From Virgin America's new flights to Maui to the sale to a new program that allows passengers to bid for available first class seats, Travel Agent brings you the latest flight news out of Hawaii.
Bid Up by Hawaiian Airlines Offers Clients the Chance to Name Their Price for First Class Seats
Hawaiian Airlines recently announced the launch of Bid Up by Hawaiian Airlines, a new auction upgrade service allowing guests to elevate their in-flight experience by bidding on available First Class seats when traveling between Hawaii and North America.
Bid Up, managed by Plusgrade, is a service available to all ticketed main cabin guests whose itinerary contains at least one segment between Hawaii and North America operated by Hawaiian Airlines. Eligible guests will receive a Bid Up email roughly 10 days prior to departure inviting them to bid for available First Class seats. Successful bidders will be notified 48 hours prior to departure.
Guests taking advantage of Bid Up will enjoy the many benefits of Hawaiian's First Class cabin, including two complimentary checked bags with Priority Baggage handling; expedited check-in lines; access to Hawaiian Airlines Premier Clubs; priority pre-boarding; award-winning regional cuisine from acclaimed Chef Chai Chaowasaree; unlimited in-flight beverage service; and free access to the latest movies and hours of TV and music programming.
Visit www.hawaiianairlines.com/bidup
Virgin America Expands Hawaii Service With New LAX, Maui Flights
Virgin America has officially launched its new nonstop daily flights from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Kahului Airport (OGG), with connecting flights from most Virgin America markets. The new service is an addition to the airline's Hawaii routes following the launch of LAX to Honolulu (HNL) flights last month.
Guests onboard the inaugural flight received free GoPro Hero Session cameras to help document their Hawaiian trip, as well as a complimentary 'POG mimosa' toast at 35,000 feet with GoPro athlete and professional surfer, Kalani Robb. Virgin America and GoPro partnered in 2013 to launch The GoPro Channel fleetwide. Upon touchdown in Maui, the Hawaii Tourism Authority greeted travelers with a fresh flower lei and live Hawaiian music at the gate.
The new Virgin America flights departs daily from LAX at 9:35am for arrival at OGG at 12:25pm, while reverse service departs at 1:40pm from Kahului Airport, arriving in Los Angeles at 9:55pm. LAX to HNL service departs at 10:35am daily for arrival at 1:25pm, with reverse service departing Honolulu at 2:25pm and landing in Los Angeles at 10:55pm.
The daily, nonstop flights will be operated with new Airbus A320 aircraft that Virgin America has taken delivery of this year, which are equipped with fuel-saving, 'sharklet' wingtip devices, allowing the airline to operate flights more efficiently over longer haul routes. The aircraft’s main cabin offers custom-designed leather seating and an eight-seat First Class cabin. Services include complimentary food and cocktails, an all-access pass to media content, seatback touch-screen TVs, videogames and a 3,000 song library and an on-demand menu.
Virgin America has also announced a continued partnership with Aha Pūnana Leo, a nonprofit organization that supports various Hawaiian language environments. The organization's advocacy has resulted in an education system in which students in Hawai'i may study from preschool all the way through doctoral-level studies in the indigenous Hawaiian language. The airline is providing $10,000 to support the organization's education programs in Maui this year.
To celebrate the launch of the new service, Virgin America is offering a "Now Serving Paradise" fare sale, with prices starting from $199 one way (taxes and fees included and restrictions applying). Additionally, Elevate program members can redeem reward flights to Hawai'I, with no black-out dates, for as few as 8,596 points (plus taxes and fees).
Hawaiian Airlines Launches Premium Cabin With Fully Lie-Flat Seating
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| Hawaiian Airlines employees show off the airline's new Airbus A330 aircraft featuring fully lie-flat seating in a spacious Premium Cabin. // Photo courtesy of Hawaiian Airlines |
Hawaiian Airlines recently welcomed its first Airbus A330 aircraft with fully lie-flat seating in a Premium Cabin that surrounds guests with modern, luxurious island-inspired designs and a twinkling constellation paying homage to the history of Polynesian navigation.
The 18 lie-flat seats fold into 180-degree beds that are 20.5 inches wide by 76 inches long, maximizing living space and providing options for both privacy and a shared flight experience.
Aligned in a 2-2-2 configuration, the seats are tailored to leisure guests (couples, families, honeymooners), while offering functions aimed at business travelers. Guests will enjoy multiple power ports, including two USB connections and one A/C outlet.
An advanced in-flight entertainment system is powered by the next generation of large-format tablets resting on an adjustable telescoping arm for optimal viewing angle and comfort.
Hawaiian collaborated with California-based consultancy PaulWylde to incorporate flowing curves evocative of the winds and ocean, while marrying organic textures and pops of bright saturated color in its Premium Cabin.
Hawaiian's newly outfitted A330 aircraft's Premium Cabin will enter the carrier's U.S. West Coast network next month as an exciting surprise-and-delight feature for guests. Sales for the Premium Cabin are expected to commence in the fall, when the first dedicated routes will be revealed along with new signature service elements and a host of new amenities.
Hawaiian will phase installation of additional A330 Premium Cabins starting this fall through early 2018. It will have 23 A330s by this summer after taking delivery of its final aircraft type on order.
Visit www.hawaiianairlines.com and keep visiting www.travelagentcentral.com for all your latest Hawaii travel news.