We blast through. We have had layovers to piggyback a Hawaii trip onto an LA or SFO work related day or two. But honestly, the schlepping in and out of the airport, hotel, transportation or rental car...not restful and did nothing for jet lag.
Rather than have 2 hellhole flight in UA 737s we got nonstop to HNL with lieflats that make a difference in physical wear and tear and then either stay there a bit or power on to KOA. Going home no layovers. Flying east is worst for jetlag imo.

Anonymous wrote:I always say that October 1, 1996, was the longest day of my life as I flew from DC to Chicago to Seattle to Honolulu to Kauai.
I was much younger then.

In recent years, we flew from DC to Seattle, staying a few days to visit relatives, to Kauai, to, in a few days, to Maui, to, in a few more days, Las Vegas for a few days, to DC.

You have got to be kidding me.

The direct flight is only about ten hours.

I agree with PP that for me, flying west is much easier too. So if you feel you need to spend time in LA I would do it on the return trip. However, when we go to Hawaii we prefer not to tack on time in our connecting city unless we are spending additional time with family in California.

The first time we did it with kids we did a layover in Phoenix because I thought an afternoon of pool time to break it up would help. It was okay but it ended up just feeling like endless travel. I wouldn’t do the layover. Also I would go to Honolulu. Flight straight to whichever island.

United has a direct flight out of Dulles at least once a week. Take that.

Otherwise a layover in lax, Denver or SFO really is no big deal.

have flown to Hawaii multiple times including with kids and I would not waste two days in LA. Just head straight there.Ii do like a short 2 hr layover to break up the flight but I would rather have 2 extra days in Hawaii than spend time in LA. the travel time and time change are really not a big deal.

You know OP, consider how you are Flying V just the time.

I'm well travelled but freaked out about my summer flying with my 2 teens using points flying from IAD to LAX then to TPE Taiwan and finally Shanghai. On the way back we flew Beijing to Tokyo stopping for a wk before LAX with a loooongass layover before IAD.

What I learned was that it's important to be comfortable - we flew an Asian airline preferred v Econ but not business but it was really comfortable flight. Our layovers were long but it wasn't a bad trip and our jet lag was better handled than when we flew direct from IAD to Rome the previous summer. It was like 3x the time but it was 3x as easy.

I account for that with a couple reasons: flying west is typically easier than flying east. Don't ask me why but flying west has traditionally been easier for me regardless of time. Going east is typically harder - so consider maybe doing a layover in the way back

Also, the flights were comfortable enough we slept. Flying Delta in the way home preferred was OK but both my kids said it was just more comfortable on EVA going to Asia. They never sleep but we all did manage to sleep which was so helpful.

Again, use your point or spend the extra money you would to layover on the better seats flying and it may make a huge difference.

Anonymous wrote:We have 10 days four a family vacation this summer. I hate, hate, hate flying and feel so ill the whole time. But I really would like to make it to DC. Is it feasible to fly to LAX on a Saturday, spend two days in LA and then fly to Hawaii for the rest of the week. So I guess Tuesday-Saturday? Too short? Kids are late teens. We have done Europe multiple times but the length and time change with Hawaii pysch me out.

I'm with you, OP. I do this every time - fly to LA, do a day at Disneyland or something else fun, on to Hawaii and then same thing on the way back. But I usually do 12 days.

We are in Hawaii now. Flew out of DC, short layover in San fran under 2 hours, and then to Maui. The total fly time is long but why stay 2 days in LA? Head directly to Hawaii if you can and the you will have more time.

The time change wasn’t too bad at all. We just went to bed earlier and woke up earlier for few days.

We have 15 days so longer but I think 10 days is the minimum I would do only if above, not wasting and losing 2 days to stay in LA.

I always say that October 1, 1996, was the longest day of my life as I flew from DC to Chicago to Seattle to Honolulu to Kauai.
I was much younger then.

In recent years, we flew from DC to Seattle, staying a few days to visit relatives, to Kauai, to, in a few days, to Maui, to, in a few more days, Las Vegas for a few days, to DC.

We went to Hawaii last summer and while it was beautiful, I don’t think I’ll head back any time soon. Some people try to gaslight you that it isn’t that far but it’s really effing far. And the jet lag was hard for me both ways.

Isn’t there a direct flight from DC?

Hawaii is so wonderful it’s worth trying to get there as quickly as possible. If you can avoid a layover, you should. Just use the long plane flight to re-read War and Peace or Moby Dick.

We have 10 days four a family vacation this summer. I hate, hate, hate flying and feel so ill the whole time. But I really would like to make it to DC. Is it feasible to fly to LAX on a Saturday, spend two days in LA and then fly to Hawaii for the rest of the week. So I guess Tuesday-Saturday? Too short? Kids are late teens. We have done Europe multiple times but the length and time change with Hawaii pysch me out.