All posts by Genevive Bjorn

Culture, humor, Travel

Six weeks of vacation

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Normally, I work whenever I travel, part of the job of a freelance journalist. But for the first time in my adult life since leaving school, I took a long vacation. Six weeks to be exact. No, I didn’t turn socialist and move to France (although I did gorge on fresh croissants at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport). I left my computer at home and took time off work, as in no money making activities. Occasional blogging and twittering don’t count because they’re fun, and I don’t get paid.

I went to the Mainland, South America and Europe….for fun! Sounds suspiciously bourgeois, I know, because few self-respecting, hard-working Americans would contemplate going so far away for so long unpaid. Best to save that amount of time off for new babies and illness. (But I also hate ketchup and ranch dressing, so there’s reason to be suspicious.) Continue reading Six weeks of vacation →

Travel

Direct flights to India and Asia from Hawaii

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This question came from a reader about the best way to fly to India from Hawaii:

I will be in Hawaii in December [sic] and I would like to fly home to India from there instead of having to fly halfway back around the world to the UK and then back again. Do you have any suggestions for cheap flights from Honolulu to any of the large Asian hubs (say, Bangkok, or Kuala Lumpur, or Hong Kong)?

Here’s what I suggest:

Flying back to the UK from Hawaii to then fly India sounds painful. However, there are no direct flights to India from Hawaii. You will need to use an Asian hub city and then connect. Tokyo, Hong Kong, Manila, Seoul, and Guam serve as hub cities for direct flights from Honolulu, Hawaii (see HNL’s flight tracker to see all airlines and direct flights).

Flights to Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Bangkok and other Asian hubs usually go through Tokyo. Kayak or Travelocity might be able to help you find the cheapest fare. If you’re flying to more than on Asian city, consider using an Asian Airpass to get the most for your money.

Travel

Connecting in Honolulu Airport (HNL) to an Interisland Flight

wiki-wiki-shuttle-bus-honolulu-airportThis series covers using airports in Hawaii. Click here to see the rest of the articles in this series. This post covers connecting in Honolulu International Airport (HNL) from a Mainland flight to an interisland flight (a domestic to domestic transfer).

TIME FOR CONNECTIONS

Allow anywhere from 30-75 minutes to connect for your interisland flight on any Hawaiian Airlines flight or on a Mokulele Airlines flight operated by Republic Airways on the EMB-175. These times listed are extremes: thirty minutes is really pushing it and 75 minutes is fairly relaxed. (If you are connecting to a go! or Island Air flight, please read the segment listed below.) I have heard of a few who have made 15 minute connections, but remember that your bags might not make the flight you’re on. Allow at least 45-75 minutes if you plan on checking your bags through to your final destination. More importantly, use your best judgment and understand that neither Hawaiian nor Mokulele provide free “standby” for passengers who miss their flight (see below).

You can walk between terminals or ride the free Wiki-Wiki shuttle bus. You will not exit security. Continue reading Connecting in Honolulu Airport (HNL) to an Interisland Flight →