The US state of Hawaii is world-renowned for its pristine beaches, unparalleled surf scene and laid-back vibes. Nestled in the Pacific Ocean, this group of islands is a firm favourite for Australian travellers. And thankfully, with some frequent flyer points up your sleeve, you can take off to Hawaii with ease.
In this guide, we’ll show you how you can hack your way to Hawaii using Qantas Points, Velocity Points and KrisFlyer miles. We also cover the various lounges you can access in Honolulu Airport, plus our tips for maximising your rewards when booking accommodation.
Flying to Hawaii on points
Several airlines operate direct flights from Australia to Hawaii, while others include one stop so you can stretch your legs. And what’s even better is that it’s easy enough to fly to this island paradise on points.
Below are your key options to fly between Australia and Hawaii with different frequent flyer programs.
Flying Qantas
Qantas operates a direct route between Sydney and Honolulu, taking you to Hawaii’s largest city in just under 10 hours. This flight is serviced by an Airbus A330, which means lie-flat comfort for Business Class passengers – not a bad perk for an overnight flight!
We’ve rounded up how many Qantas Points you’ll need to fly to Honolulu from various cities in Australia.
 using  Qantas Points | Economy | Business |
| Sydney to Honolulu | 31,500 | 82,000 |
| Brisbane, Hobart, Melbourne to Honolulu (via Sydney) | 31,500 | 82,000 |
| Adelaide to Honolulu (via Sydney) | 37,600 | 94,900 |
| Darwin, Perth to Honolulu (via Sydney) | 41,900 | 108,400 |
Ways to earn Qantas Points
As Australia’s largest frequent flyer program, it’s easy to earn Qantas Points from everyday activities.
A credit card that earns Qantas Points is the best way to pocket a healthy sum of points towards your next getaway. And with many credit cards offering bonus points when you apply, are approved and meet a minimum spend, you could be jetting to paradise sooner. Have a look at the Qantas Premier Platinum, American Express Qantas Business Rewards and Qantas American Express Platinum to find out how many bonus points you can earn.
Top up your points when you make a purchase via Qantas Wine. Eligible cases can net you up to 10,000 Qantas Points, and sometimes more during special offers. Plus, Qantas Points Club members receive triple points plus free delivery on all Qantas Wine orders. Best of all, you don’t even have to be a wine aficionado to benefit. There’s also a great selection of non-alcoholic beverages, beer, seltzer and cider.
Turn your next retail purchase into Qantas Points with Qantas Marketplace or Qantas Shopping. As a base rate, you’ll earn three Qantas Points per $1 via Qantas Marketplace, which features a selection of lifestyle brands, fashion, homewares and more. And with Qantas Shopping, all you need to do is click through and complete an order with your favourite online retailer to earn points. Pay for your purchase using a points-earning credit card to double-dip on rewards.
The next time you scan your Everyday Rewards card when shopping at Woolworths, Big W or other partner retailers, you could earn Qantas Points towards your next trip. Thanks to the Everyday Rewards and Qantas Frequent Flyer partnership, you can automatically convert Everyday Rewards points to Qantas Points at a rate of 2:1.
Discover more ways to earn Qantas Points in our complete guide.
Flying Jetstar
Jetstar operates direct flights from Sydney and Melbourne to Honolulu, with 20% fewer points required compared to Qantas flights. But with a flight time of approximately 10 hours, it’s worth weighing up the savings, particularly if you’re eyeing Economy. When redeeming Qantas Points for Jetstar flights, standard seat selection and checked baggage allowance are included.
It’s entirely possible to fly from other cities via Melbourne or Sydney. But note that in most cases, Jetstar doesn’t transfer luggage from domestic to international flights – so allow plenty of time to collect your bags between flights.
 (one-way)using Qantas Points | Economy | Business* |
| Melbourne and Sydney to Honolulu | 26,000 | 61,500 |
| Brisbane, Hobart to Honolulu (via Sydney) | 26,000 | 61,500 |
| Adelaide to Honolulu (via Melbourne/Sydney) | 32,000 | 71,100 |
| Perth, Darwin to Honolulu (via Melbourne/Sydney) | 35,600 | 81,300 |
Flying Fiji Airways
Fiji Airways operates flights from Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney to Nadi. From 21 July 2023, there’ll be direct Canberra-Nadi flights as well.
From Nadi, you can fly to Honolulu in less than seven hours. This is a great backup solution if you can’t find availability on Qantas’ Sydney to Honolulu route or don’t want to fly Jetstar long-haul from the east coast. The Nadi to Honolulu leg is usually serviced by a Boeing 737, which means a reclining seat for Business Class passengers.
Notably, Fiji Airways has the same Classic Reward redemption rates as Qantas. So if you’re flying from Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne or Sydney, you can discover some of the wonderful things to do in Fiji en route to Honolulu.
 (one-way)using Qantas Points | Economy | Business |
| Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney to Honolulu (via Nadi) | 31,500 | 82,000 |
| Adelaide to Honolulu (via Nadi) | 37,600 | 94,900 |
Flying Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian Airlines operates a direct flight from Sydney to Honolulu, which can be booked using Velocity Points. If you only have Velocity Points to spend and can’t find dates that suit you, you could also try Auckland to Honolulu.
 (one-way)using  Velocity Points | Economy | Business |
| Sydney to Honolulu | 42,000 | 78,000 |
| Auckland to Honolulu | 31,000 | 71,000 |
Ways to earn Velocity Points
Earning Velocity Points in Australia is simple, and you can collect ample points from your everyday spending.
A credit card that earns Velocity Points, like the American Express Velocity Platinum Card, can be a great way to boost your balance. You’ll not only earn Velocity Points on eligible purchases, but there’s an opportunity to pocket a generous stash of bonus points when you apply, are approved and meet a minimum spend.
The Velocity e-Store is similar to Qantas Shopping and allows you to earn Velocity Points when shopping online with retail partners. And it’s easy – simply click through Velocity’s online shopping portal to track your purchase, and you’ll receive Velocity Points based on your total spend.
And if you want to turn your everyday essentials into flights, consider linking your Flybuys and Velocity Frequent Flyer accounts. Flybuys points can be transferred to Velocity Points at a rate of 2:1, so your next shop at Coles, Kmart, Bunnings or Officeworks could get you closer to your dream getaway.
Fancy a rich red or a sparkling white? Virgin Wines and the Velocity Wine Store can have you earning Velocity Points across assorted bottles and cases. Don’t forget to use a credit card that earns frequent flyer points to maximise your rewards.
Discover more ways to earn Velocity Points in our complete guide.
Flying Air New Zealand
Redeeming KrisFlyer miles for Air New Zealand flights is another way to fly from Australia to Hawaii. Note that there is often little to no availability in premium cabins between New Zealand and Hawaii, though you may get lucky.
Here’s how many KrisFlyer miles you’ll need to fly with Air New Zealand to Honolulu.
 (one-way)using  KrisFlyer miles | Economy | Business |
| Adelaide, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Perth Sydney to Honolulu (via Auckland) | 66,000 | 146,500 |
Ways to earn KrisFlyer miles
KrisFlyer is the frequent flyer program of Singapore Airlines, a Star Alliance member. This allows you to redeem KrisFlyer miles across Star Alliance airlines, including Air New Zealand. And it’s possible to earn KrisFlyer miles in Australia, even without flying.
While you can’t earn KrisFlyer miles directly with any credit cards in Australia, you can take advantage of a flexible rewards program. Many banks have their own rewards system with points that can be transferred to a number of frequent flyer partners, including KrisFlyer. Here are some of the best credit cards for KrisFlyer miles that offer generous sign-up bonuses.
And don’t forget the recently launched HSBC Star Alliance Credit Card, which allows you to earn Star Alliance points from everyday spending and then transfer these points into a Star Alliance program of your choice.
Velocity Points can be converted to KrisFlyer miles at a rate of 1.55:1, which is handy if you’re short a few KrisFlyer miles for a redemption but have Velocity Points on hand. Though it’s prudent to ensure there’s availability before you transfer, as KrisFlyer miles do expire.
Exploring Hawaii’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport
Formerly known as Honolulu International Airport, Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) is Hawaii’s largest airport and the main gateway for international travellers.
Transport from Honolulu Airport
Waikiki is Hawaii’s most popular beach and is located a short distance from the airport in Honolulu. If you simply can’t wait to hit the beach, a taxi from Honolulu Airport can take you to Waikiki in just 15 minutes. This convenience will set you back around US$40-$45, or approximately AU$60. Handy if you’ve got plenty of luggage or travelling in a group.
Shuttle buses operate between Honolulu Airport and Waikiki. The cost varies across service providers and whether you’re taking a private or public shuttle. As a guide, you can expect to pay roughly USD$20 per person one-way, or around AUD$30.
Rideshare services Uber and Lyft operate from Honolulu Airport to Waikiki and cost between USD$30-$40 (AUD$44-$59) for the 15-minute journey. This is a slightly cheaper option than taxis, and you can use Uber or Lyft to travel to other parts of the island, too.
Lounges at Honolulu Airport
Passengers looking to unwind at Honolulu Airport before a flight have a selection of lounges. We’ve highlighted the lounges you can utilise if you’re flying from Honolulu to Australia.
Qantas International Business Lounge
Qantas operates its own lounge at Honolulu International Airport, which can be used by Qantas and Jetstar customers. Here’s who can gain entry.
When flying Qantas or Jetstar:
- Business Class passengers.
- Qantas Gold, Platinum, Platinum One and Chairman’s Lounge cardholders.
- Qantas Club members.
- Qantas Complimentary Lounge pass holders.
- Other oneworld Sapphire and Emerald members (Jetstar flights excluded).
As this is a Qantas-operated lounge, you can utilise a complimentary lounge pass to gain entry. You’ll just need to ensure that the pass is linked to your flight at least 24 hours before departure. While you can link complimentary passes to Jetstar flights, the Qantas International Business Lounge in Honolulu is only open on days with Qantas flight departures and until the last scheduled Qantas flight. Double-check the lounge’s opening hours if you intend to use a complimentary pass for your Jetstar flight.
The Plumeria Lounge
Hawaiian Airlines operates The Plumeria Lounge which can be accessed by Business Class passengers flying to Australia.
Day passes can be purchased at the lounge. The standard price is USD$40, though passengers who hold status with HawaiianMiles can expect to pay less – with access complimentary for some elite members. This lounge also accepts Priority Pass: handy if you’re flying Economy without Hawaiian Airlines status, or even on another airline.
United Club
Air New Zealand doesn’t operate its own lounge in Honolulu, but eligible passengers can access the United Club.
- Business Class passengers
- Airpoints Gold, Elite and Elite Priority One
- Star Alliance Gold members
If you want to fast-track your way to Star Alliance Gold and enjoy lounge access and other perks across the Star Alliance network, the HSBC Star Alliance credit card can help.
Earning and using points on hotels in Hawaii
The accommodation options in Hawaii are as vast as the islands themselves. Kick back at a five-star resort, or settle into unique surroundings with an Airbnb. No matter your preference, here are some ways you can get rewarded for your stay.
Book directly with the hotel
If you’re chasing status with a hotel loyalty program, booking directly with the property is the way to go. You can avail of perks like early check-in or late check-out, complimentary breakfast and even free room upgrades. Programs like Accor Live Limitless and Marriott Bonvoy allow you to accumulate points that can be redeemed for future stays.
Book through a third-party provider
While you can’t normally enjoy the benefits of hotel loyalty status when you book with a third-party provider, you can still earn frequent flyer points or receive discounts on accommodation. Here’s how.
If you want to earn Qantas Points
The Qantas Hotels platform dishes out Qantas Points on hotel and Airbnb bookings. You’ll earn Qantas Points at a rate of 3:1 for hotels or 1:1 for Airbnb. Qantas Points Club members can even earn up to 50% more points on hotel bookings (although not Airbnb). And if you manage to nab a booking during a triple points promotion, you can earn even more points from your stay.
Note that Qantas Hotels may not always be the cheapest option, so it’s worth comparing prices across various providers before you book. Qantas Points can also be redeemed for Classic Reward hotel bookings via Qantas Hotels, which is handy if you’re looking to save cash.
If you want to earn Velocity Points
Eligible bookings made via the Rocket Travel platform yield three Velocity Points per $1.
If you want to earn KrisFlyer miles
Separate from Rocket Travel, Rocketmiles is another third-party accommodation provider. Rocketmiles has its own rewards program where you can earn points and then transfer them to KrisFlyer and other partners.
If you want a discount on your booking
Signing up for Booking.com’s Genius loyalty program gives you a minimum 10% discount on participating properties. If you enjoy flexibility and variety across your stays, from different brands to different types of accommodation, this is one way to earn rewards and discounts without being tied to a particular hotel chain.
If you want to save on the cost of your hotel bill
Some credit cards offer travel credit that can be redeemed for accommodation, flights and car hire. The travel credit offered by cards like the American Express Platinum Edge and American Express Explorer is redeemable via American Express Travel and can offset the card’s annual fee. Plus, you’ll have access to additional perks through American Express Membership Rewards.
Point Hacker’s tips and tricks
Ready to plan your Hawaii holiday? Here are our final tips and tricks.
- When searching for flights using points, ensure you’re looking at ‘Classic Rewards’. If you’re getting totals far higher than what we’ve outlined above, you may be searching for ‘Points Plus Pay’. Find out more about reward seats and how they work.
- For a long journey, having your preferred seat is crucial. Learn more about how you can choose the best seat on the plane.
- If retail therapy is on your itinerary, a credit card with no overseas transaction fees will give you the most bang for your buck.
And that’s a wrap for our guide on hacking your way to Hawaii with points. Your Hawaiian getaway awaits!
All photography by Chris Chamberlin.