkwardness when contemplating extending it whereas my seatmate was seated subsequent to me, particularly because it was down throughout boarding. The privateness divider may have been more practical in limiting your neighbor’s view into your house if it prolonged increased up.

Within the lie-flat place, I managed to get about two hours of sleep after the meal service. General, the seat felt tight with each of my shoulders bumping between the armrests on all sides.

The A330 has a single lavatory for first-class passengers positioned on the entrance of the aircraft. Though that is widespread for the A330, with solely 18 passengers on board, there was not often a wait to make use of it. The flight attendants often serviced it all through the flight, so it was saved clear.

The bathroom provided some welcomed facilities, together with coconut-scented liquid cleaning soap, Lolii rest hydrating mist and hand and physique balm. A pleasant show of flowers and leaves additionally added a refreshing contact to the bathroom.

Facilities on Hawaiian Airways firstclass

Upon boarding, I discovered a fundamental pillow and a fleece-like blanket just like these many different airways give out to long-haul economy-class passengers ready at my seat.

Hawaiian gives upgraded bedding and amenity kits from Hawaiian skincare model Kealopiko on flights over eight hours. On my flight, there weren’t any noteworthy facilities like dental kits, earplugs or eyemasks out there.

There was additionally no Wi-Fi or web streaming on my flight, however the crew distributed iPads and headphones to first-class passengers. There have been dozens of films and TV exhibits on the iPads, together with titles like “80 For Brady,” “All Rise” and “A Story of Two Sisters.” There was additionally a handful of video video games. The airline plans to step by step add free Starlink Wi-Fi to its fleet.

The provider did present over-ear headphones to first-class passengers. Whereas they had been comfy, they did not do an efficient job of canceling out ambient noise. You may as well plug in your individual headphones or join your wi-fi headphones to the iPad.

How was the meals in Hawaiian Airways firstclass?

Flight attendants provided first-class passengers on my flight a predeparture beverage selection of prosecco, POG juice or mai tais. The crew additionally handed out printed menus. The meal included creations from govt cooks Wade Ueoka and Michelle Karr-Ueoka of MW Restaurant and chef Dell Valdez of Vein at Kakaako.

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KYLE OLSEN/THE POINTS GUY

Earlier than takeoff, food and drinks orders had been taken, and after about 20 minutes within the air, passengers had been provided macadamia nuts with their first beverage service adopted roughly 10 minutes later by a single meal tray with the appetizer and principal course.

Dinner consisted of an asparagus salad with arugula, radish and cage-free egg crumble with miso-honey dressing. There was additionally a Hawaiian candy roll with butter.

The primary course decisions included:

• Braised beef bourguignon with daikon (Japanese radish) and walnut and mushroom Israeli couscous
• Roasted kabocha (pumpkin) and garbanzo beans with curry farfalle pasta

I ordered the meat, however the texture was very fatty and tasted extra like salty beef chunks than a savory beef stew braised in crimson wine. In distinction, the salad was recent and had a pleasing, subtly candy tanginess, complemented by the miso-honey dressing.

The only choice for dessert was a pineapple yuzu cake, which was mild, candy and refreshing.

Cocktail lovers will respect the airline’s collection of 5 specialty libations, together with a pineapple daiquiri and the Aviation that includes Larios Gin with notes of dry cherry, lemon and violet.

A small vary of drinks and wines, together with prosecco, a selection of 1 crimson or white wine, white Hawaiian rum, two beers from the Maui Brewing Firm, numerous Hawaiian-inspired gentle drinks and well-liked soda manufacturers, are additionally out there on board. The crew persistently ensured drinks had been refilled and periodically checked in on passengers all through the flight.

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KYLE OLSEN/THE POINTS GUY

Earlier than touchdown, the crew provided first-class passengers Hawaiian Host chocolate-covered macadamia nuts as a ultimate deal with.

The crew on my flight stood out as one of the crucial real and environment friendly groups I’ve had on a flight in current reminiscence.

Upon our boarding, they greeted passengers by their final names and inquired about their most well-liked type of handle for the flight.

Throughout service, they prolonged passengers’ tray tables for them and gracefully organized their tablecloths. Furthermore, the crew went the additional mile by verbally saying every dish and beverage as they served them. As an example, as a substitute of merely presenting the primary course, they might say, “Kyle, on your dinner, we’ve got ready the braised beef bourguignon with Japanese radish, walnut and mushroom Israeli couscous. Take pleasure in.”

General, the crew helped make the expertise that rather more memorable and pleasurable.

Would you suggest Hawaiian Airways’ firstclass?

Regardless of the shortage of Wi-Fi, a prolonged check-in line in Honolulu and quirky seats, Hawaiian Airways’ A330 firstclass is a cushty (if not over-awing) method to fly.

These seats would not be aggressive on a long-haul business-class route like Los Angeles to London or Paris due to their lack of direct aisle entry, privateness and storage, a few of which needs to be remedied by the forthcoming firstclass that might be out there on the airline’s new Boeing 787s.

Nevertheless, for a leisure vacation spot the place most vacationers are usually {couples} or households, the seats are a positive match.

What the airline would possibly lack in panache, it makes up for in character. As an example, each A330 plane in Hawaiian Airways’ fleet carries a symbolic identify related to Hawaii’s historical past. Simply earlier than the security video, the purser introduced that our aircraft, named Humu, derives its moniker from Hawaiian astrology. Humu represents one of many brightest stars within the navigational triangle that guided the Polynesian ancestors to the Hawaiian Islands. It was simply one other second that lent the expertise a really Hawaiian really feel.

Though not as premium or personal as some long-haul business- or first-class seats, Hawaiian Airways’ A330 firstclass continues to be a cushty, pleasurable method to fly, particularly between the airline’s Hawaiian hubs and its locations within the mainland U.S. That mentioned, I would think about different choices for longer-haul flights to the East Coast.