A gamble on Alaska miles — why I applied for 2 Hawaiian Airlines cards on the same day
Editor's Note
I’m probably one of the most credit card-dependent members of the TPG team. I already have too many for most humans to keep track of, resulting in my need to use spreadsheets to keep up with all my benefits. In fact, at last count, I had more than 20 open cards.
Given how many cards I currently have, I hadn’t really been in the market for another card ... until Alaska Airlines announced it planned to buy Hawaiian Airlines back in December 2023.
Alaska says it will continue operating Hawaiian Airlines as a separate brand but will combine Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan and HawaiianMiles into one loyalty program. That opens up the possibility that HawaiianMiles could eventually become valuable Mileage Plan miles ... or something similar. That made me want to get some HawaiianMiles banked as soon as possible.
Related: Hawaiian-Alaska Airlines merger: What we know (and want to know) about the future loyalty program
The proposed merger cleared a major milestone in August 2024 when the Department of Justice said it wouldn't move to block the deal. It still needs the signoff of the Department of Transportation. In a statement, Alaska Airlines wrote the merger, " ... remains subject to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) approving an interim exemption application for the transfer of international route authorities." The DOT has not given a timetable for its decision.
Still, the DOT approval is widely seen as the lesser of the two major hurdles to approval of the deal.
Either way, I decided on my credit card strategy late last year, well before the regulatory process started.
Admittedly, opening two credit cards based on a hypothetical situation is a very speculative move on my part. However, I place a lot of value in Alaska miles and feel confident there’s enough of a chance of this hypothetical merger becoming a reality.
So, I decided to act.
I’ve taken various trips to Hawaii in recent years, so once I knew I was ready to consider adding a Hawaiian Airlines credit card to my wallet, I turned to my work desk drawer to see what card applications from flight attendants I had stored away.
Related: Why the Alaska-Hawaiian merger could be a win-win for frequent flyers
I decided the old adage “in for a penny, in for a pound” was appropriate here, so I applied for both the personal and business versions of the Hawaiian Airlines cards. That way, I could really maximize the sign-up bonuses that may eventually go away (or, at least, evolve away from their current state) if the loyalty programs did ultimately merge into one.
In my case, that meant an offer for 65,000 HawaiianMiles after making a purchase within 90 days of account opening for the Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard®. The other offer was for up to 60,000 HawaiianMiles after spending $2,000 and making a purchase with an employee card within the first 90 days of opening an account for the Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Business Mastercard®.
The information for the Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® and the Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Business Mastercard® has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
However, you don’t have to have a huge business for this strategy to work. If you have any type of small business — even one as small as an eBay store — you can apply for a business credit card with your name as the business and your social security number instead of an employer identification number.
Related: Do I need a business to get a business credit card?
While the personal card isn’t great for regular spending, it does award 3 miles for every dollar spent on Hawaiian Airlines purchases and 2 miles per dollar spent on groceries, gas and dining. It comes with a $99 fee, but that’s a small price to pay for all those miles, in my opinion.
The business version of the card has similar earning rates. Like the personal card, it provides 3 miles per dollar spent on Hawaiian Airlines purchases and 2 miles per dollar spent on groceries, gas and dining. It, too, comes with a $99 fee, which is not waived the first year.
As can happen with many credit card applications, once I submitted my applications for the two cards, I learned I wasn’t instantly approved. Both online applications were flagged with “Thanks for your interest. Your application is being reviewed” messages.
Luckily, I received the first of two phone calls from Barclays just a few minutes later. Once I answered a few questions about my application, I was given verbal approval for the new account over the phone. The same happened a short time later for the other application.
Within a week, my two brand-new Hawaiian Airlines credit cards arrived in my mailbox, ready to use.
TPG managing editor for credit cards Matt Moffitt has also taken this gamble, applying for the personal and business cards on the same day in August 2024. He was immediately approved for the personal card with a $20,000 credit limit. However, his business card application was marked 'pending'.
So, he called the Barclays reconsideration line and found out he needed to shift some of the credit from the personal card to the business card to be approved, splitting the $20,000 limit equally between them. Like myself, Matt received both cards in the mail a week later.
From opening these two credit cards, I earned 138,000 HawaiianMiles. If they convert 1:1 to Mileage Plan miles at some point, as I hope they will, I’ll likely have more than enough miles to book a round-trip business-class trip similar to the one I took to Taipei, Taiwan, with Starlux last year. That itinerary only cost me 120,000 Mileage Plan miles at the time, though the award rates have since gone up.
Even if the miles don’t convert, either because the merger isn’t approved or the conversion rate isn’t as favorable as I’m hoping, I can still find plenty of ways to use my HawaiianMiles. One redemption I’ve had my eyes on is a business-class seat on Hawaiian Airlines flight from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) in Honolulu.
I’ve seen seats available for as low as 80,000 miles each way, though I generally can find one-way awards in first-class for 130,000 miles for the long nonstop flight from New York to Honolulu. The cash price for that ticket is more than $2000. I'll definitely be able to use my HawaiianMiles ... even if they don't convert to Alaska.
I look forward to seeing what happens with the proposed merger and the HawaiianMiles and Mileage Plan programs. There's been intense debate in The Points Guy newsroom over how the deal will play out for the loyalty program. Though Alaska hasn't said publicly how Hawaiian rewards currency will be valued, The Beat of Hawaii reported Alaska told them in an email that the currency would be converted to Alaska Mileage Plan at a 1:1 ratio. A few of my colleagues at TPG are skeptical of that conversion rate, but I believe that's how it will land.
For context, when Alaska acquired Virgin America in 2016, the old program's miles transferred to Alaska at 1.3 Mileage Plan miles per Virgin America Elevate point.
In the meantime, I’ll enjoy having yet another stockpile of miles for a rainy day.
Related reading:
- When is the best time to book flights for the cheapest airfare?
- The best airline credit cards
- What exactly are airline miles, anyway?
- 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
- Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
- The best credit cards to reach elite status
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.