FlyingNanook From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 830 posts, RR: 13 Posted (7 years 8 months 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 1294 times:
In December, I will be flying to Honolulu and I have the option of flying CO via LAS or HA via LAX. I've been to both airports many, many times (I grew up 15 minutes from LAX and went to Vegas several times a year), so the airport choice doesn't matter to me one bit. Going via LAS will add 1 hour to the trip time, but that doesn't matter much to me. (A total of nearly 16 vs 17 hours) Also the price for both options is the same when booked through Alaska's website.
I've flown Hawaiian a few times and have enjoyed it thoroughly, but I've never flown Continental. Both are operating a 767, HA using a -300 and CO using the -400. I've also never flown on the 767-400, so I'm leaning towards Continental for the new experience. (even though I've already been burned for choosing a new experience in Nov, darn that HP!)
My biggest hesitation for choosing Continental is that my roommate swears that Continental has the narrowest seats and tightest pitch. I've looked at seatguru.com and they seem to be average in that regard, not on the small side. My roommate also flew them in the early 90's.
So anyways, to make a long story short, price and flight times being (almost) equal, what are your opinions on Hawaiian versus Continental?
[Edited 2005-09-20 09:43:17]
Edited because I can't decide how long the trip is or how to use html.
Whiskeyhotel From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2004, 224 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (7 years 8 months 6 days 10 hours ago) and read 1268 times:
CO will be the option leaving from LAX, not LAS. CO only flies to its hubs from LAS, and not to Hawaii. I've not done the LAX-HNL route on CO, but have done IAH-OGG and HNL-IAH on CO 764 and 762. My IAH-OGG was on the 764 and in Y (near 8 hour flight). The pitch, though nothing to write home about, is not uncomfortable (I'm 6'2"), and the service, even in Y, was stellar (By legacy airline to Hawaii standards). Decent hot meal & cold snack service, attentive FA's, and an immaculately clean aircraft with PTVs (With admittedly mediocre entertainment choices...CO makes lousy movie choices IMHO). My return from HNL on the 762 was in F (with the international BusinessFirst seats and a service level slightly superior to normal domestic F...which on CO is excellent), so no complaints there. If you can manage to upgrade, it's well worth it. CO has the best F service to Hawaii of any US airline, hands-down.
Whomever you choose, enjoy your trip to Hawaii...fantastic place.
Work is the curse of the drinking classes - Oscar Wilde
JBLUA320 From United States of America, joined May 2002, 3160 posts, RR: 21 Reply 3, posted (7 years 8 months 5 days 20 hours ago) and read 1250 times:
Definately Continental. PTVs help the flight go by, the 762/4 are great airplanes- comfortable and clean.
I've never flown HA, but speaking from experience on CO, Continental is definately the way to go.
Airbus3801 From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2004, 1089 posts, RR: 5 Reply 4, posted (7 years 8 months 5 days 19 hours ago) and read 1240 times:
I have flown both airlines, and CO definetly is the winner. Hawaiian is simply a tourist airline, and CO is a real one. You will get full and better service, espeically if you are flying first, PTV's, good seats, and warm service with CO. Hawaiian has never reallyi impressed me, but are OK by most standards.
FlyingNanook From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 830 posts, RR: 13 Reply 5, posted (7 years 8 months 5 days 19 hours ago) and read 1234 times:
Quoting Whiskeyhotel (Reply 1): CO will be the option leaving from LAX, not LAS
Yah, I got the two mixed up and didn't realize until after the time to edit was over. Oh well, that didn't make too much of a difference anyway.
A question about CO's PTV's: are they the kind where you can choose what to watch, or are they the kind where you watch what everybody else is watching?
And one other thing: does CO fly the international 764's or the Micronesia ones to Hawaii? And is there any difference between the two other than the number of economy seats?
ANCFlyer From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 6, posted (7 years 8 months 5 days 16 hours ago) and read 1225 times:
Wow, tough choice.
Having taken the HA flight from ANC-HNL and return, I can tell you it's great. It's a charter, so I'm not sure if the level of service in the F cabin is the same on the charter as it would be on their scheduled services, but regardless, Hawaiian is fantastic.
Having taken CO to HNL several times from various starting points - always winding up on CO1 from IAH-HNL, that is also a fantastic ride . . .
If I had to make the call I'd have to choose based on arrival time in HNL . . .
Doona From Sweden, joined Feb 2005, 3707 posts, RR: 14 Reply 7, posted (7 years 8 months 5 days 14 hours ago) and read 1221 times:
I'd go for CO... I was one of their 764's in NGO this summer, and it looks really good, especially with the MD-80 style winglets (I'm talking about the swept back wing tips. Don't know if they really are classed as winglets, but I've heard them being called that hear on a.net...)
Cheers
Mats
Sure, we're concerned for our lives. Just not as concerned as saving 9 bucks on a roundtrip to Ft. Myers.
Pualani From United States of America, joined May 2004, 300 posts, RR: 6 Reply 8, posted (7 years 8 months 3 days 23 hours ago) and read 1187 times:
I work for HA and I would chose CO....hands down. I flew CO on their 764 from IAH-GRU-GIG and I was really impressed. I dont know how they make money with the cabin only holding 235 pax (35/200) but having less pax in a bigger plane made it seem less claustrophobic versus a HA 763 with 264 (18/246).
Airbus3801 From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2004, 1089 posts, RR: 5 Reply 9, posted (7 years 8 months 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 1177 times:
Quoting FlyingNanook (Reply 5): A question about CO's PTV's: are they the kind where you can choose what to watch, or are they the kind where you watch what everybody else is watching?
I believe that CO's PTVs are not AVOD, but have multiple channels that run different movies on a reel format, so when it ends, it waits for all of the others to end and then the movies restart again. If you have ever flown longhaul on BA. I believe you will find it similar to High-Life Entertainment.
FlyingNanook From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 830 posts, RR: 13 Reply 10, posted (7 years 8 months 3 days ago) and read 1171 times:
Quoting Pualani (Reply 8): I work for HA and I would chose CO....hands down
Well, that's testament enough for me. I should be booking the flights today or tomorrow, as they have been placed on hold until tomorrow at midnight. My other option with this trip, which was just presented today, is either HA or AA on the return, and that was a no brainer for me. A 767 with free food, or a 757 with BOB? Hmmmm.....I do believe I'll take the 767 any day (free food or not).
727EMflyer From United States of America, joined Mar 2005, 547 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (7 years 8 months 2 days ago) and read 1166 times:
While your choice is made, I'll put in a plug for CO....
The 764's are 2 class, I believe the only difference between "continental" and "air mike" are what the pilots use as call sign and where the crew is based out of. PTV's have 10 or 12 channels, with language options available, air show, and some games. the handset control for the monitor makes the seat feel a bit smaller when you try to get it out of the seat since it pretty much blocked in by your thigh. I am not a fan of those controls since the buttons seem to be broken from over use... except when it is stowed because everytime i shift my leg the screen changes! Its a popular product in the end though. As for the seat pitch, Well there is nothing in the U.S. coach market that can compare to UA economy plus, so it sucks, but not nearly as bad as HA's pitch sucks! Good choice on CO.
FutureUALpilot From United States of America, joined May 2000, 2561 posts, RR: 8 Reply 12, posted (7 years 8 months 1 day 4 hours ago) and read 1157 times:
Quoting 727EMflyer (Reply 11): but not nearly as bad as HA's pitch sucks! Good choice on CO.
I just flew HA 767s and I found the coach seats comfortable, and I'm 6'4''. On that note, I enjoyed my trip with HA but I flew CO 2 days later, and I would have to choose to fly with them if I had an option.
Pualani From United States of America, joined May 2004, 300 posts, RR: 6 Reply 13, posted (7 years 7 months 4 weeks 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 1134 times:
Quoting 727EMflyer (Reply 11): I believe the only difference between "continental" and "air mike" are what the pilots use as call sign and where the crew is based out of.
Actually...I heard the CO mike jets have a lot more seats? Can anyone confirm this ?
There was a similar arrangement with the DC-10s when they still flew the run . . . on the CO aircraft there was a B/F cabin aft of the #2 doors. On the Air Mike version, there was not.
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