FF vs. Paid Tix from Hawaii
 

Ahh the price of living in Paradise. Trying to use CO FF for a flight from Honolulu to Anchorage for an Alaskan cruise this August. Return will be from Vancouver to Honolulu.

Only routing available entails numerous connections in both directions:

HNL-LAX-SEA-ANC w/10 hour layover in SEA.
Return is: Vancouver-SEA-LAX-HNL.

NWA has a fare of $683.46 for a much more direct route w/only one connection in SEA both ways.

What would you do-- pay or FF?

If you can get a standard 35K award, I'd use the FF miles. It's a good value, compared to spending $683. Even if you factor the ~7,000 miles you'll earn by paying, I'd still use miles.

You can use your CO miles on NWA. Did you check and see if ff seats were available on the NWA flight via SEA? You're the only one that can answer the what to do question. Pesonally, I value my time and two layovers is not worth it, especially a 10 hour layover in Seattle. If you choose CO, you might want to consider trying to upgrade using miles. Atleast you would be more comfortable.

Safe travels.

Yes, have the Onepass agent check NW and DL flights. DL can get you to ANC and back from YVR via Salt Lake City - it's longer than SEA, but still just one stop each way.

I just inquired about using Alaska Air miles on Hawaiian Air from Seattle in September and the operator laughed saying "you would have had to book in September a year ago". No upgrade available either. :'(

Continental is partner with Alaska Air and they are very accommodating. There is a direct flight between Anchorage and Honolulu with Alaska. Like mjz I value my time and 10 hours layover is not the way to start vacation. $683. in August is not too bad.

AS does not fly to HNL right now. Maybe it did before, but right now, it codeshares with NW from SEA and AA from LAX, if you look at AS' timetable.

Yes, it is a partner with CO, so you can fly AS using Onepass miles.