Barclays Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard

Quick Snapshot

• Annual Fee: $99
• APR: 20.24%–29.99% variable
• Rewards: Miles on Hawaiian flights and everyday purchases
• Bonus: Up to 80,000 HawaiianMiles (tiered: 50K + 30K)
• Best For: Frequent Hawaiian Airlines flyers, Hawaii travelers, families
• Credit Needed: Good to Excellent (690+)

Overview

The Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard is an airline credit card designed for travelers who fly Hawaiian Airlines regularly, whether for inter-island travel, mainland-to-Hawaii trips, or international flights to Asia-Pacific destinations. With a $99 annual fee, this card offers valuable benefits including two free checked bags per flight and a one-time 50% discount on a companion round-trip fare—perks that quickly offset the annual cost for frequent flyers.

What makes this card particularly appealing is the generous welcome bonus structure: earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 within the first 90 days, plus an additional 30,000 miles after spending a total of $5,000 within the first 180 days—a combined 80,000 HawaiianMiles worth substantial flight value. The 50% companion discount provides immediate savings, allowing you to bring a travel partner at half price on a round-trip between Hawaii and North America.

Important Update: On October 1, 2025, HawaiianMiles membership and miles will transition into the new combined loyalty program with Alaska Airlines called Atmos Rewards. This merger expands redemption options and benefits as Hawaiian Airlines integrates with Alaska Airlines following their acquisition.

APR Breakdown

• Purchase APR: 20.24%–29.99% variable
• Balance Transfer APR: 20.24%–29.99% variable
• Cash Advance APR: 29.99% variable
• Penalty APR: None specified

Note: Standard APR for airline rewards cards with no promotional intro periods. The card's value derives from flight benefits and miles earning rather than financing features.

Benefits Overview

Hawaiian Airlines Benefits

• Two free checked bags on eligible Hawaiian Airlines flights (saves $60–$120+ per round trip)
• 50% off companion fare (one-time, round-trip between Hawaii and North America)
• Up to 80,000 bonus HawaiianMiles (tiered: 50K after $2K spend in 90 days + 30K after $5K spend in 180 days)
• Earn miles on Hawaiian Airlines purchases
• Priority boarding on select fare classes
• Access to exclusive cardholder promotions and offers
• No blackout dates on award flights (subject to availability)

Travel Benefits

• Earn miles on everyday purchases
• No foreign transaction fees (likely—check terms)
• Travel accident insurance
• Auto rental collision damage waiver (secondary coverage)
• Travel and emergency assistance services
• Baggage delay insurance
• Trip cancellation/interruption insurance (when trip charged to card)
• Lost luggage reimbursement

Everyday Benefits

• Miles never expire with account activity
• Zero fraud liability protection
• 24/7 customer service
• Digital wallet compatibility (Apple Pay, Google Pay)
• Online account management and mobile app

Mastercard World Elite Benefits

• Complimentary concierge service (24/7)
• Luxury hotel and resort benefits
• Extended warranty protection
• Purchase protection against damage or theft
• Mastercard ID Theft Protection

Rewards & Earning Structure

• Earn HawaiianMiles on Hawaiian Airlines purchases (specific rate varies)
• Earn HawaiianMiles on all other purchases (specific rate varies)
• No caps or limits on miles earned
• Miles never expire with account activity
• Redemption: Hawaiian Airlines flights, Alaska Airlines flights (after Atmos transition), partner airlines, hotels, car rentals

Important: Starting October 1, 2025, HawaiianMiles will transition to Atmos Rewards, the combined loyalty program with Alaska Airlines. This integration expands redemption options to include both Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines flights, plus their respective partner networks.

HawaiianMiles (soon to be Atmos Rewards) are valued at approximately 1–1.5 cents per mile when redeemed for flights, with potential for higher value on premium cabin or partner airline redemptions.

Welcome Bonus

Earn up to 80,000 HawaiianMiles through a tiered bonus structure:

• 50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first 90 days of account opening
• Plus 30,000 bonus miles after spending a total of $5,000 on purchases within the first 180 days

This generous tiered bonus is worth approximately $800–$1,200 in flight value. The initial 50,000 miles from just $2,000 spend provides substantial value, while reaching the full $5,000 threshold within six months unlocks the additional 30,000 miles. Combined, 80,000 miles can cover multiple round-trip tickets between the mainland and Hawaii, or significant portions of international flights to Asia-Pacific destinations.

Companion Discount: The one-time 50% off companion round-trip fare between Hawaii and North America is available even without meeting the spending threshold, providing immediate value of $200–$500+ depending on route and timing.

Fees Summary

• Annual Fee: $99 (not waived first year)
• Foreign Transaction Fee: $0 (likely—check terms)
• Balance Transfer Fee: Not typically offered
• Cash Advance Fee: Either $10 or 5% of the amount, whichever is greater
• Late Payment Fee: Up to $40
• Returned Payment Fee: Up to $40

Who This Card Is Best For

Ideal For

• Frequent Hawaiian Airlines flyers (3+ round trips annually)
• Hawaii residents who fly inter-island or to/from the mainland regularly
• Mainland travelers visiting Hawaii multiple times per year
• Families traveling together (2 free checked bags save significantly)
• Those planning companion travel (50% off companion fare)
• Asia-Pacific travelers using Hawaiian's international routes
• Alaska Airlines flyers (after Atmos Rewards transition expands redemptions)
• Island hoppers needing flexibility between Hawaiian and Alaska flights

Not Good For

• Occasional Hawaii visitors (less than 2 trips annually)
• Carry-on only travelers who don't check bags (primary benefit lost)
• Those in non-Hawaiian/Alaska markets with limited route access
• International travelers seeking global airline alliances
• Those wanting flexible transfer partners beyond Hawaiian/Alaska
• Balance carriers (standard APR without promotional periods)
• Travelers focused on other regions (Hawaiian routes limited outside Hawaii/Pacific)
• Those seeking premium benefits like lounge access

Key Pros & Cons

Pros

• Two free checked bags per flight (saves $60–$120+ per round trip)
• Up to 80,000 HawaiianMiles welcome bonus (tiered)
• 50% off companion round-trip fare (one-time, Hawaii-North America)
• Integration with Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards (starting Oct 2025)
• Expanded redemption options after loyalty program merger
• No foreign transaction fees (check terms)
• Miles never expire with account activity
• No blackout dates on award flights (subject to availability)
• Mastercard World Elite benefits including concierge
• $99 annual fee easily offset by bag savings

Cons

• $99 annual fee (not waived first year)
• Limited value if you don't fly Hawaiian Airlines regularly
• Two-tier bonus requires $5,000 spend in 180 days for full 80,000 miles
• Companion discount one-time only (not annual benefit)
• Hawaiian route network primarily Hawaii-focused
• Miles valuable primarily for Hawaiian/Alaska/Pacific travel
• Standard APR with no promotional financing
• Limited transfer partners outside Hawaiian/Alaska ecosystem
• No lounge access or premium cabin benefits
• Loyalty program transition may cause temporary confusion

Alternatives to Consider

Card	Best For	Annual Fee	Rewards	Welcome Bonus
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature	Alaska/Hawaiian flyer (same alliance)	$95	3x Alaska/partners	40,000 miles + companion fare
Chase Sapphire Preferred	Flexible travel rewards	$95	2x–5x travel/dining	60,000 points
Capital One Venture	Simple travel rewards	$95	2x on everything	75,000 miles
JetBlue Plus Card	JetBlue flyers	$99	6x JetBlue, 2x dining/grocery	60,000 points

How the Rewards Add Up

Example Annual Value

Assuming you fly Hawaiian Airlines 4 round trips annually and spend $15,000:

Category	Annual Spend	Reward Rate	Earned Value
Hawaiian Airlines flights	$2,400	Variable	~2,400–3,600 miles ($36–$54)
All other purchases	$12,600	Variable	~12,600–18,900 miles ($189–$284)
Welcome bonus (first year)	—	Tiered	80,000 miles ($1,200)
50% companion discount (first year)	—	One-time	$300
Free checked bags (8 bags/year)	—	2 per flight × 4 trips	$480

First Year Total Value: $2,205–$2,318
Ongoing Annual Value: $705–$818

Minus $99 annual fee = $606–$719 net annual value (ongoing)

The two free checked bags alone ($60 per bag × 8 bags = $480) more than justify the $99 annual fee. For families checking multiple bags per trip, the savings multiply significantly—a couple checking 4 bags per round trip saves $240 per trip, making the card extremely valuable.

Should You Get This Card?

You Should Get It If...

• You fly Hawaiian Airlines 3+ round trips per year
• You regularly check bags ($480+ annual savings with 4 trips)
• You want the 50% companion discount for bringing a travel partner
• You're interested in 80,000 HawaiianMiles welcome bonus
• You're excited about the Alaska Airlines merger and Atmos Rewards integration
• You're a Hawaii resident flying inter-island or to the mainland
• You visit Hawaii multiple times annually from the mainland
• You travel to Asia-Pacific destinations via Hawaiian's routes
• You always pay balances in full (no promotional APR)
• You want expanded redemption options with Alaska Airlines

You Should Skip It If...

• You fly Hawaiian Airlines less than 2–3 times per year
• You never check bags (primary benefit lost)
• You're not interested in Hawaii or Pacific travel
• You want flexible transfer partners to multiple airlines
• You're seeking premium benefits like lounge access
• You need extensive international route coverage
• You carry credit card balances (standard APR)
• You prefer other airline alliances (oneworld, Star Alliance, SkyTeam)
• You're uncertain about the loyalty program transition

Apply Now

Apply for Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard

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Information accurate as of December 2025. Terms and conditions apply. Please visit the issuer's website for the most current information. Note: HawaiianMiles will transition to Atmos Rewards on October 1, 2025.