Both are well-respected travel cards. The Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard comes from Bank of America at $99/yr; the Citi Strata Elite Card from Citi at $595/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 | Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard | Citi Strata Elite Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $99 | $595 |
| Sign-up bonus | 70,000 miles | 80,000 points |
| Bonus value (est.) | $980 | $1,440 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | $2,000 in 3 mo | $6,000 in 3 mo |
| Issuer | Bank of America | Citi |
| Card category | airline | travel |
| Best earning category (Hawaiian) | 3x | 1x |
| Transfer partners | hawaiian-miles | citi-ty |
| Headline benefits |
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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.
Citi's premium answer to Amex Platinum + Sapphire Reserve. The 12x on Citi-booked hotels is the best earning rate in the category; the $200 Blacklane and 4 Admirals Club passes are differentiated perks. $595 fee penciled out if you'll actually use the hotel + Splurge credits.
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.
