re: Credit Card Rewards and Points Discussion

I was looking at Avios before because I wanted to fly to Europe and they had that 100,000 point offer but I was discouraged by their taxes and fees for rewards fights. I still wish I would've gotten the card just for those points

Then I asked about it on here and people agreed that using Avios from Hawaii to NOLA wasn't good because of the stops you have to make. But from that link hiltacular just posted, I think I found something I like; it's only 25,000 RT to LAX whereas American is still 35,000 RT (same I would use all the way to NOLA from HNL). I go to L.A. fairly often.

So I guess I should start transferring some of my SPG points to BA when I go to L.A. That's where the Avios points come from without getting the cc, right? And then after transferring them to BA, I then book a flight with them on AA? Only works to L.A., not S.F. or S.D. but still 10,000 points saved is huge

Eta: You can go to other Cali cities and some WA from HI using Avios on Alaska. Just read that.

Any recommendations on best way to go to Australia or New Zealand from HNL?

quote:

---

Any advice on how to book a trip to Auckland from MSY or IAH using Chase UR or Amex MR?

---

When searching for flights use wikipedia to see what airlines service certain airports under "Airlines and destinations" Use this information to search segment by segment.

Don't put MSY to Auckland.

Do MSY to IAH, IAH to LAX. LAX to Auckland. Auckland to LAX, in whatever combos you need/find.

Whenever you hit a roadblock for any particular segment, get creative and use wikipedia again to find a different airport to fly to that will lead to a good connection. You'll eventually have a pretty good idea on the various routes you can go.

quote:

---

I had a mailer sent to me in the mail. Could be targeted. I didn't do anything to get it.

---

Interesting. I'll maybe call them and see if it's targeted or open to anyone. I haven't checked mail in a few days so maybe I have the mailer

As far as NZ or Aus, what airlines have the best rewards from the west coast in your experience? I know Hawaiian is good. AA works with HA. I'm wondering if there's a way to use the Avios to get a better rate?

I can't complain about United for awhile. While their food is not so great, they came through when Lufthansa delayed my Dulles to Frankfurt flight for 24 hours about 6 hours before departure. The plane couldn't get out of frankfurt due to snow but I'm SURE they knew that way before 6 hours before takeoff.

In any event, United put us on their flight which was actually an hour earlier and we got economy plus since economy was all booked.

Lufthansa customer service is fricking awful. Not that they couldn't do anything, I never got thay far since they never answered one phone call or email I sent them. Literally no response at all. frick those guys

Eta: The A380 is a big arse plane. I kneew that but in person is ridiculous

Boeing was the outbound.

Was supposed to fly Lufthansa 747-8 on the outbound as well. Had a nice two seat row picked out as well. Seriously not happy with those Krauts.

I don't see how I can avoid the Airbus over the Pacific for our honeymoon. Probably be on Asiana for that one I think since I have a pretty specific route I want to go.

Where yall headed?

Use your Avios to fly American domestically. You dodge the BA fees. Never use Avios to fly on BA I'd you can avoid it. However, I'm doing it to Italy next summer and even with the fees its under $400 a person for first class tickets. I'm using AA miles for the flights.

Always use Avios to fly American domestically and use AA miles internationally. Better value for the miles.

I booked IAD to St Croix last week for next fall. 60000 Avios and 60000 AA miles for two round trip in first class. It was interesting how ones rewards points were or weren't available on the exact same flights.

I think we may have talked about this before but are you also going to Phnom Pehn? I really enjoyed Siem Reap of course for Angkor Wat and it was a much cleaner city. Where are you staying in Phuket? I lived there 6 months.

Just to be clear, when you transfer SPG points to BA those are Avios points, correct?

quote:

---

I think we may have talked about this before but are you also going to Phnom Pehn? I really enjoyed Siem Reap of course for Angkor Wat and it was a much cleaner city. Where are you staying in Phuket? I lived there 6 months.

---

Ya we have but I can talk about it again and again. I don't get tired talking about travel. Unfortunately no, for the usual problems of time and distance.

Right now I'm pretty set on Siem Reap, Bangkok, Ko Yao Noi but that last one I'm definitely open to suggestion as there are way too many beach options. The only requirement the future Mrs. gave me was the beach must "look like Thailand" so it needs cliff faces and/or outcroppings. Flat sand and just super blue water isn't good enough

I'd love to get to Phnom Penh and/or Chiang Mai, but since we don't have European vacation days you take what you can get.

quote:

---

Just to be clear, when you transfer SPG points to BA those are Avios points, correct?

---

Yup

ETA: I'll probably be hunting you down for your email once I have fixed dates if that's cool?

quote:

---

Any recommendations on best way to go to Australia or New Zealand from HNL?

---

quote:

---

Any recommendations on best way to go to Australia or New Zealand from HNL?

---

Hawaiian does a nonstop and you can use Alaska Miles for that. Very easy to rack up Alaska miles(Google Alaska credit card churn).

American partners with Hawaiian as well and Air Tahiti Nui. HNL offers a direct a couple times a week from HNL to PPT(Tahiti) and Air Tahiti Nui offers you a direct(PPT-AKL) to AKL. That is probably your best routing outside of a non-stop HNL to AKL.

I don't believe the American website will offer you this option, so you'd have to call to book it.

Plus you could add add a Tahiti stop on to your vacation.