How to travel to HonoluLu From Canada on Points

You can easily travel to Honolulu from Canada on points

Hawaii is a very popular travel destination for honeymooners, nature enthusiasts, and families looking to escape the cold. In fact, it’s the most popular tourist destination in North America, and it’s not hard to see why. 

From beaches, snorkelling, nature walks and scenic drives, Hawaii certainly has something for everyone. 

Unfortunately, the excursions, food, and accommodation costs can rack up quickly, ultimately pricing many individuals out of their dream vacation. 

Fortunately, here in Canada we have access to many travel programs that can reduce the cost of your Hawaiian vacation by upwards of 80%, leaving more money in your pocket, and more freedom to experience some of the world class excursions that Hawaii has to offer. 

In this post, we’ll show you how you can travel to Honolulu from Canada on points, and the different ways to earn and use your travel points to ensure you’re getting MAXIMUM value on your redemption. 

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Our Theoretical Vacation

For this exercise, we’ll be booking a 5-night, 6-day vacation focusing on a stay in downtown Waikiki, a very popular tourist destination

We’ll be using the dates of November 3rd – November 8th. 

Our theoretical stay will be 5 nights at the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani, a 4 Star hotel operated by Marriott.

We’ll show an itinerary for 1 individual. If you are traveling with someone, your traveling companion can use the same credit cards suggested below to earn even more points.

Flight Cash Value

Below, we can see the cash value of an Air Canada economy, and business class ticket from Canada’s 3 major hubs (Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal)

Note: prices are subject to change

Note: Air Canada also flies direct from Calgary & Edmonton

HOW TO TRAVEL TO Honolulu FROM CANADA ON POINTS

Flight Option #1: Fly to Honolulu From Canada on Points with Air Canada Using Aeroplan

The average value of 1 Aeroplan point is 2.1 cents. We will hope to receive a higher value when redeeming Aeroplan points. Going forward, we’ll be using these values to determine the value of redeeming your points for this itinerary. 

Your Complete Guide to Aeroplan

Aeroplan (and Air Canada) is the most popular travel currency in Canada, so it only makes sense that we determine the amount of Aeroplan points required for our flight to Honolulu.

Note: redemptions are subject to change

Aeroplan leverages dynamic pricing, meaning redemptions show a range of points for Air Canada flights. More popular flights cost more.

Flight Option #1.B: Using Aeroplan Partner Airlines to Fly to Honolulu from Canada on Points

While dynamic pricing can be terrible at times for points enthusiasts, the good news is that Aeroplan has several partner airlines that only require a fixed number of points.

All Aeroplan partner flights within North America are subject to this award chart:

While this seems like an easy way to redeem your points, there are a limited number of award seats made available by partner airlines, and certain airlines only release economy-class award space.

There is one partner airline you can leverage for your trip to Honolulu

United Airlines

United Airlines does not fly to Honolulu out of Canada, but does fly out of numerous US cities including:

• San Fransisco
• Los Angeles
• Chicago
• Denver
• Houston
• Washington
• Newark

Redemptions will range from 12.5K – 22.5K Aeroplan points, but Business class award availability is extremely tough to find, so economy will most likely be your only option.

Flying economy can be good for Canadians who are interested in spending minimal points, or are looking to break up their trip.

Earning Aeroplan Points

There are 2 ways to earn a large number of Aeroplan points here in Canada:

• Transferring American Express Membership Rewards to Aeroplan at a 1:1 ratio
• Earning Aeroplan points directly with a co-branded Aeroplan credit card. 

What Credit Cards do You Need to fly to Honolulu From Canada on Points?

Regardless of whether you’re flying economy or business class, you’ll need to focus on collecting Membership Rewards and/or Aeroplan points. There are 2 credit cards that we’ll be focusing on to get you to Honolulu

Note: credit card signup bonuses vary over the year. Please check for the latest signup offer.

1. American Express Platinum Card

The American Express Platinum Card is a great way to earn Membership Rewards, which can be transferred to Aeroplan.

The $699 annual fee (Reduced to $549 with a $150 rebate via Great Canadian Rebates) is offset by the following perks & benefits:

• Sign-up Bonus:
  • 80,000 MR points upon spending $7,500 in the first three months
• Earn Rate: 
  • 3 MR points per dollar spent at grocery stores & at restaurants 
  • 2 MR points per dollar spent on travel and 
  • 1 MR point everywhere else
• Insurance:
  • Emergency Medical Travel Insurance – up to $5,000,000
  • Car rental damage insurance 
  • Trip Cancellation Insurance- up to $3,000
  • Hotel Burglary insurance – up to $1,000
  • Baggage delay insurance – up to $1,000
  • Lost or stolen baggage insurance – up to $1,000
• Perks
  • $200 Annual Travel Credit
  • Special discounts for cardholders, which are sent via email
  • $100 Nexus Credit
  • Instant Gold Status at Marriott Bonvoy
  • Instant Gold Status at Hilton Honours
  • Access to Pearson Priority Security Lane during peak operating times
  • Complimentary valet service at the Express Park and Daily Park at Pearson Airport
• Lounge Access
  • Priority Pass (+1 guest)
  • Plaza Premium Lounges (+1 guest)
  • Delta Sky Club
  • Airspace Lounges (+2 guests)
  • Centurion Lounges
  • SwissPort Lounges (+1 guest)

While the $699 annual fee seems daunting initially, the 80,000 Membership Rewards will get you to Honolulu in Economy class and may get you to Honolulu business class depending on the date/your departure destination.

Luckily, there are other ways in which you could earn more Aeroplan points for FREE

2. TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite

You can earn Aeroplan points with co-branded credit cards. The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite card is a great way to earn FREE Aeroplan points.

The Cost for the Card is $0 for the first year, and then $139 annually, & comes with the following benefits:

• Sign-up Bonus:
  • 10,000 Aeroplan points upon first purchase
  • 30,000 Aeroplan points upon spending $1,500 in the first three months
  • 15,000 Aeroplan points on renewal after spending $7,500 in the first year
    • Total of 55,000 Aeroplan points
• Earn Rate: 
  • 1.5 Aeroplan points per dollar spent on food, beverage, gas & travel
  • 1 Aeroplan point everywhere else
• Insurance:
  • Emergency Medical Travel Insurance – up to $1,000,000
  • Car rental damage insurance 
  • Trip Cancellation Insurance- up to $5,000
  • Baggage delay insurance – up to $1,000
  • Lost or stolen baggage insurance – up to $1,000
• Perks
  • First bag free on Air Canada flights
  • Preferred pricing when redeeming Aeroplan points on Air Canada flights
  • $100 NEXUS credit
  • Earn 1,000 Status Qualifying Miles and 1 Status Qualifying Segment for every $10,000 you spend on the card

While this card isn’t as strong as some of American Express’ top cards, we live in a world where AMEX isn’t accepted at many retail locations in Canada. As a result, it’s good to have a solid visa in your wallet as well. The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite provides a great, FREE way to earn a large amount of Aeroplan points, and it can be a great backup to the high annual fee cards in the market. the 55,000 Aeroplan points will get you a free economy ticket with Air Canada.

Canadians will have to make a personal decision as to whether or not the $139 annual fee is worth taking into the second year.

You can read which other cards offer Aeroplan points here

Credit Card Round-up

Based on the sign-up bonus’ above, you’ll be able to earn 135,000 Aeroplan points by paying $549 in credit card fees. You’ll also receive several cost-saving benefits through these cards including: 

• Priority Pass lounge access (AKA free food & drink)
• Discounts on award flights 
• 1st checked bag free with Aeroplan
• Gold status (and potential room upgrades) with Marriott Bonvoy

Flying to Honolulu with Aeroplan – Financial Summary

The average value of 1 Aeroplan point is 2.1 cents per point. We will hope to receive a higher value when redeeming Aeroplan points.

	Economy	Redemption Value	Business	Redemption Value
Cash Fare	$722		$1965
Aeroplan Points with Air Canada	20,500	3.52 cents/point	80,700	2.43 cents/point

	Economy	Redemption Value	Business	Redemption Value
Cash Fare	$684		$2,293
Aeroplan Points with Air Canada	32,400	2.11 cents/point	131,000	1.750 cents/point

	Economy	Redemption Value	Business	Redemption Value
Cash Fare	$404		$2,144
Aeroplan Points with Air Canada	17,600	2.30 cents/point	114,400	1.87 cents/point

As you can see, the best option to fly to Honolulu from Canada on points is to leverage Air Canada, as they are only 1 of 2 airlines that fly to Honolulu from Canada.

Point redemptions vary throughout the year (a byproduct of dynamic pricing), so if you find a deal you like, I encourage you to jump on it.

Flight Option #2: Fly Using WestJet Rewards

In the world of points redemptions, you need a certain level of flexibility. Sometimes, you’ll be planning a vacation only to find out that there is no award availability on a particular flight, or that the number of points needed has increased drastically (especially in the case of Air Canada’s dynamic pricing).

That’s why it’s great to have another option. 

You can leverage WestJet Rewards to fly Economy, or Business Class to Honolulu

WestJet has direct flights to Honolulu out of Vancouver, Calgary & Edmonton, but you can connect to these airports through a number of Canadian hubs (including Toronto & Montreal). Below, we’ll show examples of flights from Toronto, Montreal & Vancouver

What Credit Cards do You Need to fly to Honolulu From Canada on Points with WestJet

1. WestJet World Elite Mastercard

If you regularly fly with WestJet, or intend on taking a trip with WestJet over the next year, the WestJet World Elite Mastercard is a great tool you can leverage to reduce the cost of your flight

The $119 annual fee is offset by the following benefits: 

• Sign up Bonus
  • 300 WJD after your first purchase
  • 300 WJD upon spending $5,000 in the first 3 months
  • 100 WJD as an anniversary bonus
• Earn Rate:
  • 1.5% return in WestJet Dollars (with 3% return at Petro Canada gas stations) 
  • 2% return in WestJet Dollars when purchasing from WestJet Vacations
• Insurance
  • Emergency Medical Travel Insurance – up to $5,000,000
  • Car rental damage insurance 
  • Hotel burglary  insurance – up to $2,500
  • Trip interruption insurance – up to $5,000
• Perks
  • A Free checked bag on WestJet flights
  • Additional 20% in Petro Points on purchases made at Petro Canada
  • Boingo Wi-Fi on West Jet Fligts

The $600 sign up bonus is virtually a $600 WestJet gift card, so it’s easily worth the $119 sign up fee.

If you currently own another RBC credit card and would like to transfer to the WestJet World Elite Mastercard, you can perform a credit card switch on the RBC banking page, or by calling their credit card hotline. Switching from one RBC credit card to another DOES NOT impact your credit score. 

RBC Avion Visa Infinite

Avion Points can be converted to WestJet dollars at a 1000-1 ratio with the occasional 30% bonus that provides more value when transferring.  

You can transfer your RBC Rewards to West Jet Dollars here

RBC currently offers several credit cards that allow you to earn RBC Rewards or Avion Points. The best card to get for getting Avion points is the RBC Avion Visa Infinite

Sign up here

The $120 annual fee is offset by the following perks & benefits:

• Sign-up Bonus:
  • 35,000 Avion points upon approval
• Earn Rate: 
  • 1.25 Avion points per dollar spent on travel
  • 1 Avion point everywhere else
• Insurance:
  • Emergency Medical Travel Insurance
  • Trip Interruption insurance – up to $5,000
  • Cancellation Insurance – up to $25,000
  • Flight delay insurance – up to $500
  • Mobile device insurance – up to $1,500
• Perks
  • Special discounts throughout the year

The RBC Visa Infinite is a great way to earn transferrable Avion points, and the lack of a high spending threshold can be great for those who don’t spend much on the card. 35,000 Avion points equals 350 WestJet Dollars.

Canadians will have to make a personal decision as to whether or not the $120 annual fee is worth spending after year 1.

Credit Card Round-up

Based on the sign-up bonus’ above, you’ll be able to earn 1,000 West Jet Dollars by paying $240 in credit card fees, nearly enough for a business class ticket. You’ll also receive several cost-saving benefits through these cards including: 

• 1st bag free on WestJet flights

HOTEL OPTION #1: MARRIOTT BONVOY POINTS

Marriott Bonvoy points are the easiest hotel currency to collect in Canada. They also have the benefit of being a transfer partner of American Express. If you want to use points for your hotel stay, this is the easiest way to do it

If you’re traveling on points for an extended period, it’s ideal to leverage Marriott’s “Fifth Night Free” promotion, which can go a long way in enhancing the value of your vacation. 

4 nights paid for with points = 5th night free.

If your goal is to use Bonvoy points for the entire duration of your hotel stay, staying 5 nights enhances your redemption by 20%. It’s something you should seriously consider if you’re going the points route. Below we can see the cash & points value of a 5 night say at the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani, a 4 Star hotel operated by Marriott

What Credit Cards Do You Need to Stay 5 Nights in Honolulu on Points

1. The American Express Marriott Bonvoy Card

The American Express Marriott Bonvoy Card is Marriott’s sponsored card in Canada. 

Sign up here

The annual fee of $120 (reduced to $60 if you sign up through Great Canadian Rebates) is offset by the following benefits:

• Sign-up Bonus:
  • 50,000 Bonvoy points upon spending $1,500 in the first 3 months
• Eaimagern Rate: 
  • 5 Bonvoy Points per dollar spent on Marriott Bonvoy properties
  • 2 Bonvoy Points per dollar spent everywhere else
• Insurance:
  • Emergency Medical Travel Insurance – up to $500,000
  • Car rental damage insurance 
  • Baggage delay insurance – up to $1,000
• Perks
  • 15 Elite qualifying nights & instant Silver status within Marriott’s loyalty program
  • Annual free night, up to 35,000 points

2. American Express Business Edge

The American Express Business Edge card offers a strong signup bonus, along with strong everyday earning.

The cost for the card is $99 ($24 with a $75 rebate through Great Canadian Rebates), & comes with the following benefits:

• Sign-up Bonus:
  • 45,500 Membership Rewards upon spending $5,000 in the first 3 months
  • 1,000 Membership Rewards each month in which you spend $3,000
  • 10 Membership Rewards on office supplies & electronics, rides & gas, eats & drinks within 6 months of cardmembership (up to 10,000 points)
    • Total of 67,000 Membership Rewards
• Earn Rate: 
  • 3 Membership Rewards per dollar spent on eligible food & drink (groceries not included), office supplies, electronics & gas
  • 1 Membership Reward for everywhere else
• Insurance:
  • Car rental damage insurance 
  • You can be insured for eligible items charged to your American Express Business Edge Card for 90 days from the date of purchase in the event of accidental physical damage or theft
  • Automatically extend the manufacturer’s original warranty up to one additional year 
• Perks
  • Occasional discounts on select products

3. American Express Business Platinum Card

The American Express Business Platinum Card is a great way to earn Membership Rewards, which can be transferred to Marriott Bonvoy.

The $499 annual fee (Reduced to $349 with a $150 rebate via Great Canadian Rebates) is offset by the following perks & benefits:

• Sign-up Bonus:
  • 90,000 MR points upon spending $10,000 in the first three months
• Earn Rate: 
  • 1.25 MR point everywhere else
• Insurance:
  • Emergency Medical Travel Insurance – up to $5,000,000
  • Car rental damage insurance 
  • Trip Cancellation Insurance- up to $3,000
  • Hotel Burglary insurance – up to $1,000
  • Baggage delay insurance – up to $1,000
  • Lost or stolen baggage insurance – up to $1,000
• Perks
  • Special discounts for cardholders, which are sent via email
  • $100 Nexus Credit
  • Instant Gold Status at Marriott Bonvoy
  • Instant Gold Status at Hilton Honours
  • Access to Pearson Priority Security Lane during peak operating times
  • Complimentary valet service at the Express Park and Daily Park at Pearson Airport
• Lounge Access
  • Priority Pass (+1 guest)
  • Plaza Premium Lounges (+1 guest)
  • Delta Sky Club
  • Airspace Lounges (+2 guests)
  • Centurion Lounges
  • SwissPort Lounges (+1 guest)

While the annual fee seems daunting initially, the 90,000 Membership Rewards can be transferred to 108,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, propelling you to a stay with points.

Traveling to Honolulu on Points – Summary

Every person’s idea for a best-in-class vacation will vary, and by no means am I trying to limit you to one airline, or one hotel. This exercise is meant to provide an understanding as to the simple steps you can take to drastically reduce the cost of a Hawaiian vacation. 

Here are a few considerations you should make for your trip:

1. The easiest way to fly to Honolulu from Canada is with Air Canada via Aeroplan points. Economy seats are fairly easy to come by, but Aeroplan’s dynamic pricing will create huge swings in the amount of points needed for a business class redemption. Historically, the longer out you book, the less you’ll need

2. If you have Aeroplan status, this would be a great opportunity to leverage your e-upgrade credits, and the cost of Business class Air Canada tickets can be extremely high given Aeroplan’s dynamic pricing. 

3. If you’re okay flying economy class, and live on the West Coast, flying WestJet should be an option you should consider, as the credit cards offered through RBC can drastically reduce the cost of the flight

4. The American Express Platinum card comes with a $200 travel credit, which can be used for rental cars purchased through the American Express travel portal.

FINANCIAL SUMMARY TABLE

Flying Economy 

Credit Cards	Sign up Bonus	1st Year Annual Fee
American Express Platinum	80,000 Membership Rewards (96,000 Bonvoy Points)	$549
TD (or CIBC) Aeroplan Visa Infinite	55,000 Aeroplan Points	$0
American Express Marriott Bonvoy	50,000 Bonvoy Points	$60
American Express Business Edge	57,000 Membership Rewards (68,400 Bonvoy Points)	$24
Total		$633

Flying economy, you can fly to Honolulu from Canada on Points, and stay 5 nights at the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani, all for $633 + taxes & fees.

Flying Business

Credit Cards	Sign up Bonus	1st Year Annual Fee
American Express Platinum	80,000 Membership Rewards (80,000 Aeroplan Points)	$549
TD (or CIBC) Aeroplan Visa Infinite	55,000 Aeroplan Points	$0
American Express Business Platinum	90,000 Membership Rewards (108,000 Bonvoy Points)	$349
American Express Marriott Bonvoy	50,000 Bonvoy Points	$60
American Express Business Edge	57,000 Membership Rewards (68,400 Bonvoy Points)	$24
Total		$982

Flying business, you can fly to Honolulu from Canada on Points, and stay 5 nights at the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani, all for 982 + taxes & fees

Things to do on Oahu

There are a number of amazing things to do on the island of Oahu including:

• Hiking Diamond Head
• Seeing Pearl Harbour
• Golfing
• Visiting the Waikiki strip
• Go to Turtle Beach

View More Tourism Destinations on the Island of Oahu.

Here is a video of tourism options in Honoluu from the YouTuber “Hawaii Travel Guide”

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