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Amex Platinum vs Hawaiian Airlines World Elite: Which Is Better In 2025?
July 1, 2025
Editor's Picks
- American Express Platinum Card®: This card is best for frequent travelers looking to maximize luxury travel benefits like lounge access, hotel perks, and various statement credits (Terms Apply).
- Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard®: This card is ideal for those who regularly travel to Hawaii and want to earn rewards on everyday purchases like gas, dining, and groceries.
American Express Platinum Card® Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here's a breakdown of the key reasons we're fans of the American Express Platinum Card® (See Rates & Fees).
- It offers best-in-class airport lounge access through the American Express Global Lounge Collection.
- The card is packed with valuable travel and lifestyle benefits, including automatic elite status with major hotel loyalty programs.
- Cardholders earn a high rate of rewards on travel and get access to exclusive perks through programs like Fine Hotels + Resorts.
Terms Apply.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
Pros
- Unparalleled airport lounge access through the American Express Global Lounge Collection, which includes the exclusive Centurion Lounges.
- Complimentary Gold status with both Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors, plus access to luxury perks through the Fine Hotels + Resorts program.
- A wide array of annual statement credits that apply to travel, digital entertainment, and lifestyle purchases.
Terms Apply.
Cons
- A significant annual fee that requires cardholders to maximize the card’s benefits to offset the cost.
- Many of the card’s valuable statement credits require manual enrollment and have specific terms, adding a layer of complexity to maximizing its value.
- Outside of flights and prepaid hotels, the card offers a low rewards rate on everyday spending categories.
Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here's a closer look at the specific perks and benefits that make the Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® a valuable tool for travelers loyal to the airline.
- The companion ticket discount is one of the most valuable perks, offering substantial savings for those who travel with a partner.
- Unlike many airline cards, it rewards everyday spending on gas, dining, and groceries, helping you earn miles faster.
- Cardholders also receive a generous checked bag allowance and can take advantage of an exclusive airline partnership to expand their travel options.
Pros
- Valuable companion ticket discounts for flights between Hawaii and North America.
- Earns bonus miles on everyday purchases, including gas, dining, and groceries, not just travel.
- Travel-friendly perks like a generous free checked bag allowance and no foreign transaction fees.
Cons
- Has an annual fee.
- Some key perks, like the free checked bag benefit, do not extend to travel companions.
- The card is most valuable for travelers who fly to or from Hawaii regularly.
Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® vs American Express Platinum Card®
Categories
Deciding which is better, Amex Platinum or Hawaiian Airlines World Elite, depends entirely on your travel habits and spending priorities. These two cards cater to very different types of travelers, making a direct comparison essential.
- American Express Platinum Card® is a premium travel rewards card designed for frequent travelers who value luxury perks, comprehensive airport lounge access, and exclusive benefits.
- Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® is an airline co-branded card best suited for those who frequently travel to or from Hawaii and want to earn rewards on everyday spending categories.
Redemption
American Express Platinum Card®: Cardholders earn Membership Rewards points, which can be flexibly transferred to a wide array of airline and hotel partners. This versatility allows savvy travelers to hunt for the best deals across different loyalty programs.
Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard®: This card earns HawaiianMiles, which are primarily redeemed for flights with Hawaiian Airlines and its network of partners. It's a direct and simple rewards system for travelers who frequently fly to the Hawaiian islands.
Travel Perks
- Lounge Access: The American Express Platinum Card® offers extensive airport lounge access through its Global Lounge Collection, which includes Centurion® Lounges and Priority Pass lounges (Terms Apply). The Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® provides more limited lounge benefits, typically focused on Hawaiian Airlines' own Premier Clubs.
- Booking Travel: Amex Platinum cardholders have access to the robust American Express Travel portal, which includes premium programs like Fine Hotels + Resorts. The Hawaiian Airlines card's ecosystem is built around booking travel directly with Hawaiian Airlines and its partners to use and earn HawaiianMiles.
- Hotel & Car Rental Status: A key perk of the Amex Platinum card is complimentary elite status with major hotel and car rental loyalty programs (Terms Apply). The Hawaiian Airlines card does not offer comparable elite status benefits across different travel brands.
- Travel Credits: The Amex Platinum card provides a suite of annual statement credits for various travel expenses like airline fees and hotel bookings (Terms Apply). The Hawaiian Airlines card focuses on airline-specific perks, such as a companion discount on roundtrip flights between Hawaii and North America.
- Foreign Transaction Fees: As premium travel cards, neither the American Express Platinum Card® nor the Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® charges foreign transaction fees on international purchases.
Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos
To simplify the decision-making process, tools like Kudos allow you to compare thousands of cards based on your unique spending habits.
- Test drive credit cards: Before you apply, you can simulate how much you’d earn with a new card based on your actual transaction history, giving you a clear picture of its net value.
- Welcome offer guarantee: If you find a better public welcome offer within three months of approval, Kudos will match it.
- Detailed approval odds: Get a personalized analysis of your chances of being approved for a card based on your credit report.
- Personalized recommendations: The platform analyzes your spending to match you with cards that will maximize your rewards.
Who Should Choose the American Express Platinum Card®?
The American Express® Platinum Card® is best suited for the frequent traveler who can take full advantage of its extensive travel perks. This cardholder values luxury experiences, such as complimentary airport lounge access, elite hotel status, and exclusive dining reservations through Global Dining Access by Resy. Ultimately, the ideal user is someone who can strategically use the card's numerous statement credits for entertainment, travel, and retail to easily offset the substantial annual fee.
Who Should Choose the Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard®?
The Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® is a strong option for individuals who regularly travel to or from the Aloha State, especially those who frequently bring a companion. Cardholders can leverage significant savings through companion ticket discounts, earn 3x miles on Hawaiian Airlines purchases, and enjoy two free checked bags. Its value also extends to those who can benefit from the JetBlue partnership for expanded travel options and international travelers looking to avoid foreign transaction fees.
Alternatives to Consider
If our Amex Platinum vs Hawaiian Airlines World Elite comparison has left you feeling like neither card is the perfect match, don't worry. There are plenty of other excellent travel rewards cards on the market worth considering.
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Tips for Application Success
Before You Apply
- Check your credit score - Most premium travel cards require a good to excellent credit profile for approval.
- Review the card’s benefits - Ensure the perks, like airport lounge access or companion ticket discounts, align with your actual spending and travel habits.
- Understand how benefits work - Many perks require enrollment, have specific redemption rules, or are limited to the primary cardholder.
Application Strategy
- Search for the best offer - Welcome offers can fluctuate, so look for the highest bonus available before you apply.
- Align with large purchases - Time your application before a big expense to help meet the spending requirement for a welcome offer.
- Know the issuer’s rules - Be aware of any restrictions, as some issuers limit how often you can earn a welcome offer.
Our Methodology
We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.
Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which card offers better airport lounge access?
The American Express® Platinum Card offers far broader airport lounge access through its Global Lounge Collection (Terms Apply), which includes Centurion Lounges and Priority Pass. The Hawaiian Airlines card does not include complimentary lounge access as a standard perk.
Can I use Amex points for Hawaiian Airlines flights?
Yes, you can transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to the HawaiianMiles program, making the Amex Platinum a flexible option for booking award flights on Hawaiian Airlines. This allows you to supplement miles earned directly from the co-branded card.
Is the Hawaiian Airlines card worth it if I only fly to Hawaii once a year?
For an infrequent traveler, the value of the Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard® depends on utilizing its specific perks, like the annual companion discount. A general travel card like the Amex Platinum may provide more versatile and valuable benefits if you don't fly to Hawaii regularly.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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