Honolulu Transit - QF to HA

[justinbrett]

So I finally did this, booked for next June (OOL-SYD-HNL-LAS) one way Y. I already had a J award seat SYD-DFW-OOL for the return.

By chance I saw you could book it on AMEX, and surprised you could use the $450 travel credit. Looks like it's all one PNR and has the same eticket (81), and I can see all three flights on both QF and HA sites.

Weirdly, on CMT, it doesn't show the HA flight (and won't accept the HA PNR if I try to add that separately).

The transit is a bit shorter than when I was looking earlier - exactly 4:00. May not be enough time to leave the airport, but at least I'll avoid LAX and have a PM arrival in LAS which is what I was after (can go straight to bed). It was at least A$400 cheaper than the cheapest option flying via LAX (not including the AMEX credit).

 

[justinbrett]

Finally trying this option out.

So far so good, no issues checking in, QF tagged my bags through to vegas and printed the HA BP.

Only slight issue was computer said no to my second bag, as I guess I’m not entitled to WP allowances on HA - but I played dumb and they didn’t know why so the supervisor waived the charge.

Had some schedule changes along the way so now have 4:45 in HNL, so assuming we land on time and immigration doesn’t take too long, should have 1.5-2 hours at Waikiki.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Finally trying this option out.

So far so good, no issues checking in, QF tagged my bags through to vegas and printed the HA BP.

Remember that your bags aren't checked through to Las Vegas, you will need to collect them in Honolulu after clearing immigration and re-check them in for your next flight at the Hawaiian transfer station.

Only slight issue was computer said no to my second bag, as I guess I’m not entitled to WP allowances on HA - but I played dumb and they didn’t know why so the supervisor waived the charge.

Computer is wrong here since the most significant carrier (MSC) is Qantas as the flight from Sydney to Honolulu crosses IATA zones whereas the Hawaiian flight to Las Vegas merely crosses a region within an IATA zone. Hence, Qantas rules apply for the entire itinerary for baggage.

Had some schedule changes along the way so now have 4:45 in HNL, so assuming we land on time and immigration doesn’t take too long, should have 1.5-2 hours at Waikiki.

Remember to budget in enough time for clearing security at HNL, mate (especially if you don't have TSA pre-check).

In terms of lounges at HNL, I really have nothing to offer you here. I've tried the Hawaiian lounge and it was a joke some light refreshments and snacks and that's it . There is a priority pass lounge IAAS which makes the Hawaiian lounge look like a First class lounge. So you're probably right that provided you have enough time at HNL, you can go to Waikiki and enjoy the sun (and a nice bite on the beach).

-RooFlyer88

 

[justinbrett]

Remember that your bags aren't checked through to Las Vegas, you will need to collect them in Honolulu after clearing immigration and re-check them in for your next flight at the Hawaiian transfer station.

This is not my first rodeo… I travel to the US frequently

Computer is wrong here since the most significant carrier (MSC) is Qantas as the flight from Sydney to Honolulu crosses IATA zones whereas the Hawaiian flight to Las Vegas merely crosses a region within an IATA zone. Hence, Qantas rules apply for the entire itinerary for baggage.

Only the base ticket allowance applies, not additional FF allowances

Remember to budget in enough time for clearing security at HNL, mate (especially if you don't have TSA pre-check).

I’ve just returned from my boozy lunch at Waikiki - TSA took about 20 mins. Traffic was fine too. I’m at the gate T-1:10.

In terms of lounges at HNL, I really have nothing to offer you here. I've tried the Hawaiian lounge and it was a joke some light refreshments and snacks and that's it . There is a priority pass lounge IAAS which makes the Hawaiian lounge look like a First class lounge. So you're probably right that provided you have enough time at HNL, you can go to Waikiki and enjoy the sun (and a nice bite on the beach).

-RooFlyer88

Yep, no lounges had showers so I wasn’t interested. Didn’t want to spend 4 hours in this coughhole of an airport so glad I went to Waikiki - the sun was good for jet lag mitigation too.

I must say, T1 is a lot nicer than T2.

 

[dairyfloss]

I’ve just returned from my boozy lunch at Waikiki - TSA took about 20 mins. Traffic was fine too. I’m at the gate T-1:10.

Where did you end up going for lunch?

 

[justinbrett]

Where did you end up going for lunch?

I just went to tropics bar at Hilton Hawaiian village - close-ish to the airport, bar overlooks Waikiki and the bar staff are normally really good. He only charged me for one of my two coughtails. Most of all I’m very familiar with it and where the Uber pick ups are etc.

 

[justinbrett]

So waking up after my first night in the US, to summarise - very happy with this option.

No issues at HNL, only minor inconvenience is you have to walk your already tagged bags over to T1 yourself. There is a facility at T2 but bags going to HA are explicitly excluded. Not recheck as such, they didn’t even scan the bags or ask for ID, just a visual of the bag tag and she said I was good to go.

Used my QF BP to board the HA flight, no issues (was half expecting them to make me get a new BP). Even had the group number on it.

I think this will be my preferred option travelling to the US in Y, I can’t sleep in Y - so it’s much more manageable to arrive late at night and straight to bed. I woke up this morning after 9 hours sleep and feeling right as rain. You could do this on the evening BNE/MEL LAX flights, but the HNL stop really did break the trip up and the sun in Hawaii definitely helped with jet lag mitigation. It also helps as I’ve always managed a shadow on QF103, even on very full flights. I actually think the QF A330 Y seat is really good and plenty of room (it helped I connected from a 737 so the difference stood out). It was also far cheaper than the direct QF flight to LAX.

Having said all that, I’m happy to be flying J home from DFW.

 

[DAC1]

How much did the Y ticket set you back? It’s an appealing option for all of the reasons you have pointed out

 

[SYD]

How much did the Y ticket set you back? It’s an appealing option for all of the reasons you have pointed out

Yes, I was wondering that.

But depending on where someone is heading in the US, it’s potentially possible to do something similar with QFF points and getting one multi-city ticket QF to HNL and then AA or AS from HNL to the mainline (either one flight or probably no more than one stop).

AS is particularly good for the west coast - SEA, PDX, SFO, SAN (obviously LAX also, but if that was your destination, then arriving as a domestic PAX is less horrible).

 

[justinbrett]

How much did the Y ticket set you back? It’s an appealing option for all of the reasons you have pointed out

I booked a while ago when Y fares were sky high to the US.

All up it was $1150 one way. I think the cheapest one way to LAX was $2500-$3000 (not including LAS connection)

I suspect if you did a return it would be even cheaper.

Although you can’t get QF points for the HA flights you can get VA points. I put both numbers on the booking (funny seeing my VA number on QF MMB).

 

[madrooster]

Yes, I was wondering that.

But depending on where someone is heading in the US, it’s potentially possible to do something similar with QFF points and getting one multi-city ticket QF to HNL and then AA or AS from HNL to the mainline (either one flight or probably no more than one stop).

AS is particularly good for the west coast - SEA, PDX, SFO, SAN (obviously LAX also, but if that was your destination, then arriving as a domestic PAX is less horrible).

I often send pax via HNL on such a route for the reasons @justinbrett gave - AS, HA, DL, UA, WS, AC give quite a number of options depending on what you fancy. AS/AA/UA are allowed directly on QF through fares with QF fare conditions. QF can be combined end on end with HA which is most likely what @justinbrett has, but there is a catch - it makes the entire QF ticket non refundable for voluntary cancellations.

QF will through check to AS/HA/UA/DL/AA/WS when separate tickets are issued on one PNR. Often it is cheaper to break the QF ticket at HNL and issue a separate ticket beyond HNL on the same PNR, with US domestic taxes exempted where appropriate. This potentially has the advantage of the QF ticket being refundable so you would lose less $ in the event that you need to cancel (albeit a non issue if you have travel insurance).

 

[justinbrett]

I often send pax via HNL on such a route for the reasons @justinbrett gave - AS, HA, DL, UA, WS, AC give quite a number of options depending on what you fancy. AS/AA/UA are allowed directly on QF through fares with QF fare conditions. QF can be combined end on end with HA which is most likely what @justinbrett has, but there is a catch - it makes the entire QF ticket non refundable for voluntary cancellations.

QF will through check to AS/HA/UA/DL/AA/WS when separate tickets are issued on one PNR. Often it is cheaper to break the QF ticket at HNL and issue a separate ticket beyond HNL on the same PNR, with US domestic taxes exempted where appropriate. This potentially has the advantage of the QF ticket being refundable so you would lose less $ in the event that you need to cancel (albeit a non issue if you have travel insurance).

And I think that worked in my favour - from memory connecting to AA/AS brought the fare similar to QF LAX fares (which were sky high at the time), whereas my booking was the HNL fare plus the relatively cheap domestic HA LAS fare.

I did have a single ticket, I thought it might have been booked as two but it was only one.

I booked through AMEX using my QF travel credit so it was a really cheap deal for me.

 

[madrooster]

whereas my booking was the HNL fare plus the relatively cheap domestic HA LAS fare.

The really cheap HA fare is what makes the entire ticket become non refundable though - something to be aware of!

 

[justinbrett]

The really cheap HA fare is what makes the entire ticket become non refundable though - something to be aware of!

I’m not sure about that - I just looked up my booking and this is in the text of the confirmation:

INVOLUNTARY REBOOKING/REVALIDATION AND REROUTING/ REISSUE PERMITTED IN THE EVENT OF CERTIFIED DEATH
OR FOR OPERATIONAL REASONS AS PROVIDED IN PAT GENERAL RULES.
INVOLUNTARY CHANGES
ANY TIME
INVOLUNTARY CHANGES PERMITTED FOR NO-SHOW/REISSUE/ REVALIDATION.
NOTE - TEXT BELOW NOT VALIDATED FOR AUTOPRICING.
NO FEES APPLY IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER THE AUSTRALIAN CONSUMER LAW - APPLICABLE LOCAL LAW -
OR CONDITIONS OF CARRIAGE
CANCELLATIONS
ANY TIME
CHARGE AUD 500.00 FOR CANCEL/REFUND.
ANY TIME
TICKET IS NON-REFUNDABLE IN CASE OF NO-SHOW.
NOTE - TEXT BELOW NOT VALIDATED FOR AUTOPRICING. REFUND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE FARE PAID AND
THE APPLICABLE FARE FOR THE TRANSPORTATION USED

Granted $500 is almost half of the ticket and more than half of what I paid due to the travel credit.

 

[madrooster]

I’m not sure about that - I just looked up my booking and this is in the text of the confirmation:

Those are the QF fare conditions. I don't think Amex's website is capable is pulling the fare conditions from two separate fare bases... ie. the QF fare AND the HA fare. For cancellation conditions, the HA fare conditions are more restrictive so they take precedence. You would probably only find this out when you actually go to cancel!

 

[justinbrett]

Those are the QF fare conditions. I don't think Amex's website is capable is pulling the fare conditions from two separate fare bases... ie. the QF fare AND the HA fare. For cancellation conditions, the HA fare conditions are more restrictive so they take precedence. You would probably only find this out when you actually go to cancel!

Oh, I think they’ve just included them both. Just found this further down:

TICKET IS NON-REFUNDABLE.
Menu Contact Us
NOTE - TEXT BELOW NOT VALIDATED FOR AUTOPRICING. ---
FULL VALUE OF A WHOLLY UNUSED TICKET MAY BE APPLIED TOWARDS PURCHASE OF A NEW TICKET PRICED AT FARE LEVELS CURRENTLY IN EFFECT AT THE TIME THE NEW TICKET IS BEING ISSUED. ANY DIFFERENCE
IN FARE PLUS THE CHANGE FEE WILL BE COLLECTED AT THE TIME THE NEW TICKET IS ISSUED. THE
VALUE OF THE NEW TICKET MUST BE EQUAL TO OR HIGHER THAN TH VALUE OF THE ORIGINAL TICKET.
---
THE NON-REFUNDABLE CANCELLATION AMOUNT OF THE TICKET BEING EXCHANGED REMAINS NON-REFUNDABLE AND CARRIED FORWARD IN THE ENDORSEMENT BOX OF THE NEW TICKET
---
IF THESE FARES ARE COMBINED WITH OTHER FARES THAT REQUIRE A PENALTY FOR CANCELLATION - PENALTIES FOR CANCELLATION WILL BE APPLIED BASED ON THE MOST RESTRICTIVE PENALTY
PER ROUNDTRIP FARE ON THE TICKET.

You lose your AMEX credit anyway so this is not a fare you want to cancel.