What the Hawaiian Airlines credit card does
The Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard lets you earn miles on everyday purchases and redeem them for flights on Hawaiian Airlines and its partner airlines. You earn miles at different rates depending on what you buy — more miles on Hawaiian purchases, fewer on everything else — and the card comes with an annual fee. The miles themselves have real value only if you fly Hawaiian Airlines routes or its partners regularly, or if you live in or frequently visit Hawaii.
This card is not a rewards card that gives you cash back or points you can use anywhere. It is specifically built around Hawaiian Airlines' own frequent flyer program, called HawaiianMiles. If you never fly Hawaiian, this card will not help you.
Key Takeaways
- You earn miles fastest on Hawaiian Airlines purchases and at Hawaiian-branded merchants, with lower earning rates on other credit card purchases.
- The card charges an annual fee, so you need to fly Hawaiian Airlines or its partners enough to make the miles worth more than that fee costs you.
- Miles are redeemed through Hawaiian Airlines' website or by calling their reservations line, and availability depends on seat inventory Hawaiian sets aside for award bookings.
- Partner airlines include Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, and others, but award availability on partners is often more limited than on Hawaiian's own flights.
How you earn miles with this card
The Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard earns miles in two ways: when you use the card to pay for things, and when you sign up. At signup, you receive a one-time bonus of miles — the exact amount changes periodically, so check the current offer before you explore. After that, you earn miles on every purchase you make with the card.
The earning rate depends on the merchant category. You earn the most miles per dollar on Hawaiian Airlines tickets and at Hawaiian-branded merchants like Hawaiian Airlines gift cards. On all other purchases — groceries, gas, restaurants, utilities — you earn a lower rate. Some cards in this category earn 1.5 miles per dollar on everything, while others earn 2 or 3 miles on Hawaiian purchases but only 1 mile on everything else. The specific rates change, so confirm the current earning structure before you decide whether the card is worth the annual fee.
You do not earn miles on balance transfers or cash advances, and you do not earn miles on fees you pay to the card issuer.
What the annual fee covers
The Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard charges an annual fee, typically in the $75 to $100 range, though this varies. That fee is charged to your account once per year, usually on your account anniversary. You pay it whether you use the card or not.
Some versions of this card offer a statement credit or a free checked bag on Hawaiian Airlines flights, which can offset part of the annual fee if you fly Hawaiian at least once a year. Read the current terms carefully, because these benefits change. If you do not fly Hawaiian Airlines at least a few times per year, the annual fee is unlikely to be worth what you pay.
How to redeem miles for flights
To book a flight with your miles, you go to Hawaiian Airlines' website, log into your HawaiianMiles account, and search for award flights the same way you would search for paid flights. You select a flight, choose how many miles you want to spend, and complete the booking. You can also call Hawaiian Airlines reservations and have an agent book the flight for you over the phone.
The number of miles a flight costs depends on the route, the time of year, and how far in advance you book. A short interisland flight (say, Honolulu to Maui) might cost 5,000 to 7,500 miles one way, while a longer domestic flight from Hawaii to the mainland could cost 25,000 to 50,000 miles or more. Hawaiian Airlines publishes award charts that show the range, though the exact price can vary.
Award availability is not may provide. Hawaiian Airlines sets aside a limited number of seats on each flight for award bookings, and those seats fill up, especially on popular routes and dates. If you search for a flight and see no award availability, it means Hawaiian has sold all the award seats on that flight, and you cannot book it with miles.
Partner airlines and redemption options
Hawaiian Airlines has partnerships with other airlines, including Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Japan Airlines, and others. You can redeem your HawaiianMiles for flights on these partner airlines as well as on Hawaiian's own flights. However, award availability on partner airlines is typically much tighter than on Hawaiian itself, and the mile cost is often higher.
Partner redemptions are useful if you need to reach a destination Hawaiian does not fly to, or if you want to connect through a partner hub. For example, if you want to fly from Honolulu to a city served by American Airlines but not Hawaiian, you could use miles to book an American flight. But do not expect to find cheap award seats on partners — they are usually more expensive in miles and harder to find.
Comparing this card to other airline cards
If you fly multiple airlines, a general rewards card that earns cash back or flexible points might be better than a Hawaiian-specific card. A card that earns 2% cash back on all purchases, for example, gives you the flexibility to use that cash however you want, including toward any airline ticket. A Hawaiian card locks your rewards into one airline's program.
If you live in Hawaii or fly Hawaiian Airlines multiple times per year, the Hawaiian card can be worth it because you earn miles faster on Hawaiian purchases and you have a clear way to use those miles. If you fly Hawaiian once every two or three years, the annual fee will likely cost you more than the miles you earn.
Some people hold both: a general rewards card for everyday spending and travel flexibility, and an airline card for the bonus miles and any perks like checked bag credits. That strategy works only if you fly that airline often enough to justify paying two annual fees.
Things to know before you get this card
Miles in the HawaiianMiles program do not expire as long as you have account activity at least once every 24 months. Account activity includes earning miles, redeeming miles, or even just logging into your account. If your account goes inactive for more than 24 months, Hawaiian can close it and you lose your miles. If you earn miles on this card, you have activity, so expiration is not usually a concern for active cardholders.
The card is a Mastercard, so you can use it anywhere Mastercard is accepted. It is not limited to Hawaiian Airlines purchases. You earn miles on all your spending, though at different rates depending on the merchant category.
If you carry a balance on the card, you will pay interest on that balance. The miles you earn do not offset interest charges. If you cannot pay your full statement balance each month, the interest you pay will likely exceed the value of the miles you earn, making the card a net loss.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Hawaiian miles to book flights for other people?
Yes. You can book award flights for family members, friends, or anyone else. You log into your HawaiianMiles account, search for the flight, and enter the passenger's name and details. The person flying does not need to be a cardholder or even have a HawaiianMiles account — you are paying for the flight with your miles.
What happens to my miles if I close the card?
Your miles stay in your HawaiianMiles account even after you close the credit card. The card and the frequent flyer account are separate. However, if you close the card and do not earn or redeem miles for 24 months, your account becomes inactive and Hawaiian can close it, forfeiting your miles.
Do I earn miles on purchases made with other people's cards?
No. You earn miles only on purchases you make with your own Hawaiian Airlines credit card. If someone else uses your card with your permission, the miles go to your account, but if you use someone else's card, you earn nothing on that purchase.
Can I transfer miles to another airline's program?
Hawaiian Airlines does not allow direct transfers of miles to other airline programs. Your miles can only be used within the HawaiianMiles program or redeemed for Hawaiian or partner airline flights. If you want to use a different airline, you would need to earn miles in that airline's program instead.
What if I book an award flight and then need to cancel?
You can cancel an award booking and get your miles back, though the specific rules depend on the fare type and how close to the flight date you cancel. Most award bookings can be cancelled without penalty, but check Hawaiian Airlines' current cancellation policy before you book. Some restrictions may explore during peak travel periods.