Chase Freedom Unlimited vs Hawaiian Airlines World Elite: Which Is Better In 2025?

Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® Breakdown

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Why We Like It

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Here’s a closer look at what makes the Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® a compelling choice for frequent flyers to the Aloha State.

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• The card offers valuable companion travel discounts, including a one-time 50% off fare and an annual $100 discount after your first anniversary.
• You can earn 3x miles on Hawaiian Airlines purchases and an elevated 2x miles on gas, dining, and grocery store purchases.
• The two free checked bags benefit can save you $70 on a single round-trip flight, which almost completely offsets the card's $99 annual fee (publisher-formulated estimate).

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Pros

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• The partnership with JetBlue expands your options for earning and redeeming rewards.
• Miles are flexible and can be redeemed for flights, hotel stays, car rentals, and more.
• No foreign transaction fees make it a good choice for international travel.

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Cons

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• The card’s benefits are heavily focused on travel to Hawaii, limiting its appeal for those who don’t fly that route often.
• Key perks like the free checked bag allowance and companion discounts come with significant restrictions.
• Redeeming miles for non-flight rewards, such as hotels or car rentals, may not provide the best value.

Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® vs Chase Freedom Unlimited®

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Categories

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Deciding which is better, Chase Freedom Unlimited® or Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard®, depends entirely on your personal spending habits and financial goals. Each card is designed to serve a different type of consumer, excelling in its own specific category.

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• Chase Freedom Unlimited®: This card is an excellent choice for cash back seekers. It is ideal for those looking to earn consistent rewards on everyday purchases without needing to track complicated bonus categories.
• Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard®: As a dedicated airline credit card, this option is best suited for travelers who frequently fly with Hawaiian Airlines. It offers the most value to individuals who travel to or from Hawaii.

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Redemption

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Chase Freedom Unlimited®: Rewards are earned as points that can be redeemed for cash back, gift cards, or travel through the Chase portal. This provides a high degree of flexibility, allowing cardholders to use their rewards in a way that best suits their needs.

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Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard®: Rewards are earned as HawaiianMiles, which are primarily redeemed for flights on Hawaiian Airlines and its partner airlines. This makes it a more specialized card, with redemption options tailored specifically to travelers loyal to the airline.

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Travel Perks

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• Travel Portal: The Chase Freedom Unlimited® allows cardholders to book travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal. In contrast, the Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® does not have a travel portal; miles are redeemed directly with Hawaiian Airlines and its partners.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: For international travel, the Hawaiian Airlines card has an edge as it typically does not charge foreign transaction fees. The Chase Freedom Unlimited® does include a foreign transaction fee on purchases made abroad.
• Airline-Specific Perks: The Hawaiian Airlines card comes with airline-centric benefits, such as a companion ticket discount and a free first checked bag on eligible flights. The Chase Freedom Unlimited® does not offer these types of perks.
• Lounge Access: Neither card offers complimentary airport lounge access, a benefit more commonly associated with premium travel cards.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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To make an informed decision, you can use a tool like Kudos to compare top-rated cards based on your own spending.

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• Test drive a credit card before you apply, using your real spending data to see personalized earnings projections without impacting your credit score.
• Receive personalized card recommendations based on your actual spending history to find the best match for your wallet.
• Maximize your rewards with features like Kudos Boost, which stacks extra rewards on top of your card’s earnings, and an autofill tool that selects the best card for you at checkout.
• Unlock exclusive member benefits, such as a welcome offer guarantee and detailed approval odds based on your credit report.

Who Should Choose the Chase Freedom Unlimited®?

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The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is an excellent choice for everyday spenders who prefer a simple, flat-rate rewards structure over tracking complicated rotating categories. It's also a strategic powerhouse for existing Chase customers, as it can be paired with premium cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® to maximize the value of Ultimate Rewards® points. As detailed in this comprehensive guide, its lack of an annual fee and inclusion of valuable purchase protections also make it a strong contender for those new to credit card rewards.

Who Should Choose the Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard®?

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The Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® is an excellent choice for individuals who regularly travel to or from the Aloha State. It's particularly valuable for those who typically travel with a companion, thanks to its generous annual companion discount. Beyond the flight perks, the card also appeals to users who want to accumulate HawaiianMiles on everyday purchases like gas and dining and enjoy benefits like two free checked bags.

Alternatives to Consider

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If this Chase Freedom Unlimited® vs. Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® comparison has you feeling like neither card is the perfect match, don't worry. There are several other excellent cards on the market that might better suit your spending habits and reward goals.

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Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score as most rewards cards require good to excellent credit for approval.
• Plan your spending to ensure you can meet any welcome offer requirements without overspending.
• Research the rewards program to understand how you will use the points or miles you earn.

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Application Strategy

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• Consider card pairings to maximize value, as some cards like the Chase Freedom Unlimited® work best as part of a larger strategy.
• Align the card with your habits since co-branded airline cards, such as the Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard®, offer the most value to loyal customers.
• Don't force your spending because carrying a balance to meet a bonus requirement often negates the rewards you earn.

Our Methodology

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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.

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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

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Can I transfer Chase points to Hawaiian Airlines?

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Yes, you can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to the Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles program, but you'll need a premium Chase card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve® to do so. The Chase Freedom Unlimited® earns points that can be pooled with these premium cards for transfer.

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Which card is better for everyday spending?

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The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is generally better for a wide range of everyday purchases due to its flexible and consistent reward rates. The Hawaiian Airlines card is more specialized, offering the highest rewards specifically on Hawaiian Airlines purchases.

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Which card is better for international travel?

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For international travel, the Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® often has an advantage as it typically does not charge foreign transaction fees. The Chase Freedom Unlimited® usually includes a foreign transaction fee, making it less ideal for purchases made abroad.

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