Help with planning a Maui honeymoon on points/miles for my son
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 29
Help with planning a Maui honeymoon on points/miles for my son
Son is getting married December 1, 2018. Would like to give him a honeymoon trip to Maui. He lives in Birmingham, Alabama. I don't mind using all of my points/miles to make this happen (husband's too)! I've looked at booking 1st class seats through SA with UA miles and can't find any saver fares. I would love to at least fly them from the west coast to Hawaii first class. That flight from the east coast about killed my husband and me years ago! Here is our miles/points balances:
UR points; husband 221,000; me 123000
MR points: me 53000
UA miles: husband 60000: me 87000
AA miles: husband 110000 me 67000
We have a few thousand points in Marriott, Hilton, SPG and IHG but nothing significant.
ALL suggestions appreciated. I've booked flights for my son with my AA miles but not sure if it's that easy with UA miles? My son also has the AA card and has around 50,000 miles himself. He's young so that's his first mileage/points card.
UR points; husband 221,000; me 123000
MR points: me 53000
UA miles: husband 60000: me 87000
AA miles: husband 110000 me 67000
We have a few thousand points in Marriott, Hilton, SPG and IHG but nothing significant.
ALL suggestions appreciated. I've booked flights for my son with my AA miles but not sure if it's that easy with UA miles? My son also has the AA card and has around 50,000 miles himself. He's young so that's his first mileage/points card.
#2
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,093
Son is getting married December 1, 2018. Would like to give him a honeymoon trip to Maui. He lives in Birmingham, Alabama. I don't mind using all of my points/miles to make this happen (husband's too)! I've looked at booking 1st class seats through SA with UA miles and can't find any saver fares. I would love to at least fly them from the west coast to Hawaii first class. That flight from the east coast about killed my husband and me years ago! Here is our miles/points balances:
UR points; husband 221,000; me 123000
MR points: me 53000
UA miles: husband 60000: me 87000
AA miles: husband 110000 me 67000
We have a few thousand points in Marriott, Hilton, SPG and IHG but nothing significant.
ALL suggestions appreciated. I've booked flights for my son with my AA miles but not sure if it's that easy with UA miles? My son also has the AA card and has around 50,000 miles himself. He's young so that's his first mileage/points card.
UR points; husband 221,000; me 123000
MR points: me 53000
UA miles: husband 60000: me 87000
AA miles: husband 110000 me 67000
We have a few thousand points in Marriott, Hilton, SPG and IHG but nothing significant.
ALL suggestions appreciated. I've booked flights for my son with my AA miles but not sure if it's that easy with UA miles? My son also has the AA card and has around 50,000 miles himself. He's young so that's his first mileage/points card.
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 29
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Intermountain West
Programs: Too many to list
Posts: 12,038
Interisland flts are cheapest with UA miles. Only 6K o/w. AA & HA require 7500.
What airline is "SA"? Or is that your abbreviation for San Antonio (SAT)?
Great gift, IMHO.
If you decide to xfer UR to UA combine them first. That way they call all go into one UA acct. UA First Everyday awards are 180K each r/t. So 360K total. Then, you may not have ALL segments in First. Don't think I would do that.
What airline is "SA"? Or is that your abbreviation for San Antonio (SAT)?
Great gift, IMHO.
If you decide to xfer UR to UA combine them first. That way they call all go into one UA acct. UA First Everyday awards are 180K each r/t. So 360K total. Then, you may not have ALL segments in First. Don't think I would do that.
Last edited by philemer; Feb 19, 2018 at 12:43 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 29
Interisland flts are cheapest with UA miles. Only 6K o/w. AA & HA require 7500.
What airline is "SA"? Or is that your abbreviation for San Antonio (SAT)?
Great gift, IMHO.
If you decide to xfer UR to UA combine them first. That way they call all go into one UA acct. UA First Everyday awards are 180K each r/t. So 360K total. Then, you may not have ALL segments in First. Don't think I would do that.
What airline is "SA"? Or is that your abbreviation for San Antonio (SAT)?
Great gift, IMHO.
If you decide to xfer UR to UA combine them first. That way they call all go into one UA acct. UA First Everyday awards are 180K each r/t. So 360K total. Then, you may not have ALL segments in First. Don't think I would do that.
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Intermountain West
Programs: Too many to list
Posts: 12,038
#7
Join Date: May 2012
Location: HNL
Programs: AS MVPG, HA Plat
Posts: 1,261
Consider AA through DFW, maybe cash (or UR through the portal) outbound in premium economy and anytime awards in first for the return. Nice product and often can be had for 67.5K OW, which isn't as good as a saver award but not so bad.
For hotels, UR to Hyatt may be your only decent option).
For hotels, UR to Hyatt may be your only decent option).
#8
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: DAY
Programs: Rapid Rewards, Skymiles, Hilton HHonors, SPG/Marriott Rewards
Posts: 4,897
Interisland flts are cheapest with UA miles. Only 6K o/w. AA & HA require 7500.
What airline is "SA"? Or is that your abbreviation for San Antonio (SAT)?
Great gift, IMHO.
If you decide to xfer UR to UA combine them first. That way they call all go into one UA acct. UA First Everyday awards are 180K each r/t. So 360K total. Then, you may not have ALL segments in First. Don't think I would do that.
What airline is "SA"? Or is that your abbreviation for San Antonio (SAT)?
Great gift, IMHO.
If you decide to xfer UR to UA combine them first. That way they call all go into one UA acct. UA First Everyday awards are 180K each r/t. So 360K total. Then, you may not have ALL segments in First. Don't think I would do that.
#9
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: DAY
Programs: Rapid Rewards, Skymiles, Hilton HHonors, SPG/Marriott Rewards
Posts: 4,897
Son is getting married December 1, 2018. Would like to give him a honeymoon trip to Maui. He lives in Birmingham, Alabama. I don't mind using all of my points/miles to make this happen (husband's too)! I've looked at booking 1st class seats through SA with UA miles and can't find any saver fares. I would love to at least fly them from the west coast to Hawaii first class. That flight from the east coast about killed my husband and me years ago! Here is our miles/points balances:
UR points; husband 221,000; me 123000
MR points: me 53000
UA miles: husband 60000: me 87000
AA miles: husband 110000 me 67000
We have a few thousand points in Marriott, Hilton, SPG and IHG but nothing significant.
ALL suggestions appreciated. I've booked flights for my son with my AA miles but not sure if it's that easy with UA miles? My son also has the AA card and has around 50,000 miles himself. He's young so that's his first mileage/points card.
UR points; husband 221,000; me 123000
MR points: me 53000
UA miles: husband 60000: me 87000
AA miles: husband 110000 me 67000
We have a few thousand points in Marriott, Hilton, SPG and IHG but nothing significant.
ALL suggestions appreciated. I've booked flights for my son with my AA miles but not sure if it's that easy with UA miles? My son also has the AA card and has around 50,000 miles himself. He's young so that's his first mileage/points card.
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 29
Thank you! I booked them economy saver to Maui. Did a subscription to expertflyer to try and find award business/first saver with anyone anywhere! Can't find anything! Looks like I may have to follow your advice on the flight home also!
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Intermountain West
Programs: Too many to list
Posts: 12,038
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 29
Update. I am now looking at hotels. It IS a honeymoon but these kids are young and adventurous! They won't be sitting on a beach or at a pool. They will be taking snorkeling trips, biking, hiking, etc. They would love to do a whale watching trip also. So, what would you recommend for a hotel? Also, do the Hyatt properties waive the resort fees if I am a cardholder booking for family? That is supposed to be a benefit of being a cardholder.
#13
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA, DL
Posts: 7,402
For OP - you are likely to have a hard time finding saver First/Business tickets because everybody wants to do the same thing as you, so they can sell them for "full" miles price. In light of that you might consider simply paying cash for the F tickets - a couple of years ago there was only about a $200 premium for F, at least when I was flying. Yes, it's not miles, but you can use the miles for a better return some other way.
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 29
Consider AA through DFW, maybe cash (or UR through the portal) outbound in premium economy and anytime awards in first for the return. Nice product and often can be had for 67.5K OW, which isn't as good as a saver award but not so bad.
For hotels, UR to Hyatt may be your only decent option).
For hotels, UR to Hyatt may be your only decent option).
#15
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 8
What level of member are you? I know they waive the resort fees if you're a high enough member. And I think they do waive them if you're a member and you're booking the nights on points.