Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard®* vs. Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card
For traveling between the U.S. West Coast and Hawaii, Alaska Airlines offers an extensive network including airports on Oahu, Maui, Island of Hawaii and Kauai. Its Alaska Airlines Visa Signature® credit card offers a free checked bag on Alaska Airlines flights, unlimited 3 miles per dollar on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases, unlimited 2 miles per dollar on eligible gas, EV charging, cable, streaming services and local transit including ride share purchases and unlimited 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases, an annual companion fare starting at $122 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) after you spend $6,000 or more on purchases within the prior anniversary year and an annual fee of $95.
The Alaska Airlines companion fare will likely be more valuable than the $100 annual companion discount offered by the Hawaiian Airlines mastercard, as airfares between the U.S. and Hawaii are frequently several hundred dollars. For as little as $122, cardmembers can fly a companion on Alaska Airlines flights and flights operated on behalf of Alaska Airlines, not just between Hawaii and the U.S. mainland.
For those looking at award travel redemptions on partners, Alaska miles can be redeemed on Japan Airlines and Qantas, which cover many of Hawaiian Airlines’ partner network destinations. The addition of the entire network of OneWorld partners makes Alaska Airlines miles much more flexible than HawaiianMiles for international travel.
For West-coast based travelers and many Hawaii-based travelers who value travel to and from Hawaii over intra-Hawaii travel, the Alaska Airlines credit card will almost certainly provide more options and a better value than the Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard.
Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard®* vs. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Travelers looking for maximum flexibility should consider the Chase Sapphire Preferred card. The card carries a $95 annual fee, but offers flexible points which can be redeemed for travel booked through Chase Travel℠or transferred to global airline partners for maximum value.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card earns: 5 points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs), 2 points per dollar on all other travel purchases and 1 point per dollar on other purchases. On its face, 2 Ultimate Rewards per dollar might seem less appealing than earning 3 HawaiianMiles per dollar on Hawaiian Airlines flights, but given that Ultimate Rewards points can be redeemed for travel at 1.25 cents per point through the Chase travel portal, most users are likely to get similar value for their spending, with the added flexibility of being able to use points on multiple airlines.
Chase Ultimate Rewards also offers a number of airline and hotel transfer partners that can provide opportunities to get outsized value from Ultimate Rewards points.
In addition to earning points that can be used for travel, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card comes with a variety of travel and insurance benefits including auto rental collision damage waiver, trip cancellation/interruption insurance, extended warranty and purchase protection.
For travelers looking for a flexible points currency with excellent flexibility, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card will probably provide at least as much value as the Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard and much more flexibility.
Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard®* vs. Citi Double Cash® Card
For travelers who find an annual fee unappealing or are looking for a simple card that earns generous rewards on everyday spending, it’s hard to ignore the Citi Double Cash.
For no annual fee, the card offers an effective 2% cash back on all spending, awarded as 1% when purchases are charged and 1% when they are paid off. Cash back can be redeemed as a statement credit.
While the Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard offers 2 HawaiianMiles per dollar spent in a limited number of categories, the Citi Double Cash offers 2% earnings on every purchase. Because Hawaiian Airlines’ award prices are generally higher than other airlines’ earning 2% cash back on general purchases will be a better value proposition for most people than earning bonus HawaiianMiles on some purchases.
Travelers valuing simplicity and who don’t need or won’t use the benefits of free checked baggage or a companion certificate, should take a look at the Citi Double Cash.
