Update: One or more card offers in this post are no longer available. Check our Hot Deals for the latest offers.
We’re excited about new Southwest Hawaii flights that will hopefully start soon. More competition means lower prices – and Hawaii is an amazing destination.
That’s why the current Chase Southwest card offers are so worthwhile. Through February 11, 2019, you can earn the Southwest Companion Pass AND 30,000 Southwest points by spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening with these cards:
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card
The Southwest Companion Pass lets you take another person of your choice with you for free, as long as you pay taxes and fees. So you can get serious “mileage” out of these sign-up bonuses when Southwest starts flying to Hawaii!
But what if you’re over 5/24 and not eligible to apply for Chase cards? Consider the:
- U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card – Each point is worth 1.5 cents toward travel
- The Business Platinum® Card from American Express – Get 35% of your redeemed points back when you select Southwest as your airline of choice
- Barclaycard Arrival Plus® World Elite Mastercard® – Sign-up bonus is worth $700 toward travel after spending $5,000 within the first 90 days of opening your account
- Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card – Earn 2X Venture miles everywhere and redeem them for any travel purchase
Here’s what you need to know!
Get Cheap Southwest Hawaii Flights AND Flexibility With These Card Deals
When Southwest begins flying to Hawaii, we’re expecting the average fares to range from $250 to $350 for round-trip coach flights…from the West Coast at least. Although we’ve seen so many fare deals recently, it seems you can get a bargain from any US city with enough patience.
And it’s worth it. Hawaii is one of my favorite destinations – I always think of it fondly. That’s why, like lots of folks, I’m excited to pay less for a visit!
If you’re over 5/24, here are 4 other cards to consider. 🌅
Remember, you will also earn elite status credit and frequent flyer miles when you book with them!
1. US Bank Altitude Reserve to Book Any Flight for Free in Real-Time
Apply Here: U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card
Our Review of the US Bank Altitude Reserve
This is one of my favorite cards.
With the US Bank Altitude Reserve card, you can earn 50,000 points (worth $750 in travel) after spending $4,500 on qualifying purchases within 90 days of account opening.
And you’ll earn:
- 3X points per $1 on travel purchases
- 3X points per $1 on mobile wallet purchases (like Apple Pay or Google Pay)
- 1X points on all other purchases
Each point you earn is worth 1.5 cents each toward nearly any travel purchase.
Plus, you can redeem your points for flights in real-time via text!
The sign-up bonus is worth $750 toward travel. That could easily get you 2 or 3 free flights to Hawaii, depending on when you go. Plus, you can book on any airline.
2. Choose Southwest as Your Airline and Get a 35% Points Rebate with the Amex Business Platinum
Apply Here: The Business Platinum® Card from American Express
Our Review of the American Express Business Platinum
When you open the American Express Business Platinum Card, you can earn up to 75,000 Membership Rewards points after meeting tiered minimum spending requirements.
That’s enough for nearly $1,400 worth of airfare! With this card, you also get 35% of your redeemed points back in your account for coach flights on an airline of your choice (including Southwest). Just book through the AMEX travel portal using Pay With Points (up to 500,000 points per calendar year).
You can also get $200 in statement credits per calendar year for airline incidentals like early boarding or flight standby.
With this card, the welcome offer is worth between 4 and nearly 6 free flights to Hawaii, depending on how fast your points rebate posts.
3. Get $700 to Plan Your Next Hawaiian Adventure With the Barclaycard Arrival Plus
Apply Here: Barclaycard Arrival Plus® World Elite Mastercard®
Our Review of the Barclaycard Arrival Plus
With the Barclaycard Arrival Plus, you can earn 70,000 miles (worth $700 in travel) after spending $5,000 within the first 90 days of opening your account.
The cool thing about this card is you get 5% of your redeemed miles back in your account. Keep in mind, you can only redeem for travel purchases of $100+.
That shouldn’t be an issue with your Hawaii flights. And this sign-up offer could get you 2 or 3 free flights to Hawaii on an airline of your choice.
The annual fee is waived the first year (then $89). And you’ll earn 2X miles on every purchase. Nearly everyone on the MMS team has had this card at some point, myself included.
This is the highest sign-up offer there’s ever been!
4. Capital One Venture to Earn 2X Miles Everywhere and Keep the Free Flights Rolling In
Apply Here: Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card
Our Review of the Capital One Venture
With the Capital One Venture card, you’ll get 2X Venture miles per $1 spent on every purchase. And you’ll earn 50,000 Venture miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
That’s enough for 2 free flights to Hawaii! Plus, the annual fee is waived the first year.
This card is ideal for folks who want simplicity. The points are easy to redeem for any travel purchase in any amount. So you can be ready when the next fare sale pops up, no matter which airline it’s on!
Bottom Line
If you’re eligible, the new Southwest personal card offers are stellar. Earning a Southwest Companion Pass as a sign-up bonus is a sweet deal!
But if you’re not, there’s no reason to miss out on cheap flights to Hawaii.
You can do well with any of the other cards above. Be sure to read each card review for full details about each one. Remember, you’ll earn elite status credit and miles when you fly. And each card gives you more flexibility with which airline you fly. You can even fly on Southwest if you want to.
What’s your strategy to get cheap flights with points?