What the Hawaiian Airlines card does

The Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard is a co-branded card issued by Bank of Hawaii in partnership with Hawaiian Airlines. It earns points on every purchase, with bonus rates on Hawaiian Airlines tickets and certain other categories. The card also comes with a companion ticket benefit — after you spend a set amount in the first year, the issuer gives you a free round-trip ticket on Hawaiian Airlines.

This is not a card that forces you to fly Hawaiian to get value. You earn points on groceries, gas, and everyday spending. But the card's real payoff comes if you fly Hawaiian regularly or plan to book a trip within the first year of opening the account.

Key Takeaways

  • The card earns 3 points per dollar on Hawaiian Airlines tickets and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases, with no category caps or rotating categories to track.
  • After you spend a certain amount in the first year, you receive a free round-trip companion ticket valid for one year, which is the card's largest benefit.
  • The annual fee is charged each year, so you need to calculate whether the companion ticket and ongoing points earnings justify keeping the card open.
  • Points can be redeemed for Hawaiian Airlines flights, seat upgrades, or other travel purchases through the rewards program, but redemption rates vary by route and season.
  • The card is issued by Bank of Hawaii and requires a credit check, so your approval depends on your credit history and income, not on being a Hawaiian resident.

How points and the companion ticket work

You earn 3 points per dollar when you buy Hawaiian Airlines tickets directly from the airline or through their website. You earn 1 point per dollar on everything else — groceries, utilities, restaurants, gas, online shopping. There are no rotating categories, no caps on earning, and no bonus categories that change each quarter. This simplicity is useful if you don't want to track which card to use for which purchase.

The companion ticket is the card's centerpiece benefit. After you spend a set dollar amount in your first year (the threshold varies depending on the card tier), the issuer mails you a free round-trip ticket for one passenger on Hawaiian Airlines. That passenger can be anyone — a family member, a friend, or yourself on a second ticket. The ticket is valid for one year from issue and can be used on any Hawaiian Airlines route, though blackout dates may explore during peak travel periods.

Points themselves redeem for flights at a rate that depends on the route and how far in advance you book. A short interisland flight might cost 7,500 points; a longer route to the mainland might cost 25,000 or more. You can also use points to upgrade your seat, book hotel stays, or rent cars through the rewards portal, though flight redemptions are usually the best value.

Annual fee and when the card makes financial sense

The card charges an annual fee each year you hold it. This fee is not waived in the first year, so you pay it from month one. To decide whether to keep the card open past year one, you need to know what the companion ticket is worth to you and whether you'll earn enough points to offset the annual cost.

If you fly Hawaiian at least once a year and would otherwise buy a ticket for a companion, the companion ticket alone often covers the annual fee. A round-trip ticket on Hawaiian can easily cost $300 to $600 depending on the route and season. If the annual fee is less than that, and you use the companion ticket, you come out ahead. If you don't fly, or if you fly Hawaiian but always travel alone, the card's value drops significantly.

The ongoing points you earn on everyday spending add value too, but only if you redeem them. A point is typically worth between 1 and 1.5 cents when redeemed for a flight. If you spend $10,000 per year on the card, you earn 10,000 points (at the 1 point per dollar rate on non-airline purchases), worth roughly $100 to $150 in flight value. That helps offset the annual fee, but it's not a windfall.

Who can get approved and what Bank of Hawaii requires

Bank of Hawaii issues this card and sets the approval rules. You don't need to be a Hawaiian resident or a Bank of Hawaii customer to open the account. You do need a Social Security number, a U.S. mailing address, and a credit history that Bank of Hawaii is willing to approve. The bank pulls your credit report and reviews your income and existing debts before deciding.

The card is available to people with good to excellent credit in most cases, though the exact credit score threshold is not published. If you've been denied for credit recently, have high existing debt, or have a thin credit file, you may not be approved. You can call Bank of Hawaii to ask about your likelihood before you submit a formal process, though they won't give you a may provide.

Comparing the Hawaiian card to other airline cards

Other airline cards — for United, American, Southwest, and Delta — follow a similar structure: earn points on everyday spending, earn bonus points on the airline's tickets, and receive a companion ticket or annual free flight after you meet a spending threshold. The differences lie in the earning rates, the annual fee, the value of the companion benefit, and which airline you actually fly.

If you fly Hawaiian frequently, this card makes sense. If you rarely fly Hawaiian but fly other airlines regularly, a card from United, American, or Delta will serve you better. If you fly multiple airlines equally, a general travel card that earns points redeemable across many airlines (like the Chase Sapphire Preferred or American Express Platinum) might be more flexible, though those cards typically charge higher annual fees.

The Hawaiian card's advantage is simplicity and focus. You're not juggling multiple airline programs or trying to decide which card to use for which purchase. The disadvantage is that your points are locked into Hawaiian Airlines redemptions, which limits your options if your travel plans change.

How to use the card strategically

If you decide to open the account, time your spending to hit the companion ticket threshold early in the year. This way you have the full 12 months to use the ticket before it expires. Put regular household expenses on the card — groceries, utilities, insurance premiums — to accumulate points without changing your spending habits.

Before you redeem points, check Hawaiian Airlines' award chart to see which routes offer the best point-to-dollar value. Short interisland flights are often poor redemptions because the cash price is already low. Longer routes to the mainland or international destinations often give you more value per point. If you're flexible on travel dates, off-peak flights typically cost fewer points than peak-season flights.

Keep track of your companion ticket's expiration date. If it's about to expire and you haven't used it, book a trip in the final month rather than let it go to waste. The ticket is a real benefit, but only if you actually use it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the companion ticket if I don't fly Hawaiian myself?

Yes. The companion ticket is for one passenger, and that passenger can be anyone. You don't have to be on the flight. However, you do need to book the ticket, so you'll need to handle the reservation yourself or work with Hawaiian Airlines' customer service to set it up for someone else.

What happens to my points if I close the card?

Your points remain in your Hawaiian Airlines frequent flyer account even after you close the credit card. You can continue to redeem them for flights or other rewards. The card and the frequent flyer account are separate, so closing one doesn't erase the other.

Do I earn points on the annual fee itself?

No. The annual fee does not earn points. Only purchases earn points, and the fee is a cost, not a purchase. This is standard across most credit cards.

Can I get the companion ticket more than once per year?

The companion ticket is typically issued once per year after you meet the spending threshold. If you spend significantly more than the threshold, you don't earn an additional companion ticket. However, you can earn points on that extra spending and redeem them for flights or upgrades.

What if I move away from Hawaii and stop flying Hawaiian?

You can keep the card open and continue to earn points, but the annual fee becomes harder to justify if you're not using the companion ticket or redeeming points regularly. You can close the account at any time without penalty, though closing it won't recover the annual fee you've already paid.