Maximizing American Express Referral Bonuses and Travel Savings to Hawaii

(00:00) Intro: There are a multitude of ways to fly to Hawaii using miles and points (and even many ways to get a deal on cash tickets). On this week's show, we discuss ways to fly to Hawaii from around the US from as few as 10K or 13.5K points each way.

(01:06) New FM intro

(03:22) Card Talk: Sonesta World Mastercard

https://frequentmiler.com/sonesta/

 -Card Details

-What are points worth?

(16:00) What crazy thing . . . did Marriott and Starbucks do this week? https://frequentmiler.com/link-marriott-starbucks-accounts-to-occasionally-earn-double-stars-minimal-bonus-points/

(19:51) Mattress running the numbers: Wyndham Rewards Hotel Pass https://frequentmiler.com/wyndham-rewards-selling-30-night-hotel-pass/

(27:48) Award Talk

(27:55) New Reasonable Redemption Value for Hotel Points https://frequentmiler.com/what-are-hyatt-points-worth/

(30:29) Aeroplan promotion with Miles4Migrants) https://frequentmiler.com/earn-7500-aeroplan-points-with-a-100-miles4migrants-donation/

(34:19) 15% transfer bonus from Citi to Cathay Pacific Asia Miles https://frequentmiler.com/citi-thankyou-offering-15-transfer-bonus-to-cathay-pacific-asia-miles/

(27:03) Enterprise Rent-A-Car Status Match https://frequentmiler.com/enterprise-status-match-giving-status-through-february-2026-match-from-hotel-airline-car-rental-programs/

(30:29) Amex referral bonuses now as high as 45,000 points for targeted cardholders https://frequentmiler.com/amex-referral-bonuses-now-as-high-as-45000-points-per-referral-up-to-100k-per-year-per-card/

(42:44) Main Event: Best Ways to fly to Hawaii https://frequentmiler.com/best-ways-to-fly-to-hawaii-from-the-us-mainland/

(43:04) Cash deals

(43:30) Delta companion certificates

(44:55) Alaska Companion Fare

(46:13) Southwest Companion Pass

(47:32) Vacation packages

(49:15) Award deals: Economy

(49:24) United flights via Turkish Miles & Smiles for 10K each way

(50:48) Finnair Avios for American Airlines (15K) or Alaska Airlines (13.5K)

(52:52) Alaska Mileage Plan for Alaska from 15K

(53:35) Singapore Krisflyer for central/Western US to Hawaii (13-14K)

(54:33) Using Alaska miles to fly AA for 17.5K from Dallas and west coast

(55:32) Use United to fly United from 11.1K from the west coast

(56:42) Aeroplan for 12.5K from the west coast to Hawaii on United

(58:00) Qatar Avios for 13K one way from the west coast

(59:00) Flying Blue for Delta from 18K

(59:16) Virgin Atlantic for Hawaiian Airlines for 20K each way from the west coast

(1:00:16) JetBlue for Hawaiian Airlines for 20K each way from the west coast (1:00:48) American Airlines miles for AA from 20K each way

(1:01:39) Southwest Airlines when cash fares are cheap

(1:02:00) "First class" flights to Hawaii with miles

(1:02:57) Turkish miles for United: 15K miles each way

(1:05:35) Finnair Avios for American Airlines" 38K miles each way

(1:07:00) Alaska Miles for Alaska from 40K miles each way

(1:07:21) Hawaiian miles to fly Hawaiian: 40K one way or upgrade from 25K. Possibly more availability with status or as a cardholder.

(1:09:25) Virgin Atlantic miles to fly Hawaiian: 40K one way from the west coast

(1:09:48) Alaska Mileage Plan for American Airlines: 35K one-way from as far east as Dallas

(1:10:10) Air Canada Aeroplan for United for 25K from the west coast

(1:10:50) Qatar Airways Avios for American or Alaska for 38,750 Avios from the west coast

(1:11:50) Example for how to find award availability

(1:19:33) Question of the Week: Is reselling a good low-energy way to generate points?

Music credit: Annie Yoder