best air route to Hawaii?

[Blackpuddin]

Anyone flown from the UK to Honolulu? What's the best (ie shortest in time/least inconvenient) route?

[Kudos]

Try www.fly.com for various options. I'd say via LA

[Blackpuddin]

I looked at that site but found it somewhat bamboozling. They seem to be offering mainly stopovers in Atlanta but I can't find an aggregated journey time that's sensible. I thought it might be possible to go via LA, or maybe HK/Singapore going the other way, but I can't find a website that just lists routes.

[audidoody]

Dozens of daily flights to Hawaii from LA and San Francisco. Five-hour flight so best to take a night stopover. You could get a round-the-world ticket for not much more than return to Hawaii.

[Blackpuddin]

It's a work trip so basically just want to check out which carrier offers the quickest trip from London with the shortest stopovers.

Edited by Blackpuddin on Monday 12th March 22:38

[Nobby Diesel]

If you want to do the journey straight, only taking in transit stops, then look at Air New Zealand. The same aircraft right through; London-LA-Honolulu. It's a killer though.

[Blackpuddin]

Nobby Diesel said:

If you want to do the journey straight, only taking in transit stops, then look at Air New Zealand. The same aircraft right through; London-LA-Honolulu. It's a killer though.

Thanks for this Nobby, I'll have a look at that option. Time is of the essence, annoyingly.

[Nobby Diesel]

Now I think about it, we may have overnighted in LA.
Worth a look at ANZ though.

[Blackpuddin]

Nobby Diesel said:

Now I think about it, we may have overnighted in LA.
Worth a look at ANZ though.

Yep, you will have done on the way out, the ANZ one arrives in LA at around 8pm and the Honolulu connection is next morning.

[Cheib]

LA and I would definitely do the overnight stop....flying to the West Coast of the US is a bd for jet lag....I'd only consider doing it in one hit if the connection was very,very good.

[miln0039]

Well, I was going to suggest the Delta website due to their strategic bases across the US (not just West coast) - however, I've done a search and even one stopping in New York, Detroit or Atlanta looks like it leaves you waiting until 9am the next morning for the onward flights - or 35 hours in total travel time. Not ideal.

However, if you're looking for the best flights you should be looking at an airline with an extensive number of codeshare partners...which brought me on to BA as they can get you out to the West Coast then hopefully American Airlines have something going out to HNL. Which they do...

Two options for your travel:

Option 1)
Leg 1 - Depart LHR: 09:40 Arrive LAX: 13:00
Leg 2 - Depart LAX: 15:15 Arrive HNL: 18:15
Total travel time 19 hours 35 mins.

Option 2)
Leg 1 - Depart LHR: 12:00 Arrive LAX: 15:05
leg 2 - Depart LAX: 18:50 Arrive HNL: 21:50
Total travel time 20 hours 50 mins.

There are other choices, but I specifcally made sure these two options include the outbound flight from London to LA are on British Airways as their transatlantic service is MILES ahead of that available on any American Airlines metal. I would go option 2 as it offers a little more time at LA to get complete immigration and customs without having to worry about missing your onward flight as LA can get very busy.

Hope that helps and safe travels

[Blackpuddin]

This is fantastically helpful, the best I'd found was Virgin + Hawaiian via Las Vegas, which although it says 'overnight stay required' it's actually just hanging around LAS from 3pm to midnight or so:

Sat 24 Mar 2012
11:20 LGW London Gatwick Virgin Atlantic VS43
15:05 LAS Las Vegas Mccarran 10h 45
Overnight stay required 9h 50
00:55 LAS Las Vegas Mccarran Hawaiian Airlines HA17
05:15 HNL Honolulu Internat'l 6h 20

Fri 30 Mar 2012
22:35 HNL Honolulu International Hawaiian Airlines HA8
07:10 LAS Las Vegas Mccarran 5h 35
Connect in airport 9h 30
16:40 LAS Las Vegas Mccarran Virgin Atlantic VS44
10:30 LGW London Gatwick 9h 50

Similarly long airport wait coming back. Your plan looks a lot better! Many many thanks.

[Blackpuddin]

miln0039 said:

I would go option 2 as it offers a little more time at LA to get complete immigration and customs without having to worry about missing your onward flight as LA can get very busy.

Do I have to go through Customs at LA then, not Honolulu, assuming I'm staying airside for the connection? What with it being part of the US and all that.

Edited by Blackpuddin on Tuesday 13th March 14:40

ETA - apparently the answer is I do have to go thru LA customs, Honolulu is regarded as a domestic destination. This makes me slightly concerned as I know there can be problems there. Anybody know if Vegas customs are any more efficient?

Edited by Blackpuddin on Tuesday 13th March 14:47

[miln0039]

Blackpuddin said:

Do I have to go through Customs at LA then, not Honolulu, assuming I'm staying airside for the connection? What with it being part of the US and all that.

Edited by Blackpuddin on Tuesday 13th March 14:40

ETA - apparently the answer is I do have to go thru LA customs, Honolulu is regarded as a domestic destination. This makes me slightly concerned as I know there can be problems there. Anybody know if Vegas customs are any more efficient?

Edited by Blackpuddin on Tuesday 13th March 14:47

You will have to go through immigration and customs wherever you enter the US - even if your eventual destination is not in the USA! But I wouldn't worry at LAX with 3 hours you will be fine to get through and grab your checked bags. Quick dash through customs and the recheck process simply involves lobbing your bag at a belt as it will already have the correct baggage tags on it (but do check this with airline before you take my word for it!! ). I'd not do less than 2 hours, but have done before - with 3 hours you should be fine.

I went into Vegas last year and they were pretty much the same as everywhere else I've entered the US, but I wasn't a massive fan of the airport itself.

The safest option would actually be to take the shorter connection with the earlier flights - then if you don't make the second flight because you're delayed on the inbound from London your airline will sort out putting you on the later flight. This being the main advantage to booking it as an all the way through ticket - rather than switching between airlines. In the latter case, if Virgin were delayed they wouldn't be obligated to pay to change your later flight.

[Nobby Diesel]

Blackpuddin said:

Yep, you will have done on the way out, the ANZ one arrives in LA at around 8pm and the Honolulu connection is next morning.

It was 1974, so perhaps the schedules have changed;)

[Puggit]

Blackpuddin said:

This is fantastically helpful, the best I'd found was Virgin + Hawaiian via Las Vegas, which although it says 'overnight stay required' it's actually just hanging around LAS from 3pm to midnight or so:

Sat 24 Mar 2012
11:20 LGW London Gatwick Virgin Atlantic VS43
15:05 LAS Las Vegas Mccarran 10h 45
Overnight stay required 9h 50
00:55 LAS Las Vegas Mccarran Hawaiian Airlines HA17
05:15 HNL Honolulu Internat'l 6h 20

Fri 30 Mar 2012
22:35 HNL Honolulu International Hawaiian Airlines HA8
07:10 LAS Las Vegas Mccarran 5h 35
Connect in airport 9h 30
16:40 LAS Las Vegas Mccarran Virgin Atlantic VS44
10:30 LGW London Gatwick 9h 50

Similarly long airport wait coming back. Your plan looks a lot better! Many many thanks.

They have slot machines in the airport, and as you have to clear immigration and customs when entering the US, you could pop in to Vegas for a flutter. The airport is very much downtown!

[miln0039]

If you do choose to go Virgin Atlantic on that route be careful of the planes out of LGW (especially if work are making you go economy) as some of the LGW 747 fleet are the Alitalia planes...which are pretty poverty spec out back with looping viedo (no on demand personal entertainment as is the norm with most airlines now!) This you would get on BA and will make a massive difference on that length of flight.

Looking at v-flyer.com (excellent source of all things Virgin Atlantic) the Vegas flight over the past three months has been serviced by these old and run down 747s 99% of the time which means Nova or Odyssey in flight entertainment (looping system and tiny screen) with the old interior. (http://v-flyer.com/the-toolbox/which-aircraft)

I'd go BA if the price is comparable. Those Virgin planes are wk!

(To add - no I don't work for BA or anything!)

[Du1point8]

Why not do it in 18 hours and go:

11:25 LHR London Heathrow Virgin Atlantic VS7
16:05 LAX Los Angeles International 11h 40
Connect in airport 2h
18:05 LAX Los Angeles International Hawaiian Airlines HA9
20:55 HNL Honolulu International 5h 50
Fri 30 Mar 2012
07:00 HNL Honolulu International United UA301
15:27 LAX Los Angeles International 5h 27
Connect in airport 2h 08
17:35 LAX Los Angeles International Virgin Atlantic VS8
(+1) 12:05 LHR London Heathrow 10h 30

However its expensive but since work are paying... £1700 a ticket for 18 hours all in

Oh and sky scanner is your friend:

http://www.skyscanner.net/flights/lond/hnl/120324/...

but since I don't know your budget on tickets I can't comment.

[miln0039]

Du1point8 said:

Why not do it in 18 hours and go:

11:25 LHR London Heathrow Virgin Atlantic VS7
16:05 LAX Los Angeles International 11h 40
Connect in airport 2h
18:05 LAX Los Angeles International Hawaiian Airlines HA9
20:55 HNL Honolulu International 5h 50
Fri 30 Mar 2012
07:00 HNL Honolulu International United UA301
15:27 LAX Los Angeles International 5h 27
Connect in airport 2h 08
17:35 LAX Los Angeles International Virgin Atlantic VS8
(+1) 12:05 LHR London Heathrow 10h 30

However its expensive but since work are paying... £1700 a ticket for 18 hours all in

Oh and sky scanner is your friend:

http://www.skyscanner.net/flights/lond/hnl/120324/...

but since I don't know your budget on tickets I can't comment.

But are they codeshare airlines or is that buying two "individual" trips each way? That would be a must for me due to any unforseen circumstances coming back on the airline to sort out rather than the OP.

[Du1point8]

miln0039 said:

Du1point8 said:

Why not do it in 18 hours and go:

11:25 LHR London Heathrow Virgin Atlantic VS7
16:05 LAX Los Angeles International 11h 40
Connect in airport 2h
18:05 LAX Los Angeles International Hawaiian Airlines HA9
20:55 HNL Honolulu International 5h 50
Fri 30 Mar 2012
07:00 HNL Honolulu International United UA301
15:27 LAX Los Angeles International 5h 27
Connect in airport 2h 08
17:35 LAX Los Angeles International Virgin Atlantic VS8
(+1) 12:05 LHR London Heathrow 10h 30

However its expensive but since work are paying... £1700 a ticket for 18 hours all in

Oh and sky scanner is your friend:

http://www.skyscanner.net/flights/lond/hnl/120324/...

but since I don't know your budget on tickets I can't comment.

But are they codeshare airlines or is that buying two "individual" trips each way? That would be a must for me due to any unforseen circumstances coming back on the airline to sort out rather than the OP.

United straight through:

Sat 24 Mar 2012
09:30 LHR London Heathrow United UA4455
13:44 LAX Los Angeles International 11h 14
Connect in airport 3h 15
16:59 LAX Los Angeles International United UA935
19:44 HNL Honolulu International 5h 45
Fri 30 Mar 2012
07:00 HNL Honolulu International United UA301
15:27 LAX Los Angeles International 5h 27
Connect in airport 2h 25
17:52 LAX Los Angeles International United UA4454
(+1) 12:15 LHR London Heathrow 10h 23

AA straight through:

Sat 24 Mar 2012
12:00 LHR London Heathrow American Airlines AA137
16:35 LAX Los Angeles International 11h 35
Connect in airport 2h 15
18:50 LAX Los Angeles International American Airlines AA267
21:50 HNL Honolulu International 6h
Fri 30 Mar 2012
07:20 HNL Honolulu International American Airlines AA270
15:45 LAX Los Angeles International 5h 25
Connect in airport 3h 55
19:40 LAX Los Angeles International American Airlines AA136
(+1) 14:15 LHR London Heathrow 10h 35

First one Im not sure of the current codeshare listings.