A premium cabin to FL via HNL

[HNL808]

Hello AFF Community,

RE: Points strategy for travel to Florida with a stopover in Hawaii.

I need some help (and clarity) with my strategy around booking my next family holiday to the US at the end of 2022. Given I have two young kids (three and six) I'd like to travel as direct as possible. Also, by way of context, I have frequent flyer points with a variety of programs and need to understand which one (or two) airlines I should streamline these to. I have points with; QF, AA, Jetblue, Amplify Rewards, Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards.

One thought was to go from Sydney to Hawaii and then onto Orlando with HA but there's not much availability and the redemption is poor value. Are there any clever hacks around redeeming points with one program and flying another airlines 'metal' in my situation? Can this be structured as an 'around the world' ticket with Qantas? I know it's unlikely to secure Business Class seats for the family but Premium Economy would be good.

Thanks in advance for your ideas, tricks and tips.

Mike

 

[luxury-lizard]

I can't help all that much - but if you stopover in Hawaii as indicated each leg will require a separate award no matter which FF program you use. As you know AA partner with HA so you can use AA points for these legs or use QF awards to HNL (on QF or J*) then AA or HA to Orlando. Beware if you fly on AA metal they use dynamic award pricing so it may well be very expensive. AA and HA (and other US based airlines) do not have Premium Economy.

I have no idea how Jetblue, Amplify or Chase rewards can be used - so the above info is certainly not complete. I presume by Membership Rewards you mean AmEX - these can be transferrer to a number of airlines but again without more info - I cannot advise. If you usually (as we do) transfer these awards to SQ then this would not really help.

I seriously doubt an RTW reward with QF would help - but it's certainly a possibility - these are quite tricky to put together but one of the award travel booking services could help (for a fee).

 

[eric2011]

I think "as direct as possible" would be SYD-LAX-MCO. Nothing would fly direct from HNL-MCO

 

[HNL808]

I can't help all that much - but if you stopover in Hawaii as indicated each leg will require a separate award no matter which FF program you use. As you know AA partner with HA so you can use AA points for these legs or use QF awards to HNL (on QF or J*) then AA or HA to Orlando. Beware if you fly on AA metal they use dynamic award pricing so it may well be very expensive. AA and HA (and other US based airlines) do not have Premium Economy.

I have no idea how Jetblue, Amplify or Chase rewards can be used - so the above info is certainly not complete. I presume by Membership Rewards you mean AmEX - these can be transferrer to a number of airlines but again without more info - I cannot advise. If you usually (as we do) transfer these awards to SQ then this would not really help.

I seriously doubt an RTW reward with QF would help - but it's certainly a possibility - these are quite tricky to put together but one of the award travel booking services could help (for a fee).

Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts.

Post automatically merged: Jan 27, 2022

I think "as direct as possible" would be SYD-LAX-MCO. Nothing would fly direct from HNL-MCO

My understanding is that HA fly non-stop from HNL to MCO.

 

[Scr77]

I think "as direct as possible" would be SYD-LAX-MCO.

This is probably achievable in Y+ with Qantas and AA. And on one ticket or 2 one ways.

 

[justinbrett]

The HNL stop works much better on the return flight. Most flights heading East out of HNL to destinations further than the west coast are red eyes. It’s bad for your body clock and you’ll just end up spending multiple nights flying. Best to fly as far East as you can in one go and then work West.

I would suggest flying straight to MCO, possibly SYD-DFW-MCO, which should have you in Orlando by early evening. Then I would probably fly MCO-HNL vía any hub (or direct on HA) which should have you leaving Orlando in the morning and be in HNL by mid afternoon. It really doesn’t make much difference which hub you to through.

Then the return flight to SYD is an easy day flight.

 

[HNL808]

The HNL stop works much better on the return flight. Most flights heading East out of HNL to destinations further than the west coast are red eyes. It’s bad for your body clock and you’ll just end up spending multiple nights flying. Best to fly as far East as you can in one go and then work West.

I would suggest flying straight to MCO, possibly SYD-DFW-MCO, which should have you in Orlando by early evening. Then I would probably fly MCO-HNL vía any hub (or direct on HA) which should have you leaving Orlando in the morning and be in HNL by mid afternoon. It really doesn’t make much difference which hub you to through.

Then the return flight to SYD is an easy day flight.

That's great advice, thank you. I'll probably need a holiday in Hawaii after visiting the in-laws in any case

Do you have an tips on leveraging one loyalty program over another? I've read that Turkish smiles and miles program offer great value on US airlines metal within the States.

 

[greywind]

That's great advice, thank you. I'll probably need a holiday in Hawaii after visiting the in-laws in any case

Do you have an tips on leveraging one loyalty program over another? I've read that Turkish smiles and miles program offer great value on US airlines metal within the States.

I have just joined AFF today and seen your post.Yes exactly Turkish Miles&Smiles ffp has great value for doestic flight within the states.Especialy united flights to Hawaii.I really advice you to consider it.If you have not been member yet , it is easy to do it and top up your account than fly with United within domestic network

 

[JohnPhelan]

Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts.

Post automatically merged: Jan 27, 2022

My understanding is that HA fly non-stop from HNL to MCO.

Hawaiian does indeed fly non-stop HNL-MCO most days (and offers a one-stop connection on the remainder).