Hawaii - USA - Open Jaw?

[laffer]

Hi All

I am looking at flights between Syd and HNL and SFO. August/September. Ideally I would fly from Syd to SFO (or LAX to transit) and then fly home with a stop in Hawaii and then onto Sydney. I want to avoid the fly into the US, fly into Hawaii and then fly back to the US at all costs. Apart from Hawaiian airlines is this a routing which is fairly easy to achieve without paying through the nose? Would an open JAW be the best option (flying into SFO and then out from Hawaii with me booking separately between SFO and Hawaii)? Flights just to the USA are looking at about $2k which given the recent pricing seems a little steep.

For those who have stayed in Hawaii before can anyone recommend a SPG property? I am SPG Gold so would prefer to stay there although I have status at Hyatt as well. I have never been there before so something by the beach and relaxing (resort time) would be great. Is Hawaii easy to get around (I know it is many islands) but would I need to hire a car to get around the island?

 

[opusman]

Qantas will sell you SYD-SFO on QF and SFO-xYVR-HNL on Westjet for about $2100 (via the multicity tool).

Google flights comes up with SYD-SFO and HNL-SYD on QF, with SFO-xLAX-HNL on AA for about $1800 (see http://goo.gl/flights/QPRp).

SPG - I've stayed in the Moana Surfrider and Royal Hawaiian in Honolulu, the St Regis on Kuaui and Sheraton on the Big Island. Didn't like the Moana much, the Royal Hawaiian was nice. St Regis was amazing but very $$$ and Sheraton was pretty average (although the room was nice and had a good view).

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Hi All

I am looking at flights between Syd and HNL and SFO. August/September. Ideally I would fly from Syd to SFO (or LAX to transit) and then fly home with a stop in Hawaii and then onto Sydney. I want to avoid the fly into the US, fly into Hawaii and then fly back to the US at all costs. Apart from Hawaiian airlines is this a routing which is fairly easy to achieve without paying through the nose? Would an open JAW be the best option (flying into SFO and then out from Hawaii with me booking separately between SFO and Hawaii)? Flights just to the USA are looking at about $2k which given the recent pricing seems a little steep.

For those who have stayed in Hawaii before can anyone recommend a SPG property? I am SPG Gold so would prefer to stay there although I have status at Hyatt as well. I have never been there before so something by the beach and relaxing (resort time) would be great. Is Hawaii easy to get around (I know it is many islands) but would I need to hire a car to get around the island?

It's certainly possible to do an open jaw itinerary SYD QF SFO /- HNL QF SYD however the QF website using the multi city option doesn't always offer the cheapest fare combinations so it's a good idea to get either a travel agent to cost it or call QF reservations to do it however there have been reports of long waiting times recently unless you're a Plat frequent flyer.

You could use Qantas points for a partner award on AA from SFO or LAX to HNL which is approx 25,000 points plus USD5.50 in taxes per person which will fill in the gap nicely however you would need to pay for checked baggage unless you are OWS/QF SG or above.

It's worth getting the following quotes before you proceed so you can then work out the most economical option for you.

a) SYD QF SFO AA HNL QF SYD - all on the one ticket where you will receive the 2 piece luggage allowance if the SFO/HNL is on the same ticket as your QF international flights

b) SYD QF SFO /- HNL QF SYD - open jaw where either QF or a TA issue the ticket and you do the award ticket SFO/HNL on AA yourself

c) SYD QF HNL QF SYD - which you could book yourself on the QF website as it's easy to do being a simple return itinerary. To avoid the international credit card fee of AUD30.00 pp just purchase a QF gift voucher eg a minimum of AUD50.00 pp on the same voucher so a family of 4 you'd buy a AUD200.00 gift voucher. You need to specify the names of the travellers on the voucher exactly how they are in the passport as the pnr with the voucher becomes your active pnr with the flights once you book.

You could then do a return partner award using your Qantas points for travvel HNL AA SFO AA HNL which would be 50K points pp return so you'd need to decide whether that is the best use of your points vs using them for premium awards where you tend to get the most bang for your buck. If you were using points to upgrade the SYD/HNL QF3 flight which is an overnighter it's 48K pp based on booking a Saver fare. Any Sale fares are ineligible for doing points upgrades.

 

[laffer]

Great thanks Opusman.

Seems like the prices for late August/September are a lot higher than they have been lately generally to the USA. That is necessarily a by product of summer season I suppose. I wonder if I push it back a bit the prices might come back a little cheaper. I was thinking about splashing out on J but I hear the Hawaii route to Sydney aint much chop. I have quite a generous amount of points with SQ and would probably prefer to fly with United to accrue into SQ. But the last time I flew UA to the USA it was terrible for a variety of reasons. The film which was playing on the projector on the 747 was showing some random film in the middle of the pacific about people stuck on a snow covered mountain who were isolated. This was more than half way into the flight, very uncomfortable, poor food and little sleep. Not the best film when flying alone over the pacific.

As an aside when I did a simple google search for flights to LAX each of QF, UA, VA, DL and AA came in at exactly the same price. ACCC

 

[laffer]

Thanks Oz also!

I have some QF points that I am happy to burn. I tend to try to accrue into SQ now. QF is generally only picked up when flying domestically. I have tended to avoid them internationally for a while which is a shame when I think about it.

In terms of the points I have, you are right, I have generally tried to save them for an upgrade into the premium cabins. The option of using the points between SFO/LAX to HNL is a very attractive idea though. Thanks for sharing.

How have people found Hawaiian to be? They might also be an option. I wonder if also NZ is an option which I can accrue into SQ (although not sure of the earn rates). It is a longer way around though, although happy to spend a night or two in NZ to break it up.

 

[laffer]

I should also say, now, that it has been gently suggested to me (ever so!) that just finding a resort in California might be an option for a beach break close to SFO or down past LA. I could drive it I suppose which could be fun. So spend a few days in SFO and then drive down to a beach somewhere and plonk my big bum on it somewhere. This brings into play the Air NZ option. They have a good Y sale at the moment and even the J prices looking very attractive for the route.

Anyone got any thoughts on good California resorts not too far from SFO?

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Thanks Oz also!

I have some QF points that I am happy to burn. I tend to try to accrue into SQ now. QF is generally only picked up when flying domestically. I have tended to avoid them internationally for a while which is a shame when I think about it.

In terms of the points I have, you are right, I have generally tried to save them for an upgrade into the premium cabins. The option of using the points between SFO/LAX to HNL is a very attractive idea though. Thanks for sharing.

How have people found Hawaiian to be? They might also be an option. I wonder if also NZ is an option which I can accrue into SQ (although not sure of the earn rates). It is a longer way around though, although happy to spend a night or two in NZ to break it up.

As far as purchasing J fares, to be able to purchase a J fare for less than 2K each way is good value. If you wanted to fly there and back in J it would cost $3,499.00 pp, J outbound on the overnight flight and Y inbound on the day flight would AUD2,400.00 pp or cheapest option whY over and back $1,175.00 based on Sale fare outbound and Saver fare inbound. If you wanted the chance to do a points upgrade on the outbound leg then you'd need to pay a Saver fare which would be $1,300.00 pp return.

I should also say, now, that it has been gently suggested to me (ever so!) that just finding a resort in California might be an option for a beach break close to SFO or down past LA. I could drive it I suppose which could be fun. So spend a few days in SFO and then drive down to a beach somewhere and plonk my big bum on it somewhere. This brings into play the Air NZ option. They have a good Y sale at the moment and even the J prices looking very attractive for the route.

Anyone got any thoughts on good California resorts not too far from SFO?

Driving south from SFO to LAX means you have an unobstructed view of the sea as the northbound cars will pass to your left. Carmel or Monterery are nice places and you there are some good optons through Air BnB. There's no reason why you couldn't fly HNL/SFO then LAX/HNL.