Running late with winter 2024 award tickets redemptions?
No worries, you’ve got this! Here’s the situation: it’s August, and I’m just now scrambling to figure out our winter 2024 travel plans. Yep, not a classic me. My family, including my freshman-to-be who’s more indecisive than ever, finally settled on Asia as our destination. But by then, all the sweet, direct flight award seats were long gone. You can’t blame us though; trying to secure three or four seats on the same flight at this point? It’s like trying to catch a unicorn.
No one said travel planning for a family of four was easy. Last year, I did it right when I snagged those business class tickets from San Francisco to Australia by jumping on them the second they became available. For that 7-week summer extravaganza, I was all over the place – making last-minute changes, reworking our entire Asia itinerary. Stressful? Yes. But also, totally worth it.
Now, with just a few months to go before our winter break, and peak travel season on the horizon, the pressure’s on. But this is where a little creativity and flexibility come into play.
Here’s the game plan: let me show you how Hawaiian Airlines might just save the day (and my bank account by over $8,000!). Whether you’re planning for spring or summer 2025, these tips could be your ticket to family travel success. Plus, I’ll share two savvy strategies that can help you pull off a win outside the usual flight award window.
Ready to make your journey “more exciting”? Let’s dive in!
#1 Maximizing Your Route Options
The minute I start planning, I’m all about finding those layover and stopover options. As much as I’m knee-deep in miles and points, I don’t have every single route memorized. That’s why tools like “Google Flights” and “FlightsConnection” are my go-to. Case in point: when searching for a flight from San Francisco to Seoul with a stop, I uncovered a goldmine of choices. While many routes were already booked, one that stood out was flying through Honolulu.
I can’t stress enough how important it is to think outside the box with award travel. Just when you think all hope is lost, a hidden gem pops up. Like the route through Honolulu. So, embrace the process, get creative, and turn what seems like a travel nightmare into an opportunity for an epic adventure!
#2 Finding The Ultimate Comfort On A Long-Haul Flight
Let’s be real: ideally, we’d fly straight from San Francisco to Seoul with a quick stop in Honolulu. But everyone and their dog wants to go to Honolulu. With our departure just four months away, the award redemptions and cash ticket prices were sky-high. Hawaiian Airlines wants 50,000 miles of it’s frequent flyer program (HawaiianMiles) per person for a main cabin seat, and cash tickets ranged from $249 to $500 each. So, I have to pass on that San Francisco to Honolulu leg (I’ll get to how I navigated that in a bit).
But the real challenge here? The 11-hour haul across the Pacific from Honolulu to Seoul.
My strategy: aim for a lie-flat seat for that stretch.
After all, regional flights are no biggie in comparison. Now, Hawaiian Airlines isn’t part of a major alliance, but they’re in talks about merging with Alaska Airlines. For now, they’ve got partnerships with American Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Japan Airlines, China Airlines, and Korean Air. Stay tuned as I dig deeper into the details and share how to navigate these challenges. Because believe me, if I can pull this off, so can you!
Here are two redemption options I’ve found for our group of four flying from Honolulu to Seoul during winter break. Both will keep us comfortable on that long transpacific flight and, best of all, save us a cool $8,100 out of pocket!
- Using Hawaiian Airlines Miles:
First up, Hawaiian Airlines has four business class saver awards available on this route. We’re talking about an Airbus A330 with a 2-2-2 seat configuration. Not fancy but absolute game-changer. The cost: 65,000 miles of HawaiianMiles one-way per person, plus a mere $6 in taxes.
🔥🔥Here’s where it gets even better: from now through August 31, 2024, there’s a 20% transfer bonus from American Express Membership Rewards (Amex MR) to HawaiianMiles. So, instead of 65,000 miles, this 11-hour lie-flat business award ticket will only set us back 55,000 miles per person.
🔥🔥[Update] Hawaiian Airlines just rolled out a 50% bonus points promo, running until September 13, 2024. This is your golden ticket to slash the cost of a business class seat by over 45%. Imagine flying from Honolulu to Seoul in style next summer, all while saving big. Let’s break it down:
- Using American Airlines Miles for Hawaiian Airlines
American Airlines is also showing Hawaiian Airlines ‘s four business class award seats for 52,500 miles each, plus $5.60 in taxes. While American Airlines miles don’t have any major bank transfer partners, if you’ve been building up your stash, this is a fantastic option. And let’s not forget, earning American Airlines miles is easier than it sounds – I’ve managed to rack up enough for two transpacific business class award tickets without even boarding a plane.
Not only will we be maximizing comfort on our transpacific journey, but we’ll also be saving a small fortune ($8,100!!). With options like these, winter break is shaping up to be smooth and budget-friendly!
The Hidden Gems Of Flying Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian Airlines has some seriously tempting non-stop flights to dream destinations like Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, American Samoa, and Tahiti (French Polynesia). For those of us eyeing Asia, they’ve got it covered with routes to some of the most sought-after spots.
But what about scoring award flights for the whole family? You’ll be pleased to know it’s not as hard as you might think! Hawaiian Airlines often has two saver business class award seats available on routes to Fukuoka and Tokyo (Narita), a surprising four seats on the Seoul route, and up to a generous six seats on the Sydney route. And the best part? The availability is solid for many days from spring through summer 2025.
Let’s break down some of the top routes and the miles you’ll need:
Honolulu – Seoul
- Using Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles: 65,000 miles + $6 in taxes (but only 55,000 miles after the 20% transfer bonus from Amex MR!)
- Using American Airlines AAdvantage: 52,500 miles + $5.60 in taxes
Seoul – Honolulu
- Using Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles: 65,000 miles + $37 in taxes (but only 55,000 miles after the 20% transfer bonus from Amex MR!)
- Using American Airlines AAdvantage: 52,500 miles + $36.7 in taxes
Honolulu – Fukuoka
- Using Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles: 65,000 miles + $6 in taxes (but only 55,000 miles after the 20% transfer bonus from Amex MR!)
- Using American Airlines AAdvantage: 52,500 miles + $5.6 in taxes
Honolulu – Tokyo (Narita)
- Using Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles: 65,000 miles + $6 in taxes (but only 55,000 miles after the 20% transfer bonus from Amex MR!)
- Using American Airlines AAdvantage: 52,500 miles + $5.6 in taxes
Sydney – Honolulu
- Using Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles: 65,000 miles + $86 in taxes (but only 55,000 miles after the 20% transfer bonus from Amex MR!)
- Using American Airlines AAdvantage: 65,000 miles + $85.9 in taxes
Honolulu – Sydney
- Using Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles: 65,000 miles + $27 in taxes (but only 55,000 miles after the 20% transfer bonus from Amex MR!)
- Using American Airlines AAdvantage: 65,000 miles + $26.9 in taxes
Booking A Stopover With HawaiianMiles – Is It Worth It?
Now, let’s talk stopovers. While airlines like Air Canada Aeroplan and Alaska Airlines offer great stopover policies (up to 14 days free with Alaska or 45 days for just 5,000 miles with Aeroplan), Hawaiian Airlines doesn’t have this option at the moment. But fingers crossed, this might change if the rumored merger with Alaska Airlines goes through!
For example, if you book a trip from Seoul to Honolulu with a 3-day stopover before continuing to San Francisco, it won’t actually save you any miles. The total would be 65,000 miles for the first leg and 40,000 miles for the second, totaling 105,000 miles. Your best bet to maximize your miles is to jump on the 20% transfer bonus from Amex Membership Rewards, available through August 31, 2024. This reduces the redemption to 87,500 miles of HawaiianMiles (Amex MR points) per person for a lie-flat business class seat – a much more manageable number for a family of four.
That said, I’d suggest considering a different carrier for the domestic leg to San Francisco. You might find a better deal and enjoy more flexibility in planning your trip.
How Easy To Earn Hawaiian Airlines Award Miles?
Credit cards are a great way to earn Hawaiian Airlines award miles.
- Flexible Points Through Transfer Partners
Amex Gold offers a welcome offer of 60,000 MR points, which equals to 60,000 Avios. Despite the $325 annual fee, it includes up to $424 annual credit, making this card be worth to have for long term. Now, it comes with 20% back in statement credits up to $100 back.
- Co-Branded Credit Cards:
There is an elevated sign-up bonus of 70,000 Hawaiian Airlines miles by Bank of Hawaii / Barclays Hawaiian Airlines co-branded card after spending $2,000 within three months.
How To Earn American Airlines Award Miles
American Airlines has co-branded cards in the U.S: Citi / AAdvantage Executive, Citi / AAdvantage Business, just name a few. The following two offer elevated welcome bonus at the moment:
- Barclays AAdvantage Aviator
Earn sign-up bonus of 70,000 miles after making the first purchase within the first 90 days, and adding an authorized user who makes the first purchase within the first 90 days.
It has recently an increased sign-up bonus of 75,000 American Airlines miles after spending $3,500 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening. The annual fee is $99, waived for first 12 months.
Final Thoughts
I know, planning a last-minute family award trip can feel like navigating a maze, blindfolded, and with a time limit. But don’t let the uncertainty stop you from uncovering those hidden gems and seizing unexpected opportunities. Finding Hawaiian Airlines was a total game-changer for me, letting me save over $8,000 on our trip. The award ticket redemption game has shifted recently, but with these two strategies and a few Hawaiian Airlines secrets up your sleeve, you can fly across the ocean in style and comfort with your family for your spring and summer 2025. Happy travels!
