Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard review: Best for Hawaiian loyalists and Alaska partner redemptions
Editor's Note
Quick summary
Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard overview
The Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® from Barclays offers an above-average return for a cobranded airline card but lacks many noteworthy benefits. Those who regularly check bags with Hawaiian and can maximize the partner award possibilities will get the most value from this card. Card rating*: ⭐⭐⭐
*Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG's editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
The Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard is one of the credit cards that doesn't consistently get a lot of attention. However, lately, the card has become a hot topic since the merging of Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines, which also includes their loyalty programs.
In this article, we'll take a closer look at the Hawaiian Airlines Mastercard, with its $99 annual fee and recommended credit score of 670. Here's what you need to know.
The information for the Hawaiian Airlines World Elite 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.
Hawaiian Airlines Mastercard pros and cons
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Hawaiian Airlines Mastercard welcome offer
New Hawaiian Airlines Mastercard cardholders can earn a welcome bonus of 70,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 on the card in the first 90 days of account opening.
Based on TPG's March 2025 valuations of HawaiianMiles, that bonus is worth $840.
With some cards offering welcome bonuses of 100,000 points or more, this bonus might not sound too exciting initially, but the spending requirement is also much lower than on most travel rewards cards.
Plus, you'll get a one-time 50% discount on a round-trip fare between Hawaii and North America for a companion. You'll get this discount even if you don't hit the spending requirement for the welcome offer.
Related: The best airline credit cards
Hawaiian Airlines Mastercard benefits
All of the card's perks revolve around flying Hawaiian Airlines. The card offers a unique feature that lets cardholders transfer miles between family and friends, yet it lacks some run-of-the-mill perks that most cobranded airline cards offer, such as priority check-in and boarding. Benefits include:
- A one-time 50%-off companion discount for round-trip travel between Hawaii and North America
- No foreign transaction fees
- An annual $100 companion discount for a travel companion on round-trip travel between Hawaii and North America after each account anniversary
- Two free checked bags for the primary cardholder when they use the card to purchase tickets directly from Hawaiian Airlines
- Discounted award flights on Hawaiian Airlines
If you don't fly with Hawaiian Airlines frequently, it can be hard to justify holding this card. With its $99 annual fee, you must take advantage of the free checked bags or the companion discount this card offers each year to get any substantial value.
Related: How to pick the right travel credit card for you
Earning miles with the Hawaiian Airlines Mastercard
The earning structure on the Hawaiian Airlines Mastercard is better than most cobranded airline credit cards.
The card offers 3 miles per dollar on Hawaiian Airlines purchases, whereas most of its counterparts offer 2 miles per dollar on airline spending.
Although not industry-leading, the card has an above-average return on the top everyday spending categories — 2 miles per dollar on gas, dining, and eligible grocery store purchases and 1 mile per dollar on everything else.
Cardholders can also earn bonus miles at thousands of shops and restaurants through the HawaiianMiles Buy & Fly program.
Related: The overall best credit cards
Redeeming miles with the Hawaiian Airlines Mastercard
The most obvious use of HawaiianMiles is for Hawaiian Airlines award flights. The program publishes an award chart showing standard and discounted award prices. You're eligible to receive the discounted rate by holding the Hawaiian Airlines card.
The difference between rates can be as high as 17,500 miles for a Main Cabin 7 ticket between Hawaii and Japan, Korea, Australia and New Zealand.
Although Hawaiian Airlines isn't currently part of the three major airline alliances, you can redeem your miles on partners such as JetBlue, Japan Airlines and Korean Air.
Like Hawaiian-operated flights, partner awards have fixed redemption rates — except for JetBlue — and in many cases, they can actually provide a decent value for your miles.
Most importantly, thanks to the new merger between Hawaiian and Alaska Airlines, your miles transfer 1:1 into your Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan account, which allows for many more redemptions with Oneworld alliance carriers and Alaska Airlines partner airlines. Hawaiian Airlines will join Oneworld via its merger with Alaska Airlines in 2026.
Which cards compete with the Hawaiian Airlines Mastercard?
If you want more airline perks or more flexible rewards, one of these cards may be a better match.
- If you want flexible rewards: The American Express® Gold Card earns American Express Membership Rewards points that can be transferred to Delta and other loyalty programs. While it doesn't have perks specific to Delta, it earns bonus points on flights booked directly with an airline and on restaurant worldwide and U.S. supermarket purchases (bonus points on restaurant and U.S. supermarket purchases are subject to spending caps). To learn more, check out our full review of the Amex Gold.
- If you want a card from a bigger airline: The Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card offers several valuable Delta perks. Cardmembers can earn 1 Medallion Qualification Dollar toward elite status for every eligible $20 spent. If you enjoy flying with Delta, this card is worth considering. To learn more, check out our full review of the Delta Platinum Amex.
- If you want premium travel benefits: The Platinum Card® from American Express is a top-tier travel card with a host of premium benefits. Cardmembers enjoy perks like Centurion Lounge access, an up to $200 airline incidentals statement credit each calendar year and hotel elite status. Enrollment is required for select benefits; terms apply. To learn more, check out our full review of the Amex Platinum.
For additional options, check out our full list of best travel credit cards.
Related: What credit score do you need to get Delta SkyMiles American Express cards?
Is the Hawaiian Airlines Mastercard worth it?
The Hawaiian Airlines Mastercard is valuable for those who often fly on the airline and want to take advantage of 1:1 transfers to Alaska Airlines. If you're a Hawaiian loyalist and can use enough of the card's perks to justify its annual fee, it's a great addition to your wallet and a great 'way' to earn Alaska miles.
Bottom line
The Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard isn't the best airline credit card for everyone.
However, if you can use the two free checked bags benefit, the companion discount, and maximize the relationship with Alaska Airlines partner redemptions, then the card makes a solid case for itself. The welcome bonus alone may be worth considering this card for, especially if you're planning a trip to or from Hawaii in the near future.