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thumperfbc
Team Apathy
posted
Google produces a wide variety of results...

We are planning on a trip to Hawaii in about 2 years. I currently don’t use a credit card for any reason and don’t even have one.

I’m considering signing up for one with the sole intention of taking advantage of sign up bonuses (you know, spend $xxxx) in the next 3 months abc get a million points). Does anybody know of a good card that will get us great/free flights from CA? If we can go first class, I’d be a hero (plus much more comfortable). Any thoughts?
 
Posts: 6525 | Location: Modesto, CA | Registered: January 27, 2005Reply With QuoteReport This Post
tatortodd
Drill Here, Drill Now
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When I lived in Alaska, I had the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® card. As long as you spend $2k in the first 90 days, you'll get 40,000 AA bonus miles plus companion fare for $121. Also, free checked bags for you and your family (max size 7) and baggage fees are a multi-billion dollar revenue generator so this is fantastic. More benefits on website. Between Alaska and Canada, I lived in the far north 7 winters and it was no coincidence I've visited Hawaii 7 times.

Last I looked (not today), AA had the most flights from West Coast to Hawaii. Modesto should be a reasonable drive to an airport with direct flights to Hawaii.

BTW, if someone suggests Hawaiian Airlines you should kick them in the taint. Piece of shit planes and fucking thieves.


Ego is the anesthesia that deadens the pain of stupidity

DISCLAIMER: These are the author's own personal views and do not represent the views of the author's employer.
 
Posts: 23956 | Location: Northern Suburbs of Houston | Registered: November 14, 2005Reply With QuoteReport This Post
thumperfbc
Team Apathy
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by tatortodd:
When I lived in Alaska, I had the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® card. As long as you spend $2k in the first 90 days, you'll get 40,000 AA bonus miles plus companion fare for $121. Also, free checked bags for you and your family (max size 7) and baggage fees are a multi-billion dollar revenue generator so this is fantastic. More benefits on website. Between Alaska and Canada, I lived in the far north 7 winters and it was no coincidence I've visited Hawaii 7 times.

Last I looked (not today), AA had the most flights from West Coast to Hawaii. Modesto should be a reasonable drive to an airport with direct flights to Hawaii.

BTW, if someone suggests Hawaiian Airlines you should kick them in the taint. Piece of shit planes and fucking thieves.


Thanks for the info, I will look into it. We are an easy drive to Oakland, San Fran, San Jose, and Sacramento. All less than 90 minutes during favorable traffic times.


What’s the story on Hawaiian Air? I’ve seen them mentioned a lot, never negative before this.
 
Posts: 6525 | Location: Modesto, CA | Registered: January 27, 2005Reply With QuoteReport This Post
sjtill
goodheart
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Oh I have nothing against Hawaiian, I love flying with them! They were always more expensive, and usually didn’t fly direct to Maui.

Looking at Kayak, RT economy flights LAX-OGG (MAui) are a little over $400, first class is $1200. That’s for one person. At 1 point per dollar spent, you’d have to spend something like $240,000 to get RT first-class tickets for the two of you.

Some cards will give you higher points for travel, but it’s still hard to get enough points for first-class travel.


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Posts: 18626 | Location: One hop from Paradise | Registered: July 27, 2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
mcrimm
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Check out https://www.nerdwallet.com/best/credit-cards/travel

I have the Chase Sapphire Reserve card. If you travel more often, the card easily pays for itself.


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Posts: 4291 | Location: Saddlebrooke, Arizona | Registered: December 24, 2013Reply With QuoteReport This Post
sjtill
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I now have the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, and plan to use that pretty much exclusively.


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Posts: 18626 | Location: One hop from Paradise | Registered: July 27, 2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
tatortodd
Drill Here, Drill Now
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quote:
Originally posted by thumperfbc:
What’s the story on Hawaiian Air? I’ve seen them mentioned a lot, never negative before this.
At the time (not sure if they do now), AA didn't do intra-islands flights so I booked that on Hawaiian Air.
  • The POS comment was for 2 reasons: (1) Every time there were hour plus delays for mechanical problems, and (2) despite having short legs (wear 30" inseam) my knees are firmly touching the seat in front of me (I've been a high-tier frequent flyer on 3 different airlines so this is tighter than normal cattle class).
  • The fucking thieves comment was for their "refundable" ticket policy. I changed my mind on island hopping one trip and cancelled far enough in advance (several weeks) that cancelling was within "refundable" ticket policy. Motherfuckers would only give me a credit with a short expiration. I only went there once a year so the short expiration was flat out theft, and most visitors only go there once in their life so the policy is seemingly designed to get people to pay extra for refundable and never have to give the money back. As mentioned, I've been a high-tier frequent flyer on 3 different airlines and this is not a normal "refundable" ticket policy (i.e. refund means money returned). I don't know their current "refundable" ticket policy, but it's a moot point because the MF'ers lost me as a customer and I'm fulfilling my promise that I made to HA customer "service" (i.e. tell everyone I know).


    Ego is the anesthesia that deadens the pain of stupidity

    DISCLAIMER: These are the author's own personal views and do not represent the views of the author's employer.
    •  
    Posts: 23956 | Location: Northern Suburbs of Houston | Registered: November 14, 2005Reply With QuoteReport This Post
    LBTRS
    Better Than I Deserve!
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    I think you're being overly optimistic on the points. It takes a lot of them to get a first class ticket to Hawaii and a long time to earn a million of them as you stated. I put about $7000 per month through my rewards cards and the points don't add up that fast.

    The best general purpose travel card is the Chase Sapphire Reserve. I have many travel rewards credit cards (hobby) and if I was only getting one that is the one I'd get. Good earnings on travel and dining, good benefits, and the travel credit makes it a no brainer. That said I use my Amex cards (platinum, gold, everyday preferred) more than the Chase cards.


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    Posts: 4991 | Location: Phoenix, AZ | Registered: September 23, 2005Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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