Hawaii-based Airlines - Rate Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles

We are going to review Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles in the July issue of InsideFlyer magazine and would like your input.

If you would like to participate, please post your response in the thread with the pros and cons of membership in Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles and grade the program from A to F (A being the highest grade). You can include a plus or minus with the rating.

You can also respond directly to me at dmankell@insideflyer.com.
Thank you!

I just noticed this.

here are some of the pros:

Easy to see award availability on monthly calendar. Can switch between price in $$ and miles with one click. A+ feature.

One way awards, anytime they are available. You can mix and match cash and miles on a r/t itinerary. The paid direction is not an inflated one-way fare. A+ feature.

-David

Cons:

Way behind the curve in 'going green' when it comes to their statements.
No opt-out / paperless option at this time.

FC Upgrades require a LOT of miles.

Pros: Offers one-way award tickets; recently started offering option double or triple miles for an extra fee when purchasing a ticket
Cons: Limited partner airlines for redeeming miles

I think it is excellent. Have always been able to use points without problems to go coach, upgrade to 1st and 1st tickets. Their reservations agents are really nice and helpful, they always get flustered when I say salamat po (they are based in the Philippines and salamat po means thank you ... have always been assisted with courtesy and professionalism. Hope this helps.^

This is a good program, better than most. It was better in the past when you could book Alaska and America West flights to the Hawaiian Miles plan.

The best thing: sharing the miles with family members with the credit card. This makes the miles accumulating by my wife and kids worth something to me - I can put them into their accounts and the transfer them to myself, essentially lumping them together. Was better when Alaska and America West were in the program since my kids will not accumulate much and I could book their flights on these airlines to Hawaiin.

Worst thing: Current lack of quality partners.

The airline employees are pleasant and the flights are good quality.

Rating Mileage programs in this economic environment must be tough.

I would think the best in the business probably rates a D now. I would give HA a D. Given their lack of partners and increased mileage necessary for all bookings and lack of seats available for rewards that is all it is.

Having said that it is better than 90% of the other programs out there that likely are in the F category (excepting UA and AA which are barely acceptable also and would rate a D).

Air travel today has the elan and culture exhibited by a Greyhound or Trailways bus station of the 70's.

Perry