BuffaloGirl

wekewoody - I think I like the idea of staying in Hanalei, as suggested by you!

ChiSue

Would your chances improve if you bought coach and used some of the miles on upgrades? (Stockpiling miles for NEXT time.)

We will be returning to Chicago same way we did last year: Maui-Honolulu-Dallas-Chicago. We'll sip a Longboard at HNL. We'll sleep on the long leg into DFW. The hop to Chicago is two hours, arriving shortly after sunrise.

Would you have better chances if you chose a different island? (Not knocking Kauai or Hanalei, which would be my choice on the north shore too, although the ocean will have 'turned' by October.)

Hope your MIL is feeling OK and nobody caught anything nasty at the ER!

BuffaloGirl

Thanks for the input ChiSue. I'm not very savvy on the FF mile thing. I'd like to just take advantage of the wonderful gift of flight given to us by SIL. Her miles, our luck.

Kauai is what I'm "feeling" so need to go with that. It's begging me to visit. I've looked into the Big Island, Maui, etc. but....nope. Kauai it is.

I'll figure it out - eventually!

annikany

FWIW- I think the flight back to the mainland is easier since most flights leave Honolulu late evening. That has been my experience anyhow.
I think your plans sounds perfectly suited to your needs and desires.
Congratulations on your anniversary!

suze

So all 2 weeks on Kauai? Sure that sounds heavenly!

garyt22

Since everything flies in and out of Oahu, you could sandwich a week in Kauai in the middle of the two weeks... start in waikiki... then Kuaui... then finish at turtle bay on oahu...

suze

<Since everything flies in and out of Oahu>

That's not true for me any more (from Seattle). Several airlines fly in and out of each of the individual islands. No need to go thru Oahu, unless you want to.

BuffaloGirl

annikany - thank you!

suze - sorry, not the entire time on Kauai. A few days on Oahu as well.

garyt22 - not a bad idea! I'm going to give that one some thought. Thanks.

I love to plan trips, but this one overwhelms me for some reason.

suze

Ah don't feel bad. Planning Hawaii's tricky. My first trip I have a huge pile of guidebooks out of the library trying to figure out where I wanted to go!

BuffaloGirl

Thank you suze. Once I get the flights booked I'll be back with more questions!

suze

I can only help with Waikiki/Honolulu. I've never been to Kauai or even out around Oahu. But ask away...

tomfuller

FYI: If you decided on a flight out of Chicago, the Lake Shore Limited (Amtrak) leaves Buffalo (Depew) about midnight every night. This gets you into Chicago in the morning. You can get a taxi from Union station to either Chicago airport (or ride the El).

BuffaloGirl

That's a thought - thanks, tomfuller!

clarkgriswold

American flies direct from Kauai to Los Angeles.....in March, U.S. Airways will join American's "ONE WORLD" system and you will be able to book using USAirways miles.

BuffaloGirl

Thanks clarkgriswold. I wondered if the joining of the two airlines might help me. I waited so long that it's becoming difficult to find flights I want/need using miles for September/October.

Thanks to everyone's suggestions, however, I think I'll try to book the trip without stopping on the way...so I'm slowly getting there in the decision making process.

Shar

it is getting harder and harder to use your FF miles when airlines merge. I have found that out when Continental and Untied merged. Have lots of FF miles with United but now there are more people looking to use their mileage with so few seats made available and the amount of miles has gone way up as well. We try to book as soon as we are able which is usually around 360 days before trip if we are looking for Business or First Class. Good luck and I know you will enjoy your journey. Kauai is the island we go to 99% of the time. It is heavenly and I am counting the days until we go again....

suze

You're making great progress! Decided on the islands (Oahu/Kauai) and division of time. And to go directly there without a west coast stop. All good stuff.

Sorry I'm no help as I don't do the Frequent Flyer Miles thing, beyond using a Hawaiian Air Visa that manages to get me a free coach ticket every once in awhile happy planning.

ChiSue

I blame the increasing number of retired Baby Boomers for the increased difficulty in using miles! We have to book fake tickets when out outbound date opens, then pay to change them when our return date opens months later. It's still a lot cheaper than cash or miles for first class. (Don't ever fly first if you'll have to go back to coach -- at least if you have long flights like we do, coming from Chicago.)

BuffaloGirl

Thanks Shar, suze, and ChiSue!

As soon as my husband has 5 minutes to spare (he's working 7 days a week right now) I'll sit down with him and book this trip. Hopefully in the next night or two. I'm not going to wait to see what happens with the changeover. It looks like we'll be booking into late October/early November to get the flights we want (my fault). I told my husband that if I don't book soon we aren't going this year.

It's all good cuz we're going to be in Hawaii, right?

suze - I'll need you when I start planning Oahu!!!

ChiSue - the miles are a gift, so I know I'll have to return to coach after that trip. I'm OK with that. I'd rather go 1st class once in my life rather than never!

BuffaloGirl

I booked the flights - finally! I was a afraid to wait until March when the whole merger thing takes place. We aren't stopping anywhere. Decided to just get our butts straight to paradise and straight home when it's over. We're leaving October 10th and returning home on the 24th.

Thanks for all your input, and I'm sure I'll be back with many more questions!