Creative routing Australia to Hawaii

[CPMaverick]

Hi All

I am traveling from Australia to Hawaii in January. I'm interested in unique routings which would allow me to see South Pacific destinations for a couple days on the way.

I would prefer options using United, AA, or VA miles, but am open to buying tickets also. So flights on HA, QF, VA, and NZ are all potential award opportunities.

I have been to Tahiti and the Cook Islands, and have a Fiji trip planned in the future, so options other than these would be ideal.

I know about the island hopper, but since United canceled the GUM-CNS route, this is too difficult right now. One day I'll do it

There are so many small nations and small airlines in this region, I am looking for some extra knowledge amd ideas!

Cheers

 

[Wanderlust_tim]

Can you redeem on China Airlines? I am thinking Brisbane - Taipei - Koror and then on to the US. (Taipei whilst not South Pacific is one of my favourite cities)

 

[CPMaverick]

Can you redeem on China Airlines? I am thinking Brisbane - Taipei - Koror and then on to the US. (Taipei whilst not South Pacific is one of my favourite cities)

Thanks, I'll look into it. I wasn't really looking at Asia as I can fit that into other routings much easier than I could a pacific island. But Taiwan is on my list to do one day.

 

[trooper]

Once you dismiss the Cook Islands, Fiji and Tahiti I suspect your options narrow sharply. I'm not sure which "small airlines" you mean, but are they even available as redemptions with miles from those majors? Air Calin? Samoa Airways? Another problem is once you GET to some of these destinations, the only option is to fly back to where you came from.... if you are looking at cobbling together an Island Hopper type expedition using those small airlines - moving closer to HNL each flight....good luck! And tell us how you did it!

 

[Wanderlust_tim]

Again I am not sure about the redemption options but you could go Brisbane - Honiara - Kiribati - Honolulu on Qantas, Solomon Airlines and Fiji Airlines

 

[trooper]

Good one!

 

[CPMaverick]

Exactly, I would like to patch together an interesting outbound to Hawaii. I have a few days I can burn on the way. I would prefer redemptions, but not ruling out a purchased ticket either.

Traveling to the mainland USA from Australia/NZ, the only real options are PPT, NAN, and RAR. But Australia to Hawaii must have many more potential itineraries! Just not as easy to discover.

Thanks for the options so far. Right now I am thinking BNE-Apia on VA, then PPG-HNL on HA. It is possible to fly or ferry between Apia and PPG. However, I want to research this Kiribati option too!

 

[CPMaverick]

Again I am not sure about the redemption options but you could go Brisbane - Honiara - Kiribati - Honolulu on Qantas, Solomon Airlines and Fiji Airlines

Does QF fly to the Solomon Islands? Or just codeshare? I can't find any redemption availability... Again OK buying a ticket if that makes sense but trying to at least get some redemption if I can.

 

[Wanderlust_tim]

Does QF fly to the Solomon Islands? Or just codeshare? I can't find any redemption availability... Again OK buying a ticket if that makes sense but trying to at least get some redemption if I can.

Qantas does a code share to Honiara on Solomons Airlines, I did it two weeks ago. 18,000 points one way

 

[CPMaverick]

Qantas does a code share to Honiara on Solomons Airlines, I did it two weeks ago. 18,000 points one way

Thanks. Unfortunately not bookable with AA miles unless it is QF metal. No worries, I realized VA fly there.

 

[bsb]

Via Apia, Western Samoa on FJ. Pop over to Tonga

 

[CPMaverick]

Here is what I've come up with. The QF codeshares cover most independent airlines that fly from Australia to the Pacific.

HA Pacific intl destinations (From HNL)
Pago Pago, American Samoa (PPG)
Papeete, FP (PPT)
Guam, USA (GUM)

VA Pacific intl destinations (from Australia)
Apia, Samoa (APW)
Honiara, Solomon Islands (HIR)
Nadi, Fiji (NAN)
Nuku'alofa, Tonga (TBU)
Port Vila, Vanuatu (VLI)

QF Pacific intl destinations (from Australia), incl codeshares
Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu (SON)
Port Vila, Vanuatu (VLI)
Honiara, Solomon Islands (HIR)
Nadi, Fiji (NAN)
Suva, Fiji (SUV)
Noumea, New Caledonia (NOU)

FJ intl destinations (from NAN)
Kiribati (TRW and CXI)
Apia, Samoa (APW)
Honiara, Solomon Islands (HIR)
Nuku'alofa, Tonga (TBU)
Neiafu, Tonga (VAV)
Funafuti, Tuvalu (FUN)
Port Vila, Vanuatu (VLI)
Honolulu, USA (HNL)

FJ intl destinations (from HNL)
Kiritimati, Kiribati (CXI)
Apia, Samoa (APW)
Nadi, Fiji (NAN)

Solomon Airlines (IE) intl destinations (from HIR)
Nadi, Fiji (NAN)
Port Vila, Vanuatu (VLI)
Tarawa, Kiribati (TRW)

I see a few options:

VA to APW, FJ APW-HNL. The only one-stop option from Australia besides NAN
VA to APW, ferry or short flight to PPG, PPG-HNL on Hawaiian. This is a standout because it is two island nations but a short trip between them, and no backtracking.

VA/QF to VLI, then VLI-NAN-HNL on FJ.
VA to TBU, then TBU-NAN-HNL on FJ.
Any airline to NAN, NAN-CXI-HNL on FJ.
Any airline to HIR, then HIR-NAN-HNL on FJ.

FJ makes a lot of things possible if you want to connect in NAN, but I am leaning towards to double APW/PPG option. Not all these flights are daily, in fact most probably aren't, so from here on it becomes about price and logistics.

 

[drron]

I guess the most creative route is using Nauru Airlines.Basically run from BNE now..
You can fly BNE-INU or HIR on Thursdays.very hard to stay in Nauru but there are connections to MAJ or PNI where you can pick up the United island hopper.
From HIR you can get to Fiji on FJ.Beware some days it is a codeshare on Solomon air.
Fares are pretty high for January.
HIR-~550
PNI~1200
MAJ~950

 

[CPMaverick]

Thanks drron. I hadn't thought of Nauru at all, and while the HIR route is possible on other airlines, MAJ or PNI hadn't been on my radar. Certainly an interesting option, but might be too pricey.

I'll see if there are any other ways to catch up to the island hopper somewhere close to Hawaii...

 

[CPMaverick]

So, I have decided on my itinerary.

I booked VA MEL-SYD-APW (Apia, Samoa) with DL miles (great because I am trying to burn these). 22,500 for these flights.

The ferry/cargo ship option between Apia and PPG (Pago Pago, American Samoa) didn't work unfortunately because it only leaves Thursday night and I arrive Wednesday morning to APW. So I will book at flight. At first I couldn't find anything, but shockingly there is a 'city airport' in Apia, FGI. Polynesian Airlines and Talofa Airways both fly FGI-PPG. Both charge around $100 USD one-way and there are lots and lots of flight times and options each day. Of interest, you arrive 23.5 hours before you left because of the Int'l Date line! So I got one more day than I initially anticipated.

I then fly HA PPG-HNL, for 28k VA points. This flight costs $530 USD one way, so it's a pretty decent deal even though it is a lot of points.

I return HNL-SYD-MEL in J on HA and QF, for 65k AA miles.

So, a fair points outlay but I am in J on the return and I think it will be a fun trip!

I'm really interested in routing through other countries on FJ next time, and the interesting thing is you could even do that on a route to LAX. Although I do love my VA MEL-LAX direct, it'd be hard to give that up for a 3-stopper. A few days on a remote isle might make that better though.

Thanks all for the advice!

 

[Wanderlust_tim]

So, I have decided on my itinerary.

I booked VA MEL-SYD-APW (Apia, Samoa) with DL miles (great because I am trying to burn these). 22,500 for these flights.

The ferry/cargo ship option between Apia and PPG (Pago Pago, American Samoa) didn't work unfortunately because it only leaves Thursday night and I arrive Wednesday morning to APW. So I will book at flight. At first I couldn't find anything, but shockingly there is a 'city airport' in Apia, FGI. Polynesian Airlines and Talofa Airways both fly FGI-PPG. Both charge around $100 USD one-way and there are lots and lots of flight times and options each day. Of interest, you arrive 23.5 hours before you left because of the Int'l Date line! So I got one more day than I initially anticipated.

I then fly HA PPG-HNL, for 28k VA points. This flight costs $530 USD one way, so it's a pretty decent deal even though it is a lot of points.

I return HNL-SYD-MEL in J on HA and QF, for 65k AA miles.

So, a fair points outlay but I am in J on the return and I think it will be a fun trip!

I'm really interested in routing through other countries on FJ next time, and the interesting thing is you could even do that on a route to LAX. Although I do love my VA MEL-LAX direct, it'd be hard to give that up for a 3-stopper. A few days on a remote isle might make that better though.

Thanks all for the advice!

Would love to see a trip report upon return! Glad it all worked out.

 

[CPMaverick]

Well, I think it is working out! But with very few flights per week, it could definitely go pear shaped. However, I would still be on a Pacific Island regardless so it can't be too rough.

I don't often do trip reports, but this one might be worth a post.

 

[RoMambai]

Love this thread. Having worked on Pacific issues for many years, I've been to nearly all the countries in the neighbourhood but usually only as single visits. The one exception was the old United Cairns - Guam - Yap - Pohnpei - Majuro - Honolulu island hopper that even took in Kwajelein (though only US military could get on or off).

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I know you've already chosen your route and I'm too late to the party with this suggestion, but I've thought about the following which I'd like to give a go one day:

PX (or QF or VA) BNE-POM (Port Moresby)
PX POM-PNI (Pohnpei)
UA PNI-TKK (Chuuk)-GUM (Guam)-HNL (Honolulu)

No idea about the redemptions except AU-PNG can definitely be either VA or QF (and I'd assume AA) points.

 

[CPMaverick]

I know you've already chosen your route and I'm too late to the party with this suggestion, but I've thought about the following which I'd like to give a go one day:

PX (or QF or VA) BNE-POM (Port Moresby)
PX POM-PNI (Pohnpei)
UA PNI-TKK (Chuuk)-GUM (Guam)-HNL (Honolulu)

No idea about the redemptions except AU-PNG can definitely be either VA or QF (and I'd assume AA) points.

Great suggestion! My trip hopefully isn't my last time bouncing around this part of the world, so every thought is helpful. Not to mention, others can benefit too.

I have PG on my list of places one day too, so great addition. This is exactly why I made this post. Even with all my research, this is still the first time I've heard of PX (Air Niugini). So much diversity in this region in terms of airlines.