Best CC for Hawaii flights/ rewards?

[ProudMommyof2]

I currently use my SWA Credit card for almost everything and havent paid for a flight in 2 years. However, SW will not get us to Hawaii. We are planning a 2016 trip and I want to start earning points now.

Any recommendations on the best credit card? We would be flying out of Providence, or more likely, Boston.

Thanks!

 

[DizMe]

I keep reading that SW is going to start offering Hawaii flights in 2015, but there is no guarantee that is going to happen. I am REALLY hoping this happens!!

But as far as best cc to get to save points for Hawaii now? I'm sorry; I don't know. I've seen a lot of recommendations for Chase sapphire but no experience with them myself.

 

[pate59]

Have been lucky enough to fly to Hawaii the past 4 trips on FF miles from different credit cards. We have the United CC - when both my husband & I signed up - there was a promotion going with 50,000 miles - no annual fee and miles posted after first purchase (not after $1000.00 or $1,500.00 within 3 months out now). We had the Hawaiian airlines card from BOA until Barleys took over in April. Get for inter-island airfare but there is a direct flight from JFK to HNL. You just need to get to JFK. American Airlines Advantage card is not bad either. I would check out the credit cards for the below airlines. I know we constantly get promotions in the mail that differ from what is on the website.
Delta (not so easy to get FF seats)
United (have found pretty easy to find FF seats - also, can book one way FF seats)
American (have found easy to get FF seats - believe you can also book one way FF seats)
Just recently got the Alaska airlines credit card. 25.000 points after first purchase but most people get it because every year you receive a $99.00 companion fare with one full price ticket. Alaska does fly out of Boston.

 

[lurkernj]

We have the united card from chase and are flying 4 of us free for the third time next month, and we have enough points left for another trip, but not planning to go for another 2-3 yrs. dh has had this card for over 20 yrs back when it was continental. I have my own as well, but only for a few yrs. the one that's out now gives a 10,000 pt bonus if you spend 25k in a calendar year. That's not really that hard to do when you charge everything on it.

I usually try to get tickets at the 11 month mark and am able to get the saver award seats for 40k roundtrip(though they went up to 45k this year) for exact dates/times I want. There are often flights available at the lowest pt rate even 2 months out if you are flexible and not going at a particularly busy time.

 

[DizMe]

I used to have a United card but they kept increasing the amount of points needed for a ticket and there were too many restrictions. The cost for Hawaii was considerably higher than flying within the continental US, so be sure to look into that if you're thinking of getting a United card. My experience was several years ago so I'm not sure what it's like now, but I think you'd be better off with some of the more generous non-airline rewards cards that allow you to use them for air tickets.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I used to have a United card but they kept increasing the amount of points needed for a ticket and there were too many restrictions. The cost for Hawaii was considerably higher than flying within the continental US, so be sure to look into that if you're thinking of getting a United card. My experience was several years ago so I'm not sure what it's like now, but I think you'd be better off with some of the more generous non-airline rewards cards that allow you to use them for air tickets.

All airlines have increased redemption requirements for reward tickets. Actually, United is one of the best airlines for availability of reward tickets. I don't know what you mean by "too many restrictions."

You can still get a UA Chase rewards card with 50,000 bonus miles. You also get other benefits such as priority boarding and free checked bags if you use the card for your ticket purchase.

 

[ProudMommyof2]

I checked into the United CC. Right now, the bonus is 30,000 miles for getting the CC. Does that fluctuate like Southwest does? If so, I will wait and see if they increase it. DO you get the card benefits, like free checked bags, if you book on points rather than paying for the flight with the card?

Thanks everyone!

 

[sunshinehighway]

Have been lucky enough to fly to Hawaii the past 4 trips on FF miles from different credit cards. We have the United CC - when both my husband & I signed up - there was a promotion going with 50,000 miles - no annual fee and miles posted after first purchase (not after $1000.00 or $1,500.00 within 3 months out now). We had the Hawaiian airlines card from BOA until Barleys took over in April. Get for inter-island airfare but there is a direct flight from JFK to HNL. You just need to get to JFK. American Airlines Advantage card is not bad either. I would check out the credit cards for the below airlines. I know we constantly get promotions in the mail that differ from what is on the website.
Delta (not so easy to get FF seats)
United (have found pretty easy to find FF seats - also, can book one way FF seats)
American (have found easy to get FF seats - believe you can also book one way FF seats)
Just recently got the Alaska airlines credit card. 25.000 points after first purchase but most people get it because every year you receive a $99.00 companion fare with one full price ticket. Alaska does fly out of Boston.

This is a very interesting bit of information. I'm going to have to look into that card. Thank You!

 

[lurkernj]

I checked into the United CC. Right now, the bonus is 30,000 miles for getting the CC. Does that fluctuate like Southwest does? If so, I will wait and see if they increase it. DO you get the card benefits, like free checked bags, if you book on points rather than paying for the flight with the card?

Thanks everyone!

I thought the 50k was targeted, but not sure about that.

You do get the card benefits if you use the card to book the tickets(when using points you still have to pay security fees of around $5-10, so use the card for that). You get a free checked bag for yourself and a companion booked on the same reservation.

 

[DizMe]

All airlines have increased redemption requirements for reward tickets. Actually, United is one of the best airlines for availability of reward tickets. I don't know what you mean by "too many restrictions."

You can still get a UA Chase rewards card with 50,000 bonus miles. You also get other benefits such as priority boarding and free checked bags if you use the card for your ticket purchase.

You're right! I just looked it up out of curiosity. When I had my card, they only allowed a limited number of "awards flights" and I could never get all of my family members covered. I always had to take the funky flights (red eye, 2 stops) and Hawaii took so many points it really wasn't worth blowing them when flights from CA to Hawaii at that time were pretty cheap anyway.

Now, there are many perks with the United card and it's a much better value. Here are a couple of sites with good info on it:
http://creditcardforum.com/rewards/1046-2014-united-airlines-credit-card-review-best-offer-not.html

http://creditcardforum.com/rewards/1046-2014-united-airlines-credit-card-review-best-offer-not.html