Finally got the Hawaii flights booked. Chucked a few Alaska miles in and Terri ended up with FC both ways to Maui. Toss in the free bags, somewhat real food and drinks ... and she's money ahead needless to say way ahead on the comfort scale.

I'm presently stuck the week before in steerage to the Big Island but will see what I can do 24 hours out. Coming back I upgraded for a few more bucks, so at least coming back I'll be chilling. I hate coming back from two weeks of island sun, fun, food, golf and snorkel in the cranky confines of coach. I seem to be able to get over A-OK.

 

The anticipation of a trip still unfolding can mask a lot of sins and discomforts. Though I do hope I can pony up on the way over.

 

I'm written golf and more for Alaska Air for going on 16 years now. That and a paid ticket gets me a seat.

 

anything over a 4 hour flight and it is worth it to fly Business / First when possible. Shit, I think my limit is 2.5-3 hours. Dallas, Denver, Seattle are OK for a few hours in steerage (in an exit row), but anything farther and I am using miles or paying for the added comfort.

 

I fly so many unique routes, spend a good amount of my air time shoved into CRJs and Embraers, so sometimes steerage is an upgrade. lol

Flying from a small airport, or then alternating between LAX and SJC, and not being able to always key on one airline, my points spread all over. Thankfully Alaska is one of the staples and the cc points are muy helpful. That's how Terri got to Oz last fall, plus whatever other regional trips.

 

Depends on the route, but I get high-wing props, the 1-2 pencils masquerading as jets, the 2-2 pencils masquerading as jets. I'll tell you, it is one helluva first class upgrade when you catch a row A one seater and they give you a paper cup of coffee in advance while the untermenschen are still filing in tripping over your feet. lol

 

We always go FC to Hawaii but I go to extensive ends to try and find a flight with some semblance of near FC amenities. The 757's that usually fly that route are a far cry from any business flight overseas.
But, like VegasBJ said, anything over a hop to SF or Phoenix starts getting tight. Denver is about my limit, if that.
Although I agree with Ken, FC coming home if one has to pick.
I just booked flights multi-island including Lanai and found it cost literally 1/2 to do the Lanai-HNL-LAX return as individual legs.

 

We're doing the Lanai ferry. I'll have been on the BI for a week when Terri comes over. We'll meet up in Maui, do the Lanai gig, then finish in Maui.

 

CRJ200 is the worse airplane I've been on. No room and the windows are so small and out of place you can't even view out the window comfortably. I enjoy my ERJ135/145 to DTW and get an A seat

 

We're flying to Honolulu in October. Flying SW (she flies for free on my companion pass) to LAS the day before so we can get some quick Vegas time in and then flying Hawaiian Air in Extra Comfort. Almost got first class but too much of price gap on the leg back to LAS. Was kind of ridiculous. Flying back through LAS and spending the night again before taking a late flight out of LAS.

Flying nonstop out of Vegas to HNL is only about 5 hours which is a shit ton better than flying nonstop out of ATL or connecting in LAX with a 3 hour layover. I'm looking forward to it.