Using American Express Reward Points
 

I have American Express Rewards points and would like to use them to purchase interisland tickets. How do I go about getting these tickets? Do I need to contact American Express or Hawaiin Airlines?

Thanks a bunch!

Call Hawaiian to check availability. If they have it, set up an FF account and then call Amex to transfer your points to HA miles. Takes about three business days.

Is Amex partnered with AA or NWA? If so, getting the ticket through Hawaiian may not be the best option.

Hawaiian Airlines wants 10,000 miles for an interisland ticket, whereas AA and NWA only want 5,000 for the same Hawaiian Air ticket. You could save 50% of your points.

Although you will save 50% miles, there is more of a hassle factor using AA or NWA -- since these would be awards on partner airlines, you will have to get paper tickets sent to you through the mail.

Also, if you decide you want to change the dates of the flight after the ticket is sent to you, I think AA will (or shortly in the future start to) charge a change fee. With Hawaiian (and possibly with a NWA reward), this isn't the case.

Amex MR is not partnered with AA or NW, so this FT'er is stuck with 10000 MR=10000 HA = 1 interisland ticket. NW is the best bet by far if you have the miles - better availability than AA and no change fee as yet.

We fly Hawaiian Airlines often. One-way inter-island tickets are 5,000 HA miles. I don't know where the previous poster came up with the 10,000 miles figure. It does cost 10,000 miles for a first class one-way ticket, but not for economy. (In my opinion, unless you have miles or money to burn, it is not worth paying extra for the very short inter-island first class seats.) We have also transferred American Express rewards points to our HA miles accounts with no problems.

Mary,

For 5,000 on HA, you only get a one-way ticket. You need 10,000 for a round-trip ticket. For the same 5,000 on NW, you get a round-trip ticket.

FYI -
5,000 UA miles for a RT ticket on AQ
5,000 AA/NW miles for a RT ticket on HA
10,000 CO miles for a RT ticket on HA
5,000 HA miles for oneway ticket

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