Updated September 28, 2026 · DebitCue Editorial Team
NHL® Discover it® vs Hawaiian Airlines
NHL® Discover it®
Higher score in this comparison
Hawaiian Airlines
NHL® Discover it® vs Hawaiian Airlines: the differences
| Compare | NHL® Discover it®ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | Hawaiian AirlinesReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0Lower | $99 |
| Rewards type | Cashback | Points |
| Rewards rate | 1% cash back on all other purchases; 5% cash back in rotating categories, plus dollar-for-dollar match in first year | 3x Atmos Rewards points on eligible Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines purchases, 2x on gas, dining and grocery store purchases, 1x on all other purchases |
| Perks | $0 fraud liability on unauthorized purchases, Unlimited Cashback Match: dollar for dollar match of cash back earned in the first 365 days, Free CreditWise credit monitoring and FICO Score 8 access, Pre approval tool that does not impact your credit score, Card Lock in the mobile app, 99% nationwide acceptance (Nilson Report, Feb 2026), Virtual card available before the physical card arrives, if eligible | 2 free checked bags on eligible Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines operated flights for the primary cardmember, One time 50% off companion discount for one published full main cabin round trip fare, $100 companion discount after each account anniversary, valid 12 months, No foreign transaction fee on international purchases, Up to $100 annual statement credit for inflight purchases while an Atmos status member, 1 status point per $3 of net purchases toward Atmos Rewards status, Free Atmos Rewards points sharing with family and friends, No blackout dates on Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines awards |
| APR | 18.49% to 28.49% | Not confirmed |
| Balance transfer fee | 3% | Not confirmed |
| Credit needed | Good | Not confirmed |
| Card kind | Credit | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Balance transfer intro period (15 months).
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Key differences
- NHL® Discover it® scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.1.
- Founded is lower at Hawaiian Airlines: 1929 vs 1985.
- Annual fee is lower at NHL® Discover it®: $0 vs $99.
- Perks: only NHL® Discover it® offers $0 fraud liability on unauthorized purchases, Unlimited Cashback Match: dollar for dollar match of cash back earned in the first 365 days, Free CreditWise credit monitoring and FICO Score 8 access.
- Perks: only Hawaiian Airlines offers 2 free checked bags on eligible Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines operated flights for the primary cardmember, One time 50% off companion discount for one published full main cabin round trip fare, $100 companion discount after each account anniversary, valid 12 months.
Our verdict on each
NHL® Discover it®
NHL Discover it is a US credit card that suits people who want cashback on everyday spending without paying an annual fee, and who are comfortable holding a balance at 18.49% to 28.49%. It is issued by Discover by Capital One, N.A., and rewards are cashback rather than points or miles.
Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian Airlines suits people who already collect Atmos Rewards and fly the carrier, since eligible airline spending earns the highest points rate and the travel perks arrive with an annual fee of $99. For everyday spending, that fee is hard to justify against cards that charge nothing.
Score breakdown
| Area | NHL® Discover it® | Hawaiian Airlines |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.2HigherAnnual fee of $0 and a balance transfer fee of 3%, with APRs of 18.49% to 28.49% against a site median of 20.97%. | 8.1 |
| Offer | 9.4Cashback on every purchase with a match on the first 15 of spending, plus good credit needed. | 9.4The offer pairs points rewards with a 15 balance transfer intro period, so the airline angle is not the only draw. |
| Trust | 9.4 | 9.8Higher |
Choosing between them
Pick NHL® Discover it® if cost and annual fee matter most.
Pick Hawaiian Airlines if trust matter most.
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | NHL® Discover it® | Hawaiian Airlines |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Not confirmed | FDIC FDIC cert 18053 |
Available in 1 country for both.
What we checked
NHL® Discover it®
- discover.com: 12 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- capitalone.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Hawaiian Airlines
- barclaycardus.com: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- banks.data.fdic.gov: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- boh.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | NHL® Discover it® | Hawaiian Airlines |
|---|---|---|
| Credit cards | 96 of 1020 | 161 of 1020 |
| Balance transfer cards | 3 of 35 | 11 of 35 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | NHL® Discover it® | Hawaiian Airlines |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | No annual fee | Not confirmed |
| Features | Rewards | Rewards |
| Legal entity | Discover by Capital One, N.A. | Bank of Hawaii |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Founded | 1985 | 1929Lower |
| Support channels | Phone, Chat, Help centre | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | NHL® Discover it® | Hawaiian Airlines | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0at the median | $99highest quarter | $0 |
| APR | 18.49% to 28.49%below the median | Not confirmed | 19.39 |
| Balance transfer intro period | 15 monthsat the median | 15 monthsat the median | 15 months |
| Balance transfer fee | 3%at the median | Not confirmed | 3% |
Median across 196 listed cards.
Pros and cons
NHL® Discover it®
Pros
- No annual fee, so nothing to pay for keeping the card open: $0
- Cashback on all purchases, with a dollar-for-dollar match on the first 15 of spending
- Balance transfer offer of 15 at a fee of 3%
Cons
- Purchases carry an APR of 18.49% to 28.49%, and cashback is smaller than the interest on a carried balance
- Rotating category bonuses mean the 15 match is the strongest part of the offer only early on
Hawaiian Airlines
Pros
- Eligible Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines purchases earn Atmos Rewards points at the highest rate, with a lower boost on gas, dining and grocery store spending.
- The issuing bank holds FDIC cert 18053, with the FDIC named as the regulator in the US.
Cons
- An annual fee of $99 sits well above the €0 annual fee median and the $0 of the Varo Believe Secured Credit Card.
- Points are weighted to airline spending, so everyday purchases earn the base rate and the $99 fee leans on travel.
Who each suits
NHL® Discover it®
Who it suits
- US cardholders who want a simple cashback card with no annual fee
- People planning a balance transfer who can clear the balance inside the offer period
- Hockey fans who want a card with cashback and no annual fee
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone wanting points or miles instead of cashback, where Wise has no rewards at all
- Anyone who needs a debit card for daily spending, where Starling is the better fit
- Anyone rebuilding credit from scratch, where Varo is the better fit
Hawaiian Airlines
Who it suits
- Households already loyal to Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines who want bags and companion discounts built in.
- Travellers who spend in US dollars abroad, where the card adds no foreign transaction fee.
Who should look elsewhere
- Wise, for spending abroad on £0 a year rather than paying an airline fee.
- The Varo Believe Secured Credit Card, for building secured credit rather than airline points, at $0.
- The Chime Card, for a secured card with $0 and no airline programme attached.
Current offers
NHL® Discover it®
Current offer
Bonus
Discover it Cash Back $200 welcome bonus: $200 statement credit after spending $500 on purchases within 3 months of account opening
One-time, new cardholders only, available by clicking Apply Now on the page; may not be available if you navigate away or close the page
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
Unlimited Cashback Match on Discover it Cash Back: Dollar-for-dollar match of all cash back earned in the first 365 days, no limit
For new cardholders; no purchase minimums; offered from account approval through first 365 days; promotional offer may not be available in the future
Source, checked September 26, 2026
First period offer
0% intro APR on Discover it Cash Back: 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers
Eligible customers only; 18.49% to 28.49% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Hawaiian Airlines
Current offer
Bonus
Up to 70,000 bonus Atmos Rewards points on the Hawaiian Airlines Bank of Hawaii World Elite Mastercard: 60,000 points after $1,000 spend in the first 90 days plus 10,000 points after $2,000 total spend in the first 180 days
Offer subject to credit approval; new cardmembers only, not available to applicants who currently have or previously had an account in this program; $99 annual fee
Source, checked September 26, 2026
First period offer
0% introductory APR on balance transfers: 0% APR for the first 15 billing cycles on balance transfers posted within 45 days of account opening
Does not apply to purchases or cash advances; balance transfer fee 5% (min. $5); variable APR 19.49% to 29.49% afterwards
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
50% bonus on Atmos Rewards points for Hawaii resident cardmembers: 50% extra points per $1 spent, up to 5,000 bonus points
Hawaii residents only; promotional period runs from the February 2026 statement through December 31, 2026; account must be open, active and in good standing
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Discount code
Companion travel discounts on the Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard: $100 off one companion Main Cabin round-trip ticket at each account anniversary, plus a one-time 50% off companion discount
Valid on roundtrip Main Cabin travel between Hawaii and North American destinations booked through the Atmos Rewards account; not valid on neighbor island, international, codeshare or multi-city travel; primary cardmember must be one of the passengers
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | NHL® Discover it® | Hawaiian Airlines |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Yes | Yes |
Questions about each
NHL® Discover it®
What does NHL Discover it cost to keep?+
There is an annual fee of $0, so the card costs nothing while it sits in your wallet. A balance transfer costs 3% and runs for 15, which is the only separate charge on the card.
What APR will I pay on purchases?+
Purchases carry an APR of 18.49% to 28.49%, which is a range set by your credit profile. The site median across compared cards is 20.97%, so check where your own rate lands before carrying a balance.
Hawaiian Airlines
What is the annual fee on the Hawaiian Airlines card?+
The card charges an annual fee of $99. That sits well above the €0 annual fee median across the site, and above the $0 on the Varo Believe Secured Credit Card. The fee is the price of the travel perks listed in 2 free checked bags on eligible Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines operated flights for the primary cardmember, One time 50% off companion discount for one published full main cabin round trip fare and $100 companion discount after each account anniversary, valid 12 months.
Who issues the card, and which regulator is named?+
The issuer is Bank of Hawaii, a bank based in the United States that holds FDIC cert 18053. The FDIC is the regulator listed for that bank, which is the licensed party behind the card rather than the airline. The airline lends its name, its routes and its points programme, while the bank runs the account.
Other options to compare
NHL® Discover it®
Hawaiian Airlines