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In preparation for tomorrow’s MileValue dinner in Honolulu with Delta Points–still a few spots left if you want one–I made three charts of the United devaluation for awards originating or ending in Hawaii.

I made the same charts for awards in all three cabins originating from the continental US. Check them out here.

The devaluations for awards originating in Hawaii are far worse than the devaluations from the mainland with a ton of devaluations in economy and a big devaluation on the best-value business class award possibly on United’s entire chart.

If you thought most of the country had it bad, look at the bloodbath for awards originating and terminating in Hawaii.

Even if you don’t live in Hawaii, this is of some interest because if you planned to add a “cheap oneway” to Hawaii after an award to Europe, for instance, you’ll have to pay the price for an award to or from Hawaii one way.

All is not lost, though. Unlike the chart for awards originating from the continental US, awards to one region will get cheaper from Hawaii starting February 1.

What are the devaluations? Which award got cheaper?

All three charts show the one way award price in thousands of United miles. Starting February 1, 2014, United splits its one award chart into two.

The cheaper one is the United-metal chart for awards either wholly operated by United flights or for awards on which partner flights are at least one cabin below the United-operated flights. This chart’s price is in the “United Price” column.

The more expensive chart is for any awards that contain partner flights (with the exception noted in the previous paragraph.) This chart’s price is in the “Partner Price” column.

Economy One Way Award Chart in Thousands of United Miles

Screen Shot 2014-01-23 at 6.56.06 PM

The economy award chart from Hawaii is getting much worse!

The economy award chart for awards starting from the continental US only saw six regions increase in price, five by only 2,500 miles each way.

The economy award chart for awards starting from Hawaii sees 13 regions getting dearer, most by 5,000 miles or more each way.

Interisland flights on Hawaiian are jumping to 6k miles each, and flights to the mainland are going from 20k to 22,500 miles each way.

The best value on the chart for the next week is Hawaii to Southeast Asia for 50k miles roundtrip. That’s going to 70k miles next week.

Business Class One Way Award Chart in Thousands of United Miles

Screen Shot 2014-01-23 at 6.21.49 PM

Hawaii to Asia in Business Class on the current award chart is an incredible value.

You can currently book business class from Honolulu to Japan for 32,500 miles each way or to anywhere else in East Asia for only 37,500 miles.

That’s outrageously cheap considering these are flat beds on flights that are longer than the East Coast-to-Europe (which costs 50k miles each way and will soon cost 57.5k miles each way.)

Screen Shot 2014-01-23 at 7.28.06 PM
from gcmap.com, Honolulu to Tokyo is about 10% farther than Newark to London

And adding on flights to Southeast Asia for only another 5k miles on the current chart is incredible value.

If I had to book one United award now at current prices to fly later in 2014, it would be from Hawaii to Asia in business class.

These awards are going way up in price on February 1. Flying to Tokyo will be 40k miles each way in United Business Class and 50k if you want to fly a partner like ANA.

Going to Southeast Asia on United flights will be 50k miles each way, and 60k on partner flights.

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United Flights from Tokyo-Narita

Australia and New Zealand drop in price in business class on February 1. There is a direct Honolulu to Auckland flight on Air New Zealand. It features recliner seats in business class and very rare availability.

First Class One Way Award Chart in Thousands of United Miles

Screen Shot 2014-01-23 at 6.22.10 PMThe worst-hit awards are partner First Class awards. Any Hawaii-based fliers who are stockpiling United miles or Ultimate Rewards for a First Class trip should burn them in the next week.



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