HawaiianMiles: what happened to the program and what replaced it

Hawaiian Airlines – Hawaii’s home carrier – had its own frequent flyer program. Aptly dubbed HawaiianMiles, it allowed travellers to earn and redeem rewards when jetting off with Hawaiian Airlines itself.

Whether you were planning your first visit to Hawaii or were a frequent visitor to the state, here’s a look at what used to be HawaiianMiles from the lens of an Australian traveller.

How do I earn miles with HawaiianMiles?

The easiest way to build a balance of HawaiianMiles as an Aussie traveller is simply to fly. Hawaiian Airlines offers regular flights from Sydney to Honolulu – and from Auckland, too. Unlike most other frequent flyer programs, Hawaiian Airlines doesn’t award miles based on what you spend. There’s just one flat rate in each cabin.

From Sydney to Honolulu in Economy, you’d get 5,060 HawaiianMiles, one-way. In Business Class, it’s a flat 7,590 miles. Those with Hawaiian Airlines status can earn more – 50% more miles for Pualani Gold and 100% more miles for Pualani Platinum.

You can also pocket HawaiianMiles when flying with Hawaiian Airlines’ partners, which are changing in 2025.

On the ground, HawaiianMiles is also partnered with Marriott Bonvoy. This means you can choose to earn HawaiianMiles on your hotel stays in lieu of Marriott Bonvoy points. Alternatively, you can earn Marriott Bonvoy points and later convert them into HawaiianMiles.

Hiring a car? You can notch up HawaiianMiles with Avis, Budget and Payless Car Rental.

How do I use HawaiianMiles?

HawaiianMiles members have very strong access to reward seats on Hawaiian Airlines flights. That’s because Hawaiian Airlines essentially has peak and off-peak award pricing. When reward seats are made available to partners, it’s usually only when the off-peak rate is bookable via Hawaiian. But when peak rates apply and you need to travel regardless, you’ll be glad to have HawaiianMiles under your belt.

HawaiianMiles bookings for Hawaiian Airlines flights can be made online. It’s quick and easy to search for reward seat availability, with the booking tool showing you the best reward seat pricing available week by week.

Using HawaiianMiles with Hawaiian Airlines

Let’s have a closer look at using HawaiianMiles to book those Hawaiian Airlines flights.

In Economy Class, the number of miles needed can significantly flex up and down based on demand. For a one-way ticket from Sydney to Honolulu, you could pay anything from 35,000 to 140,000 HawaiianMiles. Fortunately, though, the figures are more often on the lower side – especially when booking in advance.

For instance, the last time I booked a flight from Honolulu to Sydney in Economy, the cost was just 40,000 miles one-way, plus taxes and fees. Being a daytime flight, and fortuitously, with a spare seat next to me, it was a cost-effective and relatively comfortable way to fly.

At the pointy end, outright bookings in Business Class cost either 65,000 or 130,000 miles, one-way. Those 65,000-mile seats pop up occasionally from Sydney. If your dates aren’t flexible though, be prepared to part with 130,000 miles for that one-way jaunt. And if you’re going to spend that many miles, my suggestion is the overnight flight from Sydney to Honolulu. That gives you the best chance to rest and arrive ready to explore.

For what it’s worth, that’s also what I did on that last Hawaii trek – Business over to sleep, Economy back to work and relax. And in between, I hopped across to a neighbour island in Hawaii, for 15,000 miles each way in First Class. (These flights can sometimes be 30,000 miles one-way during peak times).

In full disclosure, the HawaiianMiles spent above were provided courtesy of Hawaiian Airlines, allowing me to become better acquainted with both the airline and its loyalty program.

How do I contact HawaiianMiles?

To book a Hawaiian Airlines flight using HawaiianMiles, just use the Hawaiian Airlines website.

• Call 1800 955 912 within Australia or 0800 449 415 within New Zealand.
• If you’re unable to reach a HawaiianMiles agent or need an international number, call +1 877 426 4537.

For general enquiries, you can also use live chat.

Summing up

HawaiianMiles gives travellers the best chance at securing reward flights on Hawaiian Airlines itself. Being able to book ‘flex’ awards using miles means greater opportunities to secure a seat at the time you need to fly. Still, that convenience comes at a cost – paying double the usual HawaiianMiles compared to standard/off-peak reward flights.

HawaiianMiles may also be the program of choice for travellers who regularly fly with Hawaiian Airlines. Just one return trip between Sydney and New York (via Honolulu) in Economy each year is enough to earn Pualani Gold status. Make that two return trips, and you’ve got yourself Platinum status with Hawaiian Airlines.

This unlocks all those great benefits above, and makes some reward flights even cheaper. The more you fly to or through Pacific paradise, the more rewarding HawaiianMiles can be.

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