Unable to book SYD-HNL with Hawaiian

[SheikYerbouti]

I want to fly SYD - HNL. This is a Hawaiian Airlines route.

I can book online through the VA website but it routes me through SFA or LAX with UA. I want to fly directly and save about 10 hrs in the plane.

The VA website says to book or redeem flights on Hawaiian, to call the VFF contact centre.

I rang the VFF contact centre, and they said "We do not offer that route. You can try to book directly with the airline." They confirmed I was unable to purchase a fare, or redeem VFF points for a fare.

So.... with the new VFF status rules, I need to fly on a VA flight number. I recently flew SYD-LAX on United with a VA flight number, easily booked online. So I am trying, but VA won't let me. Seems a bit rich to demand we fly on flights that they won't sell.

But no can do for Hawaiian. Am I missing something? Is the Hawaiian partnership not really a partnership? Was the call centre operator an idiot?

I'm confused.

 

[justinbrett]

I don’t think they’ve codeshared on HA since Covid. You can still earn and redeem points flying HA but that’s the extent of it, no status recognition or other benefits. HA still codeshares on VA domestic.

The partnership will almost certainly be dissolved now they’re merging with AS.

You can almost never redeem points between SYD-HNL (or AKL-HNL) but I did just redeem points for HNL-LAS in J.

 

[MELso]

You book on HA and can (apparently, as I've never flown them) put in your VFF number to earn points/SCs: Hawaiian Airlines (EDIT SCs are earned on HA-coded flights)

The 'Book Now' link sends you off to Hawaiian Airlines to book.

To redeem through VFF, you need to call up (best to check AA/B6 for availability first though).

 

[justinbrett]

You book on HA and can (apparently, as I've never flown them) put in your VFF number to earn points/SCs: Hawaiian Airlines (EDIT SCs are earned on HA-coded flights)

You can earn points / SCs but you can no longer enter VA numbers online, you have to phone up. I have had two unsuccessful attempts doing it at the airport so I wouldn’t try that.

The SCs will be significantly reduced from October next year (and that’s if they’re still partners then).

 

[nthd_nthd]

I am not sure about paid flights but I just came back from Hawaii with Point flights booked with Velocity Points. But you need to find availability from AA then call Velocity to book with Points.

 

[randompunter]

I have had two unsuccessful attempts doing it at the airport so I wouldn’t try that.

So hit and miss. I had success adding it at the airport in HNL for two flights, one agent told me it was under VA in the list so wasnt obvious for her to find. I tried adding it a previous time using the Hawaiian Web chat and they said they'd done it but nothing ever posted.

 

[SheikYerbouti]

I am not sure about paid flights but I just came back from Hawaii with Point flights booked with Velocity Points. But you need to find availability from AA then call Velocity to book with Points.

I just rang and they said no, as per my post.

Post automatically merged: Dec 3, 2024

You book on HA and can (apparently, as I've never flown them) put in your VFF number to earn points/SCs: Hawaiian Airlines (EDIT SCs are earned on HA-coded flights)

The 'Book Now' link sends you off to Hawaiian Airlines to book.

To redeem through VFF, you need to call up (best to check AA/B6 for availability first though).

Yes I’ve flown Hawaiian with VFF number and received SCs but the new rules want us on VA flight numbers which may not exist with this “partner.”
I did call up and they said they don’t do it anymore.

 

[justinbrett]

I just rang and they said no, as per my post.

I just booked flights on Sunday.

But no availability this side of HNL. I got seats from HNL-LAS however.

I suspect if you were asking for SYD-HNL they probably didn't even bother checking as it's almost never available. You can still earn SCs at the old rates on HA until end of Sep 25.

 

[MELso]

I just rang and they said no, as per my post.

Post automatically merged: Dec 3, 2024

Yes I’ve flown Hawaiian with VFF number and received SCs but the new rules want us on VA flight numbers which may not exist with this “partner.”
I did call up and they said they don’t do it anymore.

1. Are you trying to get a cash or award fare (you talk about "book or redeem" flights)? If an award, check your dates on AA or B6 to get an idea of availability, then call in (FWIW, there's availability SYD-HNL showing thru AA on 27 and 28 December if you want to get away after Christmas).
2. While you'll need 50% of the SCs on VA codes going forward, SCs can be earned on any partner airline on the partner airline's code on cash fares (but not on awards). As @justinbrett noted, the SCs to be earned on HA are being 'enhanced' but not eliminated. See Changes to Status

 

[SheikYerbouti]

1. Are you trying to get a cash or award fare (you talk about "book or redeem" flights)? If an award, check your dates on AA or B6 to get an idea of availability, then call in (FWIW, there's availability SYD-HNL showing thru AA on 27 and 28 December if you want to get away after Christmas).
2. While you'll need 50% of the SCs on VA codes going forward, SCs can be earned on any partner airline on the partner airline's code on cash fares (but not on awards). As @justinbrett noted, the SCs to be earned on HA are being 'enhanced' but not eliminated. See Changes to Status

1. I asked for both, the rep said neither was available through them and I could only book directly with Hawaiian. So, I was told you cannot book OR redeem Hawaiian flights through VA/VFF. It's for July 2025 anyway.

2. I know, I regularly fly SQ/UA and collect VFF SCs, I am trying to adapt to the future state of needing 50% of SCs from VA-marketed flgihts, and I am disappointed that I can get a VA-marketed flight on UA or SQ planes, but not on Hawaiian.

 

[bcworld]

1. I asked for both, the rep said neither was available through them and I could only book directly with Hawaiian. So, I was told you cannot book OR redeem Hawaiian flights through VA/VFF. It's for July 2025 anyway.

2. I know, I regularly fly SQ/UA and collect VFF SCs, I am trying to adapt to the future state of needing 50% of SCs from VA-marketed flgihts, and I am disappointed that I can get a VA-marketed flight on UA or SQ planes, but not on Hawaiian.

If it's for July 2025 then the "new rules" are irrelevant - they don't come into effect until Oct 2025.

 

[justinbrett]

1. I asked for both, the rep said neither was available through them and I could only book directly with Hawaiian. So, I was told you cannot book OR redeem Hawaiian flights through VA/VFF. It's for July 2025 anyway.

2. I know, I regularly fly SQ/UA and collect VFF SCs, I am trying to adapt to the future state of needing 50% of SCs from VA-marketed flgihts, and I am disappointed that I can get a VA-marketed flight on UA or SQ planes, but not on Hawaiian.

I wonder if VA have been given a termination date for the partnership?

Weirdly on my redemption they had a dollar amount on it (but not that I had to pay it, it was covered by points). I've never seen that before on VA or QF redemptions. Is VA actually handing over cash to HA for this? This is only marginally cheaper than a cash fare. If so I just redeemed at 6.7c/point which is rather good!

 

[SheikYerbouti]

If it's for July 2025 then the "new rules" are irrelevant - they don't come into effect until Oct 2025.

I know that. I am trying to adapt by getting used to booking partner flights with a VA number.