Best Ways to Fly to Hawaii Using Points and Miles

Summary:

  • British Airways is a good option for direct flights from the West Coast to Hawaii on American or Alaska.
  • Korean Air is a good option if you want to fly from anywhere in the U.S. to Hawaii on Delta. You can also do one stopover on either Alaska or Delta.
  • Singapore Airlines is a good option for people who want to book on Alaska and live anywhere in the U.S. or Canada. Additionally, using Singapore points for Alaska Airlines is very cheap for people that live in: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Wyoming, Utah, or Canada. 
  • Air France is good if you can maximize their one free stopover on roundtrip flights. 

Points System EconomyFirst ClassAirlines You Fly OnStopover?Transfer Partners
British Airways25,000 for Direct Flight from West Coast75,000 for Direct Flight from West CoastAmerican and AlaskaNoAmex, Chase, and Marriott
Korean25,00045,000Delta and AlaskaOneMarriott
Singapore23,000-25,00084,000-94,000United and AlaskaNoAmex, Chase, Citi, and Marriott
Air France35,00086,000Delta and AlaskaNoAmex, Chase, Citi, and Marriott
Virgin Atlantic40,00075,000DeltaNoAmex, Chase, Citi, and Marriott
American Airlines45,000110,000AmericanNoMarriott

The table is for roundtrip flights. You can also fly to Hawaii using Alaska Airlines points for 15,000-50,000 points one-way in economy, or 40,000-80,000 points in first class. Even if you get the lowest rates, it is not a great deal since there are some other tremendous ways to use Alaska points and they are harder to earn. 

British Airways

Earning Points: American Express (transfer), Chase (transfer), Marriott (transfer), or Chase British Airways Credit Card.

Using Points: British Airways has a distance based award chart based on each segment, which favors direct flights over connecting flights. A direct flight from the West Coast to Hawaii is only 12,500 Avios one-way + $5.60 on either American or Alaska. If you do not live in one of the following cities, add 7,500 points one-way if you live within 1,150 (West Coast- Rockies), 10,000 points one way between 1,151-2,000 miles (midwest), or 12,500 points for 2,001 miles-3,000 (east coast and eastern parts of Midwest). Alternatively, you could drive or find a cheap flight to one of the below departure gateways.

Finding Award Space: American (British Airways) and Alaska (American Airlines’ saver)

Flight Options: 

  • Honolulu (HNL)
    • Alaska: Anchorage, Los Angeles, Oakland, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, and Seattle.
    • American: Los Angeles, Phoenix, Dallas (20,000 one-way), and Chicago (25,000 one-way).
  • Maui (OGG)
    • Alaska: Los Angeles, Oakland, Portland, Sacramento, San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco, Seattle, Anchorage (seasonal), and Bellingham (seasonal)
    • American: Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Dallas (20,000 one-way).
  • Kona (KOA)
    • Alaska: Oakland, San Diego, San Jose, Seattle, San Francisco, Anchorage (seasonal), Bellingham (seasonal), Portland (seasonal)
    • American: Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Dallas (seasonal and 20,000 one-way)
  • Lihue (LIH)
    • Alaska: Oakland, San Diego, San Jose, Seattle, and Portland (seasonal)
    • American: Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Dallas (seasonal and 20,000 one-way)

 

Korean Airlines

Earning Points: Marriott (transfer).

Using Points: For the entire Continental U.S., Korean charges 25,000 for Delta Economy and 45,000 for Delta Business/First Class. Alternatively, you could fly on Alaska or Hawaiian for: 30,000 for Economy or 60,000 for first class.  Additionally, Korean allows one stopover.

Finding Award Space: Alaska (use AA.com), Delta (use AirFrance.com or KoreanAir.com), or Hawaiian (use Delta.com). For Alaska and Hawaiian, you need to call Korean to book.

  • If you are struggling to find award space, utilize Korean’s one free stopover. Find award space from your city to one of the direct flight cities below, stay a day or two in that city, and then continue on to Hawaii. (e.g. Charlotte to Los Angeles (1-2 day stopover) to Honolulu).

Flight Options: 

  • Honolulu (HNL)
    • Alaska: Anchorage, Los Angeles, Oakland, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, and Seattle.
    • Delta: Atlanta, Detroit, Las Vegas (Seasonal), Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York (JFK, Seasonal), Portland, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, or Seattle.
    • Hawaiian: Las Vegas, Long Beach, Los Angeles, New York (JFK), Oakland, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, or San Jose.
  • Maui (OGG)
    • Alaska: Los Angeles, Oakland, Portland, Sacramento, San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco, Seattle, Anchorage (seasonal), and Bellingham (seasonal)
    • Delta: Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, or Seattle
    • Hawaiian: Los Angeles, Oakland, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, or Seattle.
  • Kona (KOA)
    • Alaska: Oakland, San Diego, San Jose, Seattle, San Francisco, Anchorage (seasonal), Bellingham (seasonal), Portland (seasonal)
    • Delta: Los Angeles or Seattle
    • Hawaiian: Los Angeles (seasonal) or Oakland (seasonal)
  • Lihue (LIH)
    • Alaska: Oakland, San Diego, San Jose, Seattle, and Portland (seasonal)
    • Delta: Los Angeles or Seattle
    • Hawaiian: Los Angeles or Oakland.

Singapore Airlines

Earning Points: Chase (transfer), American Express (transfer), Citi (transfer), or Marriott (transfer).

Using Points: An award on Alaska Airlines is the best option. Economy awards only cost between 23,000 and 25,000 points, but first class awards are quite expensive (about 90,000 points). You can also book on United for 35,000 points for roundtrip economy or 60,000 points for business.

Finding Award Space: Alaska (use AA.com) or United (United.com)

Flight Options: 

  • Honolulu (HNL)
    • Alaska: Anchorage, Los Angeles, Oakland, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, and Seattle.
    • United: Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco, or Washington (IAD).
  • Maui (OGG)
    • Alaska: Los Angeles, Oakland, Portland, Sacramento, San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco, Seattle, Anchorage (seasonal), and Bellingham (seasonal)
    • United: Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, or San Francisco
  • Kona (KOA)
    • Alaska: Oakland, San Diego, San Jose, Seattle, San Francisco, Anchorage (seasonal), Bellingham (seasonal), Portland (seasonal)
    • United: Denver, Los Angeles, or San Francisco.
  • Lihue (LIH)
    • Alaska: Oakland, San Diego, San Jose, Seattle, and Portland (seasonal)
    • United: Denver, Los Angeles, or San Francisco.

 

Air France

Earning Points: Chase (transfer), American Express (transfer), Citi (transfer), or Marriott (transfer).

Using Points: Air France charges the following rates roundtrip: 30,000 points in economy class and 60,000 points in business class. You can also book one-way for half the cost. 

Finding Award Space: Alaska (use AA.com) or Delta (use AirFrance.com)

Flight Options: 

  • Honolulu (HNL)
    • Alaska: Anchorage, Los Angeles, Oakland, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, and Seattle.
    • Delta: Atlanta, Las Vegas (Seasonal), Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York (JFK, Seasonal), Portland, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, or Seattle.
  • Maui (OGG)
    • Alaska: Los Angeles, Oakland, Portland, Sacramento, San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco, Seattle, Anchorage (seasonal), and Bellingham (seasonal)
    • Delta: Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, or Seattle
  • Kona (KOA)
    • Alaska: Oakland, San Diego, San Jose, Seattle, San Francisco, Anchorage (seasonal), Bellingham (seasonal), Portland (seasonal)
    • Delta: Los Angeles or Seattle
  • Lihue (LIH)
    • Alaska: Oakland, San Diego, San Jose, Seattle, and Portland (seasonal)
    • Delta: Los Angeles or Seattle