Using Miles to Hawaii

[LAXtraveler]

I currently have 2 options I am looking at for flights to Hawaii (LAX-LIH) on March 13-17, 2011 for 2 people.

Option 1: HA/AA (all in Coach)
Depart LAX-HNL-LIH (on HA): 20k/p = 40k total (35,000 SPG transferred to HA)
Return LIH-LAX (on AA): 22.5k/p = 45k total (AA miles)

TOTAL: 80k points/miles combo

Option 2: CO/UA (Business)
Depart LAX-HNL (on CO)
Return HNL-LAX (on UA)

TOTAL: 126,000 points (transferred from SPG)

So my questions are:
Is it worth it to use so many SPG points to fly the business itinerary?
Is flying economy that bad on these flights?
Has anyone transferred from SPG -> HA before?
What's HA's Y class like?

Thanks for your help!

[Dan]

I wouldn't use miles for Business or First for LAX-Hawaii.  It's just boring domestic first class.
From EWR or IAH you at least get BusinessFirst on CO.  Or from DFW you'll get a real First class on AA.

I've never redeemed HA miles.

[LAXtraveler]

Great, thanks for the tip. Economy it is for this trip.

[steve2]

 let me add CO is now using 737s out of LAX, see if anyone you have miles with is using a widebody , I think AA uses its 757s

[LAXtraveler]

Yes, CO is a 737, AA is 757 and some of the UA flights are 767 (domestic configuration, not int'l)

[kivabb]

Trying to go to JFK-LAX-LIH using British miles on AA on business class BA telling me that since longer flight is from LAX-LIH and the JFK-LAX portion has 3 classes of service, they therefore view whole itenerary as first class and want to charge me 105K instead of 75-80K. Is this policy or a YMMV that I should keep calling until I get the right rep?

[Dan]

Sounds like BS to me.
If you fly business in a 3 class JFK-LAX and then first (business pricing) in a 2 class LAX-LIH how does that become first class pricing?

[Bp]

What type of First class is AA 767 JFK-LAX ?

[kivabb]

Sounds like BS to me.
If you fly business in a 3 class JFK-LAX and then first (business pricing) in a 2 class LAX-LIH how does that become first class pricing?

She told me that since LAX-LIH was longer flight and that is "first", so the whole ticket is classified as first and therefore more mileage. I asked her if this was something I can speak to a manager about because of a computer glitch and she told me it's policy......

[kivabb]

I tried everything I could. BA miles on AA metal from JFK-LAX (business) and continuing JFK- LIH on first is 52.5K each way.

[Dan]

I tried everything I could. BA miles on AA metal from JFK-LAX (business) and continuing JFK- LIH on first is 52.5K each way.

Very strange.
How about JFK-SFO-LIH?  JFK-SFO is further than SFO-LIH.