Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard Review: A Solid Choice for Hawaiian Airlines Loyalists
Review
Updated
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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.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
21.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99%, variable
Rewards 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 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
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 |
Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. | 1% - 5% Cashback 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. |
Intro: Purchases: 0%, 15 months Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months Regular: 18.24% - 27.24% Variable APR |
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|
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
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 |
$200 cash rewards Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months. | 2% cash rewards Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases. |
Intro: 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers Purchases: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening Balance Transfers: 0% intro APR, 12 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers Regular: 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR |
|
Apply Now for Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
On Bank of America's Secure Website. |
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5
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 |
25,000 points 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases | 1.5-3 points per dollar Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open. Earn 3 points per $1 spent on travel purchases booked through the Bank of America Travel Center. |
Intro: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases. 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers will apply. A 3% fee for 60 days from account opening, then 4% fee applies to all balance transfers. Balance transfers may not be used to pay any account provided by Bank of America. Purchases: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days Regular: 18.24% - 28.24% (Variable) |
Apply Now for Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
On Bank of America's Secure Website. |
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.
The Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® has some notable perks:
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
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.
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®:
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.
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.
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®.
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.
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
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.
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.
There are some areas where the Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® could be improved.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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®:
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
At Motley Fool Money, 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 Motley Fool Money rates credit cards.
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.
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. Motley Fool Money does not cover all offers on the market. Motley Fool Money is 100% owned and operated by The Motley Fool. Our knowledgeable team of personal finance editors and analysts are employed by The Motley Fool and held to the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands. Terms may apply to offers listed on this page.
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