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Baggage Fee Questions
The future Mrs Illini_Fan and I are heading DFW-HNL-KOA and the returing ITO-HNL-DFW.
The DFW-HNL-DFW legs are AA. I still need to book the intra-island flights, but I'm waiting for AA schedule changes to hopefully stop.
My question is around checked bag fees. Since I plan on inter-airlining the bags, I assume that my PLT status with AA will be what is considered when I check bags at DFW (i.e. no fee)
What about when we depart ITO? From reading the Hawaiian Airlines website, it says no fee for 1st checked back on an intra-island flight, but it does change a fee for checked bags to the mainland. Would HA try to collect a fee for checked bags?
Connecting thru HNL for the 1st time: a couple of questions
Normally, when connecting thru an airport for the 1st time I'll Google for a terminal map & some basic info, but came up short this time. The itinerary is OGG-HNL-SFO, with the 1st leg on a UA codeshare via Hawaiian Aiirlines, thence a UA mainline red-eye to SFO. The scheduled window from HNL arrival to departure is a tad under two hrs. From past readings on FT, I understand that this involves a transfer via shuttle from the InterIsland terminal to the UA gates. Question 1: Does this involve exiting TSA & reentering thru TSA at the main terminal, or is this a so-called sterile-to-sterile transfer? Question 2: The FT Hawaii thread describes some great-sounding on-island things you can do with a substantial lay-over; however, with just two hrs, it looks like an in-airport food stop is the only thing possible. The terminal info shows mostly fast food, etc; what is the best choice/least objectionable place for food in the airport (ruling out UA snack boxes as an alternative)? Thanx in advance.
I've never taken the shuttle, but don't believe you need to exit security to use it. The walk from Hawaiian over to the UA terminal is 10-20 minutes, depending on how fast you walk. 2 hours is a little short for leaving the airport.
The main terminal is laid out kind of like a capital E, with the end wings a little distorted. I know of 3 non-fast food places to eat.
There is a Gorden Biersch in the international wing of the main terminal.
There is a brew-pub type place right in the middle of the main terminal.
There is another brew-pub on the gate side of the main terminal courtyard.
I've eaten at the later two - both are fine for airport dining.
If you've still got more time, head down into one of the outdoor courtyards. Alternatively, there are lots of out of the way places over in the UA wing to sit down. The areas right near the main boarding gates can get overrun with tourists. But about half of that wing is not actively used, and so seating in those areas is quiet.
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You actually do need to go out of security to go from the Hawaiian gates to the US gates. It is a fairly long walk ( if they will let you do it, they periodically stop the practice) or a short bus ride.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by motintan
You actually do need to go out of security to go from the Hawaiian gates to the US gates. It is a fairly long walk ( if they will let you do it, they periodically stop the practice) or a short bus ride.
This is not true. I do this all the time. You can take the Wiki-wiki shuttle, or you can walk, and you are airside the entire time. It is only if you are coming in on somecommuter flights (into the commuter terminal) that you may have to come in through security, and that is because your originating airport didn't have security for the commuter flight. This is not the case with HA; they arrive at the inter-island terminal, not the commuter terminal.
I always walk. Takes about 15 minutes.
FYI; love the shell collection in the RCC, and the very helpful ladies that work there!
This is not true. I do this all the time. You can take the Wiki-wiki shuttle, or you can walk, and you are airside the entire time. It is only if you are coming in on somecommuter flights (into the commuter terminal) that you may have to come in through security, and that is because your originating airport didn't have security for the commuter flight. This is not the case with HA; they arrive at the inter-island terminal, not the commuter terminal.
I always walk. Takes about 15 minutes.
FYI; love the shell collection in the RCC, and the very helpful ladies that work there!
+1. MauiUAflyer hit it exact. I did it last month. Walk was easy and 15 minutes tops. Shuttle is just as easy but I prefer the open air walk and visiting the gardens on the lower level to waste some time.
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take the wikiwiki or whatever the name is. You don't leave security and it is simple and fairly fast. I was worried the first time I did this too, it is a piece of cake.
You actually do need to go out of security to go from the Hawaiian gates to the US gates. It is a fairly long walk ( if they will let you do it, they periodically stop the practice) or a short bus ride.
I've never seen them not allow you to walk. You can walk, or take the wiki wiki shuttle.
It's all airside (inside security). Just follow the signs.
You will go through agricultural inspection when transferring from an inter-island flight to an overseas flight, but that's very fast and easy.
United's gates are in the Diamond Head wing, which is the farthest from the inter-island terminal, but it's not a terrible walk. Maybe 20 minutes?
This is not true. I do this all the time. You can take the Wiki-wiki shuttle, or you can walk, and you are airside the entire time. It is only if you are coming in on somecommuter flights (into the commuter terminal) that you may have to come in through security, and that is because your originating airport didn't have security for the commuter flight. This is not the case with HA; they arrive at the inter-island terminal, not the commuter terminal.
And both inbound go! and Island Air flights to the commuter terminal at HNL do not require you to exit security when connecting to your mainland flights. Just ask the agents upon arrival where to go to connect to the domestic terminal.
Senior Moderator/As well as the Hawaii, the Hawaii-based Airlines, DiningBuzz, & Only Randy Petersen forums
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Quote:
Originally Posted by slippahs
And both inbound go! and Island Air flights to the commuter terminal at HNL do not require you to exit security when connecting to your mainland flights. Just ask the agents upon arrival where to go to connect to the domestic terminal.
What slippahs said. BUT, make sure you ask an agent before entering the commuter terminal. If you follow everyone else into baggage claim, you'll have to re-clear security in the main terminal. If you tell the agent that meetings the plane on the tarmac that you have a mainland/international connection he or she will take you to a different area of the commuter terminal which has an airside connection to the inter-island terminal and from there you can walk or WikiWiki onwards.
What slippahs said. BUT, make sure you ask an agent before entering the commuter terminal. If you follow everyone else into baggage claim, you'll have to re-clear security in the main terminal. If you tell the agent that meetings the plane on the tarmac that you have a mainland/international connection he or she will take you to a different area of the commuter terminal which has an airside connection to the inter-island terminal and from there you can walk or WikiWiki onwards.
Good point. As long as one doesn't enter the commuter terminal building and stays out on the tarmac (until escorted by an agent), you should be good. Last time I landed off a WP flight, there was an agent standing at the airside entrance to the bag claim area of the commuter terminal that had a "connections" sign or something similar. Is that the norm?
Interisland flight, then catch mainland flight home!
My family & I (total of 5 of us, 1 being a very happy 4 year old getting to spend 2 weeks in Hawaii) have RT flights between ORD and HNL. We are actually spending the first week in HNL, and the 2nd week in LIH.
This means a RT flight between HNL<->LIH, with that return of LIH to HNL the same day as our return flight from HNL to ORD.
Questions:
If our flight leaving HNL to ORD leaves at 5:15p, how much time should we allow ourselves in getting from LIH to HNL. How far apart are the terminals for the interisland to domestic (if there is such a deliniation). Will we have to claim bags, recheck? The flights (interisland and mainland) will be on different PNRs.
We haven't purchases the interisland flights yet, but will likely be Hawaiian Airlines.
I am a Premier Exec on United, if this helps with waitng for re-check, etc.
