Flying Sydney to Honolulu used to mean a stark choice: squeeze into economy or pay Qantas-level prices for premium economy. Hawaiian Airlines now offers a middle path, and it costs roughly half what Qantas charges for the same route. The catch, one reviewer found, is that a couple of seats can undo the whole point.
The product is called Premium Class (formerly Extra Comfort) on Hawaiian's Airbus A330-200, which runs five return services a week between Sydney and Honolulu. It isn't a true premium economy cabin — the layout is the same 2-4-2 as the rest of economy, with identical 18-inch seat width. What you pay for is space: 36 inches of pitch against 31 inches further back, plus AC power outlets, a small amenity kit, and a slightly better experience overall. Upgrades cost between $175 and $300 each way, booked as an economy fare with a paid Premium Class seat selection, and full return fares start around $1300.
That's genuinely good value for a nine-and-a-half-hour overnight flight, but there are landmines. Row 11's aisle seats — 11C and 11G — sit where the aisle cuts diagonally through the floor, eating into usable legroom. One writer learned this the hard way, losing sleep after a pilot stepped on their foot mid-flight. Bulkhead rows elsewhere are a safer bet for stretching out.
Other quirks worth knowing before you book. There's no priority check-in, so don't expect a fast track at Sydney. Baggage allowance matches economy: two 23kg checked bags plus two cabin bags. The in-flight entertainment catalogue leans old — think Moulin Rouge and The Intern — but free Starlink Wi-Fi proved surprisingly excellent, with download speeds around 250Mbps in testing. Service follows the North American template: polite but hands-off, so don't count on regular water runs between meals. Food is sensibly timed — a light supper option rather than a forced post-takeoff dinner, then breakfast of pancakes or eggs with yoghurt and fruit. On the loyalty front, you can link a Qantas Frequent Flyer number to earn 1425 to 5700 Qantas points and up to 70 status credits one-way, with lounge access for Qantas Gold and Platinum members.
If you're tempted, it may pay to wait or to fly again later: Hawaiian's A330s are due for a full refresh in 2028, adding a proper premium economy cabin and new business class seats. For now, this is a budget-friendly way to make the long haul to Hawaii more bearable — as long as you steer clear of row 11.
Credit: Traveller (Sydney Morning Herald)
