honolulu - again

[rechoboam]

Hi all
have looked through all threads but still can't make up my mind..
basically I am looking for the best combination of value and comfort for MEL - Honolulu...for medical reasons it is crucial for me not to get sleep-deprived. On the other hand $28000 for three of us to get there on QF business is out of the question, and I hear not worth the money anyway on that route. What would you do?? I need to get some sleep on the flight, couldn't care less about the food, decor, service or anything else, and I mean I don't mind if Attila the Hun is offering me a three-year-old omelette while I hold the window closed...

 

[Limewood]

We just did SYD/HNL/SYD with JQ last month in so called business class, no flat bed seat but but wide, good recline and with bulkhead in front oodles room to stretch out in on 9.5 hour flight, food was good too. Night flight over day flight back. Paid at time $2150 each, received full Q status and fly points.

 

[simongr]

What is the seating pattern on JQ? Just wondering for three of us next year.

 

[rechoboam]

We just did SYD/HNL/SYD with JQ last month in so called business class, no flat bed seat but but wide, good recline and with bulkhead in front oodles room to stretch out in on 9.5 hour flight, food was good too. Night flight over day flight back. Paid at time $2150 each, received full Q status and fly points.

I am thinking of just trying to get day flights, which would be ANZ over and JQ back (ANZ in Y). JQ starclass/ "y" looks comfortable enough to me. Then I can sleep all night. I get enough QFF points via the ATO that I would save the $1000 in total for points and status, although it would get me to gold I suppose. Now that my seven year old plays chess 9 hours or 19 shouldn't be too difficult to while away.

 

[mannej]

What is the seating pattern on JQ? Just wondering for three of us next year.

In the older A330's each row is 2-3-2 apart from Row 1 which is 2-2-2 (which means 2D has a lot of leg room). In the newer ones (can't remember) it is a carbon copy of the new QF domestic J (332) where it is 2-3-2.

 

[richie9x]

Air Pacific is a cheap way of getting across the pacific in business class. Although you will have a stopover in Nadi. The flight to HNL is in a 737. There are some trip reports on here from people that have done the trip.

Have you considered mixing business and economy. Going to HNL in business as it is an overnight flight and returning on Jetstar in economy as it is a daylight flight.

 

[rechoboam]

Air Pacific is a cheap way of getting across the pacific in business class. Although you will have a stopover in Nadi. The flight to HNL is in a 737. There are some trip reports on here from people that have done the trip.

Have you considered mixing business and economy. Going to HNL in business as it is an overnight flight and returning on Jetstar in economy as it is a daylight flight.

as in business on Air Pacific over? Probably would use Jetstar and save having to spend a night in Fiji which appears to be unavoidable.

 

[Stephen65]

In the older A330's each row is 2-3-2 apart from Row 1 which is 2-2-2 (which means 2D has a lot of leg room). In the newer ones (can't remember) it is a carbon copy of the new QF domestic J (332) where it is 2-3-2.

As an aside aren't Qantas going to return all domestic J class to 2-2-2?

 

[lovestotravel]

$28,000 on QF in their old business on the 767 is NOT worth it

MEL-SYD on QF in Economy I'd say and then Jetstar in "Business Class"

Should be under $7000 for 2 people all up from memory

Their "business Class" is not bad and it's probably the best way to get there anyways in terms of comfort/price

 

[Alanslegal]

I wouldn't pay for JQ's J class however the SYD-HNL flight departs around 6pm iirc and if you have access to the F Lounge, have a 6 course feast from 330-530pm and then when you get onboard, try to get to sleep straight away ... if you're lucky you might get 8 hours, before getting ready to land in HNL and hitting Honolulu at 9am in the morning! Head straight to Waikiki Beach and lay there all day

 

[Geegeela]

Hawaiian Airlines. hawaiianair.com

Honolulu to Sydney. Daytime direct flight ETA Sydney 7:20pm 10.5 hours

Dec-Jan Coach $1100, Business $2300
Feb-Apr Coach $900, Business $1900

Prices continually fluctuate.

Boeing 767 Business 2X2X2 3 rows
Coach 2x3x2

 

[simongr]

Geegeela good work - any chance of finding a carrier I can earn QF SCs on?

 

[docjames]

Have you looked at Air Australia which go MEL-HNL and BNE-HNL? Usually well priced....

 

[mannej]

As an aside aren't Qantas going to return all domestic J class to 2-2-2?

Who knows? There are a lot of unanswered questions at the moment.

 

[reductionist]

For trips to HNL I'd take the JQ Business class over QF.

For that kind of money I'd be quite disappointed with the old 767s QF use on this route.

 

[lovestotravel]

Have you looked at Air Australia which go MEL-HNL and BNE-HNL? Usually well priced....

I wouldn't be booking anything with them in the short term.

They are having cash-flow problems it seems............

 

[docjames]

Also would you consider paying for an extra economy seat beside you (not knowing whats behind the J requirement but assuming its space/claustrophobia).

 

[lovestotravel]

Hawaiian Airlines. hawaiianair.com

Honolulu to Sydney. Daytime direct flight ETA Sydney 7:20pm 10.5 hours

Dec-Jan Coach $1100, Business $2300
Feb-Apr Coach $900, Business $1900

Prices continually fluctuate.

Boeing 767 Business 2X2X2 3 rows
Coach 2x3x2

Hawaiian is upgrading to an A330-200 in May 2012 and getting rid of the old 767's!

You can earn Velocity (Virgin Australia) points with Hawaiian

However it's about $3300 return in business on Hawaiian while Jetstar is $2700 although sale fares bring this down to about $2000 return but lately there have not been many sales!

 

[mannej]

Have you looked at Air Australia which go MEL-HNL and BNE-HNL? Usually well priced....

The only problem with Air Australia is if they go tech.

 

[lovestotravel]

The only problem with Air Australia is if they go tech.

or broke!

They can't even launch their Melbourne to Honolulu flights correctly!

They are "leasing" Photos: Airbus A330-223 Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net for the next few months as their other A330 "fell through"...

Again I would not be booking with Air Australia anytime soon!