Hawaii-based Airlines - Hawaiian Airlines mileage plan

On the Hawaiian website, the info about their mileage plan seems quite incomplete. I fly from Seattle to Manila several times a year, flew Hawaiian last time. If I'm reading their info correctly, they want 20,000 actual miles flown in a year to get to the first level, 50,000 actual miles to get to the second or top (poo-poo?) level. Top level earns double miles flown. The clinker: upgrades are verrrry expensive in terms of miles. Something like 100,000 miles EACH WAY for an upgrade from steerage to business class, from Seattle to Manila. I have read nothing at all about complimentary upgrades. Is this all true? Are they the stingiest mileage plan in the world? Anyone have experience in this (especially satisfactory experience)?

The clinker: upgrades are verrrry expensive in terms of miles. Something like 100,000 miles EACH WAY for an upgrade from steerage to business class, from Seattle to Manila. I have read nothing at all about complimentary upgrades. Is this all true? Are they the stingiest mileage plan in the world? Anyone have experience in this (especially satisfactory experience)?

No complimentary upgrades on anything except interisland for Platinums. They will fly a seat empty or put a non rev in F on long hauls.

When they announced their new redemption amounts about 5 months ago, I gave up on them. HA miles are easy to come by, and could normally get the 15K upgrade at 24hrs prior to departure. That went up to 25K and I said goodbye.

On the plus side, you get access to their awesome lounges with elite status. ;)

For people redeeming for coach awards, I do think their program is better than alot of others, but HA's route network is limited, and their partner awards seem like a headache from what I've read on the forum here.

No disagreement with anything the previous poster says.

One thing to add, though, is that HA Y awards between the mainland and Hawaii have historically been very easy to get and available even at the last minute.

Since they're booked as one-ways, that gives flexibility too.