Hawaii, What would you do??

[DawnCt]

We have enough Frequent Flyer miles for our family to travel to Hawaii. We would like to go next summer. We have been before and I have always booked coach seats and it has been fine. My husband would like to use more miles and book he and I in first class and the teens can sit in coach. I don't have a problem with them sitting in coach because they are lucky enough to be going. However, I have a problem "wasting miles" in first class when the upgrade equals two more tickets to Hawaii. What would you do??

 

[Steve H.]

Doesn't seem very fair to your kids, IMO.

Is there the possibility that you might be able to get a space available upgrade without spending the miles? If you're an elite-level traveller on the airline, that might be a possibility.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Well since the kids are going I probably would not upgrade. (I am paranoid and would like them close to me on a long plane ride) Plenty of time left for you two to travel first class once they are up and out.
Well that is how I would look at it. But if DH is really wanting it that bad I might be tempted to give in.

 

[DawnCt]

Originally posted by Steve H.
Doesn't seem very fair to your kids, IMO.

Is there the possibility that you might be able to get a space available upgrade without spending the miles? If you're an elite-level traveller on the airline, that might be a possibility.

I don't know if we would qualify for an upgrade without spending the miles but I hope you aren't serious when you say that it doesn't seem fair to my kids. They will be 16 and 19, with probably the 22 year old and the 25 year old staying home. I know that I would have been thrilled if my parents flew to Florida when I was their age and brought me along but they couldn't afford it. I think that they are pretty lucky to be planning to make their 3rd trip to Hawaii. But that's me. This might be a good topic for the debate board.

 

[Michelle]

Heck YES, I would do it, if you think you are going to accumulate miles at ths same pace.

We're flying to Hawaii this summer on FF miles, three coach tickets, and if we had the miles to do first class I'd do it in a heartbeat. Your kids are definitely old enough to be in coach without you.

 

[DawnCt]

Originally posted by WebmasterMichelle
Heck YES, I would do it, if you think you are going to accumulate miles at ths same pace.

.

I have done pretty well accumulating those miles. We have the Delta Sky Miles card and I charge EVERYTHING! I actually bought a used pick up truck and charged half of the miles. (It was a compromise with the dealer). I charge home heating oil, car repairs, phone bills. I also take advantage of all of the available double mile offers. I get double miles for gas, groceries, and home improvement store merchandise. I was getting 5 miles for every dollar of billing with MCI but I just switched to AT&T because I will get the same miles per dollar but also 1000 miles per month for five months just for switching! I upgraded to the Platinum card which gave me another 5000 miles with the first purchase, and if I reach a certain dollar amount by November I will get another 10,000 miles, not to mention a free companion ticket once a year. Of course I charged the cruise we just returned from. I particularly like the Dine In program. If you register your FF number and card, when you dine in a particular restaurant, you get 10 miles for every dollar spent. A night out with the entire family and a guest for my son's birthday netted 1737 miles! Not bad. That is more miles than I would have gotton flying one way to Miami!

 

[fklhou]

Upgrade and enjoy yourselfs. Let the kids fend for themselves. The trip is long enough that it is worth the upgrade.

Which island are you going to? My family really enjoys the Big Island and the Volcano National Park.

Have fun.

 

[DawnCt]

Originally posted by fklhou
Upgrade and enjoy yourselfs. Let the kids fend for themselves. The trip is long enough that it is worth the upgrade.

Which island are you going to? My family really enjoys the Big Island and the Volcano National Park.

Have fun.

It will be our third trip. I love the Big Island and I try to plan at least two nights in Volcano National Park. We can stay at the Kilauea Military Camp which is in no way as rustic as it sounds. When I am on the Hilo side I try to get a plate lunch, go to Akaka Falls and we loved the Tsunami Museum. We then head to the Kona side. We stayed in a condo last time but the time before that we got a great rate at the Hilton Waikaloa Village. I would like to do that again. I love the North shore of Kauai, I love Maui but I think I would like to stay at a dude ranch on Molokai, even if it is just for a short time and then go to Father Damien's colony. We haven't been there.

 

[FINFAN]

I went to Hawaii as a teen for a school trip ( I am lucky, I know) Flew coach the first leg to San Francisco, and then on the second flight my seat belt wasn't working properly so guess who got to move to 1st class the difference was night and day , but I missed having my friends with me. Too bad you can't book 1st class one way and trade and do coach the other and trade off. That way everyone would get to experience it and break up the flight a bit. Just me, but I would probably give my kids the 1 st class seats and fly coach....it would be a long time again B4 they could swing that again for themselves. No matter which you choose, what an awesome family trip! Enjoy!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Just wanted to say, quietly, so this does not get moved to Transportation Board, Enjoy your trip, Dawn!!!!!!! Sounds wonderful.