Best Partner Airline for flights to Honolulu?

Hi all,

I am being transferred from DC to Honolulu and I am wondering which airline would be the best for me to start flying between IAD and HNL to accrue the most air miles with VS. I think my options are Continental, US Airways, and Hawaiian Airlines. US Air is probably my ideal option because the transfer is in CLT. Continental I have to fly the opposite way to EWR, so it will take longer. And with Hawaiian, I'm not sure I'd get miles until the 2nd leg of the trip (LAX to HNL).

I also have no idea about the onboard services of these airlines. Can anyone chime in?? [:D]

Thanks,
-Matt

[Scrooge]

You can take CO through Houston or Newark.

US you can go through CLT on the direct CLT-HNL flight, try to avoid going through LAS or PHX with US.
HA you can take CO/US to any of the west coast airports and get miles from both legs using either CO or US.

Thanks!


Also, how do the in flight services compare between US/CO/HA? I hear most airlines to Hawaii don't have seat back entertainment systems! Virgin has me spoiled! [8D]

[Scrooge]

CO and HA are miles ahead of US. On CO and HA you should get a meal, on US you will only get one if it is the flight from CLT. CO is in the process of adding IFE to it's fleet, if you pick a flight with a 739 you should be ok, though there is still a chance of getting a flight where everything is shown on overhead monitors.