Originally Posted by nako
The flights are booked using AA IncentiveTrAAvel certs, IIRC, so will earn miles and points corresponding to the cert itself. The US/Canada certs will likely book into S, and the Hawaii certs will book into V.
If this is really how they're booked (any way to verify before actually booking it?), does that mean they could be upgraded with 500-mile upgrades, based on your AA status? (Do you give HHonors your AAdvantage number so that it shows up in your My Reservations once it's booked?)
If so, that's another big advantage over using AA miles (whether through SPG Amex or some other source). Going through SPG Amex, you would have the ability to mix with miles from other sources, but you would either need a coach award or a much more expensive business award to Hawaii, you couldn't just get a coach award and then upgrade it. Also, for those just on the margin of whatever elite requalification they need, an award on which you earn EQMs is of great value compared to an award on which you don't.
Btw, another poster mentioned SPG Amex allows you to mix with AA miles. True. But OTOH if you're with HHonors anyway (not just the credit card), you're probably earning points anyway (not just the credit card, if even the credit card), so this is of useful info just to all those people who've been hoarding their HHonors points not seeing much good-valued use for them other than Scandics.
(On the other other hand, if you DO get to Scandinavia or other places with Scandics, only 10k HHonors points for each 100+ Euro night means that IF used there, 100k HHonors points are worth $1200+ and up. Does a Hawaii coach fare from California cost that much?)