Hawaiian Airlines^® World Elite Mastercard^® Review [2024]: A Dream Vacation Can Be Yours With This Card

If you’re like many people, you’ve fantasized about a trip to the Hawaiian islands. With near-perfect weather, beautiful beaches, and lush scenery, Hawaii has so much to offer travelers. And one of the best ways to travel to Hawaii is to fly with Hawaiian Airlines.

The Hawaiian Airlines^® World Elite Mastercard^® could be your ticket to deeply-discounted travel to this dream locale. With a $99 annual fee, does this card provide enough value to continue using it over the long-term? Let’s take a closer look at its benefits as well as some other, more versatile travel credit cards.

Earn Miles to Fly Hawaiian

Hawaiian Airlines^® World Elite Mastercard^®

4.0

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

Hawaiian Airlines^® World Elite Mastercard^®

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Current Offer

Earn 70,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 90 days

Annual Fee

$99

Rewards Rate

3X miles on eligible Hawaiian Airlines purchases; 2X miles on gas, dining, and grocery store purchases; 1X miles on all other purchases

Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

• Sign-up offer: Earn 70,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 90 days
• Earn 3X miles on eligible Hawaiian Airlines purchases
• First checked bag free
• One-time half-off companion discount

Drawbacks

• Has annual fee
• No intro APR for purchases or balance transfers

Card Details

• Earn 70,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 90 days
• 3X miles on eligible Hawaiian Airlines purchases; 2X miles on gas, dining, and grocery store purchases; 1X miles on all other purchases

Who should get the Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite® Mastercard?

If it’s your dream to visit Hawaii, the Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite® Mastercard is an excellent way to earn miles to get there. It offers generous rewards on more than just flights, so you can rack up miles quickly to redeem for travel to Hawaii.

Frequent Hawaiian Airlines flyers who have Pualani Platinum & Gold status can take advantage of extra perks like up to $100 a year in credits for in-flight purchases like meals, beverages, and onboard entertainment.

The real value of this card is for people who make more frequent trips to Hawaii, at least once a year. You’ll earn more miles on Hawaiian Airlines purchases than any other spending category.

This card comes with an annual fee of $99. It does offer some travel perks like two free checked bags on eligible Hawaiian Airlines flights and a $100 companion discount on your cardmember anniversary. However, if you don’t think you’ll use your miles for travel to Hawaii, it might not be the best airline credit card for your needs. In fact, you may be better off with a more versatile rewards credit card that’s not tied to a specific airline.

Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite® Mastercard basics

Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® benefits and perks

• Generous welcome offer: Earn 70,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 90 days.
  
• Companion Pass discount: You can get a one-time 50% off companion pass for round trip travel between Hawaii and the Mainland. Plus, you’ll receive a $100 companion discount each year on your card anniversary.
• Two free checked bags: You’ll get your first two checked bags free when using your card to purchase eligible Hawaiian Airlines tickets (round-trip travel between Hawaii and North America), avoiding costly baggage fees.
• No caps: There’s no limit to the number of HawaiianMiles you can earn.
  
• Miles sharing: Cardmembers can share and receive miles from friends and family without a fee.

Card drawbacks

• Limited transfer options: While this card is great for travelers who visit the Hawaiian Islands frequently, it’s not your best bet if you prefer to travel elsewhere. Airline transfer options are limited because Hawaiian Airlines isn’t part of the three major airline alliances.
• Annual fee: If you don’t vacation in Hawaii often and take advantage of the annual companion pass, this card may not be worth its $99 annual fee.
• Miles can expire: If you don’t purchase anything on your card for 18 months, your account will be rendered inactive and you’ll lose your miles.

Earning & redeeming HawaiianMiles

Best ways to earn

There are multiple ways to earn HawaiianMiles with your Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard®. The best way to maximize earnings is through eligible direct eligible Hawaiian Airlines purchases, which will earn you 3X miles per dollar spent.

This Mastercard’s earning power doesn’t stop with airline purchases. Cardmembers also earn 2X miles per dollar spent on gas, dining, and grocery store purchases. You’ll add miles quickly by using your card exclusively on these types of purchases. All other purchases will net you 1X miles per dollar spent.

Maximizing your redemptions

The best use of HawaiianMiles is to fly to Hawaii on Hawaiian Airlines flights. Redeem miles for main cabin seats on Hawaiian Airlines flights or for upgrades to first or business class.

Flights are the best use of miles but aren’t the only option available. Miles can also go towards hotel stays, hotel and car rental gift certificates, and Hawaiian Airlines’ grocery, dining, and shopping partners. If desired, miles can be shared, gifted, or donated as well.

Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® transfer partners

You can redeem your HawaiianMiles for flights on Hawaiian Airlines or its partner airlines. Partner airlines include:

• JetBlue
• Korean Air
• Virgin Atlantic
• Virgin Australia
• Japan Airlines

If you’d rather redeem your HawaiianMiles for a discounted hotel stay, you can also use them to book with several hotel partners, including:

• Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach
• Ambassador Hotel Waikiki
• Kaanapali Beach Club
• Maui Coast Hotel
• Pearl Hotel Waikiki
• Turtle Bay Resort

Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® FAQs

Other cards to consider

If you’re looking for a more versatile travel rewards credit card with a comparable $95 annual fee, check out the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. It offers more flexibility than the Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® because you can transfer your miles to over 15 travel partners. Plus, you’ll receive up to $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck fees, which isn’t a benefit you get with the Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard®.

The often-overlooked Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card is worth considering if you’re concerned about the Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard®’s $99 annual fee and limited travel redemptions. The Capital One VentureOne comes with a $0 annual fee; plus, it offers a higher rewards rate in popular spending categories and more flexible travel redemptions.

Earn Miles to Fly Hawaiian

Hawaiian Airlines^® World Elite Mastercard^®

4.0

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

Hawaiian Airlines^® World Elite Mastercard^®

4.0

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

Why We Like It

Earn 70,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 90 days

See how these cards compare:

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

• Has a generous welcome offer
• Offers up to $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® statement credit
• Has an easy rewards program and highly flexible travel redemptions
• Doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees
• Offers valuable travel protections
• Rates and fees

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

• $0 annual fee
• Simple and elevated rewards on every purchase
• Flexible redemption options
• Intro APR offers on purchases and balance transfers
• No foreign transaction fees
• Rates and fees