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Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Hawaiian Airlines World Elite: Which Is Better In 2025?
July 1, 2025
Editor's Picks
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a versatile travel rewards card that excels in earning points on travel, dining, and select online spending.
The Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® is designed for loyalists of the airline, providing accelerated rewards on Hawaiian Airlines purchases as well as everyday spending on gas, dining, and groceries.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here’s a closer look at what makes the Chase Sapphire Preferred® a standout choice.
- The card offers generous rewards on everyday spending, including bonus points on dining, select streaming services, and a variety of travel purchases.
- It comes with a suite of valuable travel protections that provide peace of mind on the road, such as trip cancellation insurance and an auto rental collision damage waiver.
- The $95 annual fee is easily offset by the $50 annual hotel credit, bringing your effective cost down to just $45 (publisher-formulated estimate).
Pros
- Highly flexible rewards program that allows you to transfer points to a variety of airline and hotel partners.
- Excellent travel insurance benefits, including primary auto rental coverage and trip delay reimbursement.
- Valuable perks like an annual hotel credit and a complimentary DashPass subscription.
Cons
- Maximizing rewards requires using the Chase travel portal or transferring points, which is less flexible than simple cash-back redemptions.
- It lacks premium travel benefits like airport lounge access that are offered by higher-tier cards.
- Strict application rules can make it difficult to qualify, and some of its key benefits are limited to bookings made through Chase.
Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® Breakdown
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Why We Like It
Here’s a closer look at why we think the Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® is a strong choice for island-bound travelers.
- You’ll earn miles on more than just flights, with accelerated rewards on gas, dining, and grocery store purchases.
- The card offers valuable companion ticket discounts, including 50% off one companion fare in the first 13 months.
- The two free checked bags benefit for the primary cardholder can save you $70 or more on a single round-trip flight, nearly covering the card's $99 annual fee (publisher-formulated estimate).
Pros
- There are no foreign transaction fees, making it a solid choice for international travel.
- The partnership with JetBlue expands your travel options, allowing you to earn and redeem miles on a wider network of flights.
- Miles are flexible and can be redeemed for more than just airfare, with options for hotel stays, car rentals, and gift cards.
Cons
- The card carries an annual fee.
- Key benefits like the free checked bags and companion ticket discount come with significant restrictions, as the bag benefit doesn’t apply to travel partners and the companion offer diminishes in value after the first year.
- Its rewards and perks are most valuable for frequent travel to and from Hawaii, limiting its appeal for those with different travel patterns.
Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® vs Chase Sapphire Preferred®
Categories
Deciding between these two travel cards can be tricky, so let's break down which is better: the Chase Sapphire Preferred or the Hawaiian Airlines World Elite.
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: This card is best for those new to travel rewards or frequent travelers who want a versatile card for travel and dining with flexible redemption options.
- Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard®: This card is ideal for frequent flyers to and from Hawaii, especially those who travel with a companion and are loyal to the airline.
Redemption
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Points can be redeemed for cash back and gift cards, but they provide greater value when transferred to Chase's airline and hotel partners or used for travel bookings through its portal.
Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard®: Miles earned with this card are primarily used for booking award flights on Hawaiian Airlines and its partners, offering more limited redemption options.
Travel Perks
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: This card plugs you into the broader Chase Ultimate Rewards® ecosystem. You can book travel through the Chase portal, where your points often get a value boost, or transfer them to various airline and hotel partners. It comes with no foreign transaction fees, making it a solid companion for international trips. While it doesn't offer airport lounge access, it provides an annual hotel credit and a suite of travel protections like trip cancellation insurance and an auto rental collision damage waiver.
- Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard®: The perks here are laser-focused on flying with Hawaiian Airlines. Cardholders get a significant one-time companion discount and an annual companion discount for flights between Hawaii and North America. You also get your first checked bag free on eligible flights. Like the Sapphire Preferred, it has no foreign transaction fees. While it doesn't provide complimentary lounge access, it does offer discounted passes to Hawaiian Airlines Premier Clubs.
Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos
When you’re weighing your options, a smart wallet like Kudos can help you compare top-rated cards by analyzing your real spending data to find the perfect match.
- Test drive credit cards: Simulate potential earnings from a new card using your actual spending history before you apply, with no impact on your credit score.
- Personalized recommendations: Discover which cards will maximize your rewards based on a data-driven analysis of your spending patterns.
- Approval odds analysis: Get a detailed breakdown of your chances of approval for different cards based on your credit report.
- Welcome offer guarantee: If you find a better public welcome offer within three months of being approved for a card through Kudos, the platform will match it.
Who Should Choose the Chase Sapphire Preferred®?
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is an excellent choice for frequent travelers who want to earn valuable rewards without committing to a premium annual fee. It's particularly well-suited for individuals who spend regularly on dining, online groceries, select streaming services, and travel, as these categories earn accelerated points. Ultimately, this card is ideal for those with good-to-excellent credit looking for a versatile and popular travel credit card that provides robust travel protections and flexible redemption options.
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 if they generally bring a plus-one. Its value lies in key travel perks like an annual companion ticket discount and two free checked bags, alongside accelerated rewards on gas, dining, and grocery store purchases. These benefits make the card a practical tool for earning miles on both Hawaiian Airlines flights and everyday spending, as detailed in NerdWallet's card overview.
Alternatives to Consider
If the Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Hawaiian Airlines World Elite comparison has you concluding that neither card is the right choice, don't worry. There are plenty of other travel rewards cards that might be a better fit for your wallet.
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Tips for Application Success
Before You Apply
- Check your credit score. Most premium travel cards require good to excellent credit for approval.
- Plan your spending. Ensure you can naturally meet the welcome offer's spending requirement without overspending.
- Review issuer application rules. Be aware of any restrictions, like Chase's 5/24 rule, that could affect your eligibility.
Application Strategy
- Research how you'll use your points to ensure the rewards align with your travel goals.
- Time your application with large, planned purchases to help meet spending requirements.
- Use different browsers or tools to find the highest possible welcome offer before you apply.
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 is better for booking flights specifically to Hawaii?
The Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Card offers direct benefits like companion discounts that are ideal for frequent travelers to the islands. However, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card provides greater flexibility, as its points can be used for various travel purchases or transferred to partners, including Hawaiian Airlines.
Can I transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Hawaiian Airlines?
Yes, Hawaiian Airlines is a direct transfer partner of the Chase Ultimate Rewards program. This allows you to convert your Chase points into HawaiianMiles, typically at a 1:1 ratio, to book award flights directly with the airline.
Do these cards offer airline elite status benefits?
The Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Card does not automatically grant elite status but can help you earn it faster through card spending. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card does not offer airline elite status as a direct perk, focusing instead on its flexible rewards program and broad travel protections.
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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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