Xmas flights to Hawaii $$$$$!

[CatherineC]

I know its a bit late and we'll have to "'pay the price" but for various reasons, I need to buy a couple of seats Perth to Honolulu for mid December. I have a big number of QFF points available but as to be expected, no rewards flights are available on any sector. Similarly, I have lot of velocity points but nothing much available through Virgin. It seems I will have to pay an exorbitant cash price with Qantas as although Jetstar business is said to be a better proposition, there is little availability and its at least $350 extra per person. Virgin/Hawaiian are similar price to Qantas but nothing "direct" so Qantas would just be easier. I can't see any alternative so now I just need some guidance to ensure I am going about this the right way.........
Is there anything I should do to ensure I minimise the financial outlay and get the best return as it seems there will need to be a considerable spend with Qantas! I presume using some points to offset the fare is a waste of points or is there some value in doing this? I see I will be up for $30 credit card surcharge per passenger also........ouch! Any tips to reduce the financial pain? Am I missing something with flights? Sorry to trouble you but this won't be a cheap exercise so just want to make sure I'm doing the best I can!

 

[Hvr]

Hi CatherineC one thing you can do to mitigate the credit card fees is to buy a gift voucher for each passenger and use that to purchase the fare.

Basically buy the voucher in the person's name and then use the voucher to book the fare and pay the rest with your credit card. No fee to purchase the voucher nor to pay the difference in fare.

 

[Katy]

If you're open to going indirect, Webjet shows AirNZ (via AKL) and United (via MEL & LAX) as coming in a fair bit cheaper for mid-Dec departures.

 

[Mark3000]

Fiji airlines can sometimes work

 

[serfty]

Try using ITA to do a search:

Matrix - ITA Software by Google

It's pretty good at coming up with less expensive possibilities.

Although buying mid December transpacific flights in mid November is normally a relatively expensive exercise.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I know its a bit late and we'll have to "'pay the price" but for various reasons, I need to buy a couple of seats Perth to Honolulu for mid December.

So you're after two seats to be exact? You only mentioned that you want to depart mid-December. What is the return date or is it only one way?

I have a big number of QFF points available but as to be expected, no rewards flights are available on any sector. Similarly, I have lot of velocity points but nothing much available through Virgin.

How many points do you have in the QF and VA programs. Do any family members have any more points available to transfer to you?

Is there anything I should do to ensure I minimise the financial outlay and get the best return as it seems there will need to be a considerable spend with Qantas! I presume using some points to offset the fare is a waste of points or is there some value in doing this? I see I will be up for $30 credit card surcharge per passenger also........ouch! Any tips to reduce the financial pain?

As HVR mentioned you can purchase a Qantas voucher eg AUD50.00 per person to go towards the cost of the QF tickets. You are able to put more than one person on the same voucher rather than buy individual ones which would mean doing separate bookings.

Am I missing something with flights? Sorry to trouble you but this won't be a cheap exercise so just want to make sure I'm doing the best I can!

If you are looking at flying QF or HA then you need to book both the forward and return flights with the same airline otherwise the price is a lot higher if you were to purchase a one way fare SYD/HNL on QF then HNL/SYD on HA. Even though the respective websites will display fares on a one way basis they are only available if you book a return ticket. If you were to do an availability SYD/HNL or HNL/SYD on QF or HA you will see that the one ways are much higher.

Airlines such as NZ and JQ don't have higher surcharges for only purchasing one way flights so it could be feasible to fly NZ ex Aust via AKL to HNL then JQ ex HNL back.

If you do book award travel using points eg a Classic Award on QF or a Velocity award on HA then you are not penalised for booking one way journeys unlike with paid fares.

 

[Dr Ralph]

Exact flight dates or even a window of opportunities would help for accurate advice.

 

[CatherineC]

Thank you all so much! We are looking at 3 pax leaving 18/19 December. One is going on to mainland USA so he's out of the big picture. 2 aren't sure if returning 'direct' or breaking up return by going via NZ,for example, as it would be an opportunity to visit NZ on way back but flights seem to go via Australia which defeats the purpose somewhat. We also don't want to spend a day or so getting there which is why direct flights are preferred.

 

[serfty]

If you are only looking one-way then that's merely the start of your issues.

Generally fares are cheaper (all up) when booked as return fares.

Just for example, the cheapest one-way flight from Qantas.com I can see in Mid-December is on JQ for ~$750, QF starts from ~$1150.

Cheapest Return (same week) fares for the same period are ~$1120 on JQ and $2000 on QF.

 

[serfty]

Also, consider HA (Hawaiian Ailines).

Return is available from AU$1100, one-ways are AU$1040.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

There is still award availability to/from Hawaii using VA Velocity points on HA

Thank you all so much! We are looking at 3 pax leaving 18/19 December. One is going on to mainland USA so he's out of the big picture. 2 aren't sure if returning 'direct' or breaking up return by going via NZ,for example, as it would be an opportunity to visit NZ on way back but flights seem to go via Australia which defeats the purpose somewhat. We also don't want to spend a day or so getting there which is why direct flights are preferred.

Give Velocity frequent flyer a call on 131 875 (then option 1) and ask for the partner redemption team. There seems to be quite a bit of availability ex SYD & BNE to HNL in the week 11-18 December on HA although it's cheaper points wise ex BNE ie 37,500pp plus taxes vs 45,000 pp plus taxes ex SYD for economy or 80,000 ex BNE or 95,000 ex SYD for business. Also if returning there is still availability in the first week of January ex HNL to SYD or BNE.

It may be simpler to just book separately BNE/HNL/BNE or maybe BNE/HNL/AKL with HA above then do another booking with QF using some of your Qantas points PER/BNE/PER on QF or PER/BNE and AKL/PER if you want to stop in NZ on the way back.

The person travelling on to the US Mainland could do the same as you guys on the forward and/or return flights to HNL then use Qantas points to redeem for AA flights ex HNL to/from their onward destination. The taxes are only USD5.50 per ticket for the AA flights so represent good value compared to the taxes charged on award flights elsewhere in the world using Qantas points.

Otherwise they could just enquire about award travel PER/BNE/LAX/BNE/PER all on VA so you wouldn't be travelling together at all. If that award availability is scarce then do the above option as a back up plan.
'
Good luck and let us know what you end up doing. Don't be shy about asking any more questions as we're all happy to help!

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Award flights PER/BNE using Qantas points

The latest date in December you can get award availability is Wed 16 Dec PER/ADL on QF590 0650/1210 connecting with ADL/BNE on QF664 1515/1710. There is no award availability 17-31 December on QF but you could always try VA.

The earliest date in January for QF award availability back to PER is Wed 06 Jan on QF667 BNE/ADL 1055/1405 connecting with QF599 1630/1720. The cost would be 18,000 points plus $72.05 taxes one way or 36,000 points plus $144.11 taxes return. As HA arrive late afternoon back in BNE from HNL so you'd need to fly in by Tue 05 Jan which would mean departing HNL on Mon 04 Jan.

There is no award availability ex AKL to PER in the first three weeks of January 2016 so your only options would be either a paid fare or using Velocity points if VA had any award availability.

 

[CatherineC]

Re: Award flights PER/BNE using Qantas points

Thank you all, particularly ozbeachbabe, for taking the time to provide advice and assistance. Very much appreciated!! I'll check through all this and hopefully come up with an ''economical"solution. You all provide a wonderful service, particularly to the ''inexperienced" and hopefully one day I can reciprocate.

 

[CatherineC]

Re: Award flights PER/BNE using Qantas points

Just by way of update - we secured 3 award one way flights to Honolulu on Hawaiian via Velocity and paid for 2 multi city tickets ( which were very reasonable). I thought Hawaiian were excellent. Preferred seating on Hawaiian is a bit hit and miss but behind the bulkhead on the side is far better than in the middle! The meals were fine and plentiful and crew were pleasant. Thank you all again! We had a great holiday at a much better price than originally anticipated !