Halloween, Hawaii and holiday celebrations - the Hawaii section THIS SECTION COMPLETED 1/13 - Page 5 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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I've never seen so many Hawaii photos from the air! What a beautiful piece of land after all that sea. But strange the flight attendant asked you to put away your camera. I didn't think that was an electronic device? I always have my camera out on flights. Oh well. You still scored some fantastic shots!
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I've never seen so many Hawaii photos from the air! What a beautiful piece of land after all that sea. But strange the flight attendant asked you to put away your camera. I didn't think that was an electronic device? I always have my camera out on flights. Oh well. You still scored some fantastic shots!
It is actually listed in the magazines as an electronic device, although the irony was a few days later, it was announced that American would let you use electronic devices on take-off and landing, because we were allowed to on the way back to Orlando..
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I just spent the last two days finishing up your last day at WDW and your journey to Hawaii! I totally agree with you about the condition of the airlines in the U.S. nowadays! Years ago we were lucky enough to travel with our two daughters (in 1998) to Hawaii in first class using our points and it was true luxury. Our girls still talk about it to this day, so I know it left quite the impression on them. When I see what gets you first class on planes now it is sad Even the upgrade that you got for the extra leg room isn't that much and the conditions of the planes are sometimes shall we say "yucky". The food selections are pathetic too. Whenever you have posted pictures from your Virgin Atlantic trips, I've been envious as they look like the old luxury that you used to find on the planes in the U.S. Your photos from the approach into Hawaii are just breathtaking and I can't wait to see more!
Did you notice the Hilton Hawaiian Village in those first two pics of Waikiki? You can't see the Rainbow Tower in it, but you can see the lagoon!
I think you're right, that does look like Pearl Harbor. I agree that Aulani is much more of how people envision Hawaii with it's lushness and tranquility. Over the years, Honolulu has gotten more and more congested, and I really don't enjoy being there very much.
It's really interesting hearing the impressions of a first-timer!
Oh, by the way, I've also noticed more and more people getting up to go to the bathroom when the seatbelt sign is on. Annoys the heck out of me! On Virgin America this last time though, the flight attendant came on the speaker and asked people to get back into their seats. I loved it!
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I just spent the last two days finishing up your last day at WDW and your journey to Hawaii! I totally agree with you about the condition of the airlines in the U.S. nowadays! Years ago we were lucky enough to travel with our two daughters (in 1998) to Hawaii in first class using our points and it was true luxury. Our girls still talk about it to this day, so I know it left quite the impression on them.
It sounds wonderful.
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When I see what gets you first class on planes now it is sad Even the upgrade that you got for the extra leg room isn't that much and the conditions of the planes are sometimes shall we say "yucky". The food selections are pathetic too. Whenever you have posted pictures from your Virgin Atlantic trips, I've been envious as they look like the old luxury that you used to find on the planes in the U.S.
It's such a shame that American airlines haven't kept pace with airlines elsewhere in the world, although in truth, they probably have on international routes, just not on domestic routes.
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Your photos from the approach into Hawaii are just breathtaking and I can't wait to see more!
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Did you notice the Hilton Hawaiian Village in those first two pics of Waikiki? You can't see the Rainbow Tower in it, but you can see the lagoon!
I didn't see it - where is it?
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I think you're right, that does look like Pearl Harbor. I agree that Aulani is much more of how people envision Hawaii with it's lushness and tranquility. Over the years, Honolulu has gotten more and more congested, and I really don't enjoy being there very much.
The congestion was horrendous - I know you had warned me about it before we went, but my goodness, it was so much worse than I expected. I kept thinking it's an island, how bad can it be? How wrong was I?
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It's really interesting hearing the impressions of a first-timer!
It'll also be interesting to see what you think of our first timer impressions...
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Oh, by the way, I've also noticed more and more people getting up to go to the bathroom when the seatbelt sign is on. Annoys the heck out of me! On Virgin America this last time though, the flight attendant came on the speaker and asked people to get back into their seats. I loved it!
DH and I have been to Hawaii 4 times (but not since 2000), and I always dreaded the flights. And I always keep my seat belt buckled unless I need to use the rest room. I feel safer that way.
I love Waikiki Beach and Honolulu because I love visiting cities. But the traffic there is horrible. The Hilton Hawaiian Village is a great hotel in a great location with a large beachfront on Waikiki Beach. The hotels further down have small beachfronts and are not as desirable as far as beachfront goes. And I don't think the harbor is ugly. Our view during one of our stays at the Hilton was of the harbor and seeing the gorgeous yachts docked there was great. But I also love the beauty of Maui. We would love to return, but visiting Europe is our priority nowadays. The thing that might get us back to Hawaii is Aulani.
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Last edited by nanajoyx2; 12-29-2013 at 01:23 PM..
Great pictures of California as you left the continental US. I love the pictures of Oahu and Honolulu from the air. Stunning! I'm pretty sure on our 1 hour and 45 minute flight from Nashville to Orlando the seatbelt light never goes off. But usually nothing is said if someone has to go to the restrooms. I've always wondered why the seatbelt light is kept on after we've reached cruising altitude.
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I wonder why US airlines can get away with the less than stellar service. I mean, seriously, European airlines aren't charging more or anything. In fact, most of the time, they are less expensive for transatlantic flights, for example.
Also, Asian airlines are even better equipped than European ones (Emirates and Malaysia airlines come to mind right away)...
Sorry, don't mean to hijack your TR, Chez - it just baffles me why on earth airlines in the U.S. can get away with 20-year-old planes and less and less service!
DH and I have been to Hawaii 4 times (but not since 2000), and I always dreaded the flights.
Now I can understand why!
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And I always keep my seat belt buckled unless I need to use the rest room. I feel safer that way.
I love Waikiki Beach and Honolulu because I love visiting cities. But the traffic there is horrible.
Ugh - tell me about it.
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The Hilton Hawaiian Village is a great hotel in a great location with a large beachfront on Waikiki Beach. The hotels further down have small beachfronts and are not as desirable as far as beachfront goes.
Maybe when we go back, we'll have to spend our first night there... We really didn't explore Waikiki at all. As you said, the traffic was horrible and, from what we saw from the rods, it just didn't appeal to us at all.
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And I don't think the harbor is ugly. Our view during one of our stays at the Hilton was of the harbor and seeing the gorgeous yachts docked there was great. But I also love the beauty of Maui.
Oh - Maui was absolutely stunning. We will definitely be going back there when we return.
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We would love to return, but visiting Europe is our priority nowadays. The thing that might get us back to Hawaii is Aulani.
Tough call - Europe vs. Hawaii. I suspect, as you read this, and see Aulani, the pull to return to Hawaii may get a bit stronger.
I wonder why US airlines can get away with the less than stellar service. I mean, seriously, European airlines aren't charging more or anything. In fact, most of the time, they are less expensive for transatlantic flights, for example.
Also, Asian airlines are even better equipped than European ones (Emirates and Malaysia airlines come to mind right away)...
Sorry, don't mean to hijack your TR, Chez - it just baffles me why on earth airlines in the U.S. can get away with 20-year-old planes and less and less service!
Don't worry - it baffles me now as well. Up until our visit to Hawaii, I thought it was because generally the internal flights in the States are a lot shorter, but that's why I was so shocked by this flight, as it was pretty much equivalent to a transatlantic flight.
One day we'll have to try one of the Asian airlines, as I have heard many amazing things about them over the years.
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You got some really great pictures from the plane! The seatbelt sign situation is so annoying. On the one hand, I'm a rule follower too, and I think people should stay in their seats if the sign is on. On the other hand, I don't think that the airline should keep the sign on for one minute longer than they have to. I'm sorry, but on a long flight like that, people need to use the rest rooms, and just stretch their legs. It's cruel to keep people in their teeny, tiny little seats with no leg room and not allow them to stretch once in a while. Rant over...
You got some really great pictures from the plane! The seatbelt sign situation is so annoying. On the one hand, I'm a rule follower too, and I think people should stay in their seats if the sign is on. On the other hand, I don't think that the airline should keep the sign on for one minute longer than they have to. I'm sorry, but on a long flight like that, people need to use the rest rooms, and just stretch their legs. It's cruel to keep people in their teeny, tiny little seats with no leg room and not allow them to stretch once in a while. Rant over...
Hey rant away - I am so with you on everything you said. And you raised a good point about stretching as well, especially with the issue of deep vein thrombosis....
Have not flown American in ages, since most of our trips are two or from Florida we stick with Jet Blue, seats are comfortable, the individual TVs are the girls favorites and for us our one free bag works well (again if I was traveling for longer periods I would probably have to incur an extra bag charge). We have always found the service wonderful and next year for LA we are using them as well.
Delta has the new individual TVs, again unless it is somewhere Jet Blue does not go I tend to not even look at the other options but I would probably go with Delta vs. American (it is the one airline my engineers all never want to fly).
As for the Hawaii flights, my friend uses United, says the flights are good but a few friends have now been sold on Hawaiian Airlines, they said the service is great, great crew staffs, I know the meals in 1st Class they said are really good (vegetarian available as long as requested 48 hours prior) but my friends said even in Couch they were given fruit, cheese, chips, chocolate, some very nice offerings. Might be an option for future trips.
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I've never seen so many Hawaii photos from the air! What a beautiful piece of land after all that sea. 
But strange the flight attendant asked you to put away your camera. I didn't think that was an electronic device? I always have my camera out on flights. Oh well. You still scored some fantastic shots!
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Even the upgrade that you got for the extra leg room isn't that much and the conditions of the planes are sometimes shall we say "yucky". The food selections are pathetic too. Whenever you have posted pictures from your Virgin Atlantic trips, I've been envious as they look like the old luxury that you used to find on the planes in the U.S. Your photos from the approach into Hawaii are just breathtaking and I can't wait to see more!
I didn't see it - where is it? 
We really didn't explore Waikiki at all. As you said, the traffic was horrible and, from what we saw from the rods, it just didn't appeal to us at all. 
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