AwardOptimizer
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Compare 10 Award Programs — Honolulu, Maui, Kauai & Big Island
Economy from 12.5k miles • Business from 25k miles one-way
Hawaii is one of the most rewarding domestic award destinations because it combines the mile costs of a domestic route with the cash prices of a premium leisure destination. Economy fares from the mainland regularly run $400-$700 and business class seats top $1,800-$3,200 one-way — yet most airline programs price Hawaii as a standard domestic or short-haul international route.
The math works strongly in your favor. Five major programs — Alaska, American, United, Aeroplan, and LifeMiles — all offer economy awards from 12,500 miles one-way and business class from 25,000 miles. That puts the value at 3-5 cents per point, well above the typical 1.5-2 cent domestic redemption. Add Southwest's Companion Pass into the mix and Hawaii becomes the single best place to stretch your points.
| Program | Airline Booked | Cabin | Miles | Avg Cash Fare | Value (CPP) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska Mileage Plan | Hawaiian Airlines | Business | 25,000 | $1,800 | 5.1¢ |
| American AAdvantage | American Airlines | Business | 25,000 | $1,600 | 4.5¢ |
| Air Canada Aeroplan | United Airlines | Business | 25,000 | $1,500 | 4.0¢ |
| United MileagePlus | United Airlines | Business | 25,000 | $1,500 | 4.0¢ |
| Avianca LifeMiles | United Airlines | Business | 25,000 | $1,500 | 4.0¢ |
| United MileagePlus | United Airlines | Economy | 12,500 | $400 | 3.2¢ |
Cash prices based on typical published fares. Award availability varies. Use the search tool for your specific itinerary.
The routes with the best availability are West Coast gateways — LAX, SFO, SEA, OAK, and SAN to Honolulu (HNL) — followed by direct flights to Maui (OGG) from LAX and SFO. East Coast flyers should look at connecting options through these hubs or direct flights from JFK and EWR on Hawaiian and United.
All figures represent one-way award pricing from the continental US mainland to Hawaii. CPP is calculated against typical cash fares of $400 economy and $1,800 business class. Programs with fixed award charts offer the most predictable value; dynamic programs (Delta, Southwest) fluctuate with demand.
These are the redemptions worth building a points strategy around. Each offers significantly better value than booking with cash or using a suboptimal program.
Hawaiian's lie-flat A330 business class is excellent for the 5-6 hour flight from the West Coast. Full-flat seats, Hawaiian hospitality, and complimentary lounge access. At 25,000 miles against cash fares of $1,800+, this is the single best Hawaii redemption available.
Book via: alaskaair.com • Low surcharges
American flies direct to Hawaii from multiple hubs with lie-flat business class on widebody aircraft. At 25,000 miles one-way, this is easily funded via Citi ThankYou or Bilt transfers. Direct flights from LAX, DFW, and PHX give broad coverage across the mainland.
Book via: aa.com • No fuel surcharges
United has strong saver-level availability from the West Coast, especially to Honolulu. At 12,500 miles against $400+ economy fares, this is the most accessible Hawaii redemption — funded with Chase Ultimate Rewards transfers. Good for travelers who prioritize saving points over cabin upgrades.
Book via: united.com • No fuel surcharges
The Southwest Companion Pass lets a designated companion fly free on every Southwest flight for up to two calendar years. With Southwest flying to all four major Hawaiian airports, this effectively cuts your Hawaii flight costs in half. If you have the pass, it's the cheapest way to fly two people to Hawaii — period.
Earn via: Southwest cards (2 personal cards strategy) or 135,000 points in a calendar year
Book United metal through Air Canada Aeroplan for often better availability than booking through United directly. Aeroplan transfers from Chase, Amex, Citi, and Bilt — the widest transfer partner coverage of any program that prices Hawaii business at 25,000 miles. A strong option when United saver space is sold out on united.com.
Book via: aeroplan.com • Low carrier surcharges on United
Each Hawaiian island has slightly different carrier coverage. Here's the quick summary for the four most popular award destinations.
Hawaii is primarily served by domestic US carriers, so the transfer landscape differs from international routes. Here are the key pathways:
Timing matters for Hawaii awards. The islands are a year-round destination, but availability and pricing swing dramatically with the seasons.
December through March is the busiest period — winter escapes from the mainland drive massive demand. June through August is the second peak for family travel. For these periods, book award flights as soon as the schedule opens — typically 330 days before departure for most airlines. Saver-level award space on United and American fills quickly during peak weeks.
September through November and April through May offer the best combination of availability, weather, and value. Dynamic programs like Delta and Southwest often price 20-30% lower during these months. Fixed-chart programs (Alaska, AA, United) maintain the same mile cost but release more saver seats. The shoulder seasons also mean fewer crowds at beaches and attractions.
Alaska Mileage Plan, American AAdvantage, United MileagePlus, Air Canada Aeroplan, and Avianca LifeMiles all offer economy awards starting at 12,500 miles one-way. For two travelers, the Southwest Companion Pass is hard to beat — your companion flies free on every flight, effectively cutting costs in half. If you don't have the Companion Pass, 12,500 miles on any of the fixed-chart programs is the floor.
Business class to Hawaii costs 25,000 miles one-way on Alaska Mileage Plan, American AAdvantage, United MileagePlus, Air Canada Aeroplan, and Avianca LifeMiles. Alaska offers the best CPP value at around 5.1 cents per point on Hawaiian Airlines lie-flat seats. Delta SkyMiles uses dynamic pricing and typically charges 40,000-80,000 miles for business class — significantly worse value.
Chase Ultimate Rewards transfers to United, Southwest, and Aeroplan (all 1:1). Amex Membership Rewards transfers to Delta and LifeMiles (1:1). Citi ThankYou Points transfer to American AAdvantage and LifeMiles (1:1). Bilt Rewards transfers to AA, United, Aeroplan, and LifeMiles. Alaska Mileage Plan — the top Hawaii program — is primarily earned through the Alaska Visa card rather than bank transfers.
For peak seasons (December through March, June through August), book 330 days out when availability first opens. Off-peak periods — September through November and April through May — have the best availability and sometimes lower dynamic pricing. Southwest releases Hawaii schedule roughly 6 months in advance, so plan accordingly if you're counting on Companion Pass.
Yes — Hawaiian Miles charges 7,500 miles one-way for inter-island flights between any Hawaiian islands. Southwest Rapid Rewards also works for inter-island routes with dynamic pricing, often under 10,000 points one-way. Inter-island cash fares run $60-$150, so the CPP value is modest. Southwest is often the better deal since they include two free checked bags on every flight.
Use Award Optimizer to compare all programs for your specific route, cabin class, and travel dates — with live cash pricing to calculate your real cents-per-point value.
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