LAX to Honolulu - which program is best for me?
#2
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: SJC/SFO
Programs: UA lifetime gold; Hilton Gold; Marriott/SPG Plat; Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,954
Sounds like a simple question but it is a loaded one.
What are you looking for in loyalty
What are your travel patterns
Are you flying coach or first
Are you very price sensitive
Do you plan on frequent last minute changes
Are you collecting miles for something specific
Are you already collecting points with a credit card
Once you give us some more information I am sure somebody will guide through the decision.
What are you looking for in loyalty
What are your travel patterns
Are you flying coach or first
Are you very price sensitive
Do you plan on frequent last minute changes
Are you collecting miles for something specific
Are you already collecting points with a credit card
Once you give us some more information I am sure somebody will guide through the decision.
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,016
PatrickNJ Welcome to FT
A very loaded and subjective question. Look here:- http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/infor...help-here.html
#4
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Honolulu, HI
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA Exec Plat
Posts: 1,240
LAX to Honolulu
I travel often in this route. For Hawaii based flyers who are price sensitive on LA-HNL, the best frequent flyer program is AA. You get about 5K elite miles on a roundtrip, 10K redeemable miles if you have top status. To match that number of reward miles on this route on DL or UA, you need to spend $909 before taxes on a roundtrip. That's more than double the typical fare in this route.
On AA, Upgrades for executive platinums are pretty good. However, if you don't plan to achieve that status, you'll have to spend your certificates or pay for the upgrade.
UA and DL doesn't give as many miles, but provide complementary upgrades for low levels. They're hit or miss in these flights, but I have known golds who clear about 50% of the time depending on the day of the week.
On AA, Upgrades for executive platinums are pretty good. However, if you don't plan to achieve that status, you'll have to spend your certificates or pay for the upgrade.
UA and DL doesn't give as many miles, but provide complementary upgrades for low levels. They're hit or miss in these flights, but I have known golds who clear about 50% of the time depending on the day of the week.
#5
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: NRT / HND
Programs: AA EXP, NH Plat, Former UA 1K
Posts: 5,665
How many miles can you fly in a year? Are you doing this route weekly, monthly, semi-annually?
Agree with others here, if you can get 100k elite qualifying miles a year, do AA hands down (at least in the current environment). If not that much but if you can make mid-tier of 50k or 75k then United and Delta start to look better.
If you're paying for F that changes things significantly and I'd then go for seat comfort. From LAX if I recall correctly, all 3 of the majors have domestic F but Hawaiian has a marginally better hard product on their A330
Agree with others here, if you can get 100k elite qualifying miles a year, do AA hands down (at least in the current environment). If not that much but if you can make mid-tier of 50k or 75k then United and Delta start to look better.
If you're paying for F that changes things significantly and I'd then go for seat comfort. From LAX if I recall correctly, all 3 of the majors have domestic F but Hawaiian has a marginally better hard product on their A330
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,016
#8
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend, Moderator, Information Desk, Ambassador, Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: FAI
Programs: AS MVP Gold100K, AS 1MM, Maika`i Card, AGR, HH Gold, Hertz PC, Marriott Titanium LTG, CO, 7H, BA, 8E
Posts: 42,953
It is a good flight option if driving that far south is reasonable for you.
I like it myself, but tend to connect from somewhere else like BOS or SEA.
#11
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: NRT / HND
Programs: AA EXP, NH Plat, Former UA 1K
Posts: 5,665
Avios are great if you can redeem on point to point flights, but actually AA miles tend to be better on connecting flights, especially going long haul when you might need 2 connections. Avios also are weak for domestic first class on AA.
I have personally found good use for Avios but it depends on where the user wants to redeem to, if HNL based then your choice of destinations without a connection is extremely limited.
I have personally found good use for Avios but it depends on where the user wants to redeem to, if HNL based then your choice of destinations without a connection is extremely limited.
#12
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
One more day until the big Avios devaluation.
For the OP, Alaska might be the ticket. Good partnerships, economical and decent service and various Hawai'i flights.
For the OP, Alaska might be the ticket. Good partnerships, economical and decent service and various Hawai'i flights.