3 Best Ways to Redeem Points in Hawaii
3 Easy Ways to Redeem Points in Hawaii
I was recently interviewed by Julia Menez from Geobreeze Travel to discuss credit and travel hacks to Hawaii. Click here to listen to the Podcast.
My Credit & Travel Hacking Journey
I was born and raised here in Hawaii and grew up around the travel business. My grandfather & father were in the travel business, both owning a travel booking service and tour bus company.
I started to travel and credit hack in early 2016 because I was eager to find a cheaper & more efficient way to travel, while still saving up for financial investments. So I got my first credit card, the Barclay Arrival+ card. The 80,000 points sign-up bonus is what attracted me to the card, but I later realized that after redeeming the points earned from the sign-up bonus, points were hard to earn afterward and that Barclay’s points weren’t valuable, each point only worth 1 cent.
Following this discovery, a friend turned me onto the Chase Trifecta, which is the trio of these 3 Chase credit cards the CHASE SAPPHIRE PREFERRED, CHASE FREEDOM UNLIMITED, & the CHASE FREEDOM FLEX. With these three cards, I built a more sustainable model to earn points and my points are worth more when redeeming them through the Chase travel portal at 1.25-1.5 cents per point.
After mastering the Chase trifecta, I then opened a dozen more credit cards, using my own strategies as well as tips from other travel hackers, while still maintaining a credit score over 800. This is only a short summary of my journey, but I did want to share some deals with you all as a credit hacker and resident of Hawaii.
Look for these Deals when traveling to Hawaii
1.WEST COAST TO HAWAII UNDER $60 or 10,000 points on Southwest Airlines.
In March 2019, Southwest Airlines announced it would begin routes from the west coast to Hawaii. Prior to their arrival, Hawaiian airlines held the majority of the interisland travel and west coast travel, but Southwest Airlines has come in and taken the majority of those routes. Their cheap prices, customer service & unique boarding style have made it the preferred choice of travel to and from the islands.
On low travel seasons, direct flights can be purchased at under 10,000 southwest points. Not enough Southwest points? Apply for the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card for an extra 40,000 southwest points or transfer your points directly from your Chase account at a 1 to 1 transfer ratio.
2. INTER-ISLAND TRAVEL UNDER $30 or 2,000 Points on Southwest Airlines.
Along with the cheap west coast flights, Southwest started routes in between the islands of Hawaii. Those routes include flights between the Big Island (Hawaii), Maui, Kauai, & Oahu. Prices average between $39-59 (2500 - 5000 points) one way, but on occasion, prices have dropped below $29 (2,000 points ) during off-seasons. Do your research and look for these deals on inter-island flights.
3. LUXURY STAY at the Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort at 30,000 points a night.
Hyatt is regarded as the best hotel transfer with Chase, with The Points Guy valuing one Hyatt point at 1.7 cents (April 2021). This is an incredible redemption rate, but the Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort is part of the Hyatt Collection boasts an even higher value for your points at over 3 cents per Hyatt point. At the time of this article, booking a standard room costs $1097.00 per night. Hyatt’s category point system allows this Category 7 resort to be priced no more than 30,000 Hyatt points a night! If you do the math, that’s 3.65 cents per Hyatt point. To top this amazing deal off, Chase transfers points to Hyatt at a 1:1 ratio. Chase also has a co-branded Hyatt Visa credit card that you can get for a 60,000 point sign-up bonus, a free anniversary night, and other travel benefits.
Updated Nov 2023: As a Category 8 Hyatt, the Andaz Maui at Wailea will cost you 35,000-45,000 World of Hyatt points per night.
There are many other travel deals when traveling to Hawaii, but these 3 will bring the most value to your points. If you would like to get started with your credit/travel journey, you can support our channel by applying for your cards HERE.
How Airline and Hotel Loyalty programs are changing due to COVID-19, coronavirus.
Given the global situation concerning COVID-19 (the coronavirus), frequent travelers have stayed at home and are practicing social distancing instructions in order to prevent further spread of the illness. As we hope for the safe health of others, we're all dreaming of a return to normal travel. While no one can quite predict when that might be, travel companies have made moves to keep their programs active and members engaged. Here's a list by Ramsey Qubein on what to know about travel loyalty program changes, elite status, and qualifications moving forward.
Accor Live Limitless
Accor’s loyalty program is crediting 50 percent of the status nights and points required to requalify for your current status level. This automatically gets you halfway toward the same status for next year.
Aeroplan
Air Canada is pausing the expiration of miles until May 14, which means if you had miles set to expire before then, they now last until mid-May. Altitude members are receiving additional eUpgrade credits in their accounts, which are valid until May 31, 2021.
Best Western Rewards
Best Western was one of the first to extend status for members until January 31, 2022. This means that your current status remains the same unless you earn a higher level this year. Plus, anyone who was downgraded in status based on travels in 2019 will be boosted to their previous level until January 31, 2022, as well.
Cathay Pacific Marco Polo Club
Cathay is automatically adding monthly increments of points between now and April to get travelers closer to status thresholds even when they cannot travel. In addition, those with lounge passes, upgrade certificates, and Gold Companion Card nominations will receive six-month extensions to use them.
Choice Privileges
Any points set to expire have been extended through the end of May 2021.
Delta SkyMiles
If you have upgrade and companion certificates that were supposed to expire this spring, the validity has been extended through the end of the year.
Emirates Skywards
The airline is lowering elite threshold requirements between now and May 2020 by 20 percent.
Etihad Guest
The airline is delivering bonus tier miles on a monthly basis to pad member balances and help them toward annual elite thresholds during the travel slowdown.
Flying Blue
Miles will no longer expire this year, and for those with status expiring this spring, elite status requirements are being lowered by 25 percent.
Hilton Honors
Any points that were scheduled to expire between now and May 31 will be extended.
IHG Rewards Club
IHG was a first mover in making status easier for travelers. Travelers now have lower requirements to earn elite status. For example, Gold Elite status now requires 7,000 qualifying points (instead of 10,000) or seven qualifying nights (instead of 10) this year to earn status. Top-tier Spire Elite status only requires 55,000 qualifying points (instead of 75,000) or 55 nights (instead of 75).
Marriott Bonvoy
If you have free night or Suite Night awards (used for room upgrades on eligible stays) in your account, these will be extended until December 31, 2021. In addition, any points set to previously expire will be extended to the same date.
Qantas Frequent Flyer
Status is being extended for current elite members by 12 months.
Radisson Rewards
Current elite status has been extended through February 2022, and any upcoming points expiration has been extended through the end of August.
Shangri-La Golden Circle
The current elite status is being extended for another year to December 31, 2021.
Virgin Flying Club
Elite status is being extended by six months.
World of Hyatt
Proposed changes to award categories (the designated number of points needed to redeem for a free night’s stay) will not go into effect this month as planned. Instead, it will be postponed to 2021. That’s good news for stays at many luxury hotels, where the free-night points rate was going to increase.
Why haven’t other brands made adjustments yet?
Given the uncertainty of the current situation, some airlines or hotels may be waiting to see the extent of travel disruption before making an announcement. Even currently announced loyalty program adjustments may change again before the end of the year. As we wait for the curve to flatten, be expecting more change to occur to our favorite hotel and airline programs.
Can I get from International Terminal G to Terminal 3 at SFO without going through security?
Can I get from International Terminal G to Terminal 3 at SFO without going through security?
Airside connector between Terminal 3 & International Terminal G
I recently was on a trip to San Francisco, flying from HNL to SFO on Hawaiian airlines and trying to figure out If I could access Terminal 3 without going through security. Our flight attendants and check-in personal said we would have to re-clear security again and online blogs were vague, but we suspected otherwise. Terminal 3 has the American Express Centurion Lounge and 2 restaurants (San Francisco Giants Clubhouse, Yankee Pier) that Priority Pass members & their one other guest can receive $28 of dining credit each.
So can you access TERMINAL 3 from International TERMINAL G?
The answer is: YES, via the Airside Connector
Directions: Upon landing in International Terminal G, proceed toward the end of the terminal, walking along the left side. DO NOT go outside security or else you will have to re-clear security again, instead make a left and you will see the United Polaris Lounge.
Keep walking and you will eventually come to the Terminal 3 airside connector, a small enclosed walkway that connects both terminals. Continue walking through it and follow the signs that lead to Gate F and you eventually find gate F1 which is Terminal 3.
It’s important to not pass any “No Re-entry Signs” or else you will have to re-clear security again.
More info on SFO Terminals
There are 4 main terminal areas that you can commute to without having to go through security again. Those areas are:
International Terminal A (Gates A1-A12)
International Terminal G (Gates G91-G102) connects to Domestic Terminal 3 (Gates 60-90)
Domestic Terminal 1 (Gates 40-48) connects to Domestic Terminal 2 (Gates 50-59)
Domestic Terminal 1 (Gates 20-28)
Below is a list of Airlines operating from their terminals at SFO:
International Terminal A
AeroMexico
Avianca
British Airways
Cathay Pacific
China Airlines
China Eastern
China Southern
El Al
Emirates
Finnair
French Bee
Hawaiian Airlines
Iberia
Icelandair
Interjet
Japan Airlines
JetBlue
KLM
Korean Air
Level
Norwegian
Philippine Airlines
Qantas
Sun Country Airlines
Virgin Atlantic
WestJet
International Terminal G
Aer Lingus
Air Canada
Air China
Air France
Air India
Air New Zealand
Asiana Airlines
Copa Airlines
Eva Air
Fiji Airways
Lufthansa
SAS
Singapore Airlines
Swiss International Air Lines
TAP Air Portugal
Turkish Airlines
United Airlines
Terminal 1
Delta Air Lines
Frontier Airlines
Southwest Airlines
Terminal 2
Alaska Airlines
American Airlines
Terminal 3
United Airlines
Before you plan your trip to SFO, make sure to map out the locations of the lounges you want to visit. The 2 restaurants give you a total of $56 dining credit to use. If you want to take full advantage of this, dine at one restaurant and order take out/have a drink at the other. If you are full, maximize your credit by ordering premium water bottles for your travels.
Alaska Airlines strengthens relationship with American Airlines and will join One World Alliance in 2021
It has been officially announced today that Alaska Airlines will be joining the Oneworld alliance by the summer of 2021. This is BIG NEWS because in light of the recent advancements with Delta airlines. Alaska Airlines rewards offer some of the best point redemptions of any airline rewards program, and this update allows for potential opportunities for earning and redemption through other partner carries. Below is a projected timeline of Alaska Airline’s plans.
Effective immediately:
Redeem Alaska Mileage Plan™ miles on all American Airlines flights (subject to award availability).
Access any of American's nearly 50 Admirals Club locations worldwide with an Alaska Lounge membership.*
Continue to earn and redeem Alaska Mileage Plan miles on our current portfolio of 16 Global Partners.
Starting Spring 2020:
Earn Alaska Mileage Plan miles on any American Airlines flights, domestically and internationally.
Starting Summer 2021:
Earn and redeem Alaska Mileage Plan miles on all oneworld airlines (subject to award availability).
Alaska elites will enjoy privileges, including priority boarding, premium seating, baggage benefits and more when you fly on American Airlines or any oneworld airline.
Access 650 lounges within the oneworld network as an MVP Gold or Gold 75k member.
The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® card
There are NO major credit card companies that transfer points to Alaska Airlines, but they do have a Visa Signature that comes with a nice sign-up bonus and makes you eligible to purchase Alaska's Famous Companion Fare.
The companion fare entitles the cardholder to purchase one round-trip coach companion fare on Alaska Airlines from $121 (USD) ($99 base fare plus applicable taxes and fees from $22 depending on your flight itinerary) when traveling with another guest on a paid published coach airfare on the same itinerary, booked at the same time.
Ongoing benefits of the Visa Signature® card include:
Alaska's Famous Companion Fare™ from $121 ($99 base fare plus taxes and fees from $22) every year on your account anniversary for Alaska flights booking on alaskaair.com with no blackout dates.
Free checked bag on Alaska flights for you and up to six other guests on the same reservation.
Earn 3 miles for every $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases.
Earn 1 mile for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
New: Get 20% back on Alaska Airlines inflight purchases when you use your new card.
New: Receive 50% off Alaska Lounge day passes when you use your new card.
No foreign transaction fees✝, plus chip-enabled for enhanced security when used at chip-enabled terminals.
No mileage cap.
Miles won't expire on your active account.
Low Annual fee of $75†