Updated September 28, 2026 · DebitCue Editorial Team
Emirates vs Hawaiian Airlines
Emirates
Higher score in this comparison
Hawaiian Airlines
What sets them apart
| Compare | EmiratesReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | Hawaiian AirlinesReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Rewards type | Miles | Points |
| Rewards rate | 3 Miles per USD 1 on Emirates spend, 2 Miles per USD 1 on travel spend, 1 Mile per USD 1 on all other spend | 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 |
| Balance transfer intro period | 12 months | 15 monthsHigher |
| Perks | Emirates Skywards Silver tier status for 12 months (Rewards World Elite Mastercard), Skywards Miles do not expire while the card account remains open, 25% discount on purchase or gift of Skywards Miles when paying with the card, Priority Pass Select lounge access (Premium World Elite Mastercard), USD 120 statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee every 4 years (Premium World Elite Mastercard), No foreign transaction fees on international purchases | 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 | 19.49% to 29.49% | Not confirmed |
| Currency conversion fee | 0% | Not confirmed |
| Balance transfer fee | 5% | Not confirmed |
| Card kind | Credit | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Annual fee ($99).
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Key differences
- Founded is lower at Hawaiian Airlines: 1929 vs 1985.
- Balance transfer intro period is higher at Hawaiian Airlines: 15 months vs 12 months.
- Perks: only Emirates offers Emirates Skywards Silver tier status for 12 months (Rewards World Elite Mastercard), Skywards Miles do not expire while the card account remains open, 25% discount on purchase or gift of Skywards Miles when paying with the card.
- 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
Emirates
Emirates suits people who already pay in dollars and spend with the airline, since the miles build fastest on Emirates purchases and there is no foreign transaction fee. It also suits anyone shifting a balance, with a fee of 5% and an intro period of 12. The catch is the annual fee of $99.
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 | Emirates | Hawaiian Airlines |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.8HigherAn annual fee of $99 against a 0% foreign transaction fee, and 19.49% to 29.49% on balances. | 8.1 |
| Offer | 9.3miles on Emirates and travel spend, with lounge access and Silver tier status on the top card. | 9.4HigherThe 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 |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Emirates | Hawaiian Airlines |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Not confirmed | FDIC FDIC cert 18053 |
Available in 1 country for both.
A third option
HSBC UK has balance transfer intro period at 17 to 36 months, against 12 months for Emirates and 15 months for Hawaiian Airlines.
HSBC UK reviewSources behind this comparison
Emirates
- emirates.com: 14 facts, 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 | Emirates | Hawaiian Airlines |
|---|---|---|
| Credit cards | 151 of 1020 | 161 of 1020 |
| Balance transfer cards | 9 of 35 | 11 of 35 |
| Rewards cards | 42 of 122 | 43 of 122 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Emirates | Hawaiian Airlines |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Rewards | Rewards |
| Legal entity | Emirates | Bank of Hawaii |
| Headquarters | United Arab Emirates | United States |
| Founded | 1985 | 1929Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Emirates | Hawaiian Airlines | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $99highest quarter | $99highest quarter | $0 |
| APR | 19.49% to 29.49%above the median | Not confirmed | 19.39 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0%below the median | Not confirmed | 1% |
| Balance transfer intro period | 12 monthsbelow the median | 15 monthsat the median | 15 months |
| Balance transfer fee | 5%highest quarter | Not confirmed | 3% |
Median across 312 listed cards.
Pros and cons
Emirates
Pros
- No foreign transaction fee on international purchases, a currency conversion fee of 0% on a card that sits at the top of our list on that measure
- Earning miles rather than cashback, and Skywards Miles do not expire while the card account stays open
- A balance transfer fee of 5% with an intro period of 12, useful for clearing a balance from another card
Cons
- An annual fee of $99 puts it near the top of our annual fee ranking, and Wise charges £0
- Interest of 19.49% to 29.49% applies on balances, and the lower end of that range is still above the site median
- A balance transfer fee of 5% still applies after the intro period of 12
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
Emirates
Who it suits
- People who fly Emirates often and put most of their spending through the airline
- Anyone paying in dollars and spending abroad, since the currency conversion fee is 0%
- Holders of a balance on another card who can clear it inside the intro period
Who should look elsewhere
- Wise users who want a card with an annual fee of £0 and a simpler cost base
- Anyone building credit from scratch, since a card aimed at established credit history is the wrong tool and the Chime Card (Secured Visa Credit Card) is built around a deposit with an annual fee of $0
- Spenders who never touch the airline, since the highest rate applies only to Emirates spend
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
Emirates
Current offer
Bonus
Emirates Skywards Silver tier status for the first year with the Rewards World Elite Mastercard: Emirates Skywards Silver tier status for 12 months from card account open date
Primary cardholders only; to retain Silver tier from the second year onwards spend USD 20,000 in Net Purchases annually; status can take up to 8 weeks to reflect
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
Emirates Skywards Gold tier status for the first year with the Premium World Elite Mastercard: Emirates Skywards Gold tier status for 12 months from card account open date
Primary cardholders only; to retain Gold tier from the second year onwards spend USD 40,000 in Net Purchases annually; status can take up to 8 weeks to reflect
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 | Emirates | Hawaiian Airlines |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Yes | Yes |
Questions about each
Emirates
What does the Emirates card cost to hold?+
The annual fee is $99 on the card. Interest on balances runs at 19.49% to 29.49%, and a balance transfer is charged at 5%. If you want a card with no annual fee, the annual fee on Wise is £0.
Is there a foreign transaction fee on the card?+
The currency conversion fee is 0%, and international purchases carry no foreign transaction fee. That makes the card one of the cheapest for spending abroad, provided the rate your issuer applies is competitive. It also means travel purchases do not eat into your miles with an extra layer of cost.
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
Emirates
Hawaiian Airlines