hawaiian airlines travel agent rates

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200+ Travel Agent Rates in 2024 [+PDF Download]

One of the biggest perks of becoming a travel agent is the wealth of travel experiences you have access to. As a travel agent, if you take vendor training, or reach a supplier's sales threshold you unlock travel agent rates for personal travel, special perks, amenities, and access to FAM (familiarization trips) .

The career outlook for a travel is great , plus it's an amazing way to see the world! (And if you still think travel agents don't exist, definitely read the previous link as you may be surprised that travel agencies book a larger share of travel than online travel agencies in the US!)

But the big question is, what are these discounted travel agent rates, and how do travel agents access them? We've got it all together for you in one handy dandy little download.

HAR's Travel Agent Rate PDF download includes details on 200+ supplier discounts! The download includes information on travel agent rates, special discounts, and special reward programs — all exclusive to travel agents (and maybe your friend or family :) ).

Not only that, but the download lists eligibility details and links to the travel advisor portal so you can register your travel agency. You can view the full PDF below!

But of course, this article is so much more than a travel agent rates download!

We'll cover:

• what different kinds of travel agent discounts are out there,
• how to qualify a supplier's travel agent loyalty or reward program,
• and elaborate on some of the top travel agent hotel discounts

⭐️ HAR ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS: ⭐️

• Different Types of Travel Agent Discounts
• 8 Things to Know about Travel Agent Discounts
• 200+ Travel Agent Rates (It’s Bonkers!)
• Questions to Ask About Travel Agent Rates & Discounts

Travel Agent Hotel Rates

• IHG (International Hotel Group) Travel Agent Rates
• Hilton Hotels Travel Agent Rates
• Hyatt Hotels Travel Agent Rates
• Marriott Hotels (formerly Starwood)
• Travel Agent Airline Rates
• How to Become a Travel Agent (if You’re Not One Already)

Different Types of Travel Agent Rates & Incentives

Every supplier is going to have a different kind of travel agent rate or loyalty program. Some are complicated. Some are simple.

Here’s what you can generally expect in terms of travel agent discount programs:

• Point Systems: Depending on the vendor, point systems offer you just that — a certain number of points per night booked. Points allotted will likely vary by tier of property. If you book a luxury property, you’ll get more points. Travel agent point systems, while somewhat complicated, are great for flexibility. It levels the playing field and operates like an amped-up client-facing rewards program.
• Cash Incentives: Some vendors will offer travel agents hard cash for bookings (e.g. you get $25 for every room night booked). This isn't a rate or discount, but it's definitely an incentive!
• Straight-up Flat Discounts: Some travel agent discounts are simple—you get a certain percentage off your stay. Easy peasy.
• Special Reduced Rates: Because you’re a travel agent (or because you love to travel), you know that suppliers have peak seasons, different classes of properties, rooms, etc. Many suppliers will issue reduced rates exclusive to travel agents, outlining what the cost is for a different room category, itinerary, sailing date, etc.
• Traveling for Free: Free travel is not the norm. There are circumstances travel agents may get a free cruise, a free theme park ticket, or free nights at a resort (etc.). This typically happens after a travel agent completes a vendor’s training program or if you're a top sales person of that supplier/brand.
• Group Travel Rates : I’m not going to go deep into group rates, since this is something that (believe it or not) is typically offered in addition to travel agent rates. If you book a certain number of people on a trip or cruise (or a certain number of nights stay) you get a free credit you can use for yourself or for a client. (e.g. for Globus brands, you can receive travel agent discounts ranging from 25% - 100% depending on itinerary, group size, and when you book.)
• Familiarization (FAM) Trips: In my mind, FAM trips are more of a travel agent perk than a travel agent discount or rate. FAMs are free or deeply discounted trips offered to travel agents (or travel professionals) to educate them about a product or destination. Here's a great explainer of FAM trips .

Suppliers want to keep travel agents happy! Many will have some combination of these perks above.

8 Things You Need to Know About Travel Agent Rates & Discounts

Here are a few things to know about what to expect when you're shopping for travel agent discounts:

1. You Need an Accreditation Number to Get travel agent Discounts

You need to be a travel agent to access travel agent rates and discounts. What makes someone a travel agent? An accreditation number . . . whether you get your own or align with a host agency .

2. Travel Agent Discounts are for Active Travel Agents

Beyond having an accreditation number, you need to sell travel. I know this may seem incredibly obvious, but oftentimes vendors will only offer travel agent rates or perks after you reach a certain sales threshold.

3. A Niche Will Help You Get More Travel Agent Bonuses & Rates (Here’s Why)

Part of developing a travel agent niche is getting a pulse on who your preferred suppliers are. When you begin to get a handle on what suppliers you love, you can focus your time and energies on learning those suppliers inside out.

This will help you establish the deep product knowledge and supplier relationships required to be a successful seller. In turn, you'll have access to more travel agent discounts and rewards as your sales increase.

4. You Often Need to Complete a Vendor Certification to Get a Discount

If you’re completely new, you’re not going to have a long scroll of past sales to help you access travel agent rates. But don’t worry. Many suppliers offer special rates, FAMs, or even free trips once you complete their training programs.

You'll want to make sure you stay current on supplier certifications so you can keep up with their updates and offer your clients the most recent info. Suppliers want you to love their brands and they know you gotta experience it yourself to love it!

5. Rules Most Likely Apply

Travel agent discounts are often saddled with long terms and conditions and/or fine print. This fine print may be peppered with info like blackout dates or that rates are subject to change (without asking for your permission). Unsurprisingly, travel agent rates are non-commissionable.

6. Travel Agent Rates and Programs can Change

Yep. They can and do. So when you read about specific travel agent discounts below, be sure you always check directly with your supplier/ BDM (Business Development Manager) for the most updated travel agent discount policy!

7. Q: If You Book Under a Host agency, Will You Get Your Discount?

Yes. When you set up your logins on host portals, suppliers will know which agent booked what and you’ll get your due glory.

When you set up your logins on host portals, suppliers will know which agent booked what and you’ll get your due glory.

An exception is Disney. For Earmarked Disney agencies (Disney's top selling agency program), it's the accrediting agency that will receive the allotted theme park tickets and travel agent rates to distribute among their agents. So ask your agency how that works if you want to get in it. That said, there are still incentives for solo Disney advisors who complete the College of Disney Knowledge! (Just check out the download !)

8. If you get bonuses, you may need to pay taxes on it

Any point system that can be exchanged for cash may be subject to taxes if you earn more than $600 in bonuses. Don’t ask me. Ask your accountant and make sure you know the tax implications of points you cash in.

Travel Agent Rates & Discounts that Will Make Your Brain Explode 🤯

Let's be honest with ourselves, this is probably why you're here for! To find more information on the travel agent rates, click on the link in the cell.

Also, things change. While we update this annually, check directly with the supplier for the most current travel agent rates and discounts.

Questions to Ask About Travel Agent Rates

You'll likely have questions about a supplier's travel agent rates. One thing to stress is that only asking about a supplier's discounts for travel agents is... well, it's tacky. Bottom line: Your first communication with a vendor should not be about their travel agent rates.

Your first communication with a vendor should not be about their travel agent rates.

These rates are for travel pros who are serious about their trade and want to increase sales. Make the effort to educate yourself on the product, let your BDM (business development manager) know your plan to help increase your sales for their product, and THEN you can ask about the travel agent rates.

If you’re really wanting to compare different rates and programs, here are a few questions you to think about, some of which are in the download above!

• What travel accreditations are accepted? (TRUE may not be accepted everywhere)
• Are there companion benefits?
• Do you need to complete supplier education to secure the rate? If so, how often do I need to renew or recertify (if at all)?
• Are there other eligibility requirements?
• What's the sales threshold to attain travel agent rates or benefits?
• Does belonging to a host agency impact my benefits?
• What are typical blackout dates or seasons?
• How long do I have to redeem my travel agent benefits (if it’s a point system)? When do they expire?
• How do I request or access these benefits?

I'm going to do a deeper dive into a few travel agent hotel rates. There are a zillion different properties so I'm including just a few here. They offer a good idea of what kind of rates travel agents can expect from hotels.

You may be able to find better travel agents rates if you book the hotel through a tour operator.

Keep in mind that these hotel programs listed below are hotel-direct. Advisors seeking discounted hotel rates will need to book them directly through the hotel (rather than booking via a tour operator).

Another thing to note is that hotels with education programs typically will offer the best travel rates (above a standard travel agent rate).

(International Hotel Group) IHG Travel Agent Rates

IHG is linked and included in our download above . Yay! IHG offers a baseline discount of 35% off their Best Flex Rate to travel agents. Not to0 shabs!

Here are a few more details.

IHG offers a baseline discount of 35% off their Best Flex Rate.

But IHG often has offers beyond their base discounts, induing higher discounts on room rates, discounts on spa services, and other fun stuff. At the time of writing this, IHG had special offers that ranged from 35% - 50%.

If you're a travel agent, accessing IHG's travel agent rates is easy. Here's how:

• You need an ARC, IATA, TIDs, or TRUE number to set up an account with IHG. If you're a travel agent employee and you don't have a travel ID card, you can provide a letter on agency letterhead from agency management verifying your agency employment.
• To book IHG's travel agent rates, you need to login to your IHG travel agent account . If you don't have one, you can register here .

IHG Brands with travel agent rates:

IHG is the parent company for whole lotta hotel brands. Their IHG travel agent rates extend to:

• Crowne Plaza
• Candlewood Suites
• Holiday Inn
• Holiday Inn Club Vacations
• IHG army hotels
• Hotel Indigo
• Atwell Suites
• InterContinental
• Holiday Inn Express
• Holiday Inn Resorts
• Staybridge Suites

Marriott Travel Agent Rates

Marriott acquired Starwood in 2015. So if you're looking for Starwood's travel agent rates, look no further than Marriott. Marriott has two different types of travel agent rates. Here's the rundown:

1. Marriott Travel Agent Rates

Marriott's travel agent rate is their blanket travel agent rate program which isavailable to any accredited travel agent with a valid IATA, ARC, CLIA or TIDS accreditation number . It's worth noting that Marriott does not accept TRUE number s.

The travel agent rate varies depending on availability, hotel category, and season. Marriott's travel agent discounts run up to 50% , but you can typically expect less. (At the time of writing this, the discounts ranged from 10-15% when I searched my hometown.)

Marriott's travel agent rate offers can be used to book up to two rooms for unlimited nights (depending on availability)

Marriott's travel agent rate offers can be used to book up to two rooms for unlimited nights (depending on availability).

Here's how to take advantage of Marriott's travel agent rate offers:

1. To access Marriot's rates, travel agents need an IATA ARC, CLIA, or TIDS number (and the ID to prove it when you check-in).

2. Search Marriott's travel agent rates here (Main menu>Promotions>Travel Agent Rate Search).

3. Log in/register to make a booking!

2. Marriott's Fam-Tastic Travel Agent Rates

Marriott's Fam-Tastic program is designed less for personal leisure and more to provide an opportunity for agents to familiarize themselves with properties (hence the name).

For Marriott's Fam-tastic program, advisors can reserve one room for four nights maximum.

This program is only available to Marriott's preferred travel agencies . You can visit host profiles and drop them a note in the Q&A section to ask if they are a preferred Marriott agency.

Marriott's FAM-tastic rate offers deeper discounts than their standard travel agent rate but with more requirements. In addition to fulfilling the requirements for a standard travel agent rate, other requirements include:

• Marriott Bonvoy membership
• Complete Core Hotel Excellence! (HE!) classes
• Fulfill HE! continuing credits every year
• Have an updated Marriott International (MI) Partner Privileges profile

Here's how to access Marriott's FAM-tastic rates:

1. Log into your Marriott Partner Privileges account .

2. To redeem your Marriott Fam-Tastic rates: Main Menu> Hotel Excellence> Access Fam-Tastic

MARRIOTT Brands with travel agent rates:

Here are a list of Marriott's brands that have a travel agent rates program (sorry, but you're not going to find the Ritz Yacht Collection here) .

• AC Hotels by Marriott
• Aloft Hotels
• Autograph Collection
• Bvlgari Hotels & Resorts
• Courtyard by Marriott
• Delta Hotels
• Design Hotels
• EDITION Hotels
• Element by Westin
• Fairfield by Marriott
• Four Points by Sheraton
• Gaylord Hotels
• Homes & Villas by Marriott International
• JW Marriott Hotels
• Le Méridien
• The Luxury Collection
• Marriott Executive Apartments
• Marriott Hotels & Resorts
• Marriott Vacation Club
• Moxy Hotels
• Protea Hotels by Marriott
• Renaissance Hotels
• Residence Inn by Marriott
• The Ritz-Carlton
• Ritz-Carlton Reserve
• Sheraton Hotels and Resorts
• SpringHill Suites
• St. Regis Hotels & Resorts
• TownePlace Suites
• Tribute Portfolio
• Westin Hotels

Hilton Travel Agent Rates

Hilton travel agent rates include 50% off newly opened properties and up to 25% off other properties in Hilton's portfolio.

Keep in mind that Hilton travel agent discounts are off full price, not Hilton Honors discounts, pay in full, or other discount prices like AAA or AARP.

Agents can book two rooms for a seven-night maximum at Hilton travel agent rates.

Agents can book two rooms for a seven-night maximum at Hilton travel agent rates. Below is an example of what it looks like on the user end. You can search the hotels with Hilton travel agent rates here .

Here's how you can book Hilton's travel agent rates:

• Travel agents need an IATAN accreditation (and an ID card upon check-in) to access Hilton's travel agent rate. Agents outside the US need a valid ID.
• Go to Hilton's travel agent site and click "Special Rates" then select the "Travel Agents" option.

Beyond Hilton's travel agent rates, they also offer the Unlimited Rewards program to their travel advisor partners, which awards you .50¢ to $2.00 per night stay you book for your clients. (This also applies to Avis and Budget car rentals as well.)

Just remember that if you start racking up the dough through Unlimited Rewards, you may need to report the income to your springtime friend, the IRS.

Hilton Hotels brands with travel agent rates:

• Hilton Hotels & Resorts
• Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts
• LXR Hotels & Resorts
• Conrad Hotels & Resorts
• Canopy by Hilton
• Signia Hilton
• Curio a Collection
• Tapestry Collection
• Embassy Suites
• Motto by Hilton
• Hilton Garden Inn
• Hampton by Hilton
• Tru by Hilton
• Homewood Suites
• Home2 Suites
• Hilton Grand Vacations

Hyatt Travel Agent Rates

While Hyatt's site advertises travel agent discounts up to 50% , you'll most likely find that large of savings at the more expensive properties in their collection. Similar to their friends at Marriott, Hyatt does not offer travel agent rates to agencies with TRUE accreditation .

There's a 2-room booking limit for Hyatt travel agent rates, with no room night cap.

There's a 2-room booking limit with Hyatt travel agent rates. However, they do not cap the number of room nights if the rate is available.

Here's how to book Hyatt's travel agent rates:

• Agents must have a CLIA, IATAN, or TIDs (for agents outside the US) accreditation number and ID card. (Outside US, agents need an IATA/TIDS).
• Agents must be a World of Hyatt member. ( Create account )
• Search/ book Hyatt travel agent discount rates . (You can also use corporate ID code 4469)

HYATT Brands with travel agent rates:

Here's a list of Hyatt brands that offer travel agent rates:

• Caption by Hyatt
• Thompson Hotels
• Hyatt Centric
• Grand Hyatt
• Hyatt Regency
• Hyatt Zilara/Hyatt Ziva
• Hyatt Place
• Hyatt House
• The Unbound Collection by Hyatt
• Destination Hotels
• Joie de Vivre

Travel Agent Airline Discounts

I'm going to take a deep dive into travel agent airline discounts. Why? Travel agent airline discounts are more complicated to access for a smaller reward .

Here's why . . .

These travel agent airline rates are typically referred to as "AD50" or "AD75," signifying 50%-75% airline discounts for travel agents. At first, this seems like an amazing discount.

But as you’ve probably guessed, travel agents do not get 50-75% off their airline tickets. Otherwise, so many people would want to become a travel agent that our website would break :)

Without going too deep into the weeds, here's why these airline discounts can seem misleading at first.

Airlines break seats down into many different fare classes . All these fare classes have different pricing and rules attached to them. Among other things, the fare classes help the airline understand if you paid full fare or a discounted rate, if you’re in first class/business class/economy class, if you’re doing one way or round trip, and lots of other details.

Even at 50-75% off, Y fare class seats usually cost more than the other economy tickets available.

When it comes to travel agent airline discounts, the AD50 and AD75 discounts apply only to Y-fare class seats, which are full-fare economy seats. Essentially, they’re the most expensive economy-class tickets possible. Even at 50-75% off, Y fare class seats usually cost more than the other economy tickets available.

Not only are AD50 and AD75 discounts often more expensive than other economy tickets available, but there are also more hoops to jump through to access them. Airlines that offer these flight discounts will often have stringent eligibility requirements and detailed terms and conditions required to even request them.

According to seasoned corporate travel advisor and owner of Pioneer Travel, Mike Edic, "By the time you figure out the 'discounted' price, you can still purchase a real ticket for a lot less." Edic elaborated that these rates are seldom cheaper unless it's a last-minute booking (where all that remains are those pricey, full-fare Y-class seats).

Want to Become a Travel Agent? Try HAR's 7-Day Setup Accelerator Course

The one thing that all travel agent rates, promotions, loyalty programs, and discounts have in common is that you have to be a travel agent.

HAR's 7 Day Setup Accelerator course walks you through step-by-step how to start your agency. The best part is, it comes with the support of a team that's help thousands of people become travel agents, and the accountability to make sure you keep going!

Holy Moly! Thank You!

I almost found myself on the dark web looking for travel agent rates. Google only gets you so far . . . that is until it got you to this article.

But here’s a list of fab industry professionals who picked up the slack for Google (brace yourself, it’s a long list!): Bonnie Lee at Travel Quest , Summer Corbitt at Uniglobe , Guy Young and Priscilla Odoom at Insight Vacations, Josh Mahon at Rocky Mountaineer, Maria Triantos at Celestyal Cruises, Jim Tedesco at Apple Leisure Group Vacations, Mike Edic of Go Pioneer Travel, and all the stellar travel advisors who weighed in on Steph Lee’s FB page.

This is a living, changing, breathing document . . . Do you have a favorite travel agent rate or reward program? Holler in the comments!

About the Author

Mary Stein has been working as a writer and editor for Host Agency Reviews since 2016. She loves supporting travel advisors on their entrepreneurial journey and is inspired by their passion, tenacity, and creativity. Mary is also a mom, dog lover, fiction writer, hiker, and a Great British Bake Off superfan.

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The full list of Hawaiian Airlines partners

Partner airlines, hotel partners, car rental partners, credit card partners, shopping partners.

You may have the spirit of Aloha and more Hawaiian shirts than work shirts, but that doesn’t mean your only destination on Hawaiian Airlines needs to be the white sand beaches of Waikiki or the gorgeous coastline of Wailea.

Maybe you've accumulated a bunch of the airline's loyalty points — HawaiianMiles — for flights to the Aloha state, but now want to redeem them to fly someplace new. With Hawaiian Airlines' partner airlines, it's possible. Alternatively, you might be flying on another airline for a trip to, say, Asia or Australia, but you really want to earn HawaiianMiles so you can get a free flight to Hawaii. Either way, it's possible due to Hawaiian Airlines partnerships.

And while Hawaiian Airlines isn’t a part of any major airline alliance (e.g. Oneworld or Star Alliance ), Hawaiian Airlines has several partner airlines that can help you earn and redeem HawaiianMiles for flights to Asian, Australia, Europe and elsewhere in North America.

This is your complete guide to understanding how to fly with Hawaiian Airlines’ partners.

Hawaiian Airlines partners span multiple industries — from airlines and hotels to even retailers. Here's where you can redeem or earn HawaiianMiles with partners:

China Airlines.

Japan Airlines.

JetBlue Airways.

Korean Air.

Virgin Atlantic.

Virgin Australia.

Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach.

Boyd Rewards.

Marriott Bonvoy.

Park Shore Waikiki.

Pearl Hotel Waikiki.

The Twin Fin.

Sam's Club.

American Express.

Bilt Rewards.

Other retailers.

Hawaiian Airlines has a codeshare partnerships with the following airlines:

This means you can book tickets through Hawaiian Airlines on planes operated by these carriers. You can also earn and redeem Hawaiian Miles on most of these flights.

It should also be noted that while Virgin Atlantic is not technically considered a partner airline with Hawaiian Airlines, you can both earn and redeem Hawaiian Airlines miles on their flights.

Earning miles with airline partners

Taking advantage of Hawaiian’s partner airlines means that you don’t have to fly on a Hawaiian Airlines flight or even to Hawaii in order to earn HawaiianMiles.

To earn miles while flying on a partner airline, you’ll need to go through a number of steps to make sure you’re getting all of the miles that you’re entitled to. Here's what you need to do:

First, ensure the flight you’re booking on a partner airline is eligible to earn miles.

Hawaiian Airlines provides a chart for each partner airline to help you sort through the airline-specific rules, as well as understand which fare classes are eligible to earn miles. Typically, flying in a higher fare class helps you accrue miles at a faster rate than had you booked the cheap seats. But sometimes you don't always earn miles at a faster rate just because you booked a fancier fare. If you booked the fancy fare for the frills of first class then go for it, but if earning miles is a priority, just understand how many miles you'll actually fly away with.

Take, for example, international flights on Japan Airlines. Booking in class W or E, which are premium economy classes, will earn you the same number of miles as if you took that flight on Hawaiian Airlines, but so will classes Y and B, which are simply economy classes. And then watch out: in the Japan Airlines example, fares in classes U, P and T don't earn any miles.

Hawaiian's partner award chart with Japan Airlines.

2. Once you’ve determined that you’re booking an eligible flight, you’ll need to provide your HawaiianMiles number both when you make your reservation and again when you check in for your flight.

3. If you do everything right, you should see miles in your account within two weeks of your travel date. And just a pro-tip: keep your travel receipts until you can verify the credits on your HawaiianMiles account.

By the way, miles flown on partner airlines sadly do not count toward qualifying you for Hawaiian Airlines Pualani elite status .

Redeeming your miles with airline partners

Just as you can earn HawaiianMiles with partner airlines, you can redeem your HawaiianMiles with them as well. This means you can use your miles to fly almost anywhere in the world beyond just Hawaii. As with most airlines, the best mileage redemption opportunities are found on flights within Hawaiian. But maybe you have all these HawaiianMiles that you won't use again. Maybe you have a flight planned elsewhere, and you'd rather use your miles to pay for it than dig into your savings account.

In that case, use your HawaiianMiles to book on a partner airline.

Hawaiian makes things pretty easy by publishing an award chart, spelling out exactly how many HawaiiianMiles you need to book a flight on a partner airline, which you can find here .

Some redemptions are better or worse than others, so ensure you understand what a Hawaiian Airlines mile is worth (NerdWallet values one HawaiianMile at 1.2 cents each.

If you're not sure if it's better to spend your HawaiianMiles or perhaps save them and pay with cash, you can use this calculator to convert your stash of Hawaiian miles to dollars.

Sometimes booking with partners can be a bit funky, and partner airlines often have a number of different rules and regulations that you’ll need to navigate in order to successfully book your flight with miles. Here are some notes to be aware of:

You still owe taxes: Taxes can vary greatly depending on where you're flying. When you redeem HawaiianMiles for domestic flights, you’ll owe just $5.60 per segment. But on International travel with partner airlines, it could be a lot more than that — like a few hundreds of dollars depending on the base fare and where you're headed.

You need to call to book award flights with Hawaiian Airlines partners: Unlike some airline travel programs, you cannot redeem your miles directly through the Hawaiian Airlines website when booking with a partner airline. Instead, you’ll need to call the HawaiianMiles Service Center and speak to an operator to book your partner award flight.

One-way, multi-city or stopover flights are not permitted when booking on miles with partner airlines: All award tickets redeemed on partner flights must be round-trip, which means you cannot book one-way, multi-city or flights with stopovers. There's one exception to this: JetBlue.

There are no blackout dates: You can fly on miles any day of the year. But, that doesn't mean you can book any day or in any fare class, because many airlines limit availability of award tickets — and they might already be sold out.

Sometimes there are limits on what fare classes you can book: Some airlines, such as Korean Air, will not permit you to use your HawaiianMiles to book seats in first class, while JetBlue will limit the number of award seats available.

While partner airlines do greatly expand the number of mile earning and redemption opportunities using HawaiianMiles, it’s important to familiarize yourself with all of the various rules and regulations so that you can get the most out of your miles.

Flying on partner airlines isn't the only way to earn HawaiianMiles. Hawaiian Airlines also has a handful of partnerships with local and international hotel chains, as well as some car rental companies and retailers. Consider it an easy ways to net some extra HawaiianMiles for other costs incurred during your Hawaiian vacation — or for travels anywhere else in the world.

Provide yourHawaiianMiles number at check-in when booking Marriott stays as a Bonvoy member to earn up to 2 HawaiianMiles per $1 spent on your hotel stay. Photo of the Wailea Beach Resort — Maui courtesy of Marriott.

Partnerships and earnings rates vary, but examples include (or have included):

Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach: Earn up to 1,000 HawaiianMiles per stay.

Ambassador Hotel Waikiki: Earn 1,000 HawaiianMiles per night plus receive a room upgrade.

Marriott Bonvoy: Earn up to 2 HawaiianMiles per $1 spent at Marriott locations worldwide.

Outrigger Hotels & Resorts: Earn 200 miles per night.

See current offers from Hawaiian Miles hotel partners here .

Depending on your level of elite status, you'll earn up to 750 miles per car rental, when you add your HawaiianMiles number to your reservation at the time of booking with the below companies:

Some of the car rental companies offer additional discounts and opportunities to score upgrades. Find all the deals on Hawaiian's car rental partnerships page .

HawaiianMiles grocery partnerships mean that you You receive one Maikai point for every dollar you spend at Foodland and Sack N Save stores. Then, redeem 1,000 Maikai points for 1,000 HawaiianMiles.

HawaiianMiles offers two credit cards — the Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® and Hawaiian Airlines® Business Mastercard® . One is for consumers and the other is geared towards small businesses.

You can transfer points to HawaiianMiles from the following transferable point programs:

American Express Membership Rewards (1:1 transfer ratio).

Bilt Rewards (1:1 transfer ratio).

Marriott Bonvoy (3:1 transfer ratio. 5,000 bonus miles are given for every 60,000 Bonvoy points transferred).

Hawaiian allows you to earn miles when shopping and dining at its selection of merchants nationwide. A list of merchants can be found on the HawaiianMiles Marketplace . There are some national brands like Teleflora and Vinesse, as well as speciality gift shops — many of which are located in Hawaii.

The HawaiianMiles Marketplace also has a mobile app that makes it even easier to find merchants near you.

Hawaiian Airlines has six partner airlines: China Airlines, Japan Airlines, JetBlue, Korean Air, Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Australia. You can both earn Hawaiian miles when flying these partners and redeem Hawaiian miles for flights with these partners.

Yes, you can redeem Hawaiian miles for flights on Hawaiian's roughly-half-dozen partner airlines, with a few catches. First, you can only book roundtrip flights — no one-ways allowed. Next, the only way to book redemptions on partner airlines is by calling the HawaiianMiles Service Center.

No, Hawaiian Airlines is not part of the Star Alliance or any other major airline alliance such as OneWorld. Instead, Hawaiian has individual partnership agreements with about a half dozen international and U.S. airlines.

No, Hawaiian Airlines and Delta Air Lines do not have a partnership.

No, Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines do not have a partnership.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

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Watch CBS News

Flying with pets? Here's what to know.

By Anne Marie Lee

Edited By Alain Sherter

Updated on: April 6, 2024 / 10:08 AM EDT / CBS News

Thinking of taking your dog or cat with you the next time you fly? For a growing percentage of the 90.5 million pet owners in the U.S., the answer is yes. But while the notion of boarding a plane with your pet may seem simple, the rules and restrictions around traveling with an animal can be confusing. 

Eight major U.S. airlines allow pets to fly in-cabin as carry-ons. But flying with your pet takes research and planning, as pet policies vary from airline to airline, are steeped in restrictions, and are limited to specific countries and cities. You'll also have to pay an extra fee for your pet ranging from $95 to $200, depending on the airline and where you're flying. And restrictions often change.

For example, American Airlines  recently revised its policies  so passengers flying with pets may also bring one full-size carry-on or personal item. But the carrier prohibits carry-on pets on transatlantic and transpacific flights. Here's what you need to know when considering taking your fur baby with you on a plane.

Cargo, check-in or carry-on?

Most airlines offer three options for transporting animals: cargo, check-in or carry-on. But if your pet is larger than a bread box, your options are limited to the cargo or baggage check-in options, with very few exceptions. 

Given that large canine breeds such as Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds and Golden Retrievers are among the most popular dogs in the country, the size restriction for in-cabin pet travel can be a major frustration for those who would rather not fly at all if that means putting their pet in cargo. 

A 2023 Forbes Adviser survey of 10,000 U.S. dog owners found that 33% of respondents fly with their pets, while 37% listed not being able to bring their dog on a plane as their biggest annoyance. (You can learn more about the differences between cargo, check-in and carry-on options  here , including warnings about the  dangers  involved when pets travel in the cargo hold.) 

Carry-on pets

Even for pet owners whose animals are small enough to fly as a carry-on, traveling is no breeze.

"When I fly with him I have to go to the desk," Margaret Rauch, 44, told CBS MoneyWatch, referring to her 15-pound poodle mix, Soda. The New York City resident has taken Soda on dozens of flights to St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, where Soda, now 4, was being fostered by a friend after being found as a stray puppy in 2021. 

In addition to calling the airline in advance to register her dog for a flight, Rauch has to check in at the counter whenever she's traveling with Soda, so the airline agent can confirm her dog and pet carrier conform to the in-cabin pet requirements and that the flight hasn't already met its pet maximum. 

Rauch, who said she would never consider putting Soda in cargo, applauded American Airlines' new policy, while noting that in her experience the one carry-on rule was rarely enforced. 

"I feel the price is already high for what I get. Even with AA's rule change, I lose the underseat space," she said. "My dog creates no extra work for anyone."

Despite the added preparation, paperwork and hassle involved in flying with Soda — not to mention the unfriendly looks she occasionally detects from fellow passengers at the sight of her pet carrier — Rauch said, "It's absolutely worth it." 

Asked how the experience could be improved, she pointed to early boarding for pet owners as something that would help.

"If you can get in early, get a seat and settle down, that is an accommodation I don't expect to see anytime soon but I think it makes sense," Rauch said.

Safety and comfort

For the many Americans who see their pets practically as family members, one of the most challenging aspects of flying is ensuring their animal's comfort and safety. 

"The increasing humanization of pets, which involves treating them as part of the family rather than as mere animals, has increased the demand for pet travel services that are of high quality and can be customized to meet the specific needs of each pet," LinkedIn reported in December.

Among other tips, the U.S. Department of Transportation  and animal experts recommend that you not feed your pet four to six hours before a flight and limit their water intake. Others also suggest keeping bottled water on hand at all times. Additionally, most airlines require certain vaccination and vet certification that your pet is healthy enough to fly. Individual countries also have their own requirements for pets to enter.  

Not surprisingly, some airlines do better than others at handling pets. One of the best-rated carriers for pet travel is Alaska Airlines, which has repeatedly topped rankings, such as NerdWallet's Most pet-friendly airlines of 2024.  In recent years, the airline also has maintained one of the industry's lowest incident ratings, according to Veterinarians.org. United Airlines and Delta are among the airlines with the highest incident rates, according to the pet information website. 

On Rauch's first plane trip with Soda traveling home to New York, a layover in Miami led to the flight sitting on the tarmac for two hours. Calming treats are something that helps keeps her dog relaxed on flights. She also withholds Soda's food and limits his water intake up to five hours before a flight, which is also helpful given that he doesn't like using pet relief areas, which she said generally smell of urine and can be overwhelming for dogs. Flights between New York City and St. Croix are generally under six hours. 

"I'm not sure how I'd handle a flight to Singapore," Rauch said.

Here's a rundown of U.S. airlines' pet travel policies, along with fees and and restrictions:

Alaska Airlines

Pet fee: $100

Pets allowed: Dogs and cats are the only pets allowed in-cabin on international trips and flights to Hawaii. Domesticated rabbits and small household birds are allowed as carry-on on domestic flights.

Destinations: Domestic and international, with additional requirements and documentation required for  pets traveling to Hawaii  or  internationally .

See Alaska's full pet policy here .

American Airlines

Pet fee: $150

Pets allowed: Dogs, cats

Destinations: 

• Within the 48 contiguous U.S.
• The U.S. and Canada*
• Puerto Rico

*Additional special restrictions may apply. See American's full pet policy  here .

Pet fee: $75-$200, depending on destination

Pets allowed: Dogs, cats, household birds

Pet friendly destinations: 

• U.S., Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico
• International destinations with the exception of Australia, U.K., Republic of Ireland and others .

Pets are not permitted on flights to Hawaii. See Delta's full pet policy here .

Frontier Airlines 

Pet fee: $99

Pets allowed: Dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters and household birds

Destinations: Domestic flights and international flights to and from the Dominican Republic and Mexico.

See Frontier's full pet policy here .

Pet fee: $125

Destinations: Domestic and international. See exceptions for international flights here .

See JetBlue's full pet policy here .

Southwest Airlines

Pet fee: $125 per pet carrier on the U.S. mainland; $35 per pet carrier between Hawaiian Islands

Destinations: Domestic U.S. flights only. For travel to Puerto Rico, specific requirements may  apply . For Hawaii travel, see rules and regulations here.

See Southwest's full pet policy here .

Spirit Airlines

Pets allowed: Dogs, cats, birds (with the exception of flights to or from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands) or rabbits (with the exception of flights to or from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands).

Destinations: Domestic flights including Puerto Rico and St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands

See Spirit's full pet policy here .

United Airlines

Destinations: Domestic and international flights with a list of exceptions. United does not allow pets to fly to, from or through certain states and countries. View the list here .

See United's full pet policy here .

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Air Travel Consumer Report: January 2024 Numbers

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) today released its Air Travel Consumer Report (ATCR) on airline operational data compiled for the month of January 2024 for on-time performance, mishandled baggage, and mishandled wheelchairs and scooters. The ATCR is designed to assist consumers with information on the quality of services provided by airlines. 

DOT expects that airlines will operate flights as scheduled and that when they do not, airlines will provide consumers the services consumers have been promised when a flight is canceled or delayed because of an airline issue. After a two-year DOT push to improve the passenger experience, the 10 largest airlines now guarantee meals and free rebooking on the same airline and nine guarantee hotel accommodations. Consumer-friendly information regarding airline commitments to their customers is available on the Department’s Airline Customer Service Dashboard at FlightRights.Gov. DOT also pushed airlines to provide fee-free family seating and rolled out a new family seating dashboard that highlights the airlines that guarantee fee-free family seating, and those of the 10 largest that do not, making it easier for parents to avoid paying junk fees to sit with their children when they fly.

In addition, DOT is improving transportation for individuals with disabilities. In July 2023, DOT finalized a rule which requires airlines to make lavatories on new, single-aisle aircraft more accessible. Then, in February 2024, DOT issued a proposal to address other barriers that Americans who use a wheelchair encounter when it comes to air travel by, among other things, mandating enhanced training for airline employees and contractors who physically assist passenger with disabilities and handle passengers’ wheelchairs.

Further, when necessary, DOT takes enforcement action against airlines and ticket agents that fail to comply with the Department’s aviation consumer protection requirements. In 2023, DOT issued the largest fines in the history of the consumer protection office. This includes a $140 million penalty against Southwest Airlines for failing passengers during the 2022 holiday meltdown. That penalty, which was in addition to over $600 million DOT already ensured was refunded by Southwest to passengers, requires Southwest to establish a $90 million compensation system for future passengers affected by significant delays and cancellations. DOT has helped return more than $3 billion in refunds to travelers since the pandemic began.

Flight Operations

The 560,352 flights operated in January 2024 were 99.56% of the 562,845 flights operated in January 2023. Operated flights in January 2024 were down 0.44% year-over-year from the 562,845 flights operated in January 2023 and down 7.18% month-over-month from 603,756 flights operated in December 2023. 

In January 2024, the 10 marketing network carriers reported 582,425 scheduled domestic flights, 22,073 (3.8%) of which were canceled. In December 2023, airlines scheduled 606,218 domestic flights, 2,462 (1.3%) of which were canceled. In January 2023, airlines scheduled 573,877 domestic flights, 11,032 (1.9%) of which were canceled.

On January 6, 2024, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered the grounding of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft with a mid-cabin door plug installed operated by U.S. airlines or in U.S. territory. On January 24, 2024, FAA cleared all such aircraft to return to service after each aircraft operator successfully completed a new inspection process approved by the FAA. Alaska Airlines and United Airlines have informed the DOT that the grounding of the 737 MAX9 aircraft with the mid-cabin door plug installed has impacted their on-time statistics during this reporting period.

January 2024 On-Time Arrival

In January 2024, reporting marketing carriers posted an on-time arrival rate of 72.8%, down from both 83.9% in December 2023 and from 76.2% in January 2023.

Highest Marketing Carrier On-Time Arrival Rates January 2024 (ATCR Table 1)

• Delta Airlines Network – 77.8%
• Allegiant Air – 75.6%
• Southwest Airlines – 73.9% 

Lowest Marketing Carrier On-Time Arrival Rates January 2024 (ATCR Table 1)

• Alaska Airlines Network – 64.7%
• JetBlue Airways – 69.5%
• American Airlines Network – 70.5%

January 2024 Flight Cancellations

In January 2024, reporting marketing carriers canceled 3.8% of their scheduled domestic flights, higher than both the rate of 0.4% in December 2023 and the rate of 1.9% in January 2023. 

Lowest Marketing Carrier Rates of Canceled Flights January 2024 (ATCR Table 6)

• Hawaiian Airlines – 1.5%  
• Spirit Airlines – 1.5%   
• JetBlue Airways – 1.7%    

Highest Marketing Carrier Rates of Canceled Flights January 2024 (ATCR Table 6)

• Alaska Airlines Network – 11.9%    
• United Airlines Network – 6.9%    
• Southwest Airlines – 3.1%    

Complaints About Airline Service

The release of air travel service complaint data in the Air Travel Consumer Report (ATCR) has been delayed primarily because of the continued high volume of complaints against airlines and ticket agents received by the Office of Aviation Consumer Protection (OACP) and the time needed to review and process these consumer complaints. The Department is investing in modernizing its system for handling consumer complaints with the support of a Technology Modernization Fund (TMF) investment to improve the customer experience for the tens of thousands of consumers who use the system each year and enable OACP to more effectively engage in oversight of the airline industry. 

As DOT modernizes its system, given the continued high volume of air travel service complaints concerning airlines and ticket agents, DOT has revised how it processes consumer complaints received after June 1, 2023. From June 2023 until the date its system is modernized, DOT intends to revise the ATCR to display consumer submissions (complaints, inquiries, and opinions) as opposed to complaints for this period. The Department will continue to display civil rights complaints in the ATCR in a similar manner as before and anticipates publishing submission and civil rights complaint numbers in spring.

Tarmac Delays

In January 2024, airlines reported 71 tarmac delays of more than three hours on domestic flights, compared to five tarmac delays of more than three hours on domestic flights reported in December 2023. In January 2024, airlines reported six tarmac delays of more than four hours on international flights, compared to zero tarmac delays of more than four hours on international flights reported in December 2023. 

Airlines are required to have and adhere to assurances that they will not allow aircraft to remain on the tarmac for more than three hours for domestic flights and four hours for international flights without providing passengers the option to deplane, subject to exceptions related to safety, security, and Air Traffic Control related reasons. An exception also exists for departure delays if the airline begins to return the aircraft to a suitable disembarkation point to deplane passengers by those times.

The Department investigates extended tarmac delays.

Mishandled Baggage

In January 2024, reporting marketing carriers handled 37.4 million bags and posted a mishandled baggage rate of 0.75%, higher than both the rate of 0.50% in December 2023 and the rate of 0.73% in January 2023.

The Department began displaying the mishandled baggage data as a percentage (i.e., per 100 bags enplaned) in January 2022. This is consistent with the manner that the mishandled wheelchairs and scooters rate is calculated and displayed.     In the prior three calendar year reports (2019 to 2021), the Department calculated the mishandled baggage rate based on the number of mishandled bags per 1,000 checked bags. 

Mishandled Wheelchairs and Scooters

In January 2024, reporting marketing carriers reported checking 56,659 wheelchairs and scooters and mishandling 836 for a rate of 1.48% mishandled wheelchairs and scooters, higher than the rate of 1.39% mishandled in December 2023 and lower than the rate of 1.47% mishandled in January 2023.

As described earlier, in February 2024, the Department announced its proposal to strengthen its rule implementing the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) to address the serious problems that individuals with disabilities using wheelchairs and scooters face when traveling by air that impact their safety and dignity, including mishandled wheelchairs and scooters and improper transfers to and from aircraft seats, aisle chairs, and personal wheelchairs. The proposed rule would require that airlines meet strict standards in accommodating passengers with disabilities by setting new standards for prompt, safe, and dignified assistance, mandating enhanced training for airline employees and contractors who physically assist passengers with disabilities and handle passengers’ wheelchairs, and outlining actions that airlines must take to protect passengers when a wheelchair is damaged during transport. The proposed rule also clarifies that damaging or delaying the return of a wheelchair is an automatic violation of the ACAA.

Bumping/Oversales

Bumping/oversales data, unlike other air carrier data, are reported quarterly rather than monthly. For the fourth quarter of 2023, the 10 U.S. reporting marketing carriers posted an involuntary denied boarding, or bumping, rate of 0.20 per 10,000 passengers, lower than both the rate of 0.35 in the third quarter of 2023 and the rate of 0.30 in the fourth quarter of 2022.

Incidents Involving Animals

As part of its IT modernization, DOT’s Office of Aviation Consumer Protection (OACP) is improving the options for covered carriers to submit their monthly and annual Reports on Incidents Involving Animals During Air Transport. While the new system is being developed, OACP is permitting covered carriers to delay submission of reports on incidents involving animals during air transport. Annual data on such incidents will be published when DOT receives carriers’ complete submissions of the 2023 data. 

In January 2024, carriers reported zero incidents involving the death, injury, or loss of an animal while traveling by air, equal to the zero reports filed in both December 2023 and in January 2023.

Consumers may file air travel consumer or civil rights complaints online at   https://secure.dot.gov/air-travel-complaint , or they may mail a complaint to the Office of Aviation Consumer Protection, U.S. Department of Transportation, C-70, W96-432, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20590.

The ATCR and other aviation consumer matters of interest to the public can be found at https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer .

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4 Best Domestic Airlines for First and Business Class

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For many frequent travelers , a bucket list item isn’t just about a location they want to visit. It’s about the exclusivity of traveling in first or business class. 

Imagine the luxury of the front of the plane, where you’re not cramped in a narrow seat with little legroom. Instead, you can spread out, enjoy a plush seat, a refreshing (and complimentary) drink, and arrive at your destination feeling rejuvenated.

Keep reading as we dive into a few of the best first and business-class airlines for domestic travel.

American Airlines A321T First Class 

It’s difficult not to include the American Airlines A321T transcontinental first-class product at the top of this list. From start to finish, it will provide travelers with the best overall trip experience. 

You’ll want to be observant when booking a flight on this aircraft. American Airlines offers flights on both the A321 and A321T, which are entirely different products. The former is equipped with standard reclining seats; however, the latter is their premium transcontinental product that includes lay-flat first-class seats.

The A321T currently operates on the following domestic routes.

• Los Angeles (LAX) – Boston (BOS)
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Miami (MIA)
• Los Angeles (LAX) – New York (JFK)
• Orange County (SNA) – New York (JFK)
• San Francisco (SFO) – New York (JFK)

When you have a first-class ticket on one of these flights, luxury will start before you even step on the plane. You will have access to the American Airlines Flagship lounge, which has an excellent menu of à la carte items. While in the lounge, you’ll also be able to take advantage of their shower suites.

Once you get onto the plane, you’ll enjoy a premium leather 21-inch wide seat with 62 inches of pitch. Plus, it will turn into a flatbed, extending 82.5 inches. 

During the flight, you’ll be given an Athletic Propulsion Labs and ZENOLOGY amenity kit and Bose QuietComfort 25 noise-cancelling headphones during the trip.

Jetblue A321 Mint Business Class 

If you’re looking for one of the best domestic business class products and don’t care about having lounge access before your flight, Jetblue Mint business class on an A321 should be high on your list to try. 

Jetblue currently has two different versions of their Mint product. The original has three rows with a 2-2 configuration. It then has two rows with a 1-1 configuration that they consider Mint suites that even come equipped with doors.

The newest version of Jetblue’s Mint is in a 1-1 configuration, where each passenger has a door. While this version is mainly found on transatlantic flights, it is also flown on some domestic long-haul flights out of Boston, Fort Lauderdale, and New York to Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, and Seattle.

The seats on Jetblue Mint are pretty spacious. They’re 22 inches wide, an extra inch over American Airlines and United. Plus, they have 58 inches of pitch and are 80 inches when down flat for sleeping.

Jetblue also stands out from other business-class products because of its superior food choices and fast WiFi.

United 787-10 Polaris Business Class

United Airlines is next up on our list because of the hard product they provide once you get on the plane. While the American Airlines 321T first class operated on narrow body planes in a 1-1 configuration, the United 787 business class comes with either a 1-2-1 or a staggered 2-2-2 configuration. 

The seat itself is roomy, even for tall passengers. It’s 21 inches wide and allows you to lie flat for better sleeping. While not as long as the American Airlines A321T, it still measures 78 inches long.

During your flight, you’ll receive bedding from Saks Fifth Avenue (including a gel pillow) and a Cowshed amenity kit.

The biggest downside to booking a transcontinental ticket on a United Polaris business class flight is that you won’t receive access to United Polaris lounges. 

Hawaiian Airlines A330 First Class

Hawaiian Airlines flights on their A330 offer first-class seats in a 2-2-2 configuration. While these aren’t quite as comfortable as some other first-class products, they lie flat and give you comfortable sleep on long flights. 

Hawaiian Airlines flies its A330 to Honolulu from Boston, New York, and select West Coast cities.

While most first-class products come with seatback screens to watch movies and TV shows, Hawaiian Airlines has removed these from its A330s and instead offers first-class passengers the use of iPads during the flight. Something else that might be important to some passengers is that you won’t have access to inflight WiFi.

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