Nashville to Bora Bora
 

I am trying to travel from Nashville to Bora Bora in the summer of 2011 using mostly rewards points (I am open to paying some as needed) for about 7 days and I have so many combinations of points and transfer options that I am banging my head against the wall.

This is my first post (I was not sure where to post this) and I have spent hours researching on FlyerTalk in the multiple forums for all of my points accounts but I have not been able to come to a conclusion and have become overwhelmed and would be greatly appreciative of any help.

Here is my situation as far as awards points are concerned (Numbers are approximate):

SPG points Available = Approximately 83,000
American Express Rewards Points = Approximately 100,000 Total (50,000 in my account and 50,000 in my wife's)
American Airlines AAdvantage Miles = 128,000 Total (52,000 in my accound and 76,000 in my wife's)
United Miles = 110,000 Total (60,000 in my accound and 50,000 in my wife's)

Assumptions and/or things I am considering or have found during research and other random facts or ideas:

1. At this point (Also open to changing) I am assuming that I am going to use my AAdvantage points to transfer into HHonors points a 2:1 in order to cover 4 night at the Hilton Bora Bora (Will probably pay for one or two more or use some other transfer option to cover any other nights) but this is a variable because it depends what miles I need to use to get there.

2. It looks like my travel will be from Nashville to Los Angeles to Papeete to Bora Bora but between the Star Alliance, my AAdvantage miles, my United miles, and my American Express points I cannot figure out the best way to get there. Hawaiian Airlines to Honolulu to Papeete or Air Tahiti Nui from Los Angeles to Papeete (If this is even a real possibility)........etc, etc

3. I am not certain how many nights to say that I am staying because it depends on how long it takes to get us there. We are planning to be gone for 7 total days but that could give or take a day or two as needed.

4. My available travel dates would be about June 10th - July 20th (Wife is a teacher)

5. I am not certain how well I will be able to combine my wife and use my points for United and/or AAdvantage or American Express considering our points are in different accounts (Hers and mine).

Please correct ANY assumptions that I have made. They are based on what I have found in the different forums in my research but they are just assumptions and I am new to ALL of this.

I apologize in advance if this is the wrong forum but my question has so many rewards categories involved I did not know where to go with it.

Last of all, THANKS!

Welcome.

you might consider going through Star Alliance, in particular ANA Program, that may be the best way to use both AmEx and UA miles for flights. ANA will give you access to Air NZ. From what I've seen on other posts, FF access to Tahiti is difficult...but an early start is the best approach. Good luck.

The first assumption is the HH will be available. Check the award availability (VIP stay will be a better value) before transfer from AA to HH. VIP silver is easy and free with the HHonors Amex card. Here's the link for the award chart: http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/hotels/s...howLinks=false

Welcome to FT.

You may want to re-think using points for any hotel in French Polynesia. Unless you've got tons of points to burn, I don't think it's worth using them for over-inflated award nights at the resorts. The value just isn't there.

Do you have status with any of the hotel chains? You can get some good rates and enjoy upgrades if you've got the right level of status.

We've flown Air Tahiti Nui from LAX to PPT and found economy class to be very comfortable. That will take 75,000 American Airlines AAdvantage miles per ticket. Your wife has enough for one ticket in her account and then you could transfer some SPG points into your account to get the other award ticket. Just be sure to call Air Tahiti Nui and get seating assignments together. Otherwise, you may not be able to get seats together when you check in at the Air Tahiti desk in LAX.

To check availability, get a subscription to ExpertFlyer.com. I did a check for you and there is availability on TN7 (LAX-PPT) on June 10 (1 first class seat and six economy available) and you could return on June 17 on TN101 (1 first class seat and four economy available).

Of course, with this air schedule you'll have a forced overnight in Tahiti upon arrival. We recently stayed at the InterContinental Tahiti and it was perfect to sleep off the jet lag.

I believe that Hawaiian Airlines only flies direct from HNL to PPT once a week so you'd need to time that right. ExpertFlyer shows the following availability:
HA481 HNL–PPT on June 11, 2011 (7 economy seats available); again, you'll have a forced overnight stay in Tahiti
HA482 PPT-HNL on June 18, 2011 (7 economy seats available)

Bora Bora is gorgeous so you'll have a fantastic trip no matter how you get there or where you stay. Good luck with your plans!

THis would be a good time to sign up for one of the current Citi promo's and net enough miles each to cover the tickets

I would suggest using the 75K link and each person apply for 2 personal cards each. If approved, one would add 150K AA miles to each account. The total spend required would be $1500/card within 4 months for $6K total.

I am familiar with Star Alliance but not with the "ANA Program". I will research this on FlyerTalk and check back. I think I had difficulty finding a reasonable option using Air NZ where I did not have to go to New Zealand first but I will confirm if that is true or not.

I have checked several date ranges in June and July and I seem to be able to get 5 nights at the Holton Bora Bora using reward points. I don't know exactly what you mean by "VIP Silver" (It looks like I can get 5 nights at a category 7 for 200,000 instead of 250,000) is but I am more than willing to apply for that card if it will give it to me and it will help :)

You are right but I have two young kids so I don't get out with just my wife much and I asked her where she wanted to go and she said here so I am going to try and make it happen (Unless it gets ridiculous) :)

No status at all at this point. I am brand new to this whole concept....But I am trying!

This sounds like a great option. I will begin looking into this possibility. If I took this route I could use my United miles to fly us to LAX and then only have to worry about the transport from PPT to Bora Bora which shouldn't be too big of a deal.....Although if I use my AAdvantage miles to fly there I will have to figure out what to do about a hotel (Which might mean I just pay for lodging somewhere) because I won't have any AAdvantage miles to turn into HHonors points.

I had never heard of ExpertFlyer until about two weeks ago when I started scowering FlyerTalk (It took me a bit to figure out what "EF" was) but I am definitely going to look into this.

I have not been able to figure out any way that I will not have to do an overnight. No biggie, I will do so if I have to.

I have signed up for what I can at this point. I starting rejected for too many cards.

Thanks for all you thoughts so far!

I completely get trying to make your wife happy but chances are when she gave you that answer she really didn't have nearly the information that you have now or the information many have on this board. If she really understood the travel time involved, and cost and the limited amount of time you have to travel, would she still do it. Lots of people dream of Bora Bora but its really not feasible for most.

First: 7 days including travel time is just too short. You will be lucky to go door to door in under 24 hours and that is doubtful. I doubt you get anything more than 4 full days. Just not worth the time and expense that you are going to incur.

2nd: understand how expensive bora bora is. Just know that you are going to spend a ton. Do you want to be somewhere where you feel you can't afford a decent dinner.

IMO, south Pacific needs at least 10 days and ideally two weeks. This applies to much of Asia. The Hilton though is a good value there. Its Starwood that has some outrageous points requirements. Personally I think you should get more time off or go somewhere closer. Just think the vacation will be more memorable and you won't blow your whole points savings on four days.

Another thing to consider - you can get to AA flights via BA miles, often for less BA miles than you would pay in AA miles. So you could leverage into AA flights this way.

Huh???
Using points for ICH and HH (as intended by OP) hotels in FP offers some of the best values possible.

OP, we have Australia/South Pacific forum - perhaps you should research your options there.

I believe we are the only couple who DONT care for French Polynesia. Been there done that, and were not impressed. It is highly over-rated, For such long distance travel towards that direction Australia would be our choice (been there 4 times since 2003 and probably will be there again next year.)

Your time is too short for such a long journey as hindukid explains it well and I totally agree with his reasoning.

If you MUST do French Polynesia, a cruise in that region is probably a better value than staying in a resort at Bora Bora. The restaurant bills can be quite shocking in case you haven't done much research. There is no cheap alternative unlike other popular tourist spots in the world. A cruise offers you a cabin, all the foods (decent enough and probably is better than 85% of the foods you would have on land at French Polynesia), AND transportation from island to island so your scenery is not static but dynamic, moving and changing...

I guess that is part of my question here. Is it possible to get there in 24 hours? If not, that would certainly be a variable in the scenario working against the logic of making this trip. Especially considering that I would likely have the same issue both coming and going (Obviously)

I am by no means made of money but I know that it will be expensive as heck when we get there and I am more okay with it the more options I can get covered by points for travel and hotel

For a first post you've done well - good background on your situation and you hit a topic I think a number of uss are interested in. I too would like to plan something like this out. Definately a post to follow as it develops. Please keep us updated on your findings -great stuff!

You might want to call American Airlines and ask about the awards to Bora Bora. The coach reward includes round-trip tickets from your home airport and back. No need to use your miles for travel from home to La. We flew last Dec from Little Rock to La, caught late evening flight to Bora Bora on Air Tahiti Nui. These tickets go fast and your window of opportunity will be tight.

Thanks! You guys speak your own language around here :)

I am assuming you mean LAX to PPT (I have not found any way to go straight to Bora Bora yet). Assuming that is what you meant, I would be curious how you went from PPT to Bora Bora? Did you take a small plane? What airline?

Thanks again!