Advice on Hawaii

[pappap647]

Hello hive mind!

I want to book myself and Mrs pappap647 to Hawaii later this year.
Using avios or max £2000pp if paying, flying business (as us domestic flights for 6 hours would drive me mad).

Any ideas would be amazing.

Looking at going end of Nov for 3 weeks, but could also leave early dec.

I also have a lot of virgin points if that was an option too.

[BA Flyer IHG Stayer]

Assume there isn’t a 2-4-1 or similar voucher in play here.

How many avios do you have?

On the continental US to HI flights there are only limited proper lay flat business class seats (but my jet lagged brain can’t think what they are at the moments

If your budget is £2k pp then I think you’ll be looking at an ex EU starting point such as HEL or ARN. I’d start with using those on google flights (amd selecting one world as the alliance) and playing around with those and if that doesn’t work look at DUB/AMS/MAD etc. you could then use some of your avios to part pay for the flights.

If you have VS points then using those to get your to/from UK/US or US/HI on Delta (not sure if they have lay flat) could form part of the mix.

[Richard Peters]

https://www.headforpoints.com/forums/topic/honolulu-241/

read this

[pappap647]

I have a 241 if needed, but wouldnt work as BA doesnt fly there.

I have over a million avios, but wouldnt want to spend the lot on this one trip

BA Flyer IHG Stayer wrote:

Assume there isn’t a 2-4-1 or similar voucher in play here.

How many avios do you have?

On the continental US to HI flights there are only limited proper lay flat business class seats (but my jet lagged brain can’t think what they are at the moments

If your budget is £2k pp then I think you’ll be looking at an ex EU starting point such as HEL or ARN. I’d start with using those on google flights (amd selecting one world as the alliance) and playing around with those and if that doesn’t work look at DUB/AMS/MAD etc. you could then use some of your avios to part pay for the flights.

If you have VS points then using those to get your to/from UK/US or US/HI on Delta (not sure if they have lay flat) could form part of the mix.

[Gagravarr]

AA often, but not always, have sales on for Hawaii from some random European origin. Not sure there is one on right now though, and generally they have 180 day advanced purchase requirements on the ticket

Budapest to Honolulu is only £2133 on some November dates, all business, with KLM and WestJet. From a quick check that’s your cheapest starting point right now. (That’s also where the last BA/AA sale was from that I spotted)

Otherwise, you could always try to find a good deal (cash or avios) to LA, then redeem some avios for an economy seat on to Hawaii. On the way out, have a night in a LAX hotel, then take a ~6am flight. Coming back, take a 8-9am flight. You’ll be awake both flights, so economy won’t be terrible, and the business seats with most airlines to Hawaii are pretty crap anyway!

[Richie]

Gagravarr wrote:

…the business seats with most airlines to Hawaii are pretty crap anyway!

United from Chicago in their Polaris J seat on a B781 sounds far from carp.

[Ash]

I’ve been considering the same route, probably mixing Avios and Virgin…depends on your appetite for risk but if you do split your tickets there is no recourse with rescheduling the second flight if the first is delayed….the overnight stay would be wise…time it well and it could alleviate some of the jet lag.

[rontse]

AA use 787-8 from DFW to HNL, so full flat in business.

[pappap647]

Also DFW has sone 1st availability on BA too which would be nice

[atcoloz]

I’ve booked this trip for my 50th in January, travelling solo now.

LHR/SEA and SAN/LHR return Club Suites, 85000 Avios and £450 using my Amex voucher.

SEA/HNL 13000 + £4 and KOA/SAN 13000 + £4, both with Alaska. Upgraded to premium on these flights for £80 each way once I booked (6 inches more legroom on the bulkhead, and free food/drinks).

Internal flight HNL/KOA on Hawaiian £48 cash.

So the whole trip has cost 111000 Avios and £658, which I think is very good value. Although I do need to pay for bags on the Alaska/Hawaiian segments. Took a lot of planning and became much more affordable once it became clear it was going to be a solo trip.

[Ash]

How do you book Alaska Airline flights with Avios?

[atcoloz]

BA website, as you would any other Avios flight.

[strickers]

Useful info on the Alaska upgrade, money well spent I think. I’ll be doing the same thing one way next Sept after a cruise from Vancouver.

[atcoloz]

strickers wrote:

Useful info on the Alaska upgrade, money well spent I think. I’ll be doing the same thing one way next Sept after a cruise from Vancouver.

Absolutely. There was no availability in First anyway, but I think £80 is worth spending to take the edge off a 6hr transpacific flight. It’s 4 inches of extra legroom but more in row 6 (allegedly).

[Joecooljoe]

Hawaian baggage used to be a few dollars cheaper if you joined their ff program. Enjoy the trip.

[Gagravarr]

Southwest Airlines offer 2 free checked bags on inter-island flights within Hawaii – https://www.southwest.com/hawaii/interisland-flights/

HawaiianMiles members (who joined IIRC 72+ hours before the flight) get discounts on Hawaiian airlines inter-island flight bags. Hawaiian also operate a bit more of a flying-bus service, with often a lot more flights than Southwest and they go no matter how empty they are

[atcoloz]

Luggage tips appreciated guys 👌

[Matt]

Inter-island flights are $15 for the first checked bag on Hawaiian if you’re a member of their FF scheme, $25 without.

As long as the number is in the booking it just shows the lower price when you check in.