The Hawaiian Airlines Credit Card is a good card to consider if you have good credit (a 700+ credit score) and you either fly with Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines frequently or you want to save as much as possible on one big trip. The card’s $99 is definitely worth paying considering all the perks it gets you. 

For example, you can get a $100 discount on a companion fare every year, essentially erasing the fee. And I haven’t even mentioned the initial bonus or the various other valuable benefits cardholders are entitled to. 

What I Like About the Hawaiian Airlines Credit Card

Big initial bonus

New cardholders can get 60,000 points after spending $2,000 within the first 90 days. We estimate that’s worth approximately $1,026 in airfare. That could go a long way toward making a Hawaiian vacation – or any trip, really – much more affordable. Just note that these points may not post to your account for 4-6 weeks after you qualify. 
 

1 - 3 points per $1 spent 

The Hawaiian Airlines Credit Card rewards cardholders with 3 points per $1 spent on Hawaii Airlines and Alaska Airlines purchases, 2 points per $1 spent on gas, groceries and dining, and 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases. In other words, you can be actively working toward your next vacation every time you buy gas and groceries, dine out, or make any other purchases. Using this card mainly for the bonus-rewards categories is your best bet, though, as the minimum earning rate of 1 point per $1 spent is only about average for a rewards card. 
 

Valuable companion perks

For starters, you can get a 50% discount on a round-trip ticket for a companion, either between North America and Hawaii or within North America. This is a one-time deal available for 13 months after you open your account. 

In addition, you can get a $100 discount every year for the same type of flight. This effectively cancels out the annual membership fee for people who fly frequently enough. 
 

Free checked bags

Having the Hawaiian Airlines Credit Card gets you two free checked bags on flights booked directly with Hawaiian Airlines or Alaska Airlines. That could add up to a lot of savings over time. 
 

0% balance transfer promotion

You can get 0% for 15 months on balances transferred to this card in the first 45 days your account is open. That’s a couple months longer than average for a 0% balance transfer offer, according to our research, so this part of the offer is a good deal. The corresponding fee is another story, though. 

What I Don’t Like About the Hawaiian Airlines Credit Card

$99 annual fee

This fee makes the Hawaiian Airlines Credit Card nearly four times more expensive to own than the average credit card, according to WalletHub’s Credit Card Landscape Report. You can still easily get your money’s worth, and even save more than you would with many other cards. But once you stop using it regularly, you should think about closing your account to avoid losing money. 
 

High regular APR

If you don’t pay off your purchases in full by the due date, they’ll quickly get a lot more expensive, thanks to the card’s high interest rate: 19.49% - 29.49% (V), depending on your creditworthiness when you apply. Similarly, if you don’t pay off any balance you transfer to this card before the end of its low-interest promotion, you’ll soon rack up a lot of interest charges. 
 

High balance transfer fee

Although it offers a low-interest balance transfer promotion, the Hawaiian Airlines Credit Card is not ideal for saving money on expensive debt. Its 5% (min $5) balance transfer fee is higher than average, and if you do pay this much to transfer a balance, you can get a considerably longer interest-free period. 
 

Good credit required 

Since the Hawaiian Airlines Credit Card requires good, we estimate that you’ll need a credit score of 700 or higher to get approved. If you’re not sure where that leaves you, you can check your credit score for free right here on WalletHub. You can also check out our editors’ picks for the best airline credit cards and the best travel credit cards if you’re interested in exploring other options.