-
Morning all.
Planning a trip to Hawaii for my 50th in early 2024 and just trying to work out options for getting there. By the time I book I will have in excess of 200000 points and also have earned an Amex companion voucher.
I understand the Amex voucher can only be used on BA so would the best option be to use that to fly to LAX and back (or another gateway city) and then use remaining Avios to make a separate booking ex LAX (or other) on Alaskan/American etc? There’s 2 of us going, myself + partner.
Is there another better option than the one I have described? New to all this and this wild be my first experience of making a reward flight booking. TIA 👌🏻Sorry but this will be a couple of added complications for you to add to the mix.
1. BA and AA don’t release seats – cash and rewards – at the same time. AA is about a month behind BA. And then when booking rewards on AA via BA you’ll need AA to have released “saver” rewards.
2. LAX may not be the best option depending on what class of cabin you want to to fly on the HNL leg and somewhere like DFW can offer a lie flat business class seat that LAX doesn’t.
There are several threads on getting to HNL on the BA and AA flyer talk boards (search for HNL) which would be worth a scan as some take into account the best plane to be on but beware some of them are more about tier point runs and routings to maximise those than getting there quickest but can give you some ideas on routings.
I’ve never had any success in finding J reward seats from DFW to HNL, but never had an issue from LAX to HNL in J although no lie flats on this route.
Not sure if 200k Avios would cover your entire trip either under the new redemption rates.
As poster above stats, check out FT. I found a deal there for this year CDG-LHR-LAX-HNL-OGG-SEA-LHR-CDG for £1100 in J.
Consider the other islands in addition to Oahu.
West coast isn’t necessarily your best gateway to HNL. You can also use your Avios on Hawaiian as well as Alaska and you may find better availablity than AA.
Check here for how to: https://thepointsguy.com/guide/british-airways-sweet-spot-hawaii/
@davefl – am I missing something? Article explores Avios on AA / AS. Would love to use to them on HA!
@davefl – am I missing something? Article explores Avios on AA / AS. Would love to use to them on HA!
Apologies, confused things. Hawaiian with Virgin Points not Avois.
I’m having one of those mornings.
I’ve been to Hawaii twice using two different methods – firstly ex-EU from DUB in business all the way, and secondly using a BA 241 redemption with Avios to SEA in business and then economy on Alaska also booked using Avios.
The ex-EU trip was far better value, and I suspect it still is if you can find a good deal, especially if you are interested in Tier points – you should get from zero to Silver from the trip.
You should also consider flying out to HNL and then back from OGG or KOA with a separate flight connecting them – Maui and the Big Island are both fantastic and I prefer them both to Oahu.
Thanks everybody. My plan was J to the West Coast, night stop and then Y on the LAX/HNL leg. Same on return. I’ll investigate the other aforementioned options though.
Travelled to HNL this year, 2 year delayed trip due to Covid. Used AVIOS and 2-4-1 for LHR-LAX return in Club, overnight then cash fare with HA following day. Didn’t explore the idea of using AVIOS for any other part of trip, as cash fares can be pretty reasonable. HA was favoured option due to 2-4-2 seat layout of their planes and extra comfort in economy was sufficient for us. Pre-Covid had a really good fare with HA in first (that got cancelled) but couldn’t replicate for eventual trip, worth keeping an eye for their low fare offers, they have the lie flat in first (more like business) if that’s a pref. IMO I wouldn’t say any of the domestic airlines use their best planes for west coast/Hawaii so something to consider too, have previously travelled UA and AA. Negative for flying HA out of LAX is that they use the new west gates at Tom Bradley, literally miles from check in desks and very little amenities once you get to the gates.
It’s too soon for you to book, but business flights on BA/AA etc from Budapest to Hawaii (and West Coast destinations) have been cheap for a while. There will probably be another cheap starting point available at some point in the next few months that you could take. We’re heading to HNL in May for a little under £1500 each, plus the cost of getting to BUD.
@BAFlyerIHGStayer…which forums were thinking of? I’m looking to research trip to Hawaii 2023/early 2024, keen to delve into those threads for advice.
@BAFlyerIHGStayer…which forums were thinking of? I’m looking to research trip to Hawaii 2023/early 2024, keen to delve into those threads for advice.
Try this one
We did this several years ago. Used a 2for1 to LAX in Club World and then booked an economy cash fare (with AA, from memory) onward to HNL.
Slightly OT but I’d do OGG or KOA over HNL and use Avios or cash for that portion from LAX in Y.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
Popular articles this week:
