HAWAIIAN AIRLINES ECONOMY CLASS SAN FRANCISCO TO MAUI KAHULUI AIRPORT & back JUNE 5 - 10 HA 41 HA 42 SFO - OGG 夏威夷航空經濟客艙三藩市到夏威夷茂宜島卡胡盧伊

June 5, 2015

Hawaiian Airlines HA 41 

San Francisco to Maui Kahului 

SFO-OGG

Seats 26AB

June 10, 2015

Hawaiian Airlines 42 

Maui Kahului to San Francisco 

OGG-SFO

Seats 18HJ

Both Airbus A330-200

Seat Guru Seating Plan

Bought this pair of tickets with Hawaiian Airlines Barclays co-brand credit card's promotion with buy one get one half off + 30K miles. First checked bag free. After this one round trip, I got enough for a free round-trip back to Hawaii, any island! It's well worth the $89 annual fee. First year of annual fee was not waived and it went on the first billing cycle.

This time flying with Dr Wong to cousin Ivan's wedding in Maui. I have not been back to Hawaii for 25 years . . . First time was 1988 I believe, to Waikiki with the whole family. Stayed at Hilton Hawaiian Village.

Hawaiian Airlines were using SFO's international terminal. Check in was quick and easy. We had one checked bag, no question was asked for the first free checked bag.

On the plane! Typical Hawaiian Airlines' Airbus A330-200 economy seat configuration, 2-4-2. We took 26 AB and 18 HJ. These are perfect for people traveling as a couple in economy.

2 x 4 x 2 configuration

Each seat is equipped with a personal AVOD (audio-video on-demand) IFE (in-flight entertainment system). These are not the "shell" seats (where they slide forward) so when the person infront of you do recline, you'd have to re-adjust the screen a bit.

Back of seat

The pay-per-view movies are relatively recent and there's a good selection. I stuck with the free programs such as music and free tv shows. Hawaii guide and current flight route can be viewed as well.

Personal display unit at every economy seat

USB jack is provided at every seat as well. Charging is slow but where else are you gonna go?

USB jack right next to personal display

Took an under seat pic. Confirmed that there's no AC power outlet under the seats. Some airlines do include these but they do not advertise it. It's always good to check. No-one else would know about it so you can hog it when it's available.

Photo of space under seat - no power outlet there

Pretty decent leg room for an economy seat. I am 5'-9". If I remember correctly, this is much better than any of the United pig pens.

Decent leg-room

Dr Wong was quite excited about the sturdy fold-out head rest for securing his head for napping. He even demonstrated how it helped with channeling drool onto oneself than onto the person sitting next to you.

Demonstration of added comfort with fold-out head rest

The seats felt just fine. Maybe a bit more spacious than the typical US carriers. I usually fold up the aisle side arm-rest to get more space when the flight attendants are not serving food/drink. There's a little hole at the bottom back of the arm-rest where you can press in and release the locking mechanism.

Dr. Wong took a nice pic of fog coming into Half Moon Bay. 

Fog coming into Halfmoon Bay, view from the plane

Meal service is included! So excited. Airplane food is not exciting for most people but I LOVE looking at them and eating them. I like seeing how different airlines present it differently.

I had the penne with meat sauce. There wasn't much meat in the sauce it's almost vegetarian. No matter. It was quite yummy and I asked for seconds. Hawaiian Airlines' also known to give coach passenger a free glass of wine while dining.

Not served on the plane but right outside secured boarding area at OGG. Saimin noodle soup $9. Quite yummy!

Trip-It flight info panel on way back

Meal on the way back. Nothing fancy but it's better than nothing!

Meatballs with rice and fukujinzuke! Very Hawaiian!

I have absolutely no complaint about the food. I did not have any expectations. Flight attendants were super friendly and nice. I asked for seconds nicely and she brought me another penne pasta in no time, "Excuse me, if there's any of the pasta left, would you mind bringing me another one?" It had not failed me so far. I do eat a lot and 2 airplane portions equal approximately half of my usual portion. They even said the meatballs were turkey meatballs! It's almost a loco moco! I'd take this over a dry sandwich or soggy wrap any day.

I enjoyed these 2 flights and it's a plus to fly Hawaiian since they try to show their culture in the magazine, vids, and overall branding. I learned a bit more about Hawaii on the way. I knew about O-Paka-Paka before I landed, what a yummy Snapper!

Air fare was comparable or cheaper than the typical boring airlines from the mainland. I think someone told me Alaska also serves complimentary meals. I'd fly Hawaiian again given the choice. It's just a lot more fun than UA AA or DL.