Do I dare fly Go on the first leg to save $25 each? It's been a couple years since we first flew them. We had zero problems but I hear bad stuff! Advise please?
Do I dare fly Go on the first leg to save $25 each? It's been a couple years since we first flew them. We had zero problems but I hear bad stuff! Advise please?
I'm not sure you'll find many go! fans on this forum or elsewhere. Personally I would not fly them, I'm not interested in supporting their business since I think they were instrumental in driving Aloha Airlines out of business - but that is going OT.
What is the timing between the inbound flight from the mainland and the go! flight? You should keep in mind that go! departs from the commuter terminal, which will add about 5 to 10 minutes more to your walk from your arrival gate.
The choice to save a few bucks and fly go! is yours to make. Have a look at Pacific Wings, Mokulele, or Island Air – and if you are going to West Maui flying to Kapaula Airport (JHM) can be a HUGE timesaver (up to 90 minutes drive time saved depending on where you are staying) and can help justify paying a little more for the ticket.
Update... Woke up and said the hell with it! Booked HA both ways. I said to myself.."self, you do know that you're spending thousands of $ on this little vacation don't you"? Upon reflection, $40ish didn't seem like too big of a deal!
Will have: rental car to return (Avis), toddler (4 yr old), and 2 large suitcases (flying F - so no checked bag fees expected).
The 2 flights are on separate tix.
Here's the question:
By reading this thread (albeit post facto ), I have realized that my two tickets are violating the MCT at HNL (stated as 1h15m).
I could rebook my HA ticket onto HA 205 dep OGG 6:04a and arr HNL 6:38a, which clears me for the MCT. I would have to pay a change fee with HA, but that's not a big deal ($30 x 2?).
But I'm concerned because on Avis's website, their hours state opening at OGG 5:30a. And I can't anywhere find what USDA hours at OGG are for pre-screening checked luggage.
My worry is that I'll arrive at OGG with a toddler, 2 big bags, and a rental car. If Avis isn't open, I can't simply drop off the car and leave the keys, since the lot is remote and requires a shuttle back to the terminal. I could short-term park and check-in, then return the car after Avis opens, but I don't know if USDA will be open that early. And my bags would presumably need to be checked in by 5:19a (if I'm on the earlier flight) to make the 45 min cutoff.
I haven't rebooked the tix yet. In all cases I can easily check-in online and pre-print boarding passes for all flights. Would you:
A) Keep the ticket as booked. (Will HA likely overlook the MCT and thru-check my bags to UA on the 60min connection? It's been years since I flew HA - my memories were that they were loosey-goosey, but from this board it sounds less so now).
B) Re-book for the early flight and return the car to Avis first. (Does anyone know when Avis shuttles to terminal really start running? And how strict are HA about checked bags at 45 mins? I know UA is an absolute stickler for this.)
C) Re-book for the early flight, park short-term, and check in first. (Does anyone know what times the USDA screeners and HA counter open up?). Obviously this would require me to return to the car, drive to Avis, hop on the shuttle, then go through TSA security in time for boarding.
You can call OGG's Ag Screening number here:
(808) 872-3848 (or alternatively, OGG's visitor information: (808) 872-3893)
And they should be able to give you hours.
If it were me, I'd go with option A. Return the car at 5:30, motor it on the first shuttle to the terminal, speed through check-in (this is all provided the ag screening is open at this time... if it's not, that's trouble, as you'll likely have to reclaim bags in HNL and recheck with ag screening there), hope greatly that the flight is on-time (and that I'm seated as close to the front of the cabin as possible), then speed through HNL upon arrival to the UA gates (this is tricky too because UA's gates are farthest from the interisland terminal), and hope that my bags make it on time. You'd cut it incredibly close but it's doable and doesn't require a change fee.
If you want peace of mind though, $60 doesn't sound too bad for an extra 20 minutes. But who knows? That first HA flight could be delayed (unlikely), the second HA flight you're on now could get in early into HNL (perhaps likely). It's ashame no one can see the future...
Senior Moderator/As well as the Hawaii, the Hawaii-based Airlines, DiningBuzz, & Only Randy Petersen forums
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I would also consider whether it might be worthwhile changing to a flight to HNL the evening before, pick up a $150 room at the Airport Ohana Hotel, and then simply get shuttled by the hotel shuttle bus to check-in the following morning.
Yes, there are better hotels in Honolulu, but the recently remodeled Airport Ohana Hotel is made to order for this kind of situation, imo.
I don't know what the 24 hour clock is on your rental, but you might offset part of the cost by a shorter rental car time while on Maui.
In fact, if you decide on this route, I have a $50 hotelclub.com credit I'd be happy to pass along to you.
I would also consider whether it might be worthwhile changing to a flight to HNL the evening before, pick up a $150 room at the Airport Ohana Hotel, and then simply get shuttled by the hotel shuttle bus to check-in the following morning.
Yes, there are better hotels in Honolulu, but the recently remodeled Airport Ohana Hotel is made to order for this kind of situation, imo.
I don't know what the 24 hour clock is on your rental, but you might offset part of the cost by a shorter rental car time while on Maui.
In fact, if you decide on this route, I have a $50 hotelclub.com credit I'd be happy to pass along to you.
Good suggestion; and you might actually come out on top in terms of $$ if your hotel on Maui is pricey.
Can you not just change your flight to the non-stop OGG-SFO flight? Or is the change fee too much here?
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We arrive in HNL on a UA flight at 4:55pm. There is an OGG HA flight at 5:40pm. Is 45 minutes too tight? We are flying F on UA and probably will only have roll-aboards, so we'd deplane quickly. Otherwise, the next flight isnt until 7:30 or so.
Is 45 minutes too close? My fiancee is travel-sized (5'1"), so wikiwiki isn't too wikiwiki with her, if you catch my drift.
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You should be ok, but if the flight is at all late, you might not be.
Since I assume you'd be on a separate HA ticket, you'd end up paying hte $25-$50 change fee per person if you missed the flight (no flat tire rule on HA )
It is a brisk 10-15 minute walk. If you don't know HNL, add a few minutes to check your directions, find the gate, make sure you don't inadvertently exit security
UA/HNL is pretty good about having the WikiWiki shuttle meet incoming flights. If you're on the bus first you'll wait another 10 minutes or so for it to fill up and depart, and then about 5-10 minutes to the inter-island terminal.
I wouldn't do it, but that's because my stress tolerance for running through airports is low. I'd either grab some dinner (the choices are slowly improving) or a Lappert's ice cream and avoid the stress.
Aloha, I need to book interisland flights for my aunt arriving BKK-NRT-HNL on ANA @ 8:45 AM, connecting to KOA. How much time should I allow her for immigration (non-US pax), customs, security, and transfer? No carrier allegiance here, my nonstop options for that day appear to be:
HA 168 Departs HNL 10:20 AM
go! 1003 Departs HNL 11:30 AM
HA 348 Departs HNL 1:44 PM
Can NH interline bags from BKK thru to KOA on HA/go! or will my aunt need to claim bags and recheck-in for interisland? I read that there is a bag drop counter for checked bags with interlined tags.
I have a NW flight arriving in HNL at 6:53 p.m. I am wondering if there is enough time to catch an inter-island flight leaving at 7:30p.m. to KOA. I was hoping to not have to sit at the airport for 2 hours to catch the next flight at around 9:30. I have checked out the map of the HNL airport, but not really sure how long it will take.
If anyone is familiar with that airport, any help would be appreciated. I am flying NW, am I arriving in lobby 7 on the second floor? And it looks like Mesa Airlines (GO) is on the first floor?
I have a NW flight arriving in HNL at 6:53 p.m. I am wondering if there is enough time to catch an inter-island flight leaving at 7:30p.m. to KOA. I was hoping to not have to sit at the airport for 2 hours to catch the next flight at around 9:30. I have checked out the map of the HNL airport, but not really sure how long it will take.
If anyone is familiar with that airport, any help would be appreciated. I am flying NW, am I arriving in lobby 7 on the second floor? And it looks like Mesa Airlines (GO) is on the first floor?
Hi BAM: I've merged your post with our Guide to Connecting in HNL. Please read a few of the first few posts here which will answer you question.
Generally speaking, a 37 minute connection will be cutting it VERY close in HNL, especially since you have quite a hike between NW's gates (likely 11-13) and go!'s gates over in the commuter terminal. That's almost from one end of the airport to the other. You can do this entirely airside without having to be rescreened, the way to do it which is contained on the first page of this thread.
I'd go with the 2 hour connection and attempt to standby if you can make the earlier flight.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cblaisd
What slippahs said.
I'd put the likelihood of a misconnect at greater than 60%
The last time (first and last) I flew GO, their terminal was so far away, it took ages to get to the gate area, then get escorted to another room where we waited to board. Unless BAM is off their flight with their feet in the terminal (and carry-ons only) at least 45 minutes before the GO flight leaves, I don't see them making it with any chance, and a slim one at that.
I'd suggest they rebook their KOA flight for the later departure to avoid a potential stranding overnight.
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Please help!
), I have realized that my two tickets are violating the MCT at HNL (stated as 1h15m). 
