Hawaiian Airlines 62
March, 2023
Aloha!
Kona Airport airport was designed as an open-air facility divided into two terminals, each with five gates, and a couple of shops and restaurants at each terminal. While the shops offer plenty of souvenir items to peruse, I was more interested in watching aircraft without needing to find a clean region on the thick pieces of glass in most other airports.
Today’s aircraft, N218HA, is 1 of 17 A321neos Hawaiian Airlines operates. Having just arrived from Phoenix, this plane will be returning west to LAX for a flight time of 4:16 covering just over 4,000 km. Edging closer to the air stairs, it’s difficult for an avgeek to stay focussed on what’s in front of you; aircraft landing and departing, ground crew and vehicles meandering, and beautiful views of the ocean and mountains.
Today's aircraft is N218HA
Perhaps as a reminder of the color you’ll be seeing throughout the entirety of this flight, the cabin is bathed in a deep blue ambiance. Hawaiian’s A321neos accommodate up to 189 passengers divided into three cabins; a domestic first premium cabin with 16 leather recliners, an extra comfort premium economy with 44 seats, and main cabin with 129 seats. I booked this flight quite a while ago and was able to snag the bulkhead seat, which has ample leg room. While seat-back entertainment is not available, you are able to stream content to your own device.
Ample legroom in the bulk-head seat
For most, having entertainment on a flight lasting more than one hour is a necessity. As this flight was crossing the vastness of the Pacific Ocean with no landmarks to view out the window, I’ll likely be testing out Hawaiian’s entertainment later on. As I soaked in the last bit of Hawaiian coastal views, the cabin crew and pilots were preparing the cabin and completing pre-checks prior to departure.
A meal is offered to all passengers on board
About 45 minutes after takeoff, a meal service began, and yes, this is a luxury Hawaiian Airlines offers all passengers. Essentially a large HotPocket, the meal was a warmed pepperoni and cheese herb roll with a bag of Maui Style Potato chips. This is the only meal offered, so I would recommend checking HawaiianAirlines.com for updates on the menu if you have any food allergies. To wash it down, Hawaiian also offers free-of-charge one cup of their signature cocktail made with Koloa Rum and Passion Orange Guava juice.
As the sun set and we neared the California coast, the FAs passed through the aisles offering AlohaMacs, chocolate covered macadamia nuts. These were a sweet parting gift.
Sweet treat before landing
So, what do I think about the extra comfort in Hawaiian Airlines and the flight as a whole? Hawaiian Airlines fleet of 18 A321neos are on average less than 5 years old, and if all are maintained similar to this particular aircraft, you should be pleasantly surprised with the cleanliness and quality of seats on offer. The lavs were acceptable, seats were clean, and FAs were attentive and friendly. Although seat-back entertainment isn’t available, there is a catalog of content available to stream on your personal device. When it comes to distinguishing extra comfort from main cabin, the name gives away what you pay for. The additional space is definitely appreciated, though I honestly expected a little bit more than simply extra legroom as I did pay for a premium fare. Still, I had an overall good experience with Hawaiian Airlines and look forward to trying out their business class product on their soon-to-be delivered Dreamliners.