United schedules first-ever Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner flights to Hawaii
Zach Griff is a senior reporter at TPG. He writes travel and product reviews, deep dives into loyalty programs, news about the airline industry and more.
Jan. 10, 2022
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3 min read
United schedules first-ever Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner flights to Hawaii
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The world's largest Dreamliner will make its first foray into Hawaii this coming winter.
United Airlines is planning to fly the Boeing 787-10 — the largest of the three Dreamliner variants — to both Honolulu (HNL) and Maui (OGG) from its Chicago O'Hare hub (ORD) beginning in October.
The daily route between ORD and HNL will be upgagued from a 787-8 to a 787-10 beginning on Oct. 30, while 787-10 Dreamliner service to Maui will commence on Nov. 19 with once-weekly Saturday flights. United's four other weekly Chicago to Maui frequencies will continue to be flown by a Boeing 777-200.
The aircraft swap was first seen in Cirium schedules and is already loaded on United's website. We reached out to United to confirm the move, and will update the story when we hear back. Note that schedules are always subject to change, especially with pandemic-related disruptions.
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While the 787-10 Dreamliner won't change the passenger experience for United's Hawaii customers, it will give aviation enthusiasts a chance to fly the plane on a new domestic route for United.
The jet features 44 Polaris pods, along with 21 Premium Plus recliners, 54 extra-legroom Economy Plus seats and 199 standard coach ones.
All of United's 787-10 Dreamliners, along with the 787-8 and 777-200 that it replaces on the Chicago to Hawaii routes, feature the "real" Polaris business-class product in a 1-2-1 configuration with direct aisle access for each passenger.
While some aviation enthusiasts will enjoy the novelty of flying on the largest Dreamliner to Hawaii, those sitting in the pointy end of the plane may prefer flying on the other United jets.
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That's because United's 787-10 biz cabin doesn't feel especially private. With 11 rows in a single cabin, the aisles can get crowded during boarding and deplaning, and they can get blocked during meal times, too.
Personally, my favorite Polaris seats in the United fleet are located in the two-row mini-cabin on the "baby" 787-8 Dreamliner. With just eight pods between the galley and Premium Plus, these are some of the most private seats you'll find in the United fleet.
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(Photo by Zach Griff/The Points Guy)
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That said, United's 787-10 Dreamliner service to Hawaii will be the first time this aircraft is regularly scheduled to fly to the Aloha state. United is the only U.S. carrier with the jet in its fleet. The only other airline that also flies to Hawaii and operates the 787-10 Dreamliner is ANA, one of Japan's two flag carriers, but it doesn't fly the plane to Hawaii.
If you're looking to fly United's 787-10 Dreamliner on another route, you can find it on one of the following:
| Origin | Destination |
|---|---|
| Newark (EWR) | Amsterdam (AMS) |
| Newark (EWR) | Brussels (BRU) |
| Newark (EWR) | Paris (CDG) |
| Newark (EWR) | Dublin (DUB) |
| Newark (EWR) | Frankfurt (FRA) |
| Newark (EWR) | Los Angeles (LAX) |
| Newark (EWR) | San Francisco (SFO) |
| Newark (EWR) | Tel Aviv (TLV) |
| Washington Dulles (IAD) | Brussels (BRU) |
| Washington Dulles (IAD) | Frankfurt (FRA) |
| Washington Dulles (IAD) | Los Angeles (LAX) |
| Washington Dulles (IAD) | San Francisco (SFO) |
| Los Angeles (LAX) | Tokyo (HND) |
Featured image by NurPhoto via Getty Images
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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- Get $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings, which requires a minimum two-night stay, through American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®.
- $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Audible, Disney+, The Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, Peacock, SiriusXM, and The New York Times. Enrollment required.
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- American Express has expanded The Centurion® Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. There are even more places your Platinum Card® can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one select qualifying airline.
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- $695 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees