Originally Posted by jackal

An even better use of miles is 120,000 miles for that routing in business, which starts at $8,750 and goes up from there.

That's 50% more miles for what would ordinarily cost over 400% more money. And Air France's business class is great, from what I hear.

(You could do 160,000 miles for the same routing on British Airways First Class, which starts at around $14,000--100% more miles for 700% the fare--but AF's business is almost as nice and you avoid the BA fuel surcharge.)

Even if you don't want to spend the extra miles for the upper classes (and if you've never flown international premium classes, trust me--it's WAY worth it and makes AS's "first" class look about as nice as a lumpy old motel mattress), I'd say spend the $800 to go to HI and then treat yourself to an excursion to Europe, South Africa, or even Australia (all can be had for 80-85,000 miles in coach).