I love a good stopover and will usually do whatever I can to avoid an overnight flight.
Recently I flew to San Francisco via Hawaii. As always, I’m a fan of breaking up any long flights and the Hawaiian service to North America is one of just a tiny few options to break up trans-Pacific travel.
Often cheaper than alternatives such as Qantas, the Hawaiian service also gets the long-leg out of the way first.
The airline uses Airbus A330 aircraft on its Sydney services and while my onward flight to San Francisco was scheduled to also be an A330, it was down-gauged to an A321 by the time I had arrived in Honolulu.
The business class experience onboard Hawaiian is fresh and there’s no forgetting that you are on an aircraft belonging to the Aloha state.
A pre-departure signature cocktail, a pineapple daiquiri made by boutique rum distillery Kō Hana Rum on Oahu, is served to anyone drinking onboard.
The selection of movies and TV shows onboard isn’t as extensive as airline’s such as Emirates, but it’s broad enough for there to be entertainment to suit any traveller.
Don’t be confused when you first board and can’t find the screen. It’s added to a thin arm that extends in front of your seat and is essentially just like an iPad.
Hawaiian Airlines uses lie-flat seats on its long-haul flights. The seats are well-padded and offer an expected amount of privacy.
The carrier offers a range of dining options that reflect the diverse culinary influences of Hawaii and are prepared with local ingredients.
I was a big fan of the amenities, all designed with the iconic Hawaiian Airlines motif.
Taking inspiration from the night sky, the NOHO HOME products are designed to represent a fully sensory journey. Three motifs — Kilo Hoku, Lele and Olali — guide the designs of this sustainably made collection.
The inclusion of a lip balm was a nice addition and I absolutely loved the hydrating mist included in the pack.
Speaking to those onboard, the business class service was mostly being used by Australians visiting Hawaii, or business owners commuting between Sydney and Honolulu.
One couple spoke of its affordability in comparison to other carriers and said they flew the airline every few weeks for business between the two countries.
