Aloha to New York City

                        The departure board at JFK.

            It is a long flight to Hawaii. I don’t mean a long flight from Los Angeles or Chicago. I’m talking about the flight from New York to Honolulu. In June, Hawaiian Airlines started the first nonstop flights from New York’s Kennedy Airport to Honolulu. When I first started talking about their new service, someone told me that United has been doing it for years. Yes, United flies nonstop from the New York area to Hawaii but they leave from Newark and I think most New Yorkers would agree, Newark Airport is not in New York.

                        Hawaiian Airlines uses brand new A330 for the flight

            

       Along with Hawaiian’s new service to Honolulu, United has started nonstop flights from Washington, Dulles in addition to their flight from Newark. Delta has a nonstop from Atlanta. The reason so many airlines are starting to fly nonstop from the East Coast to Hawaii is because cross country airfares have dropped so much. Many airlines saw an opportunity to sell nonstop tickets from the East Coast for one low fare and attract people who don’t want to change planes in Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco….. or go anywhere near the Newark Airport.

            My Top 5 Favorites Things About Flying Hawaiian Airlines to Hawaii from New York.

         1)   It’s Nonstop. About 10 hours from New York to Honolulu. Before Hawaiian started flying from New York, I used to fly to Los Angeles or San Francisco first to connect. It took about 12 hours total, sometimes more with the stops. The flight doesn't feel that long. With all the food and entertainment options, there's plenty to occupy your time.

         2) The Service - You feel like you're in Hawaii before you get there. Hawaiian has award-winning service. With the flight attendants in tropical shirts and gate agents wearing leis, you get that island feeling as you wait in line at Kennedy Airport in New York.

                    You check in at Terminal 5, where Jetblue departs from at JFK

      3) Hawaiian’s Dating Jetblue – Hawaiian partnered with Jetblue, so if you live in Boston, Florida or any Jetblue city on the East Coast, you can check your bag when you board you Jetblue flight, you and your bags change seamlessly in New York and you all arrive in Hawaii together. Jetblue is also allowing their True Blue members to earn mileage when they fly Hawaiian.

                                            Hawaiian Airline's First Class

        4) Hawaiian’s First Class – It’s not like international first classes but the seats are very comfortable. The seats don’t recline to a lie-flat position but you recline much more compared to coach, you get a foot rest and you get all the free alcohol you want. I overdid it on the Mai Tai’s. The seats recline 46 inches and are 18.5 inches wide. There are 18 seats in first class.

    5) The Food – They serve food. I know that doesn't sound amazing but it is. What airline has ever served you food on a domestic flight after 9-11. They don't just serve food in first class but in coach too. Hawaiian is the only airline, flying to Hawaii from the United States that serves meals on all flights. If you book first class, the food is delicious. I can’t tell you what it tastes like in coach but I saw people eating it and smiling. I had steamed Mahi Mahi, spinach lasagna and spicy chicken. We had Tiramisu for dessert. They are also very generous with the champagne. It keeps on flowing the minute you board.

What would make Hawaiian Even Better?

1) Wi-Fi – Lufthansa has started to offer wifi on overseas flights and I think it would make Hawaiian more attractive to travelers, if they could use the Internet on the long flight.

                                The Digiplayers in First Class

         2) More Entertainment Options – I wasn’t bored at all. There were plenty of films, TV shows and games but they were the same movies, TV shows and games both ways. They should change things up a bit.

        Take a look at the video we shot when we flew on Hawaiian Airlines. First Class on Hawaiian Airlines