Hawaii Flights: Once Iconic, Now Misery

Above, a Ellison Onizuka Kona Airport boarding gate. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Nine years ago, I took a trip to Hawaii. The flight wasn't too bad, being only about five hours from Los Angeles.

Since then, I have read how flying to Hawaii was once iconic splendor has now become a miserable start to a vacation. 

Beat of Hawaii has posted an article on why Hawaii flights feel more uncomfortable than ever.

It begins with:

“Even though we purchased upgraded tickets, flying is not what it used to be with cramped seats,” said Ann B., a traveler who flew from the East Coast to Hawaii. Her upgraded seats didn’t help much on the eleven-hour flight.

Another reader, Engineer_Lou, added, “Airlines have removed the TV displays from headrests on long flights to Hawaii. Makes the trip harder for six hours.” And Andy C., who’s been flying to Hawaii since 1972, told us, “I can’t take the discomfort of economy, and I read that economy seats are about to get even worse.”

These aren’t isolated grumbles. Hawaii travelers, including us, are getting louder about the shrinking space, harder seats, and missing amenities that define the new narrow-body era now dominating Hawaii flights. The industry calls it optimization. Passengers call it something else.

The problem is magnified by distance, among other factors. Hawaii flights rank among the longest in the United States, equal to or longer than many transcontinental routes. Now that these journeys are predominantly on narrow-body aircraft, the experience has shifted from a once iconic, relaxing start to a Hawaii vacation into something far less appealing. For many, the flight itself has become something to face and endure rather than anticipate.

To read more, go here.