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Credit Cards » Credit Card Reviews » Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard Review 2024

Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard Review 2024

The Hawaiian Airlines card offers extra rewards for those who fly Hawaiian, two free checked bags and a $100 annual companion discount
Author: Baruch Mann (Silvermann)
Interest Rates Last Update: November 15, 2024
The banking product interest rates, including savings, CDs, and money market, are accurate as of this date.
Author: Baruch Mann (Silvermann)
Interest Rates Last Update: November 15, 2024

The banking product interest rates, including savings, CDs, and money market, are accurate as of this date.

We earn a commission from our partner links on this page. It doesn't affect the integrity of our unbiased, independent editorial staff. Transparency is a core value for us, read our advertiser disclosure and how we make money.

Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard®

Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard

Rewards Plan

1X – 3X 3X miles per dollar spent on Hawaiian Airlines purchases, 2X miles per dollar spent on gas, dining and grocery store purchases and 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases

Welcome Bonus

60,000 Miles 60,000 bonus HawaiianMiles after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first 90 days

Credit Rating

Good – Excellent

0% Intro

N/A

Annual Fee

$99

APR

20.74% – 29.99% variable
Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard®

Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard

Rewards Plan

1X – 3X 3X miles per dollar spent on Hawaiian Airlines purchases, 2X miles per dollar spent on gas, dining and grocery store purchases and 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases

Welcome Bonus

60,000 Miles 60,000 bonus HawaiianMiles after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first 90 days

0% Intro

N/A

PROS

CONS

APR

20.74% - 29.99% variable

Annual Fee

$99

Balance Transfer Fee

$5 or 5%, the greater

Credit Requirements

Good - Excellent

The Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® is a decent option for frequent travellers who fly Hawaiian Airline and within the mainland United States or the Hawaiian Islands.

The card offers various benefits, including a sign-up bonus, discounts on award redemptions, the ability to share and receive miles, and the opportunity to earn additional HawaiianMiles through booking hotels and car rentals. However, it has limited transfer partners, which can reduce the value of your rewards points.

While Comparing the card to other airline credit cards in the same category, it may not offer the most comprehensive rewards program. There are better travel rewards credit cards with an annual fee of $99, but it can still be a valuable choice for those who frequently fly with Hawaiian Airlines.

  • One Time 50% Off Companion Discount
  • $100 Companion Discount Annually
  • Rewards Program And Welcome Bonus
  • Two Free Checked Bags
  • Share Miles
  • No Earning Limit Or Expiration
  • Free Checked Bags Only For Cardholder
  • High Annual Fee/li>
  • Limited Transfer Partners

In this Review

Estimating Your Rewards: A Practical Simulation

The table presented below is a rewards simulation that demonstrates the possible advantages of utilizing the Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard. It outlines an estimate of the rewards you may receive based on your general usage and expenditures across multiple categories.

Although this simulation can assist you in comprehending the possible benefits of this card, it's essential to bear in mind that the amounts indicated are just approximations, and the actual rewards you earn may differ depending on your unique spending patterns and other variables.

Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard

Spend Per Category
Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard®
$10,000 – U.S Supermarkets
20,000 miles
$3,000 – Restaurants
6,000 miles
$5,000 – Airline
15,000 miles
$3,000 – Hotels
3,000 miles
$4,000 – Gas
8,000 miles
Estimated Annual Miles
52,000 miles

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Pros and Cons

Just like any other credit card, the Hawaiian Airlines card has some advantages and disadvantages:

Pros
Cons
One Time 50% Off Companion Discount
Free Checked Bags Only For Cardholder
$100 Companion Discount Annually
High Annual Fee
Rewards Program And Welcome Bonus
Limited Transfer Partners
Two Free Checked Bags
Share Miles
No Earning Limit Or Expiration

With this credit card you are going to get a special offer of 50% off for a companion when you book roundtrip coach travel with Hawaiian Airlines between Hawaii and North America. This offer is available only once.

Every year, on the anniversary of your account, you will receive a $100 companion discount for roundtrip travel between Hawaii and North America on Hawaiian Airlines.

Another benefit of this card is that If you buy eligible tickets directly from Hawaiian Airlines using your card, you can take advantage of a perk that allows you to check in two bags for free. This benefit is worth around $140 per roundtrip.

With the Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard®, you can easily transfer HawaiianMiles with no charge to and from your loved ones through HawaiianAirlines.com.

With the Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard®, there’s no limit to how many HawaiianMiles you can earn. Plus, these miles never expire, so you can take your time building them up and redeeming them for rewards whenever you want.

This gives you the flexibility to earn and use your miles at your own pace, without worrying about limits or expiration dates.

The card offers 3X miles per dollar spent on Hawaiian Airlines purchases, 2X miles per dollar spent on gas, dining and grocery store purchases and 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases .

In addition, new customers enjoy 60,000 bonus HawaiianMiles after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first 90 days.

If you read Free checked bag benefit, you must know that this offer is exclusive to the primary cardholder. 

As a result, any additional cardholders will not be able to take advantage of the benefit of checking in two bags for free.

 

If you are not a frequent traveler with Hawaiian Airlines, it may not be worth paying the $99 annual fee that comes with this card.

In comparison, there are better cards that offer more benefits within this annual fee range.

Compared to other travel programs such as United or Delta,  and airlines, the number of transfer partners available with Hawaiian Airlines is restricted.

This may limit your ability to transfer your rewards points to other loyalty programs, reducing your ability to extract the maximum value out of your rewards.

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amex platinum

Rewards Plan:
1X – 5X 5X points on up to $500,000 spent on directly-booked airfare and flights and prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel (per calendar year), 2X points on prepaid car rentals through American Express Travel and 1X points on all other purchases
Welcome Bonus:
80,000 points 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership

amex brilliant

Rewards Plan:
2X – 6X 6 Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy™ program, 3 points at Worldwide restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines and 2 points on all other eligible purchases
Welcome Bonus:
95,000 points 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy points after spending $6,000 within the first 6 months of card membership.

Amex Delta SkyMiles Platinum card

Rewards Plan:
1X – 3X 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels, 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets and 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases
Welcome Bonus:
60,000 miles 60,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months
Advertiser Disclosure
The product offers that appear on this site are from companies from which this website receives compensation.
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amex platinum

Rewards Plan:
1X – 5X 5X points on up to $500,000 spent on directly-booked airfare and flights and prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel (per calendar year), 2X points on prepaid car rentals through American Express Travel and 1X points on all other purchases
Welcome Bonus:
80,000 points 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership

amex brilliant

Rewards Plan:
2X – 6X 6 Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy™ program, 3 points at Worldwide restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines and 2 points on all other eligible purchases
Welcome Bonus:
95,000 points 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy points after spending $6,000 within the first 6 months of card membership.

Amex Delta SkyMiles Platinum card

Rewards Plan:
Up to 3x miles 3 miles per $1 spent on United purchases immediately after earning your $125 annual United purchase credit, 2 miles on all other travel and select streaming services, 1 mile on all other purchases
Welcome Bonus:
60,000 miles Earn 70,000 bonus miles + 500 Premier qualifying points (PQP)
Advertiser Disclosure
The product offers that appear on this site are from companies from which this website receives compensation.
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amex platinum

Rewards Plan:
1X – 5X 5X points on up to $500,000 spent on directly-booked airfare and flights and prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel (per calendar year), 2X points on prepaid car rentals through American Express Travel and 1X points on all other purchases
Welcome Bonus:
80,000 points 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership

amex brilliant

Rewards Plan:
2X – 6X 6 Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy™ program, 3 points at Worldwide restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines and 2 points on all other eligible purchases
Welcome Bonus:
95,000 points 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy points after spending $6,000 within the first 6 months of card membership.

Amex Delta SkyMiles Platinum card

Rewards Plan:
1X – 3X 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels, 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets and 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases
Welcome Bonus:
60,000 miles 60,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months
Advertiser Disclosure
The product offers that appear on this site are from companies from which this website receives compensation.

Who Should Consider The Hawaiian Airlines Card?

This card is suitable for individuals who are capable of spending over $99, which is only possible if you are a Hawaiian Airlines flyer. The card offers several advantages, including the ability to earn and redeem HawaiianMiles, free checked baggage, and discounted companion fares. These benefits can be especially beneficial for those who travel frequently between Hawaii and the mainland United States.

Moreover, the card might be an excellent option for those interested in exclusive travel and dining experiences and events provided via the Mastercard network. However, the card may not be as advantageous for individuals who don't travel frequently or prefer more flexibility in utilizing their rewards points.

If you do travel but still want to compare airline cards, here's an overview:

Card
Rewards
Bonus
Annual Fee

Alaska Airlines Visa®

1X – 3X unlimited 3 miles for every $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases, 2X on eligible gas, EV charging station, cable, streaming services and local transit (including ride share) purchases and unlimited 1 mile for every $1 spent on all other purchases
60,000 miles 70,000 Bonus Miles plus Alaska's Famous Companion Fare™ ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) after you make $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of your account opening.
$95

Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card Review

1X – 2X 2X miles on delta purchases, at restaurants worldwide (including take-out and delivery in the U.S) and at U.S. supermarkets, and 1x miles on all other eligible purchases
50,000 Miles Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 6 months of card membership.
$150, $0 intro first year (Rates & Fees)

Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus

1x – 2x 2X points on Southwest purchases, Southwesthotel and car rental partners, local transit and commuting (including ride-shares),internet, cable, phone and select streaming services, and 1X points on all other purchases
40,000 points Earn a $400 statement credit and 40,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 4 months from account opening.
$69

1X – 2X 2 AAdvantage miles per dollar on grocery stores and eligible American Airlines purchases, and 1 mile per dollar on other purchases
15,000 miles 15,000 miles if you spend $500 in first 3 months
$0

jetblue plus card

1X – 6X 6X points on JetBlue purchases, 2X points at restaurants and grocery stores and 1X points on all other purchases
50,000 points 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases and paying the annual fee in full, both within the first 90 days
$99

1X – 10X 5X total points on air travel and 10X total points on hotels, car rentals and dining when you purchase through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, immediately after earning your $300 annual travel credit. Also, earn 3x points on dining at restaurants and travel (after meeting the $300 travel credit), then 1x points per dollar spent on all other purchases.
60,000 points 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
$550

amex platinum

1X – 5X 5X points on up to $500,000 spent on directly-booked airfare and flights and prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel (per calendar year), 2X points on prepaid car rentals through American Express Travel and 1X points on all other purchases
80,000 points 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership

united_explorer_card

1X – 2X 2x per $1 spent on United purchases, hotel accommodations, restaurants & eligible delivery services and 1x per $1 spent on all other purchases
50,000 miles 50,000 miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
$95 ($0 first year)

How To Maximize Card Benefits?

Here are some tips that will help you to maximize the benefits of Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard®:

As a member of the Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard®, you can enjoy discounts when redeeming your rewards points for award flights.

For Example, cardholders can get a discount of 5,000 miles when booking a round-trip flight between North America and Hawaii or a one-way flight between Hawaii and North America. These discounts are a great way to maximize your rewards and save money on your travels.

The Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® offers a convenient feature that allows you to share and receive miles when you need to boost your rewards balance for booking flights or upgrading existing bookings.

This is particularly useful for cardholders who may not have enough miles to cover the full cost of a flight.

With the Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard®, you have the ability to book various travel-related services such as hotels, car rentals, and more.

This feature can be very useful for individuals who prefer to have all their travel arrangements consolidated in one place. By booking through the Hawaiian Airlines website, cardholders can also earn additional HawaiianMiles for their bookings, which can be used towards future travel.

The value of HawaiianMiles can vary depending on how you choose to redeem them, so it’s a good idea to explore your options to get the most value out of your rewards.

For instance, using your miles to book a flight with one of Hawaiian Airlines’ partner airlines might offer better value than booking directly with Hawaiian Airlines.

Top Offers

amex platinum

Rewards Plan:
1X – 5X 5X points on up to $500,000 spent on directly-booked airfare and flights and prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel (per calendar year), 2X points on prepaid car rentals through American Express Travel and 1X points on all other purchases
Welcome Bonus:
80,000 points 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership

amex brilliant

Rewards Plan:
2X – 6X 6 Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy™ program, 3 points at Worldwide restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines and 2 points on all other eligible purchases
Welcome Bonus:
95,000 points 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy points after spending $6,000 within the first 6 months of card membership.

Amex Delta SkyMiles Platinum card

Rewards Plan:
1X – 3X 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels, 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets and 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases
Welcome Bonus:
60,000 miles 60,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months
Advertiser Disclosure
The product offers that appear on this site are from companies from which this website receives compensation.
Top Offers From Our Partners

amex platinum

Rewards Plan:
1X – 5X 5X points on up to $500,000 spent on directly-booked airfare and flights and prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel (per calendar year), 2X points on prepaid car rentals through American Express Travel and 1X points on all other purchases
Welcome Bonus:
80,000 points 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership

amex brilliant

Rewards Plan:
2X – 6X 6 Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy™ program, 3 points at Worldwide restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines and 2 points on all other eligible purchases
Welcome Bonus:
95,000 points 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy points after spending $6,000 within the first 6 months of card membership.

Amex Delta SkyMiles Platinum card

Rewards Plan:
Up to 3x miles 3 miles per $1 spent on United purchases immediately after earning your $125 annual United purchase credit, 2 miles on all other travel and select streaming services, 1 mile on all other purchases
Welcome Bonus:
60,000 miles Earn 70,000 bonus miles + 500 Premier qualifying points (PQP)
Advertiser Disclosure
The product offers that appear on this site are from companies from which this website receives compensation.
Top Offers

amex platinum

Rewards Plan:
1X – 5X 5X points on up to $500,000 spent on directly-booked airfare and flights and prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel (per calendar year), 2X points on prepaid car rentals through American Express Travel and 1X points on all other purchases
Welcome Bonus:
80,000 points 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership

amex brilliant

Rewards Plan:
2X – 6X 6 Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy™ program, 3 points at Worldwide restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines and 2 points on all other eligible purchases
Welcome Bonus:
95,000 points 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy points after spending $6,000 within the first 6 months of card membership.

Amex Delta SkyMiles Platinum card

Rewards Plan:
1X – 3X 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels, 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets and 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases
Welcome Bonus:
60,000 miles 60,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months
Advertiser Disclosure
The product offers that appear on this site are from companies from which this website receives compensation.

How To Apply?

It's easy and quick to apply for the Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard®:

  1. Visit the Hawaiian Airlines credit card page and click “Apply Today”.
  2. After clicking on “Apply Today,” you will be directed to a page where you have to fill in all of your personal information, such as your email, address, source of income, etc.
  3. After you submit your application for the Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard®, the bank will review it to assess your eligibility for the card. If you meet the requirements and get approved, you can expect to receive your card in the mail within a few business days.
Hawaiian card application
(screenshot from barclaycardus.com)

Compare Hawaiian World Elite Mastercard

While the Hawaiian World Elite Mastercard offers a higher miles rewards ratio, we think the Alaska card offers a bit better airline perks.

Hawaiian World Elite Mastercard vs. Alaska Visa Signature: How They Compare?

Both Hawaiian and Delta SkyMiles Gold have similar annual cashback values and diverse airline benefits, so there is no clear winner

Hawaiian World Elite Mastercard vs. Delta SkyMiles Gold: Side By Side Comparison

Picture of Baruch Mann (Silvermann)

Baruch Mann (Silvermann)

Baruch Silvermann is a financial expert, experienced analyst, and founder of The Smart Investor.  Silvermann has contributed to Yahoo Finance and cited as an authoritative source in financial outlets like Forbes, Business Insider, CNBC Select, CNET, Bankrate, Fox Business, The Street, and more.
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Best Cards Per Category
Top Offers

amex platinum

Rewards Plan:
1X – 5X 5X points on up to $500,000 spent on directly-booked airfare and flights and prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel (per calendar year), 2X points on prepaid car rentals through American Express Travel and 1X points on all other purchases
Welcome Bonus:
80,000 points 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership