Elite, non-elite, business, and leisure travelers can now save big on Hawaii routes—up to 44% off.
In the past four months, FCF has written four special reports for oneworld members (American) looking to deploy miles in order to achieve or maintain elite status. In December, we focused on Europe, in January on Asia, in February on South America, and in March on the Transcon.
By the way, many of these tactics also work for anyone who can’t find a low Business Class fare and for those who don’t even have many American miles.
This month FCF takes the same approach to American’s Hawaii routes.
Our Pitch: The same as Asia, Europe, South America, and the Transcon: Forget about free mileage awards because they don’t earn elite credit, and it can be difficult to find award availability. Instead, use miles to upgrade, as availability is much greater and you earn miles and elite credit.
AMERICAN’S UPGRADE PROGRAM
To Hawaii, American requires 15,000 miles plus a $175 co-pay each way on the lowest upgradeable economy fares (H, K, M, L, V, G, Q, N, O, S classes) to Business Class. When fares are high, this upgrade feature can offer a great return.
SAVE 44% ON HAWAII BUSINESS CLASS FARES
One example: Business Class on Los Angeles-Maui is often expensive, $1,400+, even when booked way in advance. The lowest American economy fare is currently $457 (for travel in May), while the lowest Business Class ticket is $1,447. So, even with the $350 co-pay, you can save 44% ($640) off the published fare by using miles. (See chart below for a survey of upgrade-award availability.)
WHAT TO DO WHEN AN UPGRADE IS ONLY AVAILABLE ONE WAY
American lets you combine coach and Business Class fares, so just upgrade the segment that has the space and pay for the other leg in coach, or spring for Business. On Los Angeles-Maui, the combined coach-Business Class fare is $987, while round-trip Business Class is $1,447—so even with the $175 one-way co-pay, you can still save 32% ($460) by using your miles one-way.
CONNECTIONS CAN SAVE UP TO 44%
Savvy travelers use the long-haul Business Class flight as a “bridge.” All they have to do is get to and from the bridge gateway.
That means you might even buy an economy through-fare ticket, meaning the fare gets you to and from the Hawaii gateway on one ticket rather than requiring two separate ones. Upgrade all the flight segments if the space is available.
Example: Albuquerque-Honolulu: The through-fare ticket, via Los Angeles or Phoenix in coach is $349 versus $1,251 in Business Class. Even with the $350 co-pay, you can save $552 (44%) off the published fare by using miles.
Use our cheat sheet, below, to know when you can easily upgrade the long-haul segments; fly the short connecting flight/s in coach if you must—although it doesn’t cost any more to upgrade those flights either. All you need is for them to be available for the miles upgrade.
HOW TO BOOK MILEAGE UPGRADES WITH AMERICAN
Before buying your economy ticket, call American (upgrades cannot be booked online) at 1-800-433-7300 to find out if the specific flights/dates you want are available for a mileage upgrade. Book the economy ticket online—keep the American rep on the phone—then have the reservationist book the upgrade. You can also book the ticket and the upgrade by phone, but there’s a booking fee.
If the upgrade on the flights/dates you want is not available, have the agent check dates/flights on the days before and after.
Use our survey below to get an idea of months with great upgrade space to get off to a fast start.
HOW ANYONE CAN PLAY THIS UPGRADE GAME AND WHEN TO BUY MILES
Don’t have enough American miles and need to top off your account? No problem. Just buy AA miles, right now perhaps, because they’re on sale for as low as 1.8¢ each (includes taxes and processing fee). For more information go here.
Don’t have any American miles but do have Starwood points? Then transfer Starwood points (takes about two days). Transferring Starwood points generally works whenever you have a difference between the coach fare and the Business Class fare of, say, $850 or more—given that the co-pay is $350.
So, anything more than those two costs is savings gravy.
Related Reads:
- Upgrader’s Block and How to Overcome It, Volume 1: When to Use Your Miles.
- When to Buy Miles Instead of Purchasing a Normal Published Fare.
Sweet Redeem Survey: American Upgrade to Hawaii
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