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Flights from the West Coast are where points stretch furthest for a family. Aeroplan's chart prices flights within North America from 12,500 points per person one way for 1,501–2,750 miles, which covers California to Honolulu. For hotels, Hilton charges no resort fees on stays booked entirely with points and gives eligible elite members every fifth night free. Expect to pay some cash anyway: airport security fees on every flight, taxes and any hotel extra-person charges.
What we'd do first: pick your departure airport and dates, then price four seats in Aeroplan (on United) and in the airline program your points reach most easily. Price the hotel next, for the exact room that fits four.
Flights: where to search
Aeroplan, on United flights. Aeroplan's chart treats the US, including Hawaii, as part of its North America zone. Within that zone, economy is 12,500 points one way for 1,501–2,750 miles flown and, on Air Canada and Select Partners, from 17,500 for 2,751 miles and up (22,500 on other partners). United is one of Aeroplan's Select Partners, so these are "starting at" prices; the chart lists medians of 17,000 and 22,900 points respectively. The chart also says a "partner booking fee will apply" (Aeroplan Flight Reward Chart, PDF, checked 13 Nov 2026, 21:47 Lima).
Distance matters. Los Angeles to Honolulu is about 2,550 miles and San Francisco about 2,400, both in the 1,501–2,750 band. Denver (about 3,360) and Dallas (about 3,780) fall into the higher band.
The airline your points reach. Chase and Bilt transfer to United and Southwest at 1:1; Bilt also transfers to Atmos Rewards (Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines) at 1:1; Amex transfers to Delta at 1:1 (Chase Sapphire Preferred benefits, checked 13 Nov 2026, 21:52 Lima; Bilt transfer partners, 21:55; American Express US transfer page, 21:32). These programs price variably, so search their calendars for four seats and compare with Aeroplan.
Cash still due. Every one-way flight from a US airport carries the TSA security fee, "currently $5.60 per one-way trip", including award tickets (TSA: Security Fees, checked 13 Nov 2026, 21:46 Lima). Delta's award page puts the floor for domestic awards at "at least $11.20 in U.S. government taxes and fees" (Delta: Travel with Miles, checked 13 Nov 2026, 21:45 Lima). For four travelers on a round trip, that's at least $44.80.
Hotels: what changes for a family
Hilton Honors. Hilton's help center says standard room award nights cost "as few as 5,000 Points per night and no more than 95,000 Points per night", with select properties up to 120,000, and that the number of points "may vary depending on the hotel, time of year, and cost of the room" (Hilton Help Center: Fifth Night Free, checked 13 Nov 2026, 22:01 Lima). Hilton's terms add three points that matter for families (Hilton Honors Terms & Conditions, effective July 15, 2026, checked 13 Nov 2026, 22:01 Lima):
- No resort fees on all-points stays: "At Participating Hotels with resort fees, Members on Reward stays booked using all Points… will not pay resort fees."
- Fifth night free, for elite members: the terms list "5th Night Free on Standard Room Reward Stays" under Silver, Gold, Diamond and Diamond Reserve status, for stays "using all Points".
- Room occupancy: award rooms are priced at the "double occupancy room rate", and "Additional occupants may be subject to the standard extra person charges which vary by Participating Hotel."
Amex transfers to Hilton at 1,000 to 2,000, and Bilt at 1:1.
World of Hyatt. Hyatt says it keeps "fixed point thresholds rather than moving to dynamic pricing for award nights", with five levels in each of eight categories since May 2026 (Hyatt newsroom, February 25, 2026, checked 13 Nov 2026, 21:48 Lima). Chase transfers to Hyatt at 4:3 for current Sapphire Preferred transfers, and Bilt at 1:1. Check the property's category and room types for four.
One room or two? Many hotel rooms sleep four, but some families need two rooms or a suite. Two standard award rooms double the points. A larger room type may cost more per night but less than two rooms.
Worked example: Los Angeles to Honolulu, four travelers, five nights (published and hypothetical figures)
Flights. Four travelers, round trip, economy, Aeroplan on United at the 12,500 "starting at" price: 12,500 × 4 × 2 = 100,000 points, plus at least $44.80 in TSA fees, plus partner booking fees and any other taxes shown at checkout. Against a hypothetical $450 per person round-trip fare ($1,800 total), less a 2% cash-back baseline ($36): ($1,800 − $44.80 − $36) ÷ 100,000 = 1.72 cents per point.
Hotel. Five nights in one standard room at a Hilton resort at a hypothetical 60,000 points per night:
- Without elite status: 5 × 60,000 = 300,000 Hilton points.
- With Silver status or higher: fifth night free, so 240,000 Hilton points.
- Hypothetical cash alternative: $450 a night plus a $45 resort fee = $2,475 before taxes. All-points stays pay no resort fee.
- Value at 240,000 points: ($2,475 − $49.50) ÷ 240,000 = 1.01 cents per Hilton point. Because Amex transfers at 1:2, that's about 2.02 cents per Amex point (120,000 Amex points).
| Item (family of four) | Points | Cash still due | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flights LAX–HNL round trip, 4 travelers | 100,000 Aeroplan | at least $44.80 + partner fees | Published "starting at" price |
| 5 nights, 1 room, with fifth night free | 240,000 Hilton (120,000 Amex) | Taxes if charged; extra-person fees if any | Hypothetical 60,000 per night |
| 5 nights, 1 room, no elite status | 300,000 Hilton (150,000 Amex) | As above | Hypothetical |
Booking order for a family
- Flights first. Four seats on the same flight are the scarcest part of the trip. Search Aeroplan and your main airline program across a week of dates.
- Hold or book the hotel next. Hilton award stays can usually be cancelled under the hotel's policy (the terms give 48 hours before arrival as the general rule), so booking the room early carries less risk than transferring airline points early. Check the property's own policy.
- Transfer points only when seats show for all four. Transfers are final, and United, Southwest and Atmos all price variably, so the price can move while you wait.
- Book the return separately if needed. Mixing programs each way is fine.
- Then price the extras: inter-island flights, rental cars, parking and any hotel extra-person charges.
Trade-offs
- Starting prices aren't guaranteed. United-operated awards on Aeroplan are "starting at" prices; four seats at that level on the same flight may be hard to find, especially in school holidays.
- Elite status changes the hotel math. Without status, the fifth night isn't free on Hilton.
- Extra-person charges and taxes. Check the hotel's policy for four people in one room, and whether occupancy taxes apply on award nights.
- Inter-island flights and rental cars usually need cash or separate awards; price them too.
Fallback
If four seats won't line up, split the family across two flights on the same day, or use points for two seats and pay cash for two. If hotel award prices are high on your dates, consider a points-and-cash mix, or paying cash for part of the stay and points for the rest. Check value with our cents-per-point method, and see how to find award availability for search tools that can watch for four seats.
Hawaii on points for a family: FAQs
Do children need their own award seat?
Children who occupy a seat generally need one; infant rules vary by airline. Check the airline's policy.
Is it cheaper to fly from California?
On Aeroplan's distance-based chart, often yes: California to Honolulu falls under 2,750 miles, while Denver and Dallas don't.
Do we pay resort fees on a points stay?
Not at Hilton on stays booked entirely with points, per its terms. Other chains differ; check before booking.
For which programs each US currency reaches, see transferable points explained.