Good afternoon everyone, happy Friday! Remember when I wrote Should I Keep or Cancel the Barclays Hawaiian Airlines Credit Card? about three weeks ago? In that post, I mentioned:
“Laura’s Barclays Hawaiian Airlines Credit Card statement just closed and the $99 annual fee posted. As of today, we are 99% sure she will close this card, but I wanted to get a second opinion from readers to make sure we’re not missing an obvious reason to keep the card open for another year.”
Well… a lot can change in three weeks! There have been a few positive developments that turned our decision from a 99% closure into a 100% keeper.
1. The $99 Retention Offer That Changed Everything
When Laura called Barclays to close her credit card, she mentioned that we’d just had a baby and didn’t have any Hawaii trips planned. The rep was incredibly kind (congratulated her on the new baby!) and then offered to waive the $99 annual fee for this year.
The next business day, the $99 credit was backdated to offset the posted annual fee, making the card free for another year. We were both surprised (and grateful) for the generous gesture. Well done, Barclays!
2. The $100 Annual Companion Discount Just Got Better
In my previous post, I said the card had only two real perks:
- $100 annual companion discount for round-trip travel between Hawaii and North America on Hawaiian Airlines (after each account anniversary).
- One-time 50%-off companion discount for round-trip travel between Hawaii and North America on Hawaiian Airlines.
I’m happy to report that the $100 annual companion discount arrived via email on August 14, and there’s even better news. Starting October 1, any unused Hawaiian Airlines discount codes now appear in your Alaska Airlines / Atmos Rewards account and they can be used on either Hawaiian Airlines or Alaska Airlines. The expiration date stayed the same, so we shouldn’t have any problem using the $100 discount by August 31, 2026.
To find your discount codes, follow these steps:
- Sign in to your Alaska Airlines / Atmos Rewards account
- Click your initial in the top right corner
- Select Discounts / Companion Fare
- Scroll down to the Discounts and Companion Fares section
Laura has both the Barclays Consumer $100 Off Companion Fare Offer and the Bank of America issued Visa Signature Companion Fare Offer.
Here is what the offer says when you click on the Barclays Consumer $100 Off Companion Fare Offer link:
Here are the complete terms and conditions for the Barclays Consumer $100 Off Companion Fare Offer:
Discount details
Barclays Consumer $100 Off Companion Fare Offer
HACARD100XXXXXX
Discount: Eligible Primary Cardmembers will receive one companion discount code annually, providing $100 off one companion ticket at each credit card account anniversary. The discount is valid for 12 months from the account anniversary date and is subject to change. The $100 discount is applied to the published full coach roundtrip fare (excluding government taxes, fees, and charges) when a companion ticket is purchased with one full-fare roundtrip coach ticket on qualifying routes. The discount has no cash value and cannot be transferred or sold.
Reservations & Ticketing: Valid only for roundtrip coach travel booked directly with Hawaiian Airlines or Alaska Airlines through the Primary Cardmember’s Atmos Rewards Program Account. The Primary Cardmember must be one of the passengers on the flight record. Both passengers must be booked on the same flight record, fare, and class of service, and must travel on all segments together. Discount must be redeemed through the Primary Cardmember’s Program Account.
Passengers: Discount is valid for one companion ticket per year when traveling with the Primary Cardmember. No name changes or transfers allowed. Both passengers must travel together on the same itinerary.
Routes: Valid on all Hawaiian Airlines flights between Hawaii and North America, and on Alaska Airlines North America routes. Not valid on Neighbor Island flights, international flights, codeshare flights with partner airlines, or multi-city itineraries. Routes and availability subject to change without notice.
Advanced Purchase Requirement: Per applicable fare rules at time of booking.
Blackout Dates: None specified; subject to availability and fare rules.
Minimum & Maximum Stay: Per applicable fare rules.
Flights: Offer is valid only on eligible Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines flights as outlined. Discount cannot be applied to flights that are part of an Atmos Rewards award redemption, nor can it be combined with any other discount program, including mileage awards, coupons, or special fares.
Taxes, Fees and Surcharges: Passenger is responsible for all applicable taxes, fees, and surcharges, including baggage fees, which are not included in the $100 discount.
Combinability: Not combinable with any other discounts, Atmos Rewards award travel, or promotional offers. Discount must be used independently.
Changes and Refunds: Changes and refunds are subject to the applicable fare rules of the purchased tickets. Any changes to the itinerary may require rebooking both passengers on the same flights and fare class. Once redeemed, the companion discount code cannot be reused or reinstated if the itinerary is cancelled or refunded.
Atmos Rewards: Atmos Rewards accrual applies based on the fare purchased. Upgrades may be available per airline program rules and availability.
Transferability: Companion discount codes are non-transferable, non-refundable, and may not be sold, bartered, or exchanged. Improperly acquired or distributed discounts will not be honored.
Additional Terms: All standard rules of Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines, as well as the applicable published fare rules, apply. Offer may be changed or discontinued at any time without notice.
Other: Discount has no cash value. Lost or expired discount codes cannot be replaced. Final interpretation of eligibility and use of the discount is at the sole discretion of the issuing airline.
For reference / completeness, here is what the offer says when you click on the Bank of America issued Visa Signature Companion Fare Offer:
Here are the complete terms and conditions for the Bank of America issued Visa Signature Companion Fare Offer:
Discount details
Visa Signature Companion Fare Offer
ECVC201XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Discount: Valid for one companion fare from $122 (USD) ($99 base fare plus taxes and fees from $23 depending on your flight itinerary) when traveling with another passenger on a paid published saver or main cabin airfare on the same itinerary, booked at the same time on alaskaair.com. Valid for round-trip or one-way travel in the main cabin on Alaska Airlines or Hawaiian Airlines within North America, including the State of Hawaii. Not valid on First Class fares. Multiple stopovers not allowed. Not applicable to Atmos Rewards Award Reservations, Alaska Airlines Vacation Packages, tour or contract fares.
Reservations & ticketing: Valid for new ticket purchases through alaskaair.com. The companion fare discount code is redeemed at the time of ticketing and is void for future changes or purchases. Traveler and/or purchaser name must match the name issued on the discount code.
Primary fare and Companion Fare must be purchased with your Alaska Airlines credit card.
Passengers: Valid for one companion fare when traveling with a second passenger on a paid fare, traveling together, and booked and ticketed at the same time in the same reservation.
Routes: Valid on North America routes, including the State of Hawaii, only.
Advance purchase: Per applicable fare rule.
Purchase by: Expiration on discount code.
Blackout dates: Per applicable fare rule.
Minimum & maximum stay: Per applicable fare rules.
Flights: Valid only on Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines and flights operated on behalf of Alaska Airlines by Horizon Air and Skywest within North America, including the State of Hawaii. Not valid on codeshare flights.
Taxes, fees, and surcharges: Passenger is responsible for all applicable taxes, fees, and surcharges, including checked baggage fees.
Combinability: Not valid with any other discounts, including discount codes, My account online discount, coupons, discount programs, or other arrangements.
Changes and Refunds: Changes may be allowed per the applicable fare rule. Refunds or cancellation of itinerary will result in the forfeiture of the discount code. Once the ‘Purchase By’ date has passed, any changes will result in the forfeiture of the discount. Once issued, tickets are not transferable.
Atmos Rewards: Atmos Rewards credit applies and upgrades are allowed.
Transferability: Discount codes and tickets are not transferable. They may not be given to another individual, and may not be sold, bought, bartered, auctioned, or collected in bulk. Any deemed by Alaska Airlines to have been distributed or acquired improperly will not be honored and traveler will be liable for payment of full fare.
Additional Terms: All rules of Alaska Airlines, alaskaair.com, and the applicable fare rules not mentioned within these terms and conditions apply.
Other: Lost or stolen Discount Codes or tickets cannot be replaced. Alaska Airlines has the final authority regarding redemption. Travel is subject to Alaska Airlines contract of carriage. Terms and conditions as written herein are final and cannot be changed by any statement or representation of any unauthorized person, including employees of Alaska Airlines or issuing organization. Other restrictions may apply and Alaska Airlines reserves the right to suspend or change this offer without notice.
3. Surprise! The 50% Companion Discount Lives On
While digging through old emails, I found the Hawaiian Airlines 50% off companion discount from March 2025.
At the time, we figured it would go unused since Laura was pregnant, but to my surprise, it’s now showing in my Alaska Airlines / Atmos Rewards account with an expiration date of April 30, 2026. We should be able to use this discount code on Alaska Airlines by then too.
Here is what the offer says when you click on the Barclays Consumer 50% Off Companion Fare Offer:
Complete terms and conditions for the Barclays Consumer 50% Off Companion Fare Offer:
Discount details
Barclays Consumer 50% Off Companion Fare Offer
HACARD50XXXXXXX
Discount: You are eligible to receive a single one-time 50% discount toward one published full coach round-trip fare for a companion. The discount will be applied to the published full coach roundtrip fare (net of government taxes, fees and charges) for a companion with the purchase of one published full coach roundtrip fare. Discount has no cash value and cannot be transferred or sold. Discount not valid on all fares, including but not limited to Atmos Rewards Award Reservations, Alaska Airlines Vacation packages, tour or contract fares, and codeshare flights operated by partner airlines. Multi-city itineraries are not eligible.
Reservations & Ticketing: Valid for new ticket purchases only. Offer must be redeemed through the Primary Cardmember’s Atmos Rewards Program Account and bookings must be made directly with Hawaiian Airlines or Alaska Airlines. Discount cannot be applied to tickets that have already been purchased or issued. Credit card required for purchase.
Passengers: Primary Cardmember must be one of the passengers on the flight record. Both passengers (Primary Cardmember and companion) must be booked on the same flight record, fare, and class of service, and must travel on all flight segments together. No name changes or transfers are allowed.
Routes: Discount valid on all Hawaiian Airlines flights between Hawaii and North America and on Alaska Airlines North America routes. Not valid on Neighbor Island flights, international flights, codeshare flights, or any flights operated by partner airlines. Multi-city flights and open jaw itineraries are not permitted.
Advanced Purchase Requirement: Subject to fare rules and availability at the time of booking. No specific minimum advance purchase is required beyond those defined by the applicable published fare.
Blackout Dates: None specified in the offer; subject to availability.
Minimum & Maximum Stay: Per applicable fare rules.
Flights: Valid only for roundtrip coach travel. Primary Cardmember and companion must travel together on the same itinerary and fare class. Companion fare discount not valid for use with flight awards redeemed using Atmos Rewards or other promotions.
Taxes, Fees and Surcharges: Passenger is responsible for all applicable taxes, fees, and surcharges, including checked baggage fees. These amounts are not discounted.
Combinability: May not be combined with other offers, discounts, coupons, promotional codes, or any HawaiianMiles award redemptions. Cannot be applied toward previously purchased tickets or discounted fares.
Changes and Refunds: Changes and refunds are allowed per the applicable fare rule. Any changes require repricing of the entire itinerary. Tickets are non-transferable. Once issued, companion discounts are relinquished and cannot be reused or reinstated.
Atmos Rewards: Atmos Rewards credit applies. Upgrades may be allowed per fare and carrier rules.
Transferability: Companion discount is non-transferable, has no cash value, and may not be sold, auctioned, or bartered. Only the Primary Cardmember may redeem the discount via their Program Account.
Additional Terms: Offer is good for 13 months from the time the Account is opened and is subject to change without notice. All rules of alaskaair.com and applicable published fare not mentioned here apply.
Other: Travel is subject to Hawaiian Airlines’ or Alaska Airlines’ Contract of Carriage. Lost or stolen companion discounts cannot be replaced. Terms and conditions are final and cannot be modified by any unauthorized party. Other restrictions may apply.
Looking Ahead
Between the two of us, we now have three companion discounts ready to use on either Hawaiian Airlines or Alaska Airlines, plus my soon-to-arrive Global 25K Companion Award from the Bank of America Atmos Rewards Summit Credit Card:
- Grant’s Barclays Consumer 50% Off Companion Fare Offer (expires 4/30/26)
- Laura’s Barclays Consumer $100 Off Companion Fare Offer (expires 8/31/26)
- Laura’s Bank of America Visa Signature Companion Fare Offer (expires 10/3/26)
What started as a “we’re definitely canceling this card” situation has turned into a “we’re absolutely keeping this card” success story, thanks to the waived annual fee, better integration with Alaska Airlines, and expanded flexibility for using companion fares. Sometimes, a little patience (and a friendly retention specialist) really does pay off. If you have any questions about these credit cards or how the companion discounts work, please leave a comment below. Have a great weekend, everyone!
P.S. I’m still hopeful that my two wish-list predictions from the previous post eventually come true:
-
The ability to use the discount codes on international Hawaiian Airlines flights
-
A conversion to a Bank of America Alaska Airlines / Atmos Rewards Ascent Credit Card, ideally with the same flexibility for international routes
Also, the elite $10 inflight credit has been expanded on this card. Now this available to all Atmos elites (Silver through Titanium) on both Alaska and Hawaiian flights. Previously this was limited to Hawaiian flights for Pualani elites. Can use up to 10x per cardmember year.
Hi NK3, that is good to know. I matched my Alaska Airlines 20K elite status to the bottom tier Pualani elite status, but didn’t fly on Hawaiian Airlines to test out the status. Does the inflight credit work for food / drinks / wifi?
It says inflight purchases. I have not seen datapoints for Alaska, and have not flown this month to try it out. I am thinking on Alaska the pre-order meals should work, since you are charged when you receive them. Not sure about wifi, etc. On the Hawaiian side, I have seen people buy drinks, blankets, etc.
Alaska does sell food / snacks on longer flights and drinks on all flights. I’m not sure if the wifi codes as Alaska or some other company.