Update: Tomorrow is the last day to use AA miles to book travel on Hawaiian between the US48 and Hawaii.
Originally posted on 06/22:
Related posts:
-The Ultimate Hawaii Mileage Award Chart And Everything You Need To Know About The Hawaiian Islands
-20%-25% Off United Awards To Hawaii
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American announced over the weekend that 08/31 will be the last day to use American miles to book award on Hawaiian Airlines between the US mainland and Hawaii.
That was always USAirways’ policy and it brings the new USAirways’ run AA into their old policy. Other airlines like Delta and United have the same policy of allowing redemptions for Hawaiian intra-island flights, but not for flights between the US mainland and Hawaii.
You’ll still be able to fly on American or Alaska between the US mainland and Hawaii.
And you’ll still be able to use 5K AA miles for intra-Hawaii flights on Hawaiian.
But it hurts as Hawaiian has good award availability to Hawaii and they have nonstop flights from JFK to Honolulu.
Nonstop award availability on Hawaiian nonstop from JFK to Honolulu:
And on the return as well:
American charges 17.5K miles to fly in coach to Hawaii during off-peak travel dates (01/12-03/08 and 08/22-12/15) and 22.5K during peak season.
2 ironic things about that.
1. JFK to Honolulu is a longer flight than Philadelphia to Tel Aviv. Yet it costs 61% less than it in miles:
45K miles for PHL-TLV on a 10:55 flight:
17.5K miles for JFK-HNL off-peak on a 11:15 flight:
2. Hawaii off-peak isn’t aligned with the off peak dates for other regions (South America Region 2: March 1 – May 31, August 16 – November 30. Europe: October – May 15. Asia Region 1: October – April 30) and other regions overrule the peak Hawaii dates.
Which leads to situations where Honolulu-JFK costs 22.5K:
But Honolulu-Paris (via JFK…) costs just 20K:
Same goes for travel to South American and Asia. That was far more useful before American stealthily eliminated stopovers on awards, but there are still some uses for that.
Luckily for those looking to travel on Hawaiian there’s another way. Korean charges just 30K miles in coach or 60K miles in first class to fly round-trip on Hawaiian Airlines between the US mainland and Hawaii.
Korean charges the same rate to fly on Alaska Airlines to Hawaii and they charge even less to fly on Delta to Hawaii, just 25K in coach or 45K in first round-trip, though Delta availability is tough to come by.
You can transfer Chase points instantly to Korean at a 1:1 ratio or Starwood Starpoints to Korean at a 20K:25K ratio.
If you’re based on the west coast, the best value to Hawaii is with BA Avios at just 12.5K Avios each way on American or Alaska, though you need to call BA to book travel on Alaska to Hawaii.
Perhaps the biggest loss here is that we’ll lose AA.com’s excellent calendar award search to find Hawaiian award flights, which corresponded to what Korean phone agents are able to book.
At any rate, if you are wanting to use AA miles on Hawaiian you’ll have until 08/31/15 to book travel through 07/26/16.
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18 Comments On "2 Months Left To Use American Miles To Book Hawaiian Airlines Awards Between The Continental US And Hawaii"
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Great non stop Hawaiian flights I flew last week from Auckland to HNL then HNL-JFK all for 37,500 AA miles which also included Mel-AKL. They have no idea what kosher means. Aloha!
You’ll still be able to do that after 08/31 for 37.5K AA miles, but from HNL-NYC you’ll need to fly on Alaska or AA, which means making another connection.
So if I have Amex points how is the cheapest to Hawaii from NYC without stop?
@Boruch:
Wow great value… in coach or biz?
@Dave:
Singapore:
http://www.dansdeals.com/archives/62063
@Anonymous:
Coach.
if also have UR then now with the United sale it is pretty much the same from NYC to Hawaii, right?
Do you have a Hawaii write up….any way to use Avios?
Big Fan
@Dave:
Yes.
@Love Dan:
http://www.dansdeals.com/archives/62063
Dan we landed in New Zealand up 5 a.m. until midnight. We drove down to Rotorua, Hells Gate Geothermal Park etc.. unbelievable! Then boarded flight to HNL, we were supposed to arrive in the morning and leave in the evening but because of bad weather on mainland they put on the direct flights the following day at 3pm! so we had some extra time to enjoy Hawaii and Yudis meals and then HA50 direct flight home! AA waived the $150 for over 24 hours in hnl. #stillexcited:)
cant http://www.hawaiianairlines.com/ show availability that a ke phone rep will have. i wanna fly from hnl to baku for 20k aa
HA on a recliner in F no rather go with UA
Also JFK HNL might be longer in time than PHL TLV (due to jet stream) but it’s shorter in mile distance
Does this change have any impact on your ability to redeem Hawaiian miles for American flights to Hawaii?
On Intraisland flight from LIH to KOA saver on AA shows two separate legs for 5000 miles each
Can it be booked for 5000 miles. If booked with aa card no free bags? Only with JJ?
If I quickly book a flight now, what would the cancellation policy be if I want to change it?
To clarify: I may need to cancel the ticket. It would be for February and I don’t know if my schedule will permit it then! But I have many AA miles that i’d like to try to redeem for a trip like this and don’t want to lose the opportunity
Just made a reservation on AA to JFK – HNL at February total for 3 was 105,000 miles + $33.60 USD since i had only 92,000 AA had an option to put it on hold till Sep/04 (since time to post new/buy miles is 72 hours), now i need to figure out how do i get the missing 13,000???
@Mechayamom:
A connecting flight is 10K.
AA card doesn’t get free bags on any other airline.
@anonyous:
It’s $150 to redeposit 1 ticket and $25 for additional tickets.
@Adi:
I wouldn’t rely on the hold, probably won’t be able to ticket after 08/31 even with a hold.
Thanks Dan, what do you recommend for getting the 13,000 missing miles, just buying them for $300? or there is a way to transfer from my chase rewards?