United occasionally runs short-term award sales, and doesn’t always tell everyone. For Cyber Monday they ran up to 50% off coach awards to Europe and Asia Pacific.

Today they’re doing up to 47% off of Hawaii awards, with the best deals for elite members who also have a co-brand credit card. The interesting thing of course is that while United no longer publishes award charts, they price saver awards off of a (hidden) chart. These awards normally cost 22,500 miles each way.

• 12,000 miles each way for elites with a co-brand card
  
• 15,000 miles each way for someone that is either elite or has a co-brand card
  
• No discount for general members who lack a co-brand

Travel is valid January 18 – March 5, 2023. Must purchase today, January 4, 2023.

To be sure, you can book United saver awards through Turkish Airlines Miles & Smiles for 7500 miles each way (12,500 miles each way for premium cabin) and you do not have to be an elite member to do so. You can transfer Citi, Bilt, and Capital One points to Turkish.

However anyone with United elite status or a co-brand credit card gets expanded availability for saver awards so you can book seats under this offer that wouldn’t be available through Turkish.

And Dan’s Deals points out that you can book a stopover (‘excursionist perk’) without spending extra miles. For instance, fly to Honolulu, then Maui, and back from Maui.