What I Wish I’d Known Before Flying 12 Hours to Hawaii

For work, I’ve been lucky enough to travel all over the world, from California to Hong Kong to Tokyo, and now, Hawaii!

While traveling is definitely a perk of the job, I’ve learned a few things about flying and how to survive a 12-hour travel day getting to the islands. There are quite a few things I wish I’d known before boarding that plane.

For some background, I flew from Orlando International Airport (MCO) all the way to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) in Honolulu to visit Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina, Hawaii. If you’re planning a similar journey, here’s what you should know before tackling a flight this long.

There Are No Direct Flights from MCO to Hawaii

Orlando sits on the complete opposite side of the country from Hawaii, and because of that, direct flights aren’t an option. I ended up flying with a connection through Dallas–Fort Worth International Airport (DFW). Meanwhile, Sage took a different route, connecting through Atlanta, and we met up after our second flight into Honolulu. Moral of the story? If you’re flying from the East Coast, be prepared for at least one layover, and possibly two.

Prepare Yourself for a Very Long Travel Day

From start to finish, it took about 12 hours to reach Hawaii. My first flight to Dallas clocked in at just over three hours, followed by an eight-and-a-half-hour flight straight to Honolulu. Depending on where you’re flying from, your travel time may be shorter, but if you’re leaving from the East Coast as I did, expect a full day of travel.

Consider Booking an Early Morning Flight

My first flight left MCO at 5:00 AM, which meant a brutal 2:30 AM wake-up call. That said? It was kind of worth it. The airport was unusually quiet, security was a breeze, and shockingly, my plane wasn’t even full. If you’ve ever experienced the chaos that is Orlando airport during peak hours, flying early can seriously cut down on stress.

Plan to Sleep on the Plane

Since I was up so early, I treated the flight like bedtime. I technically “went to sleep” around 5 AM Eastern Time, which is about midnight in Hawaii. My goal was to help my body start adjusting to the time change early, and honestly, it helped more than I expected with jet lag once I arrived.

Know Your Connecting Airport Ahead of Time

Layovers can be tight, so having a general understanding of your connecting airport can make all the difference. Luckily, DFW was pretty quiet when I landed around 7:30 AM, which made navigating terminals much easier. Still, I always recommend checking terminal maps in advance, just in case. It’s also good to know where you can grab a coffee or a bite to eat if you have time before your next flight.

Pack Smart for Maximum Comfort

For my eight-and-a-half-hour flight to Honolulu, I was very thankful to have these essentials on hand:

• Eye mask
• Bluetooth adapter (to connect my headphones to the seatback screen)
• Neck pillow
• Small blanket
• Compression socks
• Lotion
• Tissues
• ChapStick
• Reusable water bottle

These are my usual travel staples, but they were especially clutch during the second half of the trip on the long flight to Hawaii.

Download Entertainment Before You Leave

Even though my flight to Honolulu had an in-seat entertainment screen, I still made sure to download content ahead of time, just in case. Between my own downloads and what was available onboard, I managed to watch three AllEars YouTube videos and even made it halfway through Coco (one of my all-time favorites).

Expect to Fill Out a Declaration Form

Even though Hawaii is a U.S. state, it is an island, which means you’ll need to complete an Agricultural and Animal Declaration form. The flight attendants will hand it out onboard, and you only need one per party. While you’re filling it out, a video plays reminding visitors to respect the land, protect marine life, and stay on marked trails, all of which are important reminders before arriving.

Plan Transportation from the Airport in Advance

Whether you’re using a rideshare service or renting a car, have a plan before you land. Sage and I chose to rent a car since we wanted the freedom to explore Oahu beyond Aulani, and I’m so glad we did. You don’t want to be scrambling at the last minute to book something. Start your vacation off with a plan.

Budget Extra Time for Traffic

After an already long travel day, we still had about a 45-minute drive to Aulani. On average, the resort is about 30–45 minutes from HNL, but traffic can easily push that to the higher end of the estimate. It wasn’t ideal after 12 hours of travel, but it’s something to mentally prepare for.

The Long Journey Is Worth It

Despite the exhaustion, the long flights, and the early alarms, arriving at Aulani made it all worth it. The resort is absolutely stunning, and I can’t wait to share everything I experienced there. Be sure to stay tuned to AllEars.net for more details, tips, and behind-the-scenes looks at my visit to this incredible Disney destination

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What is the longest flight you have taken? Tell us in the comments. 

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