I have a situation that I am hoping that some very savy travellers can offer advice as to the best way to cover this situation, so that i dont loose money - If I can make miles even better.

I fly out of PDX. I am Prem Ex on UA (150,000 miles), and just an ordinary member on Alaska (63,00 miles).

I have a situation that MAY need me to be in Maui on April 25th, just the one day from 9-5 (so I can arrive on the Saturday and leave Monday) I wont know until 14 or 15 days prior whether I will actually be required to go to Maui. I will only be reimbursed $500.

Obviously I can use FF miles on AS or UA, and fly on them or Hawaiian. My dilema is that 40,000 miles for $500 is not a very good exchange. Does anyone have any creative alternatives?

Not very creative, but the HA web site returns a fare of $470.18 for the itinerary and dates you suggested. Probably won't be available at 2-weeks out. If there's any future chance of using the cancelled ticket (in the event you don't go in April), I'd take the chance. Even if you could get a mileage ticket to OGG at this late date, there would still be a cost involved to cancel and redeposit. IMHO, the risks you run by doing something now are less costly than those you will run by waiting until you know for sure.

[This message has been edited by DLfan (edited Feb 02, 2004).]

Yeah, pay for the trip and get more miles.

you might consider buying the ticket, then if thetrip doesn't happen, go for a 1 day vacation.

Also, you earn miles with AS on HA flights.

Idea for back-up plan. www.2hawaii.com Pleasant Holidays sells AIR ONLY (on ATA). They currently have your travel dates available (out of SFO) for $418 RT. PHH fares don't fluctuate too much and they don't have the same advance purchase rules that major airlines have. Only hitch is getting from PDX-SFO cheaply.

I have used PH several times over the past 20 years, including for a group airfare booking last June for our family/friends to travel to Maui for our wedding