Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard review: Ideal for loyal Hawaiian travelers

Overview of the Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard

The Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® from Barclays provides a solid return for a cobranded airline card, though it lacks several significant perks. Frequent flyers who often check bags with Hawaiian and take advantage of partner award opportunities will find the most value in this card. Card rating*: ⭐⭐⭐

*The card rating reflects the views of TPG's editors and is not swayed by the card issuer.

The Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard is one of those credit cards that often flies under the radar. This is not particularly surprising given the airline's limited route options and its absence from a major airline alliance.

In this article, I will provide an in-depth analysis of the Hawaiian Airlines Mastercard, featuring a $99 annual fee and a suggested credit score of 670. Here’s what you should know.

The details for the Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard were independently gathered by Dinogo. The information provided on this page has not been reviewed or endorsed by the card issuer.

Advantages and disadvantages of the Hawaiian Airlines Mastercard

Hawaiian Airlines Mastercard introductory offer

The Hawaiian Airlines Mastercard provides a welcome bonus of up to 70,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 within the first 90 days of opening your account. According to TPG's July 2024 valuations of HawaiianMiles, this bonus is valued at $630.

While some cards feature sign-up bonuses of 100,000 points or higher, this offer might seem less enticing at first glance; however, the spending threshold is significantly lower compared to most travel rewards cards.

Additionally, you'll receive a 50% discount on one published full coach round-trip fare for a travel companion, even if you do not meet the spending requirement for the welcome bonus.

Advantages of the Hawaiian Airlines Mastercard

The benefits of this card are primarily centered around flying with Hawaiian Airlines. A standout feature allows cardholders to transfer miles to family and friends, though it misses some standard perks found in many cobranded airline cards, such as priority check-in and boarding. Benefits include:

• A one-time 50% discount for a companion on round-trip flights between Hawaii and North America
• No foreign transaction fees
• An annual $100 discount for a travel companion on round-trip flights between Hawaii and North America following each account anniversary
• Two free checked bags for the primary cardholder when purchasing tickets directly from Hawaiian Airlines
• Discounted award flights on Hawaiian Airlines

If you don’t frequently travel with Hawaiian Airlines, it can be challenging to justify keeping this card. With a $99 annual fee, you need to make the most of the free checked bags or the companion discount each year to derive significant value.

Accumulating points with the Hawaiian Airlines Mastercard

The earning potential of the Hawaiian Airlines Mastercard surpasses that of most cobranded airline credit cards.

This card provides 3 miles per dollar on purchases made with Hawaiian Airlines, while most competitors offer 2 miles per dollar on airline expenses. Though not the best in the industry, it still delivers a commendable return in top everyday spending categories—2 miles per dollar on gas, dining, and eligible grocery store transactions, and 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases.

Cardholders can also accumulate bonus miles at thousands of retailers and restaurants through the HawaiianMiles Marketplace.

Using points with the Hawaiian Airlines Mastercard

The primary way to use HawaiianMiles is for award flights with Hawaiian Airlines. The program provides an award chart that outlines both standard and discounted award rates. By holding the Hawaiian Airlines card, you qualify for the discounted pricing.

The mileage difference can reach up to 17,500 miles for a Main Cabin 7 ticket traveling between Hawaii and destinations like Japan, Korea, Australia, and New Zealand.

While Hawaiian Airlines is not affiliated with the three major airline alliances, you can redeem your miles with partner airlines such as JetBlue, Japan Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, and Korean Air. Similar to flights operated by Hawaiian, partner awards have fixed redemption rates—except for JetBlue—and often offer good value for your miles.

What cards rival the Hawaiian Airlines Mastercard?

If you're seeking additional airline benefits or more versatile rewards, one of these cards might be a better fit for you.

• If you prefer flexible rewards: The American Express® Gold Card allows you to earn Membership Rewards points that can be transferred to Delta and other loyalty programs. Although it lacks Delta-specific perks and has a $325 annual fee (see rates and fees), it rewards you with bonus points on flights booked directly with airlines as well as on restaurant and U.S. supermarket purchases. To learn more, check our full review of the Amex Gold Card.
• If you want a card from a larger airline: The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card comes with several valuable Delta benefits. Additionally, it earns 1 Medallion Qualification Dollar toward elite status for every eligible $20 spent. If you enjoy flying with Delta, this card could be a good option. For more details, check out our full review of the Delta Platinum Amex.
• If you are looking for premium travel benefits: The Platinum Card® from American Express is a premier travel card offering a range of premium perks. With a $695 annual fee, cardholders benefit from features like Centurion Lounge access, an annual credit of up to $200 for airline incidentals, and hotel elite status (see rates and fees). Enrollment is needed for certain benefits; terms apply. To find out more, see our full review of the Amex Platinum.

For more choices, take a look at our comprehensive list of best travel credit cards.

Is the Hawaiian Airlines Mastercard worth considering?

The Hawaiian Airlines Mastercard is a great option for those who frequently fly with the airline. If you are a loyal Hawaiian customer and can fully utilize the card’s benefits to offset its annual fee, it’s an excellent addition to your wallet.

Final Thoughts

The Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard may not be the ideal airline credit card for everyone.

Nonetheless, if you can take advantage of the two free checked bags and the companion discount, this card offers compelling benefits. The welcome bonus itself could be a significant reason to consider this card, particularly if you have upcoming travel to or from Hawaii.