Choosing between the Hawaiian World Elite Mastercard and the Delta SkyMiles ® Gold American Express Card depends on your travel habits and preferences. Let's explore them side by side:
General Comparison
The Hawaiian Mastercard, issued by Barclays, is perfect for those who love the tropical charm of Hawaii. On the other hand, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is a great choice for frequent Delta Airlines travelers. Both cards have similar annual fees, offer attractive welcome bonuses, and don’t charge foreign transaction fees. However, they differ in their points rewards systems and the extra benefits they offer.
Here's a side-by-side comparison of the card's main features:
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| |
|---|---|---|
Hawaiian World Elite Mastercard | Delta SkyMiles Gold | |
Annual Fee | $99 | $150, $0 intro first year. (See Rates and Fees.) |
Rewards | 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
| 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. |
Welcome bonus | 60,000 bonus HawaiianMiles after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first 90 days | Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 6 months of card membership.
|
0% Intro APR | N/A | N/A |
Foreign Transaction Fee | $0 | $0. See Rates and Fees. |
Purchase APR | 20.74% – 29.99% variable | 20.24% – 29.24% Variable |
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Rewards Battle: A Side-by-Side Analysis
We compared how many points you earn with each card, and there’s no clear winner here. Both cards offer higher point rewards for grocery purchases, and overall, the Hawaiian World Elite Mastercard earns more points. However, when you consider the value of each point or mile, the annual value ends up being quite similar for both cards.
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| |
|---|---|---|
Spend Per Category | Hawaiian World Elite Mastercard | Delta SkyMiles Gold |
$15,000 – U.S Supermarkets | 30,000 miles | 30,000 miles |
$5,000 – Restaurants
| 10,000 miles | 10,000 miles |
$5,000 – Airline | 15,000 miles | 10,000 miles |
$5,000 – Hotels | 5,000 miles | 5,000 miles |
$4,000 – Gas | 8,000 miles | 4,000 miles |
Total Miles | 68,000 miles | 59,000 miles |
Estimated Redemption Value | 1 mile ~ 1.1 cent | 1 mile = ~1.3 cents
|
Estimated Annual Value | $748 | $767 |
Which Card Provides Better Travel Perks & Insurance?
Hawaiian World Elite Mastercard
Free Checked Bags: Get two free checked bags (up to $140 value per roundtrip) for eligible flights when you purchase tickets directly from Hawaiian Airlines using your card.
$100 Companion Discount: Enjoy an annual $100 companion discount for roundtrip travel between Hawaii and North America on Hawaiian Airlines after each account anniversary.
50%-Off Companion Discount: Receive a one-time 50% off companion discount for roundtrip travel between Hawaii and North America on Hawaiian Airlines.
Discounted Award Flights: Access discounted award flights on Hawaiian Airlines with your World Elite Mastercard.
Mastercard World Elite Benefits: World Elite Mastercards give you some cool deals from other stores, and they also come with good things like special benefits at hotels, a helpful concierge service, cell phone protection, and fraud protection.
Delta SkyMiles Gold
- TakeOff 15: Save 15% on Award Travel when booking Delta flights (excluding partner-operated flights and taxes/fees).
$100 Delta Stays Credit: Get up to $100 back each year on eligible prepaid Delta Stays bookings at delta.com with the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card.
$200 Delta Flight Credit: When you spend $10,000 on purchases in a year, you'll get a $200 Delta Flight Credit to use for your next travel.
- First Checked Bag Free: Receive complimentary first checked bag on Delta flights.
- Pay with Miles Discount: You can receive up to $50 off the cost of your Delta flight for every 5,000 miles you redeem.
- 20% Back on In–flight Purchases: Receive a 20% statement credit on eligible Delta in-flight purchases of food and beverages.
- ShopRunner: Enjoy free 2-day shipping at 100+ online stores when you enroll in complimentary ShopRunner membership with your Delta Platinum card.
- Purchase Protection: Your card can protect eligible purchases from theft or accidental damage for up to 90 days.
- Extended Warranty: Extend the manufacturer's warranty on eligible purchases by up to one extra year when you use your card.
- Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance: When you use your card to reserve and pay for a rental vehicle and decline the collision damage waiver (CDW), you can be covered for damage or theft of the rental vehicle in a covered territory.
- Baggage Insurance Plan: Travel with peace of mind knowing your baggage is covered for loss, damage, or theft when you purchase a common carrier ticket with your card.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers.
When You Might Prefer The Delta SkyMiles Gold Card?
Here are the main reasons why you may prefer the Delta SkyMiles Gold Card:
Frequent Delta Traveler: If you find yourself often boarding Delta flights, the Delta SkyMiles Gold card is your go-to choice, offering tailored benefits like priority boarding and a free checked bag.
Value Travel Insurance: If travel insurance is a priority, Delta SkyMiles Gold takes the lead with its extensive coverage such as car rental loss and damage or baggage insurance plan.
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When You Might Prefer The Hawaiian Mastercard?
Here are the main reasons why you may prefer the Hawaiian World Elite Mastercard:
Frequent Hawaii Traveler: If you're a regular visitor to the Hawaiian Islands, the Hawaiian World Elite Mastercard is your top choice, offering substantial rewards for Hawaiian Airlines purchases and additional perks tailored to Hawaii-bound travelers.
Appreciate Companion Discounts: If you often travel with a companion, the Hawaiian Mastercard's one-time 50% off companion discount and $100 companion discount can significantly enhance your travel experience, making it an attractive option for pairs or groups.
Compare The Alternatives
If you're looking for an airline credit card with travel rewards – there are some good alternatives you may want to consider:
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|---|---|---|---|
United℠ Explorer Card | Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card | Citi®/AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® | |
Annual Fee | $95 ($0 first year) | $99 | $99 (waived for the first 12 months)
|
Rewards |
1X – 2X
2x per $1 spent on United purchases, hotel accommodations, restaurants & eligible delivery services and 1x per $1 spent on all other purchases
| 1X – 3X
3X points on Southwest® purchases,2X on Rapid Rewards® hotel and car partners, local transit and commuting, including rideshare, internet, cable, phone services, and select streaming and 1X points on all other purchases.
|
1X – 2X
Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants, 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases and 1 AAdvantage® mile for every $1 spent on other purchases. Earn 1 Loyalty Point for every 1 eligible AAdvantage® mile earned from purchases.
|
Welcome bonus |
50,000 miles
50,000 miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
| 40,000 Points
40,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 4 months.
|
50,000 Miles
50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
|
Foreign Transaction Fee | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Purchase APR | 21.49% – 28.49% variable APR | 20.99% – 27.99% variable APR | 20.74% – 29.74% (Variable) |
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