Both are well-respected travel cards. The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card comes from American Express at $195/yr; the Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard from Bank of America at $99/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.
These cards are close on the fundamentals (similar bonus value, similar fee). The right pick depends on which category you spend the most in and which transfer partners best fit your travel goals.
| Feature | Hilton Honors American Express Business Card | Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $195 | $99 |
| Sign-up bonus | 175,000 points | 70,000 miles |
| Bonus value (est.) | $875 | $980 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $8,000 in 6 mo | $2,000 in 3 mo |
| Issuer | American Express | Bank of America |
| Card category | hotel | airline |
| Best earning category (Hilton) | 12x | 1x |
| Transfer partners | hilton-honors | hawaiian-miles |
| Headline benefits |
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If you stay at Hiltons, this is the underrated middle tier — the $60/quarter credit + the $15k-spend Free Night routinely cover the $195 fee, and Gold status is real value at any Hilton property.
Niche card unless you fly Hawaii regularly. Note: Hawaiian + Alaska have merged loyalty into Atmos Rewards in 2025; the long-term direction of this card is in transition. Worth tracking if you're Hawaii-bound multiple times a year.
Card details on this page reflect the most recent data we've verified against the issuer's own site. Sign-up bonuses and fees can change at any time — confirm the current offer on the issuer's page before applying.
