To Korea with Hawaiian Airlines! [Hawaiian Airlines] HA 15 SAN-HNL (San Diego->Honolulu) trip report [하와이안항공] HA 15 샌디에고->호놀룰루 탑승기

HA 15 SAN-HNL (San Diego->Honolulu)

DEP SAN 13MAY2014 10:20

ARR HNL 13MAY2014 13:15

Flight Duration: 4:55

Aircraft: A330-200

Mid this year, I decided to take a trip to Korea. Living near San Diego, I opted for a nonstop flight from SD to Korea, but there wasn't such option. Most of the Korean population in San Diego travel up to LA to take non stop flights to Korea.  Recently, Japan Airlines launched B787 service from Narita, but I found out that Hawaiian offered a much cheaper alternative.  The airfare was about 820 USD roundtrip! 

The SAN->HNL->ICN segment had a 24-hour layover in Honolulu, giving me chance to hang out with my friends in the city.  The flight from HNL to ICN would leave 13:40 the next day.

Click here for the next day's Hawaiian Airlines HA 459 Honolulu->Seoul/Incheon Trip Report

The check-in counter for Hawaiian Airlines at the time was located Terminal 2 second floor on the east side. The check-in counter for Japan Airlines, which was next to Hawaiian, was also open at the same time I arrived at the terminal. The British Airways counter was scheduled to open in the afternoon.

My flight, HA 15, was scheduled to depart from Gate 22 of Terminal 2

It's been almost one year since I've last taken Hawaiian Airlines. This would also mark my first time aboard HA's A330.

My boarding pass for flight to Honolulu.

Boarding started at  9:45AM

The flowers on the flight attendants' hair are part of their uniform.

There's personal TV on each of the economy seats in Hawaiian Airlines, but most of the contents within the entertainment system aren't free.. Each movie will set you back 7.99USD. 

After the push back, we headed for the western end of the runway.  I expected us to take-off from the east, but the captain explained that the wind conditions were affecting the take-off patterns today. 

It really didn't take much long for us to be off ground (probably took only 10 seconds). 

Thanks to great weather in the area, I was able to take a good look at San Diego from above.

See ya in two weeks!

The Pass-O-Guava juice on Hawaiian Airlines is the best!

Not too long after, the in-flight meal came out. There were no choices for the meal.

The in-flight meals for Hawaiian Airlines on domestic routes tend to be simpler than those on their international routes. The meal today was a spinach pasta with no meat. It was tasty enough!

Took a glass of wine and took a nap. I woke up hours later to some great views of the Pearl Harbor.

The Honolulu Airport terminal is nowadays dominated by Hawaiian Airlines's impressive fleet of A330s.  It's a different scene from one year ago when I saw a mix of B767 and A330s.  That blue plane is Korean Air's A330. 

The plane parked at the very last gate of the terminal.

To get to the downtown Honolulu, I took the city bus 20 here.

Click here for the next day's Hawaiian Airlines HA 459 Honolulu->Seoul/Incheon Trip Report

Fifth time to Hong Kong [Korean Air] KE 601 ICN-HKG (Seoul/Incheon->Hong Kong) trip report [대한항공] KE 601 서울/인천->홍콩/첵립콕 탑승기

Korean Air B737 is the way to go.

 

KE 601 ICN-HKG (Seoul/Incheon->Hong Kong)

DEP ICN 12 JUN 2013 13:45

ARR HKG 12 JUN 2013 16:50

Flight Duration: 4:05

Aircraft: B737-900ER

I had some work to do in Hong Kong while working in Korea. At that time, there were four daily flights to Hong Kong with Korean Air. The early morning flight was with B747, second flight with A330, third flight (mine) with B737-900ER, and last flight with A380-800.  

I wanted to take the A380 flight, but that meant getting into Hong Kong much later at night. I wanted to grab dinner with friends in Hong Kong, so I decided take the B737-900ER flight which departed from ICN at 13:45.

Incheon Airport had been getting very busy in the recent years.  I hope they work on getting the Terminal 2 finished on time. 

 

The Korean Air A380-800 was pulling into the gate right next to my flight.

 

This big blue whale will serve as KE 11 to Los Angeles Airport.

And right next to the A380-800 was my Hong Kong-bound plane in Gate 8.

In Korean airports, they do not allow outside drinks to be brought in (even post-security). I bought a Mr. Smoothie couple minutes before boarding time and the agent kindly advised me of the policy. I ended up hanging around for good 10-15 minutes to finish the smoothie. 

Since it was a smaller plane, the gate used only one boarding bridge. 

That's the copilot.

The plane was only a couple of months old. Can you say "new plane smell"?

 

That window seat is mine.

To the left of me was an Indonesia-bound Korean Air A330.

The Korean Air's new economy seats were installed on their medium-range B737s. The AVOD systems on B737, although a bit smaller than the ones on B777 or A380, is basically the same thing as the ones on the bigger KE planes.

 

Today, there weren't any Cantonese-speaking flight attendants. Only the Mandarin-speaking ones.

We took-off to the north and quickly turned to the west.

The new Boeing Sky Interior mood lighting looks great.

 

Choices for lunch was Bibimbap, beef, or fish. I chose fish for the in-flight meal.

 

It turned out to be one of the worst in-flight meals I've ever had. The fish was way too dry.

 

I watched "Django Unchained" for the movie.

I've always been on bigger planes with Korean Air, so it's a new feeling to be on their B737s.

 

Hong Kong's weather was rather cloudy today with a bit of rain.

 

We landed from the west side of the Hong Kong Airport Island.

 

At the baggage claim.

To save some money we took the A11 bus toward the Hong Kong Island. The fare would be 40 HKD each way. One way ticket for the Airport Express would set us back 100 HKD each.

 

At the Fortress Hill MTR Station.

At Wan Chai. Looking at I.M. Pei's signature Bank of Hong Kong Tower.

Me at the Victoria Peak, awed by the scenery of Hong Kong skyline.