Hello there, looking to take the family to HI (Kona) sometimes around april -> june.

Debating on whether it's worse using FF for it or buy the tickets outright.
I have enough miles for 4 Coach tickets, right now they run for about $840 on AA.

Is it worse using the miles or buying the tickets outright?

We do travel a lot and if I don't use the miles, planning on using em for our anniversary (sans-kids) for 2 first class somewhere.

Thoughts.

We went to KONA last May and are going back late april- early may this year again. we used miles for the tickets both times and found it to be well worth it. it saved the 3 of us about 2500. that money was better spent on activities, like when ly 3 yo son wanted to swim with the dolphins, take the boat ride, rent the paddle boats, i always said yes. i find i am much more willign to spend when the plane and hotel are free.
If you have not picked a place I would recommend Hilton Waikoloa village if you have kids the place is fantastic

my schedule dates are may 1st -> 15
Ill look into the hilton, we usually stay at the mauna lani, this year would be the first I would use FF to travel... your point about other expenses is pretty good. Might be a little tight after spending 3k on travel when you can get there gratis.

It's just what's "worth it" for you. If tickets are that expensive, $840 each, then hell yeah I'll use miles. During last May's fare sale for HNL, I scored tickets for $500 each so to met, it's more worth it to buy the ticket in cash and earn the elite and redeemable miles than to use miles for the trip.

AA also has off season coasch tickets i am pretty sure they are in may for like 17.5k each each way so a family of 4 can RT for 140K at 3000 thats better than 2 cents a mile. thats a pretty good value,plus its where you want to go and can save cash for incidentals

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May is peak season for AA North American awards to/from Hawaii: 22.5K miles each way for a MileSAAver Coach award.

But, if the OP's home is at or near an AA North American gateway, he can actually save miles on the return flight by booking the return to Europe, Central America, etc., and "stopping over" at the gateway.

Are you looking at using coach at 45K each way or mile savers at 22.5 each way? We were able to grab FC mile saver tickets for 37.5 each way last May when there were no economy mile savers (only 45K each)..

As far as pricing on "purchase".....we have been going to Hawaii for the last 4 years in the early summer. I notice that when I start to "price out" tickets they always start about $1000 when I look 6 months out. Then as we get closer to our trip the prices keep coming down. I have yet to see the prices go up and it seems to be that the best prices can be found as long as you go in May and are out of there before Memorial Day weekend...

So I would say the prices may come down in the next 2-3 months....so you may only have to pay $600ish for that coach ticket....

right now I can get them for 50k RT from MIA to KOA.
Or I can fly for cheap to LAX and get the RT for 25k those would be the options with using miles, I will have to use part on BA and part on AA, there are some 22.5k Savers still avail last I checked today.

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If MileSAAver seats are available on the return, use the AA miles for KOA-LAX-MIA (stopover) - Central America or near South America and pay only 15K miles, instead of 22.5K miles for KOA-LAX-MIA only.

Ah... this is pretty great.
Let me look into it.

Thanks very much for the info.

When I come from the east coast I like to stay overnight in LAX or another west coast town. We are always more "refreshed" at the beginning of our vacation in Hawaii. If we go straight in we are exhausted for days! The last few trips the miles were the same whether I was coming from SAT or LAX! So we made the trip all in one day. This year we are breaking it up in both directions! We are flying Alaska Airlines out of San Jose. We used some Alaska miles and also got a seat using American miles for another family member on the same flight... all were mile saver...

Would I run that search using the multi-city option?
I did that and it is billing me miles for the trip to MIA and then an addtl 20k for MIA->BUE


NM I got it, i have to enter KOA->MIA not add LAX in the mix. actually with using BOG as end city it turns to be 15k >< me likey!

Good idea! Great minds must think alike!
We originally thought of taking Delta from PIT to JFK and then the new HA non-stop from JFK to HNL, then HNL to OGG. A lot of hours all at once but it does get you into OGG same day late afternoon.
We're now looking at a late day PIT-LAX non-stop & then the new HA non-stop from LAX to OGG the next morning. Similar coming back.
Where would you recommend staying overnight near LAX?
We're currently looking at the Sheraton Gateway Hotel.

yeah plus if you go up to business/first milesaaver award you can get it for 30k if the trip to BOG is off peak...

on a side note..if we do this type of strategy and don't go to the last end (in this instance mia-bog) will american get mad at us?

I stayed at the Westin but was so tired I don't remember much. But the Sheraton has better reviews on trip advisor so I would go with that. As far as the long HA flight from NY.... my stepdaughter just did the Atlanta to HNL non stop and hated it! Said she likes it better with a connection so she can stretch her legs!