Traveling to Hawaii and not spending a fortune makes for the best vacation! The simple task of applying for a credit card and getting to Hawaii for $22.40 makes it all worth it. Read below to get started.
Above is a link that will make life a lot cheaper to get to Hawaii from the United States.
I live in Columbus, Ohio and have gone to Hawaii 10 times since 2007 – Southwest has recently started flying here and making life a lot cheaper. Let me explain below…
Step 1: Apply for the Above Credit Card (I do receive small credit and this helps me continue writing)
Step 2: Understand what you have to do. Spend $1000 within 3 months. Get 40,000 miles round trip.
Step 3: If you have a significant other, you want them to click the same link and do the same thing. Do not have them added to your card. +5000 is not the same as +40,000 miles
Step 4: Get flying
There are a few ways to get to Hawaii from Ohio but my recommendation is to go to Hawaii from Las Vegas. Flights to Vegas from Columbus, Ohio generally run around $200 roundtrip. The flight roundtrip to Hawaii is usually $588 to $1500 depending.
I recommend figuring out the days you want to be in Hawaii – and booking that first.
Please note that being flexible makes life a lot easier. Holidays and typically busy dates will not work for minimal spends…
This is from the Southwest App –
Leaving LAS to HNL for 11,203 points one way
Returning May 8 from 1:15 pm to 11:46 pm for 13,134
Per person 24,337 miles from Las Vegas to HNL roundtrip
Now to get to Las Vegas…
One way to get from Columbus to Las Vegas is to go Spirit Airlines or book via Southwest. Depending on miles – I can pay roundtrip or do points one way and pay the other. There are options. The total from this trip ends up being 46,106 miles and for getting the credit card – it ends up with me deficient 6,106 miles so buying roundtrip on another airline or buying one way on Southwest or paying roundtrip can also work.
So from CMH to LAS is 11,320 miles
The cheapest return is 10,449 miles from Las to CMH
Keep in mind – booking this way – you will need hotel stay or you will need to plan on staying at the airport…but hotels are pretty cheap in Vegas.
Total miles:
CMH to LAS 11,320
LAS to CMH 10,449
LAS to HNL 11,203
HNL to LAS 13,134
Total 46,106 miles and $11.20 and $11.20
You can’t book from Columbus to Hawaii so you will have to pay tax two times but essentially – $22.40 for a free flight is a win!
If you use your Southwest Card for hotel bookings – sometimes it is a great deal – last weekend- I stayed at a Wyndham in Orlando for $149 for the night and it allowed me to get 4,000 points on my Southwest Card. This is well worth it. Helps make up the points to cover the Hawaii flight.
What I recommend…..
Know these deals are not July 4th weekend or Christmas – you will pay a lot of miles to do that but if you can plan for Thanksgiving or Easter – these times are easier to book with miles. I will also suggest that when the windows open – you can typically land a good deal. I always save my miles – so I would spend an extra month or two then pay with miles for the entire trip. Remember if flying from Columbus – you will have to book to Las Vegas and then from Vegas to Hawaii.
If you are deadset on a time frame and you have enough miles to book from Las Vegas to Hawaii but not enough from Columbus – go ahead and book it – Southwest lets you cancel without penalty and bags travel free – so there is no loss.
I do not typically shop from the Southwest Portal – I do book some hotels there but most of the time – hotels.com as you stay 10 nights and get the 11th free. I have attained good status there and have had positive experiences.
*With many airline credit cards, there are annual fees – depending on the Southwest Card you choose $59-$149.
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Click Here to get Started for the Southwest Card
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Enjoy Hawaii,
Heidi
Like the idea but have grown weary of the games people play to get on the plane first (like pay extra to get checked in extra) to hopefully get a decent seat.