This was alleged to be a pleasant and simple flight house from Honolulu after an important journey. I had been sitting on a ton of factors from final October when Hawaiian canceled a pair flights impacting 4 folks for whom we used miles, so my purpose was to make use of these right here. Sadly, between LA and Lengthy Seashore, the perfect I may do was 30,000 factors for coach. I took it, however then I saved watching. Certain sufficient, the morning flight to LAX opened up a seat in First Class for 40,000 miles so I jumped on it shortly. I just like the morning flight anyway, so this was not a sacrifice. It’s so significantly better to get house mid-afternoon.
If solely that’s what occurred.
I obtained to the airport about an hour earlier than departure. They’d us leaving from gate D2 within the outdated abroad Terminal 2. That is good for the reason that checkpoint closest to Hawaiian’s most important A gates doesn’t have TSA Precheck anyway. The subsequent checkpoint was nearer. However, this was a bummer, as a result of I needed to see the brand new Mauka Concourse A gates which opened a pair years again.
I had no concept that First Class on Hawaiian contains entry to the Premier Membership, however I didn’t have time to cease. I obtained to gate D2 simply as our airplane began boarding.
Hawaiian 10
September 10, 2024
From Honolulu
➤ Scheduled Departure: 755a
➤ Precise Departure: 815a, returned 838a, out once more 1126a, returned 1157a, gave up
➤ From Gate: D2, returned to A12, moved to A6, returned to C3
➤ Wheels Up: don’t care
➤ From Runway: ??
To Los Angeles
➤ Wheels Down: a pair hours after I obtained again
➤ On Runway: ??
➤ Scheduled Arrival: 420p
➤ Precise Arrival: near midnight
➤ At Gate: ??
Plane
➤ Kind: Airbus A330-243
➤ Delivered: 2013, then 2017
➤ Registered: N374HA, then N361HA, then one thing else
➤ Livery: Maile Lei colours
Flight
➤ Cabin: First in Seat 2J
➤ Load: fairly full
➤ Flight Time: regardless of
I took my seat in row 2, and I couldn’t assist however discover that it was fairly drained.
Issues had been peeling in numerous areas, and even worse, it was soiled in all of the crevices. The bandage on the ground, nevertheless, was a pleasant contact.
I settled in and was excited, as a result of this airplane was geared up with Starlink wifi. It’s usable on the bottom, so I turned off my cellular connection and surfed away whereas we waited. It was quick. In the meantime, my seatmate apparently determined it was time to deal with this airplane like her house.
I might have the pleasure of crawling over these any time I wanted to get out.
We obtained near departure time at 7:55am, after which the captain got here on to inform us we’d be a bit late due to some upkeep paperwork. We pushed again 20 minutes late, after which we sat there. I began getting a foul feeling as we saved ready.
Certain sufficient, the captain got here on with the dangerous information. Some half they’d changed was working high quality however now they had been getting some fault or warning mild or one thing. (She didn’t give element.) We had been going again to the gate to repair it.
This was annoying, however what was extra annoying is that our gate was taken. We had been towed very slowly all the way in which round to gate A12 on the brand new Mauka concourse blocking in at 8:38am. We’d wait there to search out our destiny.
After about half an hour, they advised us it wasn’t going to be fastened quickly, in order that they stated they’d a brand new airplane for us. We’d all get off and head over to gate A6.
They advised us they must service this airplane earlier than we may go away. They didn’t give us any timeline, however I knew it was going to take awhile.
On the brilliant aspect, this gave me the chance to stroll across the Mauka Concourse. It’s very good with excessive ceilings, good lighting, and all that.
However, it’s severely missing in meals choices. There’s just a bit Dunkin’ kiosk after which a “Mauka Market.”
You’d assume the state would have achieved extra after they constructed this.
I moseyed again over to A6. The replace stated we’d go away at 10:30am, however that was clearly not occurring. We began boarding round that point, and all of us took our identical seats with the identical crew. Sadly, there was no bandage out there at my seat this time.
This A330 was one of many handful that hadn’t had Starlink put in but. Rattling. They’re all now achieved, so this was simply dangerous luck.
This was a more moderen airplane, however the seats nonetheless had that very same grime within the cracks. And the again shell in entrance of me was scratched up with black marks.
Our captain got here on and advised us they had been all prepared up entrance however they had been simply ready for cargo to complete up. This was round 11 when she stated it, however I didn’t notice that cargo hadn’t even actually began. It was a number of minutes later I noticed them open the entrance cargo door and begin loading pallets within the plane beneath me. Why did this take so lengthy to start out? I want I knew.
We left the gate at 11:26am, after which we sat there for a bit. At first I didn’t assume twice about it, however then it appeared just like the throttles had been being pushed ahead a bit, and we weren’t transferring. Additionally, there was a lightweight scent of burning oil or one thing like that.
The flight attendants didn’t know something, however our captain finally got here on as soon as once more and apologized. As a result of a “dangerous scent” we had to return to the gate once more. However guess what? We wouldn’t return to A6. No, this time, we taxied beneath our personal energy all the way in which over to gate C3 the place we blocked in at 11:57am, finishing our tour de airport.
No person stated if we had been staying on the airplane or what at this level, however folks had been beginning to get actually indignant, and vocally so. My seatmate was going to overlook her connection to the east coast, so was her buddy throughout the way in which. They had been all on separate tickets, they usually thought they’d left sufficient buffer. They had been incorrect, they usually had been clearly not happy.
One lady in a row behind began swearing angrily, pretty loudly. All the First cabin started speaking to one another. The girl together with her husband and two small children within the entrance row regarded surprised. On the way in which out from LA, she had a rejected takeoff on the 7am departure. Ultimately, they didn’t go away till 1:30am for a dreaded westbound redeye. She simply couldn’t consider this was occurring to her once more.
The updates began coming in on my cellphone. The brand new departure time could be 3:45pm with an arrival simply earlier than midnight. The groans had been each loud and resigned as we as soon as once more trudged off the plane.
I had assumed that the delay this time was attributable to a crew change since they’d day out. Certain sufficient, I noticed the pilots strolling out of the airport whereas our new, third airplane sat at its gate ready for somebody to fly it.
I had no real interest in ready till 3:45pm to get in at midnight. I used to be already exhausted and fairly thirsty… I don’t consider they handed drinks round after the preliminary pre-departure drinks a lot earlier that morning. Coach most likely had been given nothing.
I had some selections to make. I thought of ready till the subsequent day and beginning once more, however then, somebody on my Cranky Concierge workforce famous that there have been a pair First Class seats left on Hawaiian 2 leaving at 1:30pm. This was operated by the brand new 787, and it will get me again earlier than 10pm. This wasn’t horrible, so I made a decision to attempt for it.
The app didn’t enable any modifications, and I usually discover the Hawaiian reservations workforce to not be very useful in non-standard conditions. I made a decision to attempt to discover a gate agent, however after I obtained off the airplane, I didn’t see a single individual working our gate. I’ll admit that that is after I texted a contact at Hawaiian to ask if he may transfer me over. I wasn’t asking for a particular favor, as a result of I do know this could have been allowed for anybody on this state of affairs. I simply wanted to search out somebody to really make the change.
A couple of minutes later, he obtained again saying that I’d been switched, and I had seat 9L. I nonetheless wasn’t significantly keen on extending my day this lengthy, however this appeared like the absolute best plan at the moment. Even higher, the flight was on the gate proper subsequent door to the place we had been final dumped off.
After getting my boarding move, I walked up simply as First Class was boarding. Once more.
Hawaiian 2
September 10, 2024
From Honolulu
➤ Scheduled Departure: 130p
➤ Precise Departure: 127p
➤ From Gate: C4
➤ Wheels Up: 145p
➤ From Runway: 8R
To Los Angeles
➤ Wheels Down: 916p
➤ On Runway: 24R
➤ Scheduled Arrival: 945p
➤ Precise Arrival: 923p
➤ At Gate: 208
Plane
➤ Kind: Boeing 787-9
➤ Delivered: February 14, 2024
➤ Registered: N781HA, msn 66429
➤ Livery: Maile Lei colours
Flight
➤ Cabin: First in Seat 9J
➤ Load: ~99% Full
➤ Flight Time: 4h31m
After two beat-up A330s, the 787 was actually and figuratively a breath of recent air. The entry with the wooden flooring and sidewall design is simply stunning.
The temper lighting was getting in full drive. I went over to my seat and took a go searching.
The A330s nonetheless hand out tablets, however this 787 had an enormous display looking at me.
Additionally they had noise-canceling headphones which had been okay however not what they need to be. I simply used my very own.
After I took my seat, I simply sat there staring and pondering how drained I used to be. Quickly sufficient, it was time to push again, and we went 3 minutes early. I used to be not prepared to breathe a sigh of aid till we obtained within the air, one thing that miraculously occurred just some minutes later.
We climbed out over the islands, and I reclined my seat a bit. The home windows had been dimmed by the flight attendants, however I undimmed mine, as a result of it’s my window, damnit. At the least they didn’t lock it.
There isn’t any Starlink on this plane sort but, however I nonetheless needed to get some work achieved. I opened up my laptop and… crap. I had left my charger on the opposite airplane. Isn’t that simply the cherry on prime? (It was by no means discovered.)
The flight attendants got here by with chilly macadamia nuts and I had a mai tai which went down a bit too straightforward.
Then it was time for meals. We had moved from the unique breakfast to lunch on this flight, so I opted for the coconut and lemongrass braised rooster which was fairly first rate. The yuzu potato salad and kalo Hawaiian roll weren’t dangerous, however that was all I had. I skipped dessert.
As soon as completed, one of many flight attendants got here by and unlocked my door so I may shut it. I nonetheless don’t get the door factor. Right here’s with the door open.
Right here’s a very horrible image with the door closed.
I nonetheless can’t see anybody both method except they stroll by, after which, as you see above, I can see everybody.
I leaned again and watched some films. The collection of new releases wasn’t nice, so I watched just a few older senseless comedies. I additionally observed that the butt padding isn’t nice on this seat. Possibly it simply must be damaged in, or perhaps it’ll be one thing that wants consideration sooner or later.
At one level I went for a stroll across the airplane. It’s a very nice-looking aircraft in all courses. They did a very good job designing this, and the flight attendants advised me it’s a pleasure to work.
I finished within the lav and was extremely amused by the music/chirping birds being piped in. There was actually a variety of thought put into this airplane. Alaska is inheriting one thing fairly spectacular right here.
About an hour out, the sky turned darkish, however the stars had come out… a minimum of, contained in the plane.
I used to be getting stressed. Lastly, round a half hour out, it was time to descend. We got here in from the north, and I used to be on the suitable, so it remained pitch black many of the preliminary descent. I simply sat there watching the transferring map and munching on the Honolulu Cookie Co. cookie they handed out.
As soon as over Oxnard, I noticed some lights, and from there the LA Basin unfolded forward of us. It wasn’t lengthy earlier than we touched down.
Sadly, Hawaiian has actually gotten the shaft by being compelled into the Midfield Concourse within the Bradley Terminal. It’s a lengthy stroll by the concourse, down the steps, beneath the taxiway, up the steps, by the opposite concourse, and out towards baggage declare.
I obtained on the LAXit bus, so I may get to my rideshare, but it surely was crawling. It most likely took us 20 minutes to recover from to the lot. I poured myself into the automotive and solely about 25 minutes later, I used to be lastly house.