American Is Adding Premium Economy On Flights To Hawaii

honestly, why pay more for PE when you can pay a little extra and just get a lie-flat seat in First? esp on the red-eye, which is BRUTAL coming back from HI.

While I wouldn't hesitate for a moment to pay $150 to upgrade to premium economy for ~14 hours round-trip, it would be pretty hard to not pay another $382 to get a flat bed...

If the trip was short the flat seat would help maximize time on the ground, but if it were say five days or longer, I'd probably rather have $764 more to spend in Hawaii and stick with PY.

Nah, I wouldn't pay it. I'm too price conscious.

Definitely.
I've been commuting for work to OGG 4-6 times per year on UA for over six years in their Economy Plus product (PDX-SFO-OGG). It's a cakewalk at 5 hours outbound and 4.5 (or less depending on the tailwinds) return. I usually take the redeye going home but 'm usually upgraded to First as a Platinum MM unless it's high season.
It's definitely worth it to upgrade to premium economy over standard economy--more so if you get the bulkhead row. It gets pretty cramped in the cheaper seats and a lot of tourists going to the islands aren't exactly petite.

Are you sure FC Even gives you lie flat..

My last flight was not lie flat..

Ord>HNL..Ok I'll think about it .

Considering how expensive the economy fare is, I'd just shell out for the first... If you are visiting Hawaii you are probably not too strapped for cash anyway.

@ Rohan,

$1669-$1137 = $532.

Let's say roundtrip is 14 hours, $532/14 = $38 an hour.

You are basically paying $38 an hour to lie down instead of sitting down... Not to mention it's typically a family of at least 4 going to hawaii, it adds up quickly.

In Los Angeles. Gave up on Hawaii a few years back.

Flight for family of 4. $4-$6000.
Rental car $500-$1000.
3-4 star hotel room. $3-400 a night minimum.
5 star hotel...forget it!
Easily $10k for a week.

No thanks!

Will this be consistent? They always switch that 767 from DFW-HNL to an old one, and sell it as the new configuration until the day of it switches to the old one.

@SP

More than a thousand dollars a flight? I generally see flights in advance of no more than 800USD. And, try a condo instead of a hotel. It's cheaper, plus you don't have to eat every meal out. My extended family of 11 did Maui from LA for a week for 12,000 USD. It's not impossible.

$1100 rtn in economy to Hawaii is the usual price?! Even $800 seems a bit steep...I was expecting $600...

So does this mean no more business class?

If Premium Economy at least came with free MCE on connecting itineraries, I'd be tempted. However, when having something knee-saving on the connecting flights would run an extra couple hundred r/t, it'd be hard to justify premium economy and not simply go all the way to first.

I saw this equipment for the HNL-LAX flight come up a few months ago and very quickly booked in first for our redeye home on Christmas Eve. It was around $650 per seat and well worth it in my opinion!

Oh, and especially well worth it with Amex 50% pay with points rebate combined with the Blue for Business 2x points for everything promo last year!