Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Business Mastercard vs Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard
Both are well-respected travel cards. The Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Business Mastercard comes from Barclays at $99/yr; the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard from Citi at $595/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.
For most people the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($980 more in estimated value) than the Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Business Mastercard's. Get the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard first; revisit the Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Business Mastercard after you've earned that bonus.
| Feature | Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Business Mastercard | Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $99 | $595 |
| Sign-up bonus | Not advertised | 70,000 miles |
| Bonus value (est.) | - | $980 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | - | $7,000 in 3 mo |
| Issuer | Barclays | Citi |
| Card category | travel | airline |
| Best earning category (Airline) | 3x | 1x |
| Transfer partners | None | None |
| Headline benefits |
|
Editorial take: Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard
Pure Admirals Club access card. If you spend more than ~$850/year on lounge passes or visit AA hubs frequently, the $595 fee is a layup. The 2024 refresh added ~$360/year in Lyft/Grubhub/Avis credits that often go unclaimed, plus the free checked bag for 9 travelers is undersold for family travelers.
Common questions
- Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Business Mastercard or Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard?
- The Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard has a public bonus (70,000 miles, worth roughly $980), while the Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Business Mastercard doesn't advertise one right now.
- Is the Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Business Mastercard's $99 annual fee worth it compared to the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard?
- At $99/yr, the Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Business Mastercard is in the mid-fee tier. Compare its specific perks (lounge access, travel credits, primary rental insurance) to the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard's, pick the one whose perks you'll actually use.
- Can I have both the Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Business Mastercard and Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard?
- Yes, since they're from different issuers (Barclays and Citi) the application rules don't conflict. Many points enthusiasts hold both, they pair well when one earns flexible bank points and the other earns a different currency.
- Should I get the Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Business Mastercard or the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard first?
- Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Business Mastercard: no published min spend. Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard: $7,000 in 3 months. Pick the easier minimum spend if you're new to points; pick the larger bonus if you have planned big purchases coming up.
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.
