You can buy Hawaiian Airlines miles directly from the airline or through a credit card bonus
Hawaiian Airlines sells miles through its HawaiianMiles program, and you have two main routes: purchase them outright from Hawaiian Airlines, or earn them faster through a co-branded credit card that offers a sign-up bonus. Buying miles directly is straightforward but expensive per mile. A credit card bonus gets you more miles for less money upfront, though it requires you to meet a spending threshold and carry the card.
The miles you buy or earn work the same way once they land in your account — you redeem them for flights, seat upgrades, or partner airline tickets. The real difference is cost and speed. Direct purchases let you buy exactly what you need right now. Credit card bonuses reward you for spending you were already planning to do.
Key Takeaways
- Hawaiian Airlines sells miles directly on its website, with prices that vary based on how many you buy and current promotions.
- The Hawaiian Airlines credit card offers a sign-up bonus of miles after you spend a set amount in the first few months, usually a better rate per dollar than buying miles outright.
- Miles purchased directly or earned through a card work identically for flights, upgrades, and partner redemptions.
- Buying miles makes sense only if you need them urgently; credit card bonuses are more cost-effective if you have time to meet the spending requirement.
Buying miles directly from Hawaiian Airlines
Go to hawaiianairlines.com, log into your HawaiianMiles account, and look for the "Buy Miles" option in the account menu. You will see tiered pricing: the more miles you buy at once, the lower the per-mile cost. Hawaiian Airlines frequently runs promotions that boost the value — for example, a 50% bonus on miles purchased during a specific window. These promotions appear on the homepage and in email to account holders.
Payment is by credit card, debit card, or sometimes PayPal, depending on what the airline accepts at that moment. The miles post to your account when ready after the transaction clears. There is no minimum purchase, so you can buy 1,000 miles or 100,000 miles depending on what you need. The downside is cost: direct purchases typically run between 1 and 2 cents per mile, which adds up quickly if you need a large balance.
Earning miles through the Hawaiian Airlines credit card
The Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard (or the current co-branded card, as the name and issuer can change) offers a sign-up bonus after you spend a certain amount — typically $2,000 to $3,000 — within the first three months of opening the account. That bonus is usually 50,000 to 70,000 miles, depending on the current offer. You earn additional miles on every purchase: usually 3 miles per dollar on Hawaiian Airlines tickets and 1 mile per dollar on everything else.
The card also comes with perks like a free checked bag on Hawaiian Airlines flights, priority boarding, and sometimes a birthday bonus of miles. Annual fees range from $0 to $99 depending on the card tier. The math often favors the credit card route: if the sign-up bonus is 60,000 miles and you would have paid $600 to $1,200 buying those miles directly, the card pays for itself even if you never use it again after the first year.
To open the card, visit the Hawaiian Airlines website or the Mastercard issuer's site (usually Bank of Hawaii or another partner bank). You will answer standard credit questions, provide your Social Security number, and get a decision within minutes. The card arrives by mail in 7 to 10 business days.
Comparing cost: direct purchase versus credit card bonus
| Route | How you get miles | Cost per mile (typical) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direct purchase | Pay cash on hawaiianairlines.com | 1–2 cents | Urgent need; small amounts |
| Credit card sign-up bonus | Spend $2,000–$3,000 in 3 months | 0.3–0.5 cents (if you were spending anyway) | Planning ahead; larger balances |
| Credit card ongoing rewards | 1–3 miles per dollar on purchases | 0.5–1 cent (depending on card category) | Regular Hawaiian Airlines flyer |
The credit card bonus is almost always cheaper per mile if you can meet the spending requirement without overspending. A 60,000-mile bonus for $2,000 in spending works out to 0.33 cents per mile — far better than buying 60,000 miles directly at 1.5 cents each, which would cost $900.
What to do after you buy or earn miles
Once miles are in your HawaiianMiles account, log in and go to "Book with Miles" to see available flights. You can redeem for one-way or round-trip tickets on Hawaiian Airlines, partner airlines (like American, Delta, and United), or seat upgrades on flights you already booked with cash. Prices in miles vary by route, season, and demand — a flight to Honolulu might cost 15,000 miles in off-season and 25,000 in peak season.
Miles do not expire as long as you have account activity at least once every 24 months. Account activity includes flying, buying miles, earning miles through the credit card, or even transferring miles to a family member. If your account goes inactive for two years, Hawaiian Airlines will close it and you will lose the miles.
When buying miles makes sense
Direct purchase is worth considering if you have a specific flight booked and you are short on miles to cover it. For example, if you need 8,000 more miles for an upgrade and you do not want to wait for credit card spending to accumulate, buying them directly is faster. It also makes sense if you have no plans to open a credit card or if you already have the Hawaiian Airlines card and do not want to open another one.
Buying miles also works if you are close to a redemption goal and a promotion is running — Hawaiian Airlines occasionally offers 50% or 75% bonuses on purchases, which temporarily improves the per-mile cost. Sign up for the airline's email list to catch these promotions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I buy miles as a gift for someone else?
Yes. You can purchase miles and transfer them to another HawaiianMiles account if that person is a family member or household member. Some restrictions explore — check the current transfer policy on hawaiianairlines.com. You cannot buy miles and transfer them to a stranger's account.
Do I have to use a credit card to get the sign-up bonus?
Yes. The sign-up bonus is only available when you open a new Hawaiian Airlines credit card account. You cannot earn the bonus by any other method. Once you have the card, you earn ongoing miles on every purchase, but the large upfront bonus is tied to the card opening.
What happens if I close the credit card after earning the sign-up bonus?
The miles stay in your HawaiianMiles account. Closing the card does not remove miles you have already earned. However, you will lose the ongoing earning rate and any perks like the free checked bag. If you plan to close the card, do so after you have used the miles or transferred them to your account.
Can I buy miles with a debit card or bank transfer?
Hawaiian Airlines accepts credit cards, debit cards, and sometimes PayPal for direct mile purchases. Bank transfers are not typically an option. Check the payment methods shown on the "Buy Miles" page when you log in, as accepted methods can change.
Are there taxes or fees when I buy miles?
No federal tax applies to buying miles. Some states may have sales tax rules, but Hawaiian Airlines usually handles this at checkout. There are no hidden fees — the price shown is what you pay.