Questions

[BOZZ]

hello all
After reading forum postings for the last few days I've finally decided to join you guys in order to learn more.

I have a few questions if anyone can help
1) I'm flying to HNL in February on Jetstar. My airfares and accommodation were paid using Qantas AMEX premium card which comes with complimentary travel insurance. I wonder if this insurance cover is adequate or would it be better to purchase additional insurance cover? My trip is 10 days long

2) I'll hire a car when on Maui, again using my AMEX, should I get additional insurance?

3) Any experiences re Jetstar flights to HNL would be appreciated too. I've paid for emergency exit seats and meals. I don't think I need their comfort pack, I've got my own noise cancelling headphones. Anything else you'd recommend?

4) I've learnt that purchasing tickets through Jetstar using AMEX premium card doesn't entitle me for QC invitation (apparently if I purchased anything from Qantas shop I'd qualify for one, but it takes 6-8 weeks to received it, too late for me). Is there a respectable place to purchase invitation for 2 people?

I realise there are few different topic that I raised, any information would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

P.S. Happy New Year to everyone

 

[samh004]

Welcome to AFF!

Regarding query number 4, I have heard you can buy passes on eBay, but not cheaply, so I’m not sure it’d be worth it.

Occasionally passes are given away on here, but you can’t buy or sell passes here. If you’re lucky, you might be flying when someone else is flying and they can guest you into the lounge. In this case I’d look through (and post in) this thread for (with) your travel dates and you might find someone to help you out.

 

[BOZZ]

Welcome to AFF!

Regarding query number 4, I have heard you can buy passes on eBay, but not cheaply, so I’m not sure it’d be worth it.

Occasionally passes are given away on here, but you can’t buy or sell passes here. If you’re lucky, you might be flying when someone else is flying and they can guest you into the lounge. In this case I’d look through (and post in) this thread for (with) your travel dates and you might find someone to help you out.

Thank you for your reply. I've heard that's possible to buy passes on eBay, I guess it will come down to cost-benefit.
As far as getting someone to let me in the lounge, I'm not to keen to impose myself onto anyone, particularly not as I'm flying with my wife. Once again though thank you for sharing your ideas.

 

[Sprucegoose]

I have a few questions if anyone can help
1) I'm flying to HNL in February on Jetstar. My airfares and accommodation were paid using Qantas AMEX premium card which comes with complimentary travel insurance. I wonder if this insurance cover is adequate or would it be better to purchase additional insurance cover? My trip is 10 days long

2) I'll hire a car when on Maui, again using my AMEX, should I get additional insurance?

Bozz





Read the credit card policy very carefully. Generally the credit card policies have a few more restrictions and they maynot be similar to public policies. You generally get what you pay for with insurance. The underwriter is extremely important and who makes the decision to repariate you and when you are medically incapacitiated would be the main questions.

there is always supplemental coverage available with hire cars generally, and I would recommnend this in USA.

Do you have a broker who can advise?

Cheers

SPRUCE

 

[Alanslegal]

welcome to AFF BOZZ

1) Alot of seasoned travellers would suggest that it is a bit wiser to purchase an insurance policy rather just solely relying on your complimentary card insurance. But also alot here fly multiple times per year and have an annual policy, which works out quite good value.

2) I have hired a car in Maui, as well as mainland USA, but generally you purchase insurance waivers so that in the event of an accident etc you are waived from any liability. That said, credit card coverage generally covers upto $xyz value for Excess charge in the even of a claim, but in the USA, they do not charge excess. It's either you have waiver insurance or you don't. Just purchase total waiver at time of booking or car hire, and that will ease your mind.

3) I have flown to Honolulu twice on Jetstar and have found them to be quite good. If you have your own form of entertainment then that is great, but given that it is an overnight flight, it's best to try and sleep, and then when you land, feel relatively rested for the full day ahead.

4) Generally eBay sometimes offer them though I think it's against the T&C, or sometimes passes are offered here for free.

Have fun in HNL, I sure wish to go back there sometime this year!

 

[samh004]

I just also thought, regarding the QC passes, you might have to check the wording carefully as I think they’re only for Qantas flights, and as you’re flying Jetstar they might not see it as being the same.

Someone else probably has a better understanding though, as I’ve never had any such passes.

 

[Cocitus23]

Welcome to AFF, BOZZ.

I'm not going to address any of your four questions, but instead offer you a few comments about driving on Maui. I have driven rental cars there several times over the last 20+ years. In essence, the island is shaped like a figure 8 on its side ("Infinity" I can hear the mathematicians saying.) Geologically, it is comprised of two volcanoes planted close beside each other. Alternatively, I have heard it described as a woman's breasts protruding above water level in a bathtub. Choose the image which appeals to you more!

When you look at the map it is very tempting to plan for a trip right around the perimeter of the 8. Think very, very carefully before doing this. On the western half of the island, all the beaches are accessed via the southern side. There is a road around the northern side, but unless it has been rebuilt in the last couple of years, it is hair-raising in the extreme and I think rental cars are banned from driving on it. As they should be. Do NOT be tempted to follow it. I did. I survived, but was a trembling wreck at the end of it and felt an idiot for undertaking something so foolish.

On the eastern half there is an old public road around the northern shore to Hana. I don't know whether to recommend the drive or not. I will simply say "Be warned". It must be the most narrow, twisting, dangerous public road in USA, with a blind corner every hundred metres, mile after mile. It is scenic and memorable in a way, but totally exhausting and stressful. It takes hours, and you will feel like collapsing (or vomiting, or both) when you finally get to Hana. When I last did it, about 8 years ago, the thought of having to retrace our route was so uninviting that we came home on a new road still under construction on the south side, which was then officially off-limits to rental cars. But it was much more comfortable, straighter, wider and, imho, safer. Hopefully this has by now been upgraded and turned into the main route.

Readers might be able to give updates on the state of these roads. To all the resort beaches the roads are fine, and the driving is easy.

Do not miss the drive up to the summit of Mount Haleakala. Truely awesome, and some beautiful clumps of gum trees on the way, quite reminiscent of Australia.

 

[dajop]

1) I'm flying to HNL in February on Jetstar. My airfares and accommodation were paid using Qantas AMEX premium card which comes with complimentary travel insurance. I wonder if this insurance cover is adequate or would it be better to purchase additional insurance cover? My trip is 10 days long

Many suggest that commercial policies are better. Ignorance, either way is bliss, and is foolish.

If you want to be sure, the only way is to sit down with T&C for the insurance - of both the AMEX card and a commercial policy you are looking at and compare side by side. Sometimes the commercial policies are not that different. Sometimes they are better, sometimes they are worse, depending on the credit card policy. It is not an easy one to guage.

Some watchouts, but there are many more
- limits on medical cover
- car hire - what amount of cover does it provide (noting in US a lot of car hire comes without any insurance, as it is often covered in peoples own car insurance polices) - what are the excess reductions, what do you need to do get further excess reductions (I have seen policies where excess reductions only apply if you first take out optional excess reductions from car hire company )
- what are the circumstances for delay/cancellation expenses (does it get you there just for special events, or does it also include prepaid travel arrangements?)
- what exclusions are there for leisure activities
- age and medical condition based exclusions
- relative sickness/death definition
- nature of injury cover
- baggage cover from vehicles (some it is out of view, some not covered overnight at all)

 

[BOZZ]

thank you all for your valuable input. It's funny, but after reading your posts, I've already made some decisions.
I will organize additional insurance, as it seems to me that it's not worth it having to worry about what is covered and what not.
I don't think I'll worry about QC, going over to HNL, I'll be quite fresh, and for what I'd pay to have a pass, I might as well purchase my own drinks and food.
I'm very pleased to hear that JQ is OK, as mentioned above, sleeping on the flight over seem to be the best bet, in particular because I'm catching conecting flight to Maui. Thank you for clarifying issues regarding car rental and insurance.
Finally, it was a great post from Cocitus23 (many thanks) regarding driving on Maui. After a very busy year with work, the last thing I need is a hair raising road of North West Maui. The only thing I'm undecided on is the Road to Hana. I know it is a very scenic road and by all accounts difficult to drive and I'm not a big fan of the way american cars handling but I've heard so much about its beauty that despite my desire for a relaxing holiday I might just go for it.
I guess I can always play a game of golf or two.
thanks again

 

[Cocitus23]

Yes, BOZZ, the road to Hana is beautiful. The north side is the wet side of the island, so the road twists around cliffs overhung with lush tropical forest and draped with cascading waterfalls. If only it was half the length! Don't worry about the handling of the cars, because generally you will be doing less than 20mph. A good compromise would be to go on the north side and come back on the south. I'm sure the road there will be open to the public now. It is on the dry side, not as scenic, but still with some great open vistas across the ocean.
Hana itself is small and quirky, the ultimate place for people, especially drop-outs, who want to get away from it all. I had a memorable day there - a surprise party for my 60th birthday. My wife and I lived at the time in Vancouver, and the kids and grandkids were in Australia. So Hawaii was a logical meeting point I guess. Somehow, my wife and daughter decided that Hana would be a great place to all meet up. On the way I was wondering why my wife was so insistent that we go all the way. Well, I found out. Incidentally, my three sons (very fit young adults) all got there by riding rental bicycles on the southern route. They said it was both sensational and exhausting. Bicycles on the northern route would be a recipe for death.

 

[craven morehead]

Hi BOZZ,

I used to have an AMEX Premium card and it came with 2 complimentary QC passes annually. Did you not receive these?

CM:mrgreen:

 

[Alanslegal]

I have driven the road to Hana and it is very picturesque. I would highly recommend (if its within budget) to hire a convertible and have the top down all the way, it was loads of fun when we did it.

Also a suggestion on Maui is to do the bicycle tour ride down Mt Halekala. You go there very early, before sunrise, and when you reach the summit 3,000metres up, you get to watch the sun rise. Then it's a lazy 60km bicycle ride downhill, it's all downhill so you really don't need to pedal except for about 500metres

 

[BOZZ]

Hi BOZZ,

I used to have an AMEX Premium card and it came with 2 complimentary QC passes annually. Did you not receive these?

CM:mrgreen:

No, I didn't receive them. Apparently you receive complimentary passes once you first spend on Qantas products (only direct Qantas products).

@Alanslegal, I hear that there are no more bike tours as one of the cyclist died on the way down. Oh, and locals complained that tourists on bikes were clogging the local roads.

 

[Alanslegal]

@Alanslegal, I hear that there are no more bike tours as one of the cyclist died on the way down. Oh, and locals complained that tourists on bikes were clogging the local roads.

Hmmmm...sorry that I'm not that up to date with that ban, I was in Maui in 2005 so its been a while ago, though I've been back twice to Oahu since.

 

[BOZZ]

Hmmmm...sorry that I'm not that up to date with that ban, I was in Maui in 2005 so its been a while ago, though I've been back twice to Oahu since.

My apologies Alanslegal, ban is not in force anymore. I haven't cycled down the Mt Haleakala, but have seen it from the chopper. Maui was absolutely beautiful, it was great seeing hundreds of humpbacks just of the shore.
Enjoy your trip to Oahu!