I am 1k. Get basically all my UAL miles on DEN-OGG-DEN. I got caught in this trap once. If I connect thru HNL (pain in the butt) with Hawaiian, the miles aren't PQ, and coming home they charge me for a bag.

UAL has the only DEN-OGG nonstop. I take it monthly, and it is always as plebian as "first class" as you can get. Worn out 757-200, old unwatchable CRT IFE, no wi-fi, poor food service... more than once I have argued to keep my 8E E+ seat rather than getting upgraded into 1E or 1F which have worse leg room than most economy seats. And the red eye coming home is worse on all counts.

I get a kick out of the fact that while I am 1k, I choose any other airline whenever I can. This route does it for me every year. For whatever it is worth.