I'm heading to Hawaii in the near future and just wanted your opinions on whether to book on AC J class or United J. Which offers the better product?
I would be leaving from YYZ with destination to HNL. Once in HNL I'll book a flight to take a puddle jumper to Kuai where I plan to stay.
Route planned was on AC (YYZ-HNL via YVR). This would be on 767's for the way there and 763's on the return.
depart on AC - YYZ at 1pm EST arrive in HNL at 7:30pm Hawaii time. (cnx in YVR)
on the return...1:20am departure and arrive in YYZ at 7pm (cnx in YVR)
I will be booking this as reward travel and want to use the least amount of miles for seats upfront.
Any alternative routes or suggestions?
The Boeing 757s that US Airways uses to Hawaii are the worst. Even in First Class, the seats are falling apart. Also, due to weight restrictions, these flights tend to have a lot of problems.
I agree...I have such low expectations of US air's Envoy Class and they still always disappoint. I respect peoples views on this forum about the quality of AC's J class over UAL's; I totally agree. But the transfer in YVR for AC033 is not much fun. You have to change terminals, collect your luggage, clear customs, go thru security and run like hell to get to the plane (which is usually at the end of the pier)...just my experience...complications really arrive when your bags don't show up on the belt in the international terminal.
I'd rather clear customs in Toronto and be done with it.
I think that's a good choice of flights. If it were me I would try to get seats on the outbound SYD flight (AC33) to HNL since you're forced to overnight at HNL anyway. Then you'll be in international J in both directions. There's no way to beat that itinerary for comfort.
How much time would be needed to transfer in HNL. If I take AC047 I arrive at 730pm and the last flight to LIH is on Aloha airlines is at 815pm. I'm thinking it might be next to impossible to retrieve bags and make this flight, unless AC can transfer my bags to this airline for me?
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Any thoughts?
Unfortunately AC033 doesn't have any J class seats available. I was also unable to get any UA availability for the routes mentioned above.
If I am unable to make the connection to LIH that same night it will make sense to spend the night in Oahu somewhere and then head to my final destination in Kuai later the next day.
I agree...I have such low expectations of US air's Envoy Class and they still always disappoint. I respect peoples views on this forum about the quality of AC's J class over UAL's; I totally agree. But the transfer in YVR for AC033 is not much fun. You have to change terminals, collect your luggage, clear customs, go thru security and run like hell to get to the plane (which is usually at the end of the pier)...just my experience...complications really arrive when your bags don't show up on the belt in the international terminal.
I'd rather clear customs in Toronto and be done with it.
I will be taking AC169 and transfering to AC047 in YVR (AC033 has no room in J class at this time. The connection time is 1.5 hrs. I believe this will be more than enough time as long as the incoming is on time. If not then AC033 is always an option later that night if there is room. I will contact the conceirge prior to leaving and ask them to track my incoming and help me out if necessary.
* I flew US air this weekend and was very disappointed with the quality of the service and the planes outdated interiors. AC is a far superior product (never thought I could say that)
Once in HNL I'll book a flight to take a puddle jumper to Kuai where I plan to stay.
If your final destination is LIH then you should use an airline that arrives in HNL before the last flight to LIH departs - which means using United or US Air. Also - you can go direct to LIH on United from one of their US hubs. It is not clear why you would not book the HNL-LIH segment in advance and check luggage through in any case. There was just a $19 seat sale on Hawaiian that the others matched. I think IslandAir might still have some $30 seats. You should look at the Hawaiian-based carriers forum in Miles & Points on FT for the latest. And book the ticket ahead for any sort of deal - or use 5000 UA miles. A11A in fm02::
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I have travelled to HNL on both UA in first and on AC in J. Seats and IFE are virtually identical (767 to 767, if you get AC 763 it is superior) but service in my experience (4 flights on each) is much better on AC than UA. On UA I had one good flight service wise and the other 3 were horrible. On AC I had 2good flights service wise and 2 exceptional flights.
The other posters are correct in that 45 minutes connection time with checked luggage in HNL will not work.
Thanks to all. I appreciate the tips and suggestions.
I will likely take AC J class all the way, overnight in HNL and spend a day there before heading to LIH. I don't want to fly directly to LIH from a US airport as I have noticed Aeroplan wants an extra 20K in miles for this route, the cost/benefit of doing that isn't worth it for me since flights to LIH are only $39 each way right now if I secure the bookings soon. and I can spend a night/day in HNL and take in the city sights before retiring to serenity in Kuai.
I agree, as awful as ORD and UAL is, and is more reliable then betting on getting a AC XM 763.
Don't forget the transfer in YVR is brutal too. If you fly from YYZ, at least you clear customs in T.O. (if you fly via ORD, or even SFO), and their are lots of options if you miss your flight in ORD.
Forget about US Air, they are even worse.
US Air/America West fly PHX-LIH direct. See whether YYZ-PHX-LIH might work for you. I recently traded in AE miles for 2 J-class tix and I had to tell the agent to look up this routing as they normally just look for AC and UA routings, and this routing does not come up unless they request it.
US Air/America West fly PHX-LIH direct. See whether YYZ-PHX-LIH might work for you. I recently traded in AE miles for 2 J-class tix and I had to tell the agent to look up this routing as they normally just look for AC and UA routings, and this routing does not come up unless they request it.
The Boeing 757s that US Airways uses to Hawaii are the worst. Even in First Class, the seats are falling apart. Also, due to weight restrictions, these flights tend to have a lot of problems.
I have travelled to HNL on both UA in first and on AC in J. Seats and IFE are virtually identical (767 to 767, if you get AC 763 it is superior) but service in my experience (4 flights on each) is much better on AC than UA. On UA I had one good flight service wise and the other 3 were horrible. On AC I had 2good flights service wise and 2 exceptional flights.
The other posters are correct in that 45 minutes connection time with checked luggage in HNL will not work.
I would be leaving from YYZ with destination to HNL. Once in HNL I'll book a flight to take a puddle jumper to Kuai where I plan to stay.
Route planned was on AC (YYZ-HNL via YVR). This would be on 767's for the way there and 763's on the return.
depart on AC - YYZ at 1pm EST arrive in HNL at 7:30pm Hawaii time. (cnx in YVR)
on the return...1:20am departure and arrive in YYZ at 7pm (cnx in YVR)
I will be booking this as reward travel and want to use the least amount of miles for seats upfront.
Any alternative routes or suggestions?
I think that's a good choice of flights. If it were me I would try to get seats on the outbound SYD flight (AC33) to HNL since you're forced to overnight at HNL anyway. Then you'll be in international J in both directions. There's no way to beat that itinerary for comfort.
I would be leaving from YYZ with destination to HNL. Once in HNL I'll book a flight to take a puddle jumper to Kuai where I plan to stay.
Route planned was on AC (YYZ-HNL via YVR). This would be on 767's for the way there and 763's on the return.
depart on AC - YYZ at 1pm EST arrive in HNL at 7:30pm Hawaii time. (cnx in YVR)
on the return...1:20am departure and arrive in YYZ at 7pm (cnx in YVR)
I will be booking this as reward travel and want to use the least amount of miles for seats upfront.
Any alternative routes or suggestions?
YYZ to ORD (6:30 or 8:00 am flight) AC or UAL
UAL 1 (ORD to HNL) B777 leaves at 10:10 AM, arrives around 2:00 PM
Return would be UAL 2, with a connection of your choice in ORD.
How much time would be needed to transfer in HNL. If I take AC047 I arrive at 730pm and the last flight to LIH is on Aloha airlines is at 815pm. I'm thinking it might be next to impossible to retrieve bags and make this flight, unless AC can transfer my bags to this airline for me?
That connection would be virtually impossible. I don't fly much on AQ but HA routinely pushes back 10-15 minutes early. Figure on about 1 hour to get your bags and then make it back through security. Without bags you can walk (run) to the interisland terminal in about 10 minutes assuming you know exactly where you're going.
I do that trip 10+ times a year (in J/F). I've tried most of the options. It depends where you're flying from. East (YYZ) or west (YVR) and where you're flying to (HNL? OGG?).
Both AC and UA are pretty awful in J/F. I usually choose UA over AC because they operate 777s from ORD. Not that there's anything special about 777s, but cruise speed is about 10% faster than a 767 so the length of time you have to sit in that torturous seat is reduced.
Also I usually dismiss the AC option because their schedule is horrible (or non-existant).
Best choice I've found is AA. 60" pitch and lie-flat seats.
I have noticed Aeroplan wants an extra 20K in miles for this route.
It only cost me 60,000 points per person to fly YYC-PHX-LIH in business/first class on US Air/America West - that's the same as it would cost me to fly YYV-YVR-HNL on Air Canada or alternate routings on UA.
I flew to OGG in January in J. The flight from YVR was a 763 (last minute change) and they way back was a 762. On the 763 it is fine, but that is not the scheduled aircraft.
I'm heading to Hawaii in the near future and just wanted your opinions on whether to book on AC J class or United J. Which offers the better product?
How much time would be needed to transfer in HNL. If I take AC047 I arrive at 730pm and the last flight to LIH is on Aloha airlines is at 815pm. I'm thinking it might be next to impossible to retrieve bags and make this flight, unless AC can transfer my bags to this airline for me?
Any thoughts?
Unfortunately AC033 doesn't have any J class seats available. I was also unable to get any UA availability for the routes mentioned above.
If I am unable to make the connection to LIH that same night it will make sense to spend the night in Oahu somewhere and then head to my final destination in Kuai later the next day.
If you are willing to overnight in HNL,try UA's LAX-HNL flight which departs around 6:00PM. Award & UG inventory available most of the time.
I use this flight to UG many of my friends before our CR1's expire.100% Success thus far.
A tip, from YYZ-ORD-LAX-HNL: have AP agent look at it sector by sector.
UA YYZ-ORD-LAX Midday flights usually have availablilty for UG & award.Means you will have a log layover in LAX.
LAX-HNL is 767 domestic.2-Class .
One poster said the best they've seen is aa with 60. I'd throw NWA out there, so long as it's through MSP (west coast-hnl is on a 753 with domestic first). The A333 on MSP-HNL offers world business class seats with great ife. Service is only slightly better than domestic first, however. Check out the Hawaii forum for a trip report w/ picks of NW flight 809/8 on the a333.
Otherwise, I've always heard CO is the best first class service/experience to the islands (if on the 764), but can't speak to it (never flown CO... :()
If you get row 1 on UA 777 you do get some extra room at least. There are some further discussions of UA's first class to HNL/OGG in the Hawaii forum...
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J class - AC or United to Hawaii?