Updated September 28, 2026 · DebitCue Editorial Team
Hawaiian Airlines vs Sainsbury's
Hawaiian Airlines
Higher score in this comparison
Sainsbury's
Where Hawaiian Airlines and Sainsbury's differ
| Compare | Hawaiian AirlinesReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | Sainsbury'sReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $99 | £0 |
| Rewards rate | 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 | 2 points per GBP1 at Sainsbury's, 1 point per GBP5 elsewhere |
| Balance transfer intro period | 15 months | 34 monthsHigher |
| Perks | 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 | Nectar points |
| APR | Not confirmed | 20.95% |
| Balance transfer fee | Not confirmed | 2.88% to 3.88% |
| Card kind | Not confirmed | Credit |
Same on both: Rewards type (Points).
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Key differences
- Founded is lower at Hawaiian Airlines: 1929 vs 1996.
- Balance transfer intro period is higher at Sainsbury's: 34 months vs 15 months.
- 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.
- Perks: only Sainsbury's offers Nectar points.
Our verdict on each
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.
Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's is a points credit card for shoppers who already spend with the supermarket and want no annual charge, paying 20.95% on borrowing. The balance transfer offer, with a fee of 2.88% to 3.88% across a 34 intro period, is the reason to look past the everyday card when old balances need clearing.
Score breakdown
| Area | Hawaiian Airlines | Sainsbury's |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.1 | 9.2HigherAnnual fee of £0 helps, but 20.95% interest and a 2.88% to 3.88% transfer fee keep costs mid-range. |
| Offer | 9.4HigherThe offer pairs points rewards with a 15 balance transfer intro period, so the airline angle is not the only draw. | 9.0Points as the points reward plus a 34 balance transfer window cover everyday spend and old debt. |
| Trust | 9.8Higher | 9.0 |
How they place
| Ranking | Hawaiian Airlines | Sainsbury's |
|---|---|---|
| Credit cards | 161 of 1020 | 171 of 1020 |
| Balance transfer cards | 11 of 35 | 13 of 35 |
| Rewards cards | 43 of 122 | 47 of 122 |
Licences and countries
| Country | Hawaiian Airlines | Sainsbury's |
|---|---|---|
| United States | FDIC FDIC cert 18053 | Not confirmed |
Additional countries for Hawaiian Airlines: 1. Additional countries for Sainsbury's: 1.
Which one suits you
Pick Hawaiian Airlines if offer and trust matter most.
Pick Sainsbury's if balance transfer intro period matter most.
Sources behind this comparison
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
Sainsbury's
- clearscore.com: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- wp.estoaresearch.com: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- goodmoneyguide.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- lovemoney.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Hawaiian Airlines | Sainsbury's |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | No annual fee |
| Features | Rewards | Rewards |
| Legal entity | Bank of Hawaii | Sainsbury's Bank plc |
| Headquarters | United States | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 1929Lower | 1996 |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Hawaiian Airlines | Sainsbury's | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| APR | Not confirmed | 20.95%above the median | 19.39% |
| Balance transfer intro period | 15 monthsat the median | 34 monthshighest quarter | 15 months |
| Balance transfer fee | Not confirmed | 2.88% to 3.88%below the median | 3 |
Median across 196 listed cards.
Pros and cons
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.
Sainsbury's
Pros
- Spending in the supermarket earns the stronger rate set out in 2 points per GBP1 at Sainsbury's, 1 point per GBP5 elsewhere, so card spend in a single place is worth more.
- Clearing an old balance is possible: the transfer window runs 34 and the charge for moving the balance is 2.88% to 3.88%.
- The card is issued by Sainsbury's Bank plc, trading since 1996, rather than by a newer entrant.
Cons
- Borrowing is not cheap: 20.95% applies to anything carried from one statement to the next, so the card only pays when balances are cleared.
- The balance transfer is a paid deal rather than a free one, with 2.88% to 3.88% for the balance moved and 20.95% charged outside the 34 window.
- The reward is points tied to a single supermarket chain, and the thinner part of 2 points per GBP1 at Sainsbury's, 1 point per GBP5 elsewhere covers everything else.
Who each suits
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.
Sainsbury's
Who it suits
- Shoppers who put most of their card spend through the supermarket and already collect Nectar points.
- Borrowers clearing a balance on another card who can use the 34 window and pay the 2.88% to 3.88% fee.
- People who pay their statement in full each month and want a credit card carrying an annual fee of £0.
Who should look elsewhere
- Starling Personal Account Debit Card, where everyday spending comes straight from the account balance instead of accruing 20.95% on a credit card.
- Varo Believe Secured Credit Card or Chime Card, which also charge an annual fee and suit anyone focused on secured credit building rather than points at 2 points per GBP1 at Sainsbury's, 1 point per GBP5 elsewhere.
- Anyone who spends little in the supermarket, since the thinner rate in 2 points per GBP1 at Sainsbury's, 1 point per GBP5 elsewhere then covers most of the card use.
Current offers
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 | Hawaiian Airlines | Sainsbury's |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | No | Yes |
| United States | Yes | No |
Questions about each
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.
Sainsbury's
What does it cost to keep the card open?+
The annual fee is £0 on the main card, so there is no charge for holding it year on year. That applies to the card as issued; the balance transfer deal is the only other fee the terms set out, at 2.88% to 3.88% for the balance moved. Borrowing, not holding, is what costs money here.
What rate is charged if I carry a balance?+
Purchases that are not cleared each month are charged at 20.95%. That rate is the card's real cost, and it applies whatever the rewards are doing, so the card suits someone who pays in full each statement rather than revolving a balance month to month.
Other options to compare
Hawaiian Airlines
Sainsbury's