Credit card frequent flyer points and Hawaiian Airlines

LOzB123 on 04/02/2017 - 22:45

Hi,

I have been reading a lot of the posts about sign up bonus of points on various cards like AmEx or Citi.

So far I have been unable to see if any of these points would be able to be used with Hawaiian Airlines.
Can anyone advise or point me toward where this information?

This would be for a trip in mid April 2018 and looking at options on what would be best "deal" on how to get there.
Seems that Hawaiian are the only ones to fly direct which would be preferable to stopping somewhere and increasing flight times.

Thank you

Financial

Comments

  • robbo135 on 05/02/2017 - 10:05
    +1

    Velocity FF - You can use Velocity on Hawaiian.

    Qantas/Jetstar also fly to Hawaii so you could use QFF.

    • OzB123 on 05/02/2017 - 11:41

      @robbo135 Thanks for that.
      Been hunting around and could not find.

      Spoke to a Travel Agent yesterday and they did say QANTAS only went a few times a week.
      I have tried searching on QANTAS for flights to Hawaii but never found them.
      Even searching last night I selected a specific Hawaii destination section and choose the button with specific dates - no flights found.

      Am already a Velocity member but don't know if I have any points any more or if they are expired - don't fly that often.
      Now to try and figure out
      1) what the best way to accumulate Velocity points
      2) what the best options are to "spent" the points
      3) is it worth it, as in, does the benefit meet or exceed the effort of 1) and 2)

      Edit
      Can you use points to upgrade travel class? Like from Econ -> Prem Econ or Business?
      Kind of a "special" trip for two people so getting a bump up might be nice.
      End Edit

      Anyone have suggestions on the above?

      Thanks all

      • Ndiddy on 05/02/2017 - 12:28
        +1

        If you're looking for flights in Apr 2018, you're a couple of months too early.

        Generally speaking airlines on release availability between 330 - 355 days out from the departure date.

        • OzB123 on 06/02/2017 - 08:00

          @Ndiddy
          Thanks for the reply.
          Have found that dates don't go that far yet when looking at the websites… I was just getting in early so I could look at the option of saving up FF points.
          Giving myself just over a year was hopefully going to allow enough time to maybe (hopefully) get one of the flights at minimal cost.

  • NotAMoodle on 05/02/2017 - 19:08
    +1

    It will cost the following Virgin Points to fly to Honolulu from Sydney

    Economy Return: 75,000 plus applicable taxes per person
    Business Return: 139,000 plus applicable taxes per person

    You will not find these reward seats on Virgins website, you will need to call them with a list of dates so they can check and book for you.

    Unfortuanetly it's not the cheapest in the way of free annual fee Virgin cards currently, and Amex the AMEX bonus has been bigger in the past.

    Ways to earn points

    80,000 NAB (2:1) Virgin) https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/288837 - $0 Annual Fee
    80,000 Velocity (using referral) https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/285239 $395 Annual Fee- referrals are here - https://www.ozbargain.com.au/wiki/american_express_referrals
    80,000 Velocity (using referral) https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/290168 $400 Annual Fee - referrals are here - https://www.ozbargain.com.au/wiki/american_express_referrals
    110,000 Ascent points (using referral) (1:1 Virgin) https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/29016 $1200 Annual Fee - referrals are here - https://www.ozbargain.com.au/wiki/american_express_referrals

    If you have a partner who can apply for both, it's a quick way to gain a stack of points as you can family pool between yourselves (as long as you live in the same residence)

    You are not eligible to receive the bonus points from all 3 AMEX cards above, I believe the Platinum Edge and either 1 of the other 2 (MR points or Ascent) however this is what I've read from others. Points Hacks and Champagne Mile a commenter on here are good sources for this stuff. So I'm happy to be wrong in this case.

    Good luck!

    • OzB123 on 06/02/2017 - 09:24

      Thanks @dazzywazzy

      Where do you get this information from regarding how many points e.g.

      Economy Return: 75,000 plus applicable taxes per person
      Business Return: 139,000 plus applicable taxes per person

      If you have a link, that would be great…. also so I can look up the taxes part of it.
      Just re-read your post, have to call Virgin.

      Will look at the cards you have linked to.
      I have an AmEx card that I "had to have" for work - never used it and had it almost 2 years now. Hope it doesn't rule me out for the "sign up bonus" FF points.

      Partner may not earn enough to be eligible for some of the cards.
      Holy cow - $1200 Annual Fee - must be more to it than just the points!!!
      Wonder if it is better to stick $2400 into a Term Deposit until needed for flights? Or just leave it in the offset to save interest.

      • NotAMoodle on 06/02/2017 - 10:53

        $1200 is a stack of cash…You do get many benefits for it though that you may or may not use. You may be able to sell some of the benefits. Just realised my link was wrong. Whoops - this is the card https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/290165 - I know you're not probably interested, but you might still like to read up!

        Another way to earn points is for instance the Virgin card (platinum edge) you receive 20,000 points for referring people. So if you had say 5 family members you could join up, there is an extra 100,000 points for $0

        Applicable taxes are on the lower side with Virgin, probably around $200-300 per person with a partner airline such a HA.

        Here is an article you may wish to read about it all - http://www.pointhacks.com.au/using-points-hawaii/

    • tuvz on 07/02/2017 - 09:51
      +2

      Good write up!

      Numbers are slightly off though

      Eco return is 84k
      Business return is 156k
      (i have booked and flown this flight)

      • OzB123 on 07/02/2017 - 15:22

        @tuvz - thanks for the extra info.

        So if going this way, by the looks I should try and aim for ~320,000 FFPs (extra in case the "price" goes up).

        What would be the best way to do this?

        Whilst the AmEx Platinum Charge card may cost a lot it may be worthwhile given the cost of Business class flights.
        (How is it that they are ~3x the cost of Economy when looking at dollars but "only" double in FF terms??)

        One of the requirements is to have a household income of =>$100K, may be able to scrape through here.
        Is it then possible for wife to also apply for same and get points too?

        If we did this now, will the points still be valid in April/May next year? Or am I better to apply in another couple of months?

        Can the travel credits be used for the Hawaii trip? when I had a look it seemed only Aus domestic flights.

        We would spend ~$1000-$1200 a month at Coles/Woolworths/Aldi and prob another $200-$250 on fuel.

        Looking at getting a new credit card anyway - are there other cards that I could also apply for that would give additional points to combine?

        Thanks again for all the replies

        • tuvz on 07/03/2017 - 22:19

          pm me if u still have questions

        • OzB123 on 28/03/2017 - 08:00

          @tuvz:
          Hi, PM'd but no idea if you get notified or not - haven't used that function before… maybe I didn't actually send anything.
          Just had a couple of questions on the subject. Thanks.

        • tuvz on 13/04/2017 - 19:57

          @OzB123:

          Sorry i get a lot of pms and sometimes miss some

          Try pm me again

          Cheers

        • OzB123 on 15/04/2017 - 09:32

          @tuvz:
          Thanks, have tried again.

      • Pecan on 07/03/2017 - 21:20

        Do you know if you can purchase an economy ticket, say via the HA website, then use Velocity points to upgrade to business? Rather than using all points.

        • tuvz on 07/03/2017 - 22:20

          dont thinks so

  • Holysmoke on 05/02/2017 - 19:14
    +1

    Have a look at the Amex Explorer card as well.

    • OzB123 on 06/02/2017 - 09:24

      @Holysmoke
      Will do - thanks.

  • OzB123 on 08/02/2017 - 10:12

    Had a thought overnight - how likely is it that you can make use of these points to get flights and or accommodation?
    I mean, it would be very wasteful to go through paying the annual fee and then not being able to use the points as or when needed.

    Anyone had issues when booking?

    • Holysmoke on 08/03/2017 - 20:15

      Should be no issues if you book atleast 6 months in advance. The closer you get the less likely the reward flights or points for hotel bookings will be available.

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