This international airline's fast, free Wi-Fi is more reliable than my home connection

I am on board Hawaiian Airlines flight AS851 from Honolulu to Sydney, which departs at 12pm five days per week, allowing time for one last ocean swim before I settle into my Premium Class seat in the main cabin for the almost 11-hour flight. The airline is now a member of the Oneworld global alliance.

CHECKING IN: Finding the check-in desk for Hawaii's largest airline at the US state's main airport is straightforward. There are plenty of bag-drop stations and a staff member is quick to step in and point out the check-in counter for Sydney. The line is not exclusive to Premium Class but it is short and moves fast. Main-cabin passengers can check one 23kg bag and carry on one 11.5kg bag. It is an easy but surprisingly long walk from security to the gate.

THE FLIGHT: The flight departs promptly and arrives in Sydney 20 minutes ahead of the scheduled 6.50pm. The first nine rows of the main cabin on the Airbus A330 contain 60 of 68 "extra comfort" seats, so boarding and disembarking is swift. I incidentally have two seats to myself so I recline, tuck myself in with the supplied blanket and pillow, and enjoy a rest. Pleasant and peaceful.

THE CLASS: The blue fabric upholstery on the extra comfort seats feels retro but in a relaxed and nostalgic way rather than dated. There are five extra inches of space between rows compared with regular economy so the leg room is ample, though the width of the seats in the 2-4-2 configuration and the nine-inch recline is the same. I am only a few rows back from two of the six bathrooms and enjoy a smooth journey.

FOOD AND DRINKS: The attendants are regularly doing the rounds offering water. They serve a range of tea, coffee, alcohol, soft drinks and juices multiple times. I have a snack delivered after take-off, then a substantial meal a few hours later. Plane food is plane food to this economy traveller, and the menu is the same for Premium Class, but my chicken with rice and beans is hot and filling and delivered early in the service. There is an awkward time difference on this flight so the chicken and lettuce sandwich before landing is a brilliant choice.

ENTERTAINMENT: It has been an enduring mystery to me that astronauts travelling to the moon get better internet than regular plane passengers. Turns out that if airlines wanted to, they would. The free Starlink WiFi on Hawaiian Airlines is more reliable than my home connection. I plug my phone into charge and send photos from an epic holiday to family. The entertainment system is the same across the main cabin - an easy-to-operate seatback touchscreen with diverse options, including new releases and Hawaiian movies.

THE SERVICE: The airline says "Hawaii flies with us" and after 10 days on the islands I feel the aloha spirit on board. The experience is the perfect way to ease out of holidays. Attendants are friendly and appear to be everywhere I need them. Lip balm in the extra-comfort expanded amenities kit is a thoughtful touch.

IN A NUTSHELL: Upgrade for $215 if generous legroom will make or break your experience, otherwise a strategically selected economy seat will do.

The writer flew courtesy of Hawaiian Airlines