Flew back to Honolulu last Friday. My first flight on Hawaiian's new Boeing 767-300ER. CODES: HA = Hawaiian Airlines SAN = San Diego, California (Lindbergh Field) HNL = Honolulu, Hawaii 14 DEC HA 31 SAN-HNL 767-33AER N580HA seat 30J Arrived at the airport at about 7:30am for our (my brother was accompanying me on this flight) 9:15 scheduled departure. The check-in line was significant, moving slowly at first but speeding up as time went on. Two agents were working the flight, Hawaiian's only departure from San Diego. I don't know for sure, but I suspect the agents were actually Northwest employees, wearing a purple vest over a white shirt, which is what the Northwest agents were wearing. When we got to the front of the line, there was nobody waiting in the Northwest line, so one of the Northwest agents called us over to her and she checked us in. We still had some time before our flight began boarding, so she suggested we grab a bite to eat before going through security, which had a rather long line but she said would get much shorter since there were a couple of other flights soon departing. However we decided just to get in line anyway, and it took about 13 minutes from when we got in line to collecting our bags from the x-ray belt. When we arrived at the gate, our aircraft was parked at gate 22, the same gate used when I flew Hawaiian out of San Diego back in June, then on a DC-10-30. The aircraft, N580HA, the first 767 delivered to Hawaiian in October 2001, is a brand new aircraft, leased from Ansett Worldwide Aviation Services. In addition to this aircraft, two further 767s have been delivered, N581HA which is also in service, and N582HA which, as of this past weekend, was parked in Hawaiian's hangar in Honolulu, presumably being prepared to enter service. Boarding began shortly after 8:45am, starting with first class, then those needing special assistance. General boarding began, as usual, with the rear of the aircraft. Conflicting row number announcements were made, as first they called rows 40 and above, then followed with 35 and above, then another person said again they were doing 40 and above only. When they called our row, we headed for the gate, where our boarding pass was collected. Inside, the aircraft is configured 2x3x2 like most 767s. I found it interesting that there were only 3 rows of first class, configured 2x2x2. If I remember correctly, Hawaiian's DC-10s have 6 rows of first class, also 2x2x2. The seats were a slim back design, similar to Hawaiian's 717s, but with in seat audio controls and headrest wings. In addition to the projection video at the front of each cabin, there were CRT televisions mounted at various locations over the aisles of the aircraft. Overall a similar setup to Delta's 767-400ER aircraft, though the overhead bins were the older 767 style, not the newer 777 style bins also featured in the 767-400. Overall the aircraft had a nice, new-aircraft feel to it that I enjoy after many years of flying mostly in older DC-10 and L-1011 aircraft. Due to a minor mechanical problem they were having, we did not pushback until 9:31am, 16 minutes behind scheduled. The safety presentation was done live by flight attendants, apparently Hawaiian doesn't have a 767 safety video yet. We taxied to runway 27 and started our takeoff roll at about 9:45. This fit in with my own observations while spotting and taking photos at SAN earlier in the week (with no problems from police or airport ops), as it seemed to take about 15 minutes from when the aircraft was given approval for pushback to when it appeared at the end of runway 27. After takeoff beverage and snack mix (pretzels and macadamia nuts) was served, followed by a second round of drinks. The cabin was short on copies of Hana Hou, Hawaiian's in-flight magazine. I had a copy in my seatback, but my brother's didn't have one. Headsets were offered ($5 rental fee, you can also use your own but you still have to pay the fee, and the headset plugs were dual-prong electric, so normal headset's with a single plug wouldn't work well), and Hawaiian Skies, the in-flight videomagazine began. Towards the end of the program, lunch was served. A choice of chicken or lasagna was offered; my brother and I both selected the lasagna. It was served hot, cheese filling between layers of pasta and topped with red sauce. It was served with a small garden salad with Papaya Seed Honey Dijon dressing, a roll, and a cup of chocolate pudding. I couldn't quite place it, but the meal seemed to be less overall than previous flights. A complete set of plastic utensils (fork, spoon, and knife) were provided. Following the meal cart was a beverage cart. After the meal was served, two beverage bars were set up so that those who wanted a drink could get one, and the movie, "Rat Race", began. My brother and I, neither of us interested in the movie, both elected to read instead. Towards the end of the 5 hour, 34 minute flight, juice and water, along with small cookie packages were offered. They also had a new orientation video for Honolulu International Airport, hosted by a couple of local Hawaii radio personalities. Previously they had used a video with only computer generated 3D graphics of the airport, and before that a video hosted by two Hawaiian Airlines flight attendants. Touchdown occurred on runway 4R at 1:05pm, Hawaii time. We taxied to gate 32 where we disembarked and headed for the baggage claim in the interisland terminal. There was conflicting information given about what carousel our bags would come off of: On board they told us our bags would come on B-1, but when we got to the claim area, our flight was listed on the sign over B-2. A short time later an announcement was made that there was some difficulty and it would be about 20 minutes before they came off. The carousel was changed to B-1, and when the bags came off they came all at once. We claimed our bags and headed to our parents' house for winter break. -- David Mueller / HNL kawika42@mac.com http://www.quanterium.com