17th November 2018 Travel Day Palm Desert to Phoenix and flight to Honolulu, Hawaii and transfer to Hilton Hawaiian Village, Honolulu.

We woke early showered and dressed and finished our packing.  We departed Palm Desert quite early for the 4 plus hours to Phoenix, AZ.  We had given ourselves plenty of time to get to Phoenix.  Jeanette did the driving. 

It was smooth driving with a toilet stop and then a petrol stop to get us to Phoenix AZ. 

However, we ran into some serious road delays as the Interstate East 10 was closed. We were stuck in heavy traffic exiting the I 10 and this caused a 40 minute diversion which by the time we exited in slow heavy traffic, had added almost an hours time to our travel. 

The rental car return was easy and well known to us, but this also added more time, and we arrived at the shuttle bus with 60 minutes to departure at 2.59pm Phoenix time.  We checked in quickly with no difficulties at American Airways and then quickly passed through security to gates B and C.   

We boarded the A330 at 2.40pm, having done remarkably to have checked in and exited through security in about 15 minutes. 

Our flight was full we were seated in 1 G and 1 H and 4 F ( David) .  It was a reasonable flight with the seats becoming full beds after the serving of lunch.  Jeanette and Ken each slept after watching a movie.  The highlight of the trip was the ice cream dessert. 

Arrival at Honolulu was on time but the arrival of luggage at the carousel was slow and haphazard with cases being thrown about. Of our luggage Ken’s damaged case arrived quickly, but the other two cases arrival near the last of the luggage. 

Subsequently walked out of the terminal and met our driver and his SUV Escalade at the centre jerk.  He had been concerned as to whether we had missed the flight.  We explained our delays with luggage had a quick 30 minute drive and check in at Waikikian Tower elite check in area.  We were initially disappointed with our accommodation being units 1460 and 1472.  We rang reception but the resort is fully booked.  Jeanette was particularly disappointed, so we swapped villas with us now having 1472 and the family having 1460.. 

Into bed and we were all disappointed, but we will see in the morning. 

A long hard day with travel challenges. 

We are in Honolulu, having been concerned as to the road traffic delays in Phoenix AZ with the I 10 East closure some 20 mile out of Phoenix. Jeanette did a great job driving and David negotiated through the freeway closure to find an alternative route.  It has all worked out OK.