Comfort/In Flight Entertainment to Hawaii
 

I posted this query under America West v. Continental but wanted to expand question to include thoughts on other airlines (United, Delta) from Midwest (preferably Indy) to Hawaii in terms of comfort and entertainment options to pass the time. Thanks. Here is my question: Traveling from Indianapolis (we are open to another midwest city if the savings were right) to Maui in February and then flying from Honolulu back to Indianapolis. Any input as to flying America West stopping in Phoenix VERSUS flying Continental with a stop in Houston. We want the most comfortable carrier given the length of the trip. Also - - any opinions as to in flight entertainment on each airline for the Hawaii service. A friend took Continental recently and said there were individual seat back TVs for passengers to choose what to view. I thought I read America West does not have in-flight entertainment??? In looking at our options, it appears that the Continental legs are 2 hours, 40 minutes, switch planes in Houston and then 8 hrs, 30 minutes (ugh). America West breaks it up more evenly. (approx. 4 hours and then approx. 7 hours.) I will be almost six months pregnant when traveling so comfort and some movie options are important to me to pass the time. Thanks in advance.

In all honesty, the only way you are going to be comfortable on a plane is to either purchase First or Business Class seats or to try and jocky for either Bulkhead or Emergency Row seating.

One caveat, Bulkhead on newer planes may have even less room than regular coach seats.

Continental still provides free snacks/meals... and yes the TV is in the seat back.
We were lucky our flights weren't full in Nov. so we had 3 seats for the 2 of us and 3 seats for our 2 kids.

Mariff - I flew Continental to Hawaii and it was fine, the TV's were cool, but it was a little small. GoTravel's suggestion of First or Business Class is probably a better bet for comfort's sake. Bulkhead would be too, but because you're pregnant they won't allow you to sit in the emergency rows.

They did feed us on the flight, but if I were in your condition, I'd be sure to bring snacks that you know you're going to like - you just don't know what the airline will give you and being pregnant I know I was always more picky than usual.

Be sure to bring a good book or a magazine or two and you should be fine. Also bring a sweater because it tends to get pretty chilly on those flights. Enjoy your trip!

I just flew back from Maui on a non stop to and from Chicago. On the way there we had a normal coach seat and I had maybe an inch to breathe. On the way back I got an exit row seat and it helped immensely. If you are looking for help with your seating choices I would suggest a website seatguru.com. It shows what planes are on what airlines and the best places to sit. Those are long flights indeed.

Have flown Continental Houston to HNL, and America West, Houston to Phoenix.

Our flights to and from Hawaii through Houston, have been aboard a Continental 767 which had 2 different inflight movies most seats have individual seatback monitor, with about 1/2dozen electronic video game choices (e.g. hangman, blackjack, ((*))blaster, etc) on same monitor, and multiple audio ((8))channels using headphones (free headset coupon if check in online) providing much distraction from the longer ((o))flight.
:S-
Our short domestic flight aboard America West was comfortable, but had no entertainment.

Would go with Continental, recommend checking seats with seat guru, link to our plane (767-400ER) used between Houston and HNL, Hawaii:<font color="blue"> http://www.seatguru.com/airlines/Con..._767-400_H.php
</font>

I was favorably impressed with Continental as well, this past summer. Flew to Maui from BHM.
Just one tip: Watch the layover time in Houston on the return leg. Our 6 friends left HNL on a midday flight, while we flew out around 7PM. Well, they ended up with a 3 Hr. layover in Houston, where we caught up with them. We all boarded the same plane in Houston!

They had used the entire day for travel, whereas we used that SAME day on Oahu and climbed to a waterfall and did some scenic drives!

Belle

We connected to Continental (767) thru' Houston last September to Honolulu and return and were well pleased. Bring your own snacks of course. Seatback movies and games worked well to pass the time. Our return was complicated by hurricane Rita but that was handled well too.

Flew America West up to Anchorage a few years ago and would be reluctant to bother with them again but maybe they've improved. My gripe wasn't regular inflight service so much as both flights had something broken (a/c if I remember right and lights over seat, that sort of thing), had to wonder about maintenance issues.

Have gone to Hawaii thru' DFW on AA many times without incident, don't know if that works for Indianapolis tho'.

We're all spoiled, I'd even grit my teeth and go Aeroflot to the islands;)