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Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard Review: A Solid Choice for Hawaiian Airlines Loyalists

Review Updated
Natasha Etzel
Steven Porrello
By: Natasha Etzel and Steven Porrello

Our Credit Cards Experts

Eric McWhinnie
Check IconFact Checked Eric McWhinnie
Many or all of the products here are from our partners that compensate us. It’s how we make money. But our editorial integrity ensures our experts’ opinions aren’t influenced by compensation. Terms may apply to offers listed on this page.

The Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® is a $99-per-year airline credit card with perks that appeal to Hawaiian Airlines loyalists. New cardmembers can earn 60,000 HawaiianMiles and take advantage of benefits such as two free checked bags, a one-time 50% companion discount, a $100 companion discount at every card anniversary, and the ability to share miles without paying fees. Read our full Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® review to learn more and decide if this card is a good fit for you.

Ratings Methodology

Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard®

Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard®
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Credit Score: Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.
Recommended Credit Score required for this offer is: Good/Excellent (670-850)
Credit Score Circle with letter I in it. Falling within this credit range does not guarantee approval by the issuer. An application must be submitted to the issuer for a potential approval decision. There are different types of credit scores and creditors use a variety of credit scores to make lending decisions.

Good/Excellent (670-850)

Intro APR

Purchases: N/A

Balance Transfers: N/A

Regular APR

21.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99%, variable

Rewards Circle with letter I in it. Earn 3X Hawaiian Miles on eligible purchases made directly from Hawaiian Airlines, 2X Hawaiian Miles on gas, dining and grocery store purchases and 1X Hawaiian Miles on all other purchases Discounted award flights on Hawaiian Airlines

1X - 3X Hawaiian Miles

Annual Fee

$99

Welcome Offer Circle with letter I in it. Earn 60,000 bonus HawaiianMiles after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 90 days.

60,000 HawaiianMiles

  • A clear standout for Hawaiian Airlines fans. The sign-up bonus, companion perks, and rewards program shine the most among the cards otherwise nice feature set.

    • Generous sign-up bonus
    • Free checked bags
    • Companion discounts
    • Discounts on award redemptions
    • No foreign transaction fees
    • Annual fee
    • No free bag for companions
    • Limited-Time Offer: Earn 60,000 bonus HawaiianMiles after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 90 days.
    • Receive a one-time 50% off companion discount for roundtrip coach travel between Hawaii and North America on Hawaiian Airlines
    • Earn 3X Hawaiian Miles on eligible purchases made directly from Hawaiian Airlines, 2X Hawaiian Miles on gas, dining and grocery store purchases and 1X Hawaiian Miles on all other purchases
    • Discounted award flights on Hawaiian Airlines
    • Two free checked bags on eligible bags for the primary cardmember when using your card to purchase eligible tickets directly from Hawaiian Airlines

Credit card comparison

We recommend comparing options to ensure the card you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of standout credit cards.

Offer Our Rating Welcome Offer Rewards Program APR Learn More
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Best for cash back on rotating categories 		Discover will match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year. Circle with letter I in it. N/A 1% - 5% Cashback Circle with letter I in it. Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically.

Intro:

Purchases: 0%, 15 months

Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months

Regular: 17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR

Apply Now for Discover it® Cash Back

On Discover's Secure Website.

Rates & Fees External Link Icon

Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Best for cash back on travel purchases 		Up to $300 cash back Circle with letter I in it. Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases. 1.5% - 5% cash back Circle with letter I in it. Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases

Intro: Circle with letter I in it. 0% Intro APR on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months

Purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases, 15 months

Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers, 15 months

Regular: 20.49% - 29.24% Variable

Apply Now for Chase Freedom Unlimited®

On Chase's Secure Website.

Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Best for travel and points transfers 		75,000 bonus points Circle with letter I in it. Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's over $900 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠. 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases Circle with letter I in it. Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.

Intro: Circle with letter I in it. N/A

Purchases: N/A

Balance Transfers: N/A

Regular: 21.49%-28.49% Variable

Apply Now for Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

On Chase's Secure Website.

Full Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard review

This credit card is a good fit for: Travelers who frequently fly with Hawaiian Airlines and want the opportunity to earn rewards while taking advantage of some nice perks and a generous sign-up bonus.

Top perks

The Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® has some notable perks:

Generous sign-up bonus

This airline credit card offers a generous sign-up bonus. New cardmembers can earn up to 60,000 HawaiianMiles after spending at least $2,000 within the first 90 days of account ownership.

This is a relatively low minimum spend and a long qualifying period to earn the bonus.

READ MORE: Best Sign-Up Bonus Credit Cards

Two free checked bags

When using the Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® to book tickets for qualifying flights, the primary cardmember gets two checked bags for free. The flight must be a Hawaiian Airlines operated flight between North American and Hawaii or between neighboring islands. The ticket must also be booked directly with the airline. This perk is only available to the primary cardmember and is not available to companions.

Earn up to 3 miles per $1

With this card, you'll earn rewards on your spending. Rates vary depending on the transactions you make with your card. Here's a breakdown of how you can earn rewards with the Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard®:

  • Earn 3 miles per $1 on eligible Hawaiian Airlines purchases
  • Earn 2 miles per $1 on gas, dining, and eligible grocery purchases
  • Earn 1 mile per $1 on other purchases outside of the above categories

One-time 50% companion discount

New cardmembers will receive a one-time 50%-off companion discount. This is valid for roundtrip coach travel between Hawaii and North America on Hawaiian Airlines. While this is only available one time, it makes the first year of card ownership even more valuable.

$100 companion discount

At every cardmember anniversary, cardholders will earn a $100 companion discount. This is valid for roundtrip travel between Hawaii and North America on Hawaiian Airlines. If you plan to keep the card long term, this is a nice yearly perk that can make it more affordable to travel with a companion.

$100 in-flight credits for elite members at every card anniversary

If you are a Pualani Gold or Pualani Platinum HawaiianMiles member, you can take advantage of $100 in-flight credits at every card anniversary. You can use these credits, up to $10 per day, for onboard purchases such as beverages, premium meals, and entertainment made with your Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard®.

Discounts on award miles

As a Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® cardmember, you will get discounts on award redemptions. Discounts are available through the primary cardmember's HawaiianMiles account online on the Hawaiian Airlines website. With this benefit, your award miles will go further.

No fees to share miles

Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® cardholders can share miles with friends and family up to 10 times per year without paying fees. Without this credit card, sharing miles will cost you. The fees include a $25 service fee and $0.01 per mile transfer fee. Additionally, without the card there is a 2,000 miles minimum when sending miles to others.

LEARN MORE: Best Rewards Credit Cards

No foreign transaction fees

The Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® doesn't charge foreign transaction fees. If you like to travel internationally, using a card that doesn't charge foreign transaction fees is a smart idea. Otherwise, the fees can add up quickly. Most card issuers charge around 3% in fees for international transactions.

World Elite Mastercard® benefits

Since this card is a World Elite Mastercard®, you'll unlock World Elite Mastercard® benefits. Perks include access to a free ShopRunner membership, special offers for brands like Lyft, DoorDash, and Hello Fresh, discounts on movie tickets and other events, and cellphone protection as long as you pay your cellphone bill with your eligible card.

What could be improved

There are some areas where the Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® could be improved.

Annual fee

This card charges an annual fee. You'll pay $99 per year to use the Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard®. If you're looking for a card without an annual fee, this isn't it.

Free baggage allowance not extended to companions

While this card does offer two free checked bags to the cardholder, this perk doesn't extend to companions. Many other airline credit cards allow companions to check bags for free in addition to the cardmember. If you usually travel with others, this is worth noting.

$100 companion discount valid only for domestic flights

While the Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® offers a $100 companion discount at every card anniversary, it's only valid for mainland U.S. and Hawaii flights and must be used on a Hawaiian Airlines flight. This is something to keep in mind when considering how this card perk may benefit you.

Suggested credit score

The Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® is intended for consumers with good to excellent credit. Applicants will have a better chance of securing approval for this card with a FICO® Score of 670 or higher. Remember that other factors are considered, such as income and current debt. Because of this, it's possible to get approved with a lower credit score -- or be denied with a higher score.

The Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard is right for you if:

If you enjoy flying with Hawaiian Airlines and want to earn rewards while taking advantage of benefits that will enhance your travel experience, the Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® may be a good airline card for you.

If the following statements apply, then you should consider choosing the Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard®:

  • You regularly fly with Hawaiian Airlines.
  • You typically fly within the mainland U.S. or the islands of Hawaii.
  • You will take advantage of the card's two free bag perks.
  • You want to get discounts on award redemptions.
  • You're comfortable paying an annual fee.

But if you're not a regular Hawaiian Airlines flyer, this card probably doesn't make sense for you. Instead, check out our credit card reviews and look for a general travel card or an airline card with your preferred airline that will offer the best rewards and benefits for your needs.

KEEP READING: Best Credit Cards

Our credit card methodology

At The Motley Fool Ascent, we rate credit cards on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). Our rating criteria includes rewards rates, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and 0% intro APR offers to evaluate our ratings.

We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best card recommendations. Learn more about how The Ascent rates credit cards.

FAQs

  • Flight awards start at 7,500 miles one-way within Hawaii, or 20,000 miles for a one-way flight between Hawaii and the West Coast of the U.S.

  • Earned miles don't expire, giving you the time and freedom to build up miles for the trips and perks you really want.

Our Credit Cards Experts

Natasha Etzel
By: Natasha Etzel

Writer

Natasha has been a freelance writer since 2015. She specializes in credit card and credit card rewards content. When not busy writing, she's either dreaming up her next credit card rewards redemption or traveling the globe. Her goal is to encourage more people to experience the world around them while making smart financial choices.

Steven Porrello
By: Steven Porrello

Writer

Steven is a personal finance writer covering topics from mortgages to credit cards to market news. He has written for The Motley Fool Canada, Ramsey Solutions, Nerdwallet, Clever Real Estate, and other major outlets. Steven launched his writing career at the age of four with his first book, "Revenge of the Bad Guys." He currently lives in Portland, Oregon.

Eric McWhinnie
Check IconFact Checked Eric McWhinnie

Eric McWhinnie has been writing and editing digital content since 2010. He specializes in personal finance and investing. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in Finance.