If you frequently travel to the Hawaiian Islands or fly with Hawaiian Airlines, you may be considering their co-branded credit card. Issued by Barclays, the Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® is designed to reward loyal travelers with miles, discounts, and travel perks. Understanding the specific features, costs, and requirements of this card can help you decide if it fits your financial goals and travel habits.
Overview of Hawaiian Airlines Credit Card Options
Hawaiian Airlines offers two primary credit card options: a personal card and a business card. Both are issued through Barclays and are designed to help users accumulate HawaiianMiles quickly through everyday spending and travel purchases.
The Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® is the primary choice for individual consumers. It focuses on travel benefits like free checked bags and companion discounts that make trips to Hawaii more affordable. The Hawaiian Airlines® Business Mastercard® offers similar rewards but is tailored for business owners who want to track company expenses while earning travel rewards.
Top Benefits of the Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard
The most significant draw of this credit card is the suite of travel-specific benefits it provides. For many travelers, these perks can easily offset the cost of the annual fee if they fly to Hawaii at least once a year.
- Free First Checked Bag: The primary cardmember receives one free checked bag on Hawaiian Airlines-operated flights. This benefit applies when you use your card to purchase the tickets directly from Hawaiian Airlines.
- One-Time Companion Discount: New cardmembers receive a one-time 50% discount toward a roundtrip coach companion fare between Hawaii and North America. This is a valuable perk for couples or families planning a big vacation.
- Annual Companion Discount: Every year on your account anniversary, you receive a $100 discount toward a roundtrip coach companion fare. This provides ongoing value for as long as you keep the account open.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees: You can use the card anywhere in the world without paying extra fees on international purchases. This is essential for travelers who venture beyond the United States.
- Share Miles: Cardmembers can send and receive HawaiianMiles from friends and family without a transaction fee. This makes it much easier to pool miles together for a single award flight.
Earning HawaiianMiles with Your Card
The Hawaiian Airlines credit card uses a tiered system for earning miles. This allows you to accumulate rewards on both travel-specific purchases and your everyday spending at home.
Typically, you will earn 3 miles for every $1 spent on eligible Hawaiian Airlines purchases. This includes flight tickets, in-flight purchases, and vacation packages bought directly through the airline.
For common daily expenses, you earn 2 miles for every $1 spent on gas, dining, and eligible grocery store purchases. All other purchases made with the card earn 1 mile per $1 spent. There is no limit to the total number of miles you can earn, and miles do not expire as long as your account remains active.
Redeeming Your Miles for Travel
Once you have accumulated enough HawaiianMiles, you can redeem them for a variety of rewards. The most common use is for award flights on Hawaiian Airlines or their partner carriers.
Hawaiian Airlines uses a flight award chart that lists the number of miles needed for different routes. Flights between the mainland U.S. and Hawaii generally start at a specific mile threshold for coach, with more miles required for First Class. You can also use miles to upgrade an existing coach ticket to a premium cabin.
Beyond flights, you can redeem miles for hotel stays, car rentals, and gift cards through the HawaiianMiles online portal. However, many travel experts agree that using miles for flights usually offers the highest monetary value per mile.
Fees and Interest Rates
Before applying for any credit card, it is important to understand the costs associated with maintaining the account. The Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard has a clear fee structure that users should review.
The card carries an annual fee of $99. This fee is not typically waived for the first year, so you should ensure that the benefits, such as the free checked bag and companion discount, provide at least $99 in value to you annually.
The Annual Percentage Rate (APR) for purchases is variable and based on your creditworthiness. It usually aligns with industry standards for travel reward cards. Because this is a rewards card, it is best to pay your balance in full each month to avoid interest charges, which can quickly negate the value of the miles you earn.
Application Requirements
To qualify for the Hawaiian Airlines credit card, you generally need good to excellent credit. While Barclays does not publicly state a specific minimum credit score, most successful applicants have a score of 670 or higher.
When you apply, you will need to provide personal information including your Social Security number, annual income, and employment status. Barclays will also look at your debt-to-income ratio and your recent history of opening new credit accounts.
If you are approved, you will receive your card in the mail within 7 to 10 business days. You can often begin using the digital version of your card or access your HawaiianMiles account immediately if you are already a member of their loyalty program.
Managing Your Account Online
Barclays provides a user-friendly online portal and mobile app for managing your Hawaiian Airlines credit card. These tools allow you to stay on top of your finances and track your rewards progress easily.
Through the online dashboard, you can pay your monthly bill, view transaction history, and set up paperless billing. You can also monitor your HawaiianMiles balance and see how many miles you have earned during the current billing cycle.
The mobile app offers additional convenience, such as the ability to set up push notifications for every purchase. This is a helpful security feature that alerts you to any unauthorized activity on your account instantly.
Pros and Cons of the Card
Every credit card has strengths and weaknesses. Weighing these can help you decide if the Hawaiian Airlines card is the right tool for your wallet.
Pros:
- Generous sign-up bonuses for new users who meet spending requirements.
- Valuable companion discounts for travelers flying with a partner.
- No foreign transaction fees make it a great international travel companion.
- Free checked bag saves money on every trip.
Cons:
- The $99 annual fee is an out-of-pocket cost every year.
- Earning rates for non-travel categories are lower than some general travel cards.
- The most valuable rewards are limited to Hawaiian Airlines and its specific partners.
Is the Hawaiian Airlines Credit Card Worth It?
The value of this card depends entirely on how often you fly with Hawaiian Airlines. If you live in Hawaii or visit the islands at least once a year, the free checked bag and the annual companion discount can easily save you more than the $99 annual fee.
However, if you rarely fly to Hawaii or prefer to fly with different airlines depending on the lowest price, a general travel rewards card might be a better fit. General cards often offer more flexibility in how you earn and redeem points across various airlines and hotel chains.
Conclusion
The Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard is a powerful tool for anyone who prioritizes travel to the islands. With its mix of mile-earning potential and practical travel perks, it simplifies the process of saving for your next tropical getaway. By understanding the fee structure and maximizing the companion discounts, you can turn your everyday spending into future flights.
For more tips on choosing the right financial tools or planning your next trip, explore our other articles on travel rewards and credit management here at SearchAndHelp.com.