Hawaiian Airlines has unveiled a range of exclusive trading cards and digital cards as its newest must-have in-flight collectible. As of today, passengers can ask a pilot to receive one of four trading cards — each featuring a different type of Hawaiian aircraft — and collect up to 66 digital cards for each Hawaiian plane in the fleet.
Hawaiian’s trading cards follow a tradition held by other carriers, including 
Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, of offering collectible trading cards for aviation enthusiasts.
Hawaiian Airlines Joins Trading Card Club
The Hawaiian carrier designed the cards in partnership with Hawaiian Airlines pilots represented by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA). Featuring a rainbow foil board and UV gloss laminate, there are four cards in total — one representing a Hawaiian Airlines plane — which can be received directly from a pilot upon request. There will be a card for the Boeing 717, Airbus A321neo, Airbus A330 and Boeing 787-9, which are the four aircraft types in service at Hawaiian Airlines today.
Not only this, but there is a space for a pilot signature, as well as fun facts about the aircraft on the card. Passengers can get their hands on a trading card by asking the captain or first officer, but cards are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and pilots may not carry every variety of card on each flight. Hawaiian is also rolling out something special for young passengers with new clippable Keiki Wings bearing the words “Future Crew.”
According to ALPA Chair Captain Larry Payne,
“These cards were designed in collaboration with our pilots and embody ALPA’s mission to promote and champion all aspects of aviation. They’re more than collectibles — they give guests a chance to learn about Hawaiian Airlines aircraft and connect with the pilots who operate them.”
New Digital Cards An Industry First
Hawaiian will also be rolling out a brand-new digital card program, which will involve passengers collecting cards through their phone. Every aircraft has a unique aircraft nameplate located near the main boarding door, which can be unlocked by scanning an NFC tag. Additionally, passengers can unlock cards at any point while connected to the airline’s complimentary Starlink Wi-Fi service.
Every digital card design is unique and features the name of its respective aircraft. According to Hawaiian, its Boeing 717s are named after native birds, while its Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Airbus A330 fleet got their names from stars or constellations used by Polynesian voyagers navigating by the stars. Additionally, its Airbus A321neos were given names of plants and forests native to Hawaii.
Passengers collecting a digital card for the first time will see an animation of a digital card pack pop up on their device. Cards will also feature a story on the meaning behind each aircraft’s name and will be stored on a digital binder, which can be viewed at any point.
Which Other Airlines Have Trading Cards?
Trading cards in the airline industry have been around for a few decades, becoming a fascinating (and sometimes lucrative) part of aviation culture. Airlines are reportedly seeing a resurgence in interest for trading cards, particularly from young travelers inspired to learn more about flying. This has also been fueled by social media, raising passenger awareness about airline trading cards that many didn’t even know existed.
Hawaiian’s parent company, Alaska Airlines, has issued its own range of trading cards since the 1990s and launched a brand-new eight-card set earlier this year. These upgraded trading cards feature holographic film and lenticular coating and are the latest iteration of Alaska’s popular trading cards, which have undergone several versions over the decades.
Delta and United also carry their own ranges, typically updating their trading cards every five years or so. Frontier Airlines also has cards that are a little more unique, featuring endangered animals on the aircraft tails.
