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Hi guys,
It has been at least 7 months since actually traveling. Initially, I was supposed to travel on Turkish Airlines from SFO to visit Rome for the first time along with a touristanbul tour and hotel on the way back on TK's 77W (which seems to be a Winter occurrence).
Unfortunately, due to different personal reasons, we waited so long to the point TK's prices spiked abnormally for mid February and President's week in the US that the $700+ turned to beyond $1500+ and $2000+. Only reason I riled about that is because this is an off peak season, there's absolutely no reason for SFO-Europe flights to be treated like it's Summer or Christmas/New Year's holiday whereas LAX was still cheap (and for convenience reasons I did not want to do that just to add unneeded stress to the trip). Sad because I missed a golden opportunity to ride a 9-abreast 77W which you just can't get these days from SFO (i.e. BR, KE) and footrest. There's always next year, and I hope TK can (like previous Winters) brings back the 777-300ER to SFO. I'd be elated if that happens.
Because of these issues, our initial plan was actually to go to Hawaii in November 2023, and due to a relative's wedding, got pushed to February 2026 (next year), but now it's a flip flop so well it's happening now. If I had gone in February 2026, I would be spending fewer PTO days from work to save for a religious October 2026 trip to India all relative to my mom's school schedule if she has President's week off (and it doesn't happen yearly).
It's been 13 years since I've been to Hawaii, and that was during July 4th weekend back in 2013, in my third year of college, which I took United's 767-400 and returning on their 757 (narrow body, redeye).
Now United has put still a mixture of widebodies and since the pandemic, and still as of today, they fly one daily Boeing 777-300ER to Honolulu and onwards to Guam. I've deliberately decided to take the Boeing 777-300ER both ways. While going, it's a morning flight reaching at a very reasonable time in the afternoon (1:30PM) and a redeye reaching SFO around 6:30AM.
Many of you probably remember back in July 2022, I took United's Boeing 777-300ER from SFO to New York (Newark/EWR) and back, because back then United was still rebuilding their post pandemic international network and at that time I was initially scheduled on a Boeing 787-10 both ways but a swap to a 77W, which was there back then on many EWR-SFO flights - luckily for me they were on United's newest 77W (N2250U and N2251U, both sporting the new livery). Not the case after 2023 and beyond for now. It was a 10-across and actually the seats were not bad at all. I liked that there was an IFE even for a short hop.
This year, my mom and I decided to travel to Hawaii and I booked the Boeing 777-300ER both ways, so even though I missed TK's version (both with the same Wifi provider), UA's is pretty good, too. Just the only difference - Treated like domestic though on a widebody with IFE and escaping to a warm climate. The trip will last about 5 days (Monday, Feb 17 to Sat, Feb 22).
More pictures and details will come in the next post and in the coming days.
It has been at least 7 months since actually traveling. Initially, I was supposed to travel on Turkish Airlines from SFO to visit Rome for the first time along with a touristanbul tour and hotel on the way back on TK's 77W (which seems to be a Winter occurrence).
Unfortunately, due to different personal reasons, we waited so long to the point TK's prices spiked abnormally for mid February and President's week in the US that the $700+ turned to beyond $1500+ and $2000+. Only reason I riled about that is because this is an off peak season, there's absolutely no reason for SFO-Europe flights to be treated like it's Summer or Christmas/New Year's holiday whereas LAX was still cheap (and for convenience reasons I did not want to do that just to add unneeded stress to the trip). Sad because I missed a golden opportunity to ride a 9-abreast 77W which you just can't get these days from SFO (i.e. BR, KE) and footrest. There's always next year, and I hope TK can (like previous Winters) brings back the 777-300ER to SFO. I'd be elated if that happens.
Because of these issues, our initial plan was actually to go to Hawaii in November 2023, and due to a relative's wedding, got pushed to February 2026 (next year), but now it's a flip flop so well it's happening now. If I had gone in February 2026, I would be spending fewer PTO days from work to save for a religious October 2026 trip to India all relative to my mom's school schedule if she has President's week off (and it doesn't happen yearly).
It's been 13 years since I've been to Hawaii, and that was during July 4th weekend back in 2013, in my third year of college, which I took United's 767-400 and returning on their 757 (narrow body, redeye).
Now United has put still a mixture of widebodies and since the pandemic, and still as of today, they fly one daily Boeing 777-300ER to Honolulu and onwards to Guam. I've deliberately decided to take the Boeing 777-300ER both ways. While going, it's a morning flight reaching at a very reasonable time in the afternoon (1:30PM) and a redeye reaching SFO around 6:30AM.
Many of you probably remember back in July 2022, I took United's Boeing 777-300ER from SFO to New York (Newark/EWR) and back, because back then United was still rebuilding their post pandemic international network and at that time I was initially scheduled on a Boeing 787-10 both ways but a swap to a 77W, which was there back then on many EWR-SFO flights - luckily for me they were on United's newest 77W (N2250U and N2251U, both sporting the new livery). Not the case after 2023 and beyond for now. It was a 10-across and actually the seats were not bad at all. I liked that there was an IFE even for a short hop.
This year, my mom and I decided to travel to Hawaii and I booked the Boeing 777-300ER both ways, so even though I missed TK's version (both with the same Wifi provider), UA's is pretty good, too. Just the only difference - Treated like domestic though on a widebody with IFE and escaping to a warm climate. The trip will last about 5 days (Monday, Feb 17 to Sat, Feb 22).
More pictures and details will come in the next post and in the coming days.
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