United Quest 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 why the Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® stands out.

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• You'll earn the highest rate of miles on Hawaiian Airlines purchases and an accelerated rate on everyday categories like gas, dining, and groceries.
• While there is an annual fee, the card includes an annual $100 companion ticket discount that helps offset the cost.
• The two free checked bags benefit can offset the annual fee with just one round-trip flight per year (publisher-formulated estimate).

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Pros

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• Offers a valuable companion ticket discount for travel between Hawaii and North America, a rare perk among airline cards.
• A generous free checked bag allowance for the primary cardholder can lead to significant savings.
• Earn bonus miles on everyday spending categories like gas, dining, and groceries—not just on Hawaiian Airlines purchases.

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Cons

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• The card has an annual fee, and its value is best realized by those who frequently fly with Hawaiian Airlines.
• Key benefits, like the free checked bag allowance, are limited to the primary cardholder and do not extend to companions.
• It lacks premium travel perks, such as airport lounge access, that are often included with other airline credit cards.

Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® vs United Quest

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Categories

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Choosing the right airline credit card depends entirely on your travel patterns and loyalty. To determine which is better United Quest or Hawaiian Airlines World Elite, it's essential to understand the ideal user for each card.

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• The United Quest℠ Card is a mid-tier choice card built for frequent travelers. It is best suited for those who fly United Airlines several times per year and value travel rewards and perks.
• Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® is an airline and travel rewards card for people who regularly fly to or from Hawaii. It is especially useful for Hawaiian Airlines loyalists who often travel with a companion.

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Redemption

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United Quest℠ Card: Rewards are redeemed through the United MileagePlus program, offering flexibility for flights with United and its extensive network of Star Alliance partners, as well as for seat upgrades and other travel experiences.

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Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard®: Points are redeemed through the HawaiianMiles program, primarily for flights on Hawaiian Airlines between the islands and to mainland U.S. and international destinations, with options to use miles for partner travel and hotel stays.

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Travel Perks

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• Both cards are traveler-friendly and do not charge foreign transaction fees on international purchases, making them suitable for global travel.
• For baggage, the United Quest℠ Card offers a free first and second checked bag for the cardholder and a companion on the same booking. The Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® provides a free first checked bag for the primary cardmember on flights booked directly with the airline.
• The United Quest card includes an annual statement credit for United purchases and anniversary award credits after taking a flight booked with miles. In contrast, the Hawaiian Airlines card’s key perk is a substantial one-time companion discount for a roundtrip flight, followed by an annual companion discount.
• When it comes to airport lounges, neither card offers complimentary access as a standard benefit, a feature more common with premium-tier cards.
• The travel ecosystems differ significantly. The United Quest card opens up the vast Star Alliance network for award travel, providing extensive global options. The Hawaiian Airlines card's network is more specialized, focusing on its own routes to, from, and between the Hawaiian islands, along with a select list of partner airlines.

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Compare Top Rated Credit Cards with Kudos

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For a data-driven approach, a tool like Kudos can help you compare thousands of credit cards to find the best fit for your spending habits.

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• Test Drive Cards: According to an article from Kudos, you can simulate your potential earnings with a new card using your actual spending data, without affecting your credit score.
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Who Should Choose the United Quest?

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The United Quest℠ Card is tailor-made for loyal United Airlines flyers who travel with the airline multiple times per year. This cardholder values premier travel benefits like free checked bags and priority boarding, and seeks a faster path to MileagePlus Premier status through card spending. Ultimately, it's for individuals who can leverage the card's various travel credits and protections to easily justify the annual fee, making the United Quest℠ Card a powerful tool for dedicated United customers.

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

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The Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® is tailor-made for frequent flyers to the Aloha State, particularly those who often travel with a companion. Cardholders can maximize value through perks like the annual companion discount and by earning accelerated miles on everyday purchases such as gas, dining, and groceries. With additional benefits like two free checked bags and no foreign transaction fees, it's a strong choice for loyal Hawaiian Airlines customers, as detailed in this NerdWallet review.

Alternatives to Consider

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If neither the United Quest℠ Card nor the Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® feels like the right fit, your search for the perfect travel card isn't over. After this deep-dive United Quest vs Hawaiian Airlines World Elite comparison, let's explore a few other top-tier travel cards that might better suit your needs.

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Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.

Tips for Application Success

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Before You Apply

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• Check your credit score since most travel rewards cards require good to excellent credit for approval.
• Plan your spending to ensure you can naturally meet the minimum spend requirement for any welcome offer.
• Review your travel habits as co-branded cards like the United Quest℠ Card or Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® deliver the most value to loyal flyers.

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Application Strategy

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• Time your application before a large planned purchase to help meet any spending requirements.
• Don’t settle for a subpar offer if you know better versions are publicly available.
• Research transfer partners beforehand to ensure the rewards align with your travel goals.

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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Which card is better if I'm not loyal to a single airline?

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If you aren't committed to one airline, consider which carrier serves your home airport best and where you plan to travel most often. The United Quest℠ Card is part of the expansive Star Alliance network, while the Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® is naturally focused on travel to and from Hawaii.

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Are the annual fees on these cards justifiable?

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Evaluating an annual fee depends on how fully you can utilize the card's benefits, such as statement credits and free checked bags. If the value you get from the perks exceeds the fee, it can be a worthwhile investment for your travel style.

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How do I decide which card's rewards are better for me?

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Look at your typical spending habits to see which card's bonus categories align better with your everyday purchases. You should also consider the redemption options and how easily you can use the miles you earn for your specific travel goals.

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