Unlock Super Cheap Flights to Hawaii with Points and Miles: The Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide

To the Point

Hawaii is a bucket-list destination for many, but those flights can get pricey—unless you know how to work the points and miles game. With a few strategic moves, you can turn your everyday spending into a dream trip to Hawaii.

Now, of course, there are many different airlines you can fly from the mainland U.S. to Hawaii. From American to United, Delta to Hawaiian Airlines all offer excellent connectivity to the mainland, and most are also bookable with points and miles. However, I want to focus on the exact steps to maximize your points with this example: booking from San Jose, California to Kona, Hawaii.

In this guide, I’ll show you how to leverage transfer bonuses, maximize your points, and book a flight to Hawaii for as few as 12,300 Amex points + $5.60. Ready to turn your travel dreams into reality? Let’s go!

Option 1: Book via Alaska Airlines for 9,000 Miles + $5.60

Alaska Airlines has one of the best deals for flights to Hawaii—just 9,000 miles + $5.60 one-way. However, the catch is that Alaska miles are notoriously challenging to come by, making this option tricky unless you already have a stash of Alaska miles in your account.

Option 2: Book via American Airlines for 22,500 Miles + $5.60

Another straightforward option is to use American Airlines AAdvantage miles to book the same flight for 22,500 miles. While this is a decent option, it’s not the best bang for your buck—especially when considering the following alternatives can be transferred to travel partners for even greater value.

Option 3: Book via British Airways Avios for 20,000 Miles

British Airways Avios offers the same Alaska Airlines flight to Hawaii for 20,000 miles. While it’s already a better deal than using American Airlines miles, the real magic happens when you factor in the current 30% transfer bonus from American Express Membership Rewards to British Airways Avios.

How to Maximize the Transfer Bonus:

1. Create a British Airways Account: If you don’t already have one, you must create a British Airways Executive Club account and link it to your Amex Membership Rewards account. This will allow you to transfer points from Amex to British Airways.

2. Transfer Your Amex Points: With the 30% transfer bonus, you only need to transfer 15,400 Amex Membership Rewards points to British Airways to get 20,000 Avios.

3. Book Your Flight: Use those Avios to book your Alaska Airlines flight to Hawaii for just 20,000 miles.

But wait—there’s an even better option!

Option 4: Book via Qatar Airways for 16,000 Miles

Qatar Airways also uses Avios as its currency and is known for offering excellent value on award flights. You can book the same Alaska Airlines flight for just 16,000 Avios through Qatar Airways.

Bonus Tip: How to Maximize the 30% Transfer Bonus and Book for 12,300 Amex Points

1. Step 1: Transfer Amex Points to British Airways Avios: First, transfer 12,300 Amex Membership Rewards points to British Airways to take advantage of the 30% transfer bonus, which will turn those points into 16,000 Avios.

2. Step 2: Transfer Avios from British Airways to Qatar Airways: Next, you’ll need to link your Qatar Airways Privilege Club account to your British Airways Executive Club account. Once connected, you can quickly transfer the 16,000 Avios from British Airways to Qatar Airways.

3. Step 3: Book Your Flight: Now, use Qatar Airways to book your Alaska Airlines flight to Hawaii for just 16,000 Avios, which only cost you 12,300 Amex points, thanks to the transfer bonus.

Preparing to Maximize These Deals

To fully take advantage of these deals, you’ll need to set up a few accounts if you haven’t already:

1. British Airways Executive Club: Create and link it to your Amex Membership Rewards account for easy point transfers.

2. Qatar Airways Privilege Club: Sign up and link it to your British Airways Executive Club account. This will allow you to move Avios seamlessly between the two programs.

The Bonus Calculator: Your Secret Weapon

This is where my Travel Cheat Sheets come into play. Inside this digital product, you’ll find a Transfer Bonus Calculator that helps you determine how many Amex points to transfer to British Airways to maximize your Avios. This tool makes it incredibly easy to use transfer bonuses like the one we discussed. If you want to ensure you’re getting the best value for your points, you’ll want to check out my Travel Cheat Sheets!

Conclusion: Stack and Save for an Unforgettable Hawaii Trip

By strategically stacking these deals, you can fly to Hawaii for just 12,300 Amex points + $5.60—an incredible deal compared to paying full price. Plus, with the help of my Travel Cheat Sheets, you can ensure that you’re always maximizing your points and miles to their fullest potential.

So, what are you waiting for? Set up your accounts, transfer your points, and start planning your Hawaii getaway today!

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Note: All information has been collected independently by The Points Passport and has not been reviewed by the issuer.