You can now redeem your HawaiianMiles for TSA PreCheck
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
If you're sitting on some HawaiianMiles, here is an opportunity to make your airport experience significantly better. Hawaiian Airlines just came out with a promotion where you can redeem 10,000 miles in exchange for TSA PreCheck. This is a limited-time promotion valid through Dec. 20, 2019.
TSA PreCheck allows you to go through the specially designated TSA PreCheck lanes at many airports throughout the U.S. The benefits include less wait times, not having to take off your shoes and being able to keep your laptop or tablet in your carry-on luggage. Once approved, you'll have TSA PreCheck for five years. Note: Children ages 12 and younger do not need TSA PreCheck and are able to go through the special lanes when traveling with a parent or guardian with TSA PreCheck.
Related: 5 reasons to get TSA PreCheck
TSA PreCheck typically costs $85 thus giving you just a 0.85 cents per point value on this particular redemption. Since TPG values HawaiianMiles at 0.9 cents per point, this is a slightly less than ideal redemption, although not horrible. For the most part, when an airline loyalty program offers an opportunity to redeem your miles for anything other than flying, you will not see the best value.
Related: United's now letting you redeem miles for TSA PreCheck
With so many credit cards these days offering Global Entry and TSA PreCheck reimbursement as a benefit, there are many other ways to earn this valuable travel experience without having to redeem your hard-earned miles. Additionally, many of these credit cards will actually reimburse Global Entry (which costs $100/person) and once approved you'll automatically inherit TSA PreCheck. For traveling internationally, which even includes many of the Caribbean islands, Global Entry will significantly cut your wait time for getting back into the United States.
Credit cards that offer Global Entry and TSA PreCheck reimbursement (up to $100):
- Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card ($95 annual fee) — credit every four years
- United Explorer Card ($95 annual fee, waived the first year) — credit every four years
- IHG Rewards Premier Credit Card ($89 annual fee) — credit every four years
- Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card ($95 annual fee) — credit every four years
- Chase Sapphire Reserve ($550 annual fee) — credit every four years
- The Platinum Card® from American Express ($695 annual fee see rates & fees) — credit every four to four and half years for the primary card and each Platinum authorized-user card
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® ($450 annual fee) — credit every five years
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card ($450 annual fee see rates & fees) — credit every four years
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card ($199 annual fee) — credit every four years
- Citi Prestige® Card ($495 annual fee) — credit every five years
The information for the Citi Prestige Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
One of my favorites on the list is the United Explorer Card due to the annual fee being waived the first year (the card has an annual fee of $95/year). It used to be that Global Entry and TSA PreCheck reimbursement were only included benefits of the more premium credit cards but over the past year, we've started to see it being offered on many lower annual fee cards as well.
Related: 3 lessons on saving money for Global Entry renewals
Bottom line
Although this deal is only available for a limited time, you might want to think twice before actually redeeming your miles. Our recommendation is to only take advantage of this offer if you are maxed out on the above credit card reimbursements or have orphaned HawaiianMiles that you are probably not going to use.
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card, click here.