The best airline to fly to Hawaii in domestic First Class with lie-flat seats include United, American Airlines, Hawaiian, Air Canada, and Delta. I review all of these airlines below. They all travel from North America to Hawaii and offer different levels of First Class cabins, from reclining to lie-flat seats, depending on the aircraft you are booked on. Virgin America and Alaskan Airlines also fly from North America to Hawaii, and Japan Airlines offers direct flights from Tokyo to the Hawaiian Islands with a decent Business Class product.
Unfortunately, because most passengers traveling to Hawaii are leisure travelers rather than business travelers, airlines seem to route their oldest aircraft to Hawaii. As a result, it is crucial to select the right airline, aircraft, and route to snag the best First Class lie-flat seats to Hawaii on these airlines.
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Review: American Airlines First Class To Hawaii
American Airlines flies to Hawaii from Dallas-Ft. Worth, Los Angeles, and Phoenix. All planes offer seats that are similar to Domestic First except for the flights from Dallas. This means no amenity kits, lie-flat seats, and an average experience.
A recent update to AA’s fleet was the retirement of the last 767-300ER, which flew the last remaining old angle-flat Business Class (the product was retired to Roswell on October 30th, 20-17), which means all flights from Dallas-Ft. Worth (DFW) to Honolulu (HNL) and Maui (OGG) on the 767 fleet is 100% lie-flat! (Thanks to our reader Matthew for his input on this update).
On flights from Los Angeles, AA usually operates Airbus A321s with domestic First Class seats with large-screen seat-back entertainment. However, American’s latest schedule update also puts international long-haul widebody aircraft on two Hawaii routes from LAX, giving customers lie-flat cabin seats with direct aisle access. 1 of 6 daily flights operated by the AA can be booked with this excellent First offering on their 777-200ER;
AA143 LAX1500 – 1900HNL 772 D &
AA144 HNL2330 – 0706+1LAX 772
The other AA flights with an upgrade are those from Phoenix to Honolulu with 1 of 2 daily flights operated by A330-300l:
- AA692 PHX1205 – 1555HNL 333 D
- AA693 HNL2215 – 0709+1PHX 333 D
The remaining aircraft currently operating on this route are Boeing 757-200 aircraft with a terrible First Class cabin with televisions on the ceiling.
American already flies excellent lie-flat seats out of DFW (Dallas) to either HNL or OGG (Maui).
Review: Delta Airlines First Class To Hawaii
Delta flies to Hawaii from Atlanta, Minneapolis, New York-JFK, Portland, Salt Lake, San Francisco, and Seattle. Delta First Class lie-flat seats to Hawaii are consistently flown from ATL (Atlanta), Minneapolis, and Salt Lake City to HNL (Honolulu) using its Airbus A330-300 with international Business Class configuration. Unfortunately, they fly their old Boeing 737-900ERs, 767s, and 757s from the West Coast. These aircraft are tired and tatty and do not offer lie-flat seats. Occasionally, Delta may fly their Delta One lie-flat product between LAX and HNL, but this cannot be relied on.
Review: Hawaiian Airlines First Class To Hawaii
Hawaiian Airlines offers flights to the islands on their Boeing 767 (which is being phased out) or their next-gen A321 or A330 planes from Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York-JFK, Oakland, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, and Seattle.
Hawaiian has retrofitted its A330s, so first-class now incorporates fully lie-flat seating and direct aisle access on both the A330 and A321, much like other airlines’ long-haul Business Class making it a good choice for decent First Class lie-flat and cabin when flying to Hawaii. This is a really nice product. For more information, see First Class Flight on Hawaiian Airlines from Honolulu. I think you will agree that the cabin looks super smart!
Review: United Airlines First Class To Hawaii
Expect United First Class lie-flat seats to Hawaii from Newark (EWR) and WashingtonD.C. (IAD) to Honolulu (HNL). These flights are usually in on the Boeing 767-400ER wide-body with the airline’s newer BusinessFirst international cabin with fully lie-flat seats.
From LAX and San Francisco, you will usually fly on Boeing 737 aircraft with a standard domestic first-class experience. Usually, you don’t even get seat-back entertainment. On a few select flights, United also operates lie-flat seats to Hawaii from San Francisco, but be sure to check the seat map just to be sure.
The United flights from Chicago and Houston typically use a Boeing 777, with recliner-style old-fashioned business-class seats in a 2-3-2 configuration.
Which Airline Has Lie-Flat Seats To Hawaii?
The best airline to travel to Hawaii in First Class from the East Coast, New York, or Washington has to be United in its BusinessFirst with fully lie-flat seats as long as it’s on their 767-400ER.
Hawaiian Airlines offer excellent new cabins and fly lie-flat bed seats between Japan and Hawaii, NYC and Hawaii, and certain flights between the West Coast (including San Francisco) and Hawaii. Hawaiian Airlines are also worth considering on routes from New Oakland, Phoenix, or Portland, as they offer lie-flat seats in their new and retrofitted aircraft (avoid their Boing 767s). Eventually, with the introduction of their new aircraft and retrofits, Hawaiian airlines will probably offer the most consistent lie-flat service to Hawaii.
The best airline to fly to Hawaii in First Class from the West Coast, Los Angeles LAX, San Fransisco, or even Las Vegas, San Jose, Sacramento, and Seattle would have to be Hawaiian Airlines on their retrofitted A330s with first-class seats incorporating fully lie-flat seating and direct aisle access. Again remember to avoid their Boeing 767s.
American also flies excellent lie-flat seats out of DFW (Dallas) to either HNL or OGG (Maui), so it is the top choice out of Dallas and also has some lie-flat flights out of Phonix and LAX if you pick the right flights.
United also operates lie-flat seats to Hawaii on some routes from San Francisco, but be sure to check the seat map before you book.
Delta consistently flies lie-flat seats from ATL (Atlanta), Minneapolis, and Salt Lake City to HNL (Honolulu) using its Airbus A330-300 with international Business Class configuration. So is a good choice if these are your nearest airport. Otherwise, I would advise avoiding Delta.
Unfortunately, the lie-flat picture is mixed and ever-changing as new planes are introduced on each route, so check the aircraft type carefully before booking. I hope this article helps to point you towards better choices but always double-check the aircraft before booking.
Below you will find reviews of recent experiences I and colleagues have had on Hawaiian Airlines, United Airlines, American Airlines, Japan Airlines, Air Canada, and Delta.
Best Airlines To Fly To Hawaii In First Class
Review: Hawaiian Airlines A330 First Class
Last Summer, I flew aboard the premium class cabin of a Hawaiian Airlines Airbus A330 from Honolulu (in Hawaii) to San Francisco (in California). Hawaiian Airlines calls this premium cabin ‘First Class’ on domestic flights from Hawaii to the mainland USA, while the same cabin is designated ‘Business Class’ on international flights.
American Airlines Long Haul Business Class Flight Reviews
American Airlines, United Airlines and Delta are the three main North American airlines and all three have all recently launched a new, upgraded business class soft and hard product, with improved seats, food and service. We've discussed in more detail which of these new Business Class suites is best. In my opinion, the United Polaris Business Class Pod cabins are probably the best looking of the three seats and the fact that these cabins are complemented by matching ground facilities means that this entire product is more of a complete experience than the American Airlines or Delta offerings.
United Airlines Long Haul Business Class Flight Reviews
United Airlines has recently launched a new, upgraded business class soft and hard product, with improved seats, food and service. In my opinion, the United Polaris Business Class Pod cabins are probably the best looking of the seats in this category offered by the three main North American airlines - United, American and Delta. The fact that these cabins are complemented by matching ground facilities means that this entire product is more of a complete experience than the American Airlines or Delta offerings.
Delta Airlines Long Haul Business Class Flight Review
Delta Airlines as well as the other two main North American carriers, has recently launched a new, upgraded business class soft and hard product, with improved seats, food, and service. Delta One, Delta's new long-haul Business Class product, going against new offerings from American and United Airlines, is reviewed below. American, United, and Delta offer excellent new products. Book wisely, and you are in for a treat.
Japan Airlines Long Haul Business Class Flight Reviews
I have flown on Japan Airlines (JAL) many times and have reviewed their long-haul First and Business Class flights. My trip reports can be found below. Japan Airlines (JAL) offers a world-leading First class. In-flight, service is faultless with smiling faces. Staff are polite, professional and anticipatory. The food and the drinks menu is one of the best we have seen. The seat is oh so comfortable, especially in bed mode and the amenity kit is great – soft, snuggly pyjamas, a useful unisex kit plus gender-specific Shiseido face care kits.
Air Canada Long Haul Business Class Flight Reviews
Luxury Travel Diary's editors have flown on Air Canada many times and have reviewed their long-haul Business Class flights. Trip reports can be found below. The Executive Pod is the most exciting Business Class seat on Air Canada and is available onboard the newest Air Canada Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft and on selected Boeing 777 aircraft. On other international flights, you will probably experience the Classic Pod which is inferior to the Executive Pod.
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