The smell was the most surprising. Coming off the AirTrain, heading down the escalators into Terminal 5 at JFK, a trip I’d made dozens of times, was different this time. It was the smell. That’s probably surprising to folks who know me well, as my ability to smell is notoriously impaired. Maybe that’s why it was so surprising to me to be overwhelmed: JFK actually smelled good.
It was the flowers. Hundreds of leis were being handed out throughout the terminal. Ticket agents, customer service personnel and passengers were all enjoying the aloha spirit with the flowers. Seeing guys in reflective safety vests wearing leis was definitely a first for me, but there they were, working out on the tarmac, getting the Airbus A330 ready for her inaugural flight from JFK to Hawaii.
The check-in area for Hawaiian Airlines is at the far end of the terminal from the AirTrain. Nearly everyone I passed in the hall was excited for the new service, smiling and chatting with customers. And wearing leis. The check-in area had a group of hula dancers entertaining the folks in line, as well as plenty of staff to handle the crowds. The self-service check-in kiosks worked for me to get a boarding pass and I was soon through security and headed to gate 14 to check out the pre-flight festivities. I got waylaid in the center atrium area with another bad performing for the inaugural, but I knew the party was at the gate so I didn’t dally.
Speeches were made by representatives from the Port Authority and Hawaiian.
We were also treated to more hula dancing, leis and snacks.
A priest from Hawai’i flew in special for the inaugural as well. He offered a few words of prayer, traditional in the Hawaiian culture, focusing on partnership, trust and friendship.
Then the ceremonial opening of the gate was effected by the CEO of Hawaiian Airlines.
Barely audible above the din of the celebrations, an announcement was made for passengers to start boarding the flight. It was a bit crazed with the total number of passengers trying to get out of the gate area, the celebrations, the hula dancing and everything else. Still, somehow, the folks actually flying to Honolulu found their way through the crowds and started to thin, taking their seats on the wide-body and getting ready for the 11ish hour flight to the islands.
There was one more surprise in store for passengers. Another HA executive joined the aircraft just a few moments before the cabin door was closed and made a most exciting announcement: One lucky passenger was about to be upgraded to celebrate the inaugural route.
It turns out that the winner was actually one of a couple traveling together, moving back to Hawai’i today. Fortunately the company anticipated that such might be the case and had two seats available. The happy couple made their way forward from the back of the cabin into their new seats and then we were ready to fly.
As is traditional, the local fire department offered up a water canon salute to the aircraft and then we made the quick taxi out to runway 31L and the takeoff roll had us airborne shortly thereafter.
Quite a party and a great reason for a celebration.
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a really nice post, as always. Question- how do you learn of the inaugural flights?
How many water cannon salutes can one experience in less than a week?
I’ve got one more water canon salute left this week, Steven. Assuming someone at United bothered to set that up.
As for how I learn about them, mostly through friends and other contacts. Sometimes it is better to be lucky than good.
Thanks for sharing.
That guy at the PA in a HI shirt reminded me of boarding the FRA-OSL segment of SMD 1 🙂 Of course you guys had all the fun with me hunting the missing passenger 🙁
Wow, 2 inaugurals in one month.
What an awesome start to your summer.
What did you think of the seat? I flew last month from HNL to SFO on HA and thought the cushioning was a bit harder than other 330 Y seats I’ve experienced. The paying for the IFE was lame as well. Although I was in the mini Y cabin so that was a plus. Oh, and the free inflight meal.
I’ve got a full report on my in-flight experience coming any minute now, Audy, so you can read all about it there. The FA I spoke with indicated that they are looking at replacing the cushions to make them softer.
Oh, and I’ve got a 3 inaugural this week. Any guess as to the route?? 🙂
You should have flown the last UA flight out of OAK this weekend. That got a water cannon salute as well (not sure that made sense to me). And a diversion to Cheyenne, I think.
Its good to hear about the plans to change the seat cushions. I thought I had enough padding down there myself, but I guess I need to increase my plate lunch intake prior to my next HA flight.
In regards to the IFE I think it would be great if they would offer free IFE to elite passengers. I know you can get two free alcoholic beverages with a Pualani membership card, but I would gladly trade it for free IFE.
Let me guess, are you on the UA flight to IAD tomorrow? You need to schedule a bit more time for yourself here in Hawaii so you can eat at someplace other than L&L. Just kidding. Actually, it would be kind of neat to eat at the L&L here one day and then the one on Fulton in NYC the next. Kind of like visiting two Disney Lands on the same trip , but with more calories.
Next time you have a long layover in HNL you should try a great sushi place near the airport called “Mitch’s Sushi”. Not the cheapest of places but really good quality seafood.