Programs: AA PLT (Lifetime GLD), Hilton Silver, Marriott Silver, AA Dining VIP
Posts: 582
Thanks....and Updates
We just returned from two weeks in Hawaii. This forum was invaluable in helping us navigate the air part of our trip. Thank you.
A few updates:
America West flys PHX-LIH (A-320)
If, for any reason, you open a bag after it has been checked by the USDA, it must be rechecked (you will most likely do this if you have one bag over 50lbs and the other under 50lbs).
Admiral's Club Members (AA) will use the Qantas Club (Gate 26). This is not posted, so you have to know
SeatGuru was redesigned a few months ago....all of the links you have are dead
When we checked in with HA in LIH, they were able to send our bags all the way through, but they were unable to check us in for our connecting AA flight. We had to do this at the gate (so leave enough time). This is true whether you are on a code or two different records
Are you sure it's a A-320? Currently, no carrier operates an A-320 to Hawaii. And, a quick search of the US Air schedule (America West no longer exists in its name) shows that the route is being operated by a 752.
Quote:
Originally Posted by AA-Platinum
If, for any reason, you open a bag after it has been checked by the USDA, it must be rechecked (you will most likely do this if you have one bag over 50lbs and the other under 50lbs).
Yes, that's a big no no. My guess is that people have tried smuggling more than a few fruits after the check.
Quote:
Originally Posted by AA-Platinum
Admiral's Club Members (AA) will use the Qantas Club (Gate 26). This is not posted, so you have to know
Good point. However, keep in mind that the Qantas Club is roughly a 5-10 minute walk from the AA gates. So a tight connection might warrant only a quick stop at the club, or none at all.
Quote:
Originally Posted by AA-Platinum
SeatGuru was redesigned a few months ago....all of the links you have are dead
Will update, thanks!
Quote:
Originally Posted by AA-Platinum
When we checked in with HA in LIH, they were able to send our bags all the way through, but they were unable to check us in for our connecting AA flight. We had to do this at the gate (so leave enough time). This is true whether you are on a code or two different records
That's odd. I was under the impression that AA and HA had interline ticketing arrangements in Hawaii. Hmm...
Location: OH; Husband AA EXP/4.9 MM; HH Diamond; Me, a lowly AA gold
Posts: 171
Quote:
That's odd. I was under the impression that AA and HA had interline ticketing arrangements in Hawaii. Hmm...
We just returned from the Big Island earlier this week. Hawaiian was able to check our bags all the way through, but could not give us our boarding passes. We got those at the Admiral's Club in Honolulu.
The odd thing to me: When we checked in at HA, I did not have to show any ID at all to get our boarding passes (my husband wasn't even there, as he was returning the rental car) and check bags. I even asked, and the agent said he didn't need it.
Programs: AA PLT (Lifetime GLD), Hilton Silver, Marriott Silver, AA Dining VIP
Posts: 582
Quote:
Originally Posted by slippahs
Thanks for the updates.
Are you sure it's a A-320? Currently, no carrier operates an A-320 to Hawaii. And, a quick search of the US Air schedule (America West no longer exists in its name) shows that the route is being operated by a 752.
My mistake; that's what I get from listening to someone who does not know planes. It is a 752
Programs: 1st year AA EXP w/ 2.9MM, Fairmont PLT, Hilton Gold, *Wood
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Connecting AA to Island Air in HNL
Just completed trip from DFW-HNL on AA and HNL-LNY on Island Air. Some observations.
CHECK IN ON ONLINE-
I purchased my electronic tickets on a code share with Aloha. I attempted to check in online with Aloha 24 hours in advance and it would not let me. It informed me the ticketing must be handled at the airport. I went to the Island Air site and was allowed to check in with no problem. Once you put it one confirmation/ticket number it pulls the other travelers as well. On the return I attempted to check in on-line with Island Air with my ticket number and it would not allow me to do so. I tried my wife's and it allowed us to ticket both without a problem. When I originally checked in with AA they could not check my bags all the way at curbside. I had to go to the ticket counter where the agent could not see my PNR with Island Air. If I did not have my boarding passes already in hand, they would not have checked my luggage all the way through.
WALK OR RIDE-
Island Air and Go! are located in the commuter terminal not the Inter Island terminal. The walk from the AA gates to the Admirals Club was 5 minutes. To get there, keep walking left tell you get to the Ewa concourse and proceed to an elevator next to gate 26. It's on the 3rd floor. From there, we later walked to the commuter terminal by going through the Inter Island terminal which took another 5 minutes. I have had longer walks at ORD and would definitely recommend the walk rather than leaving security and taking the Wiki Wiki shuttle and rescreening your carry on bags. However, a cart helped with the carry on bags.
Important note, as you enter the commuter terminal airside you actually enter through the "annex" which looks pretty bleak and abandoned. There is nothing there to tell you to wait for a Island Air representative. They will walk you outside on the tarmac to the departure terminal. It may be up to a 10 minute wait for someone to get you. As we returned back through HNL we were escorted back to the annex to connect to the mainland. You will have to screen your carry on bags for Agriculture Inspection as you leave the Inter Island terminal. It took less than a minute.
LUGGAGE RESTRICTIONS-
Island Air advertises a baggage limit of 50 lbs per passenger and a limit of two bags. They hold you to the 2 bags but did not give me an issue on the weight unless it was over 50 lbs per bag. Both of our flights were sold out, the planes are small and they weigh every bag as not to exceed take off weight. The carry on space is very limited to a height and depth of about 8". One of my carry on's would not fit and they simply let me hand the bag to the ground crew before we departed. They put it in the hold and handed it to me as I got off the plane.
BOARDING AND SEATING-
They tell you they board 30 minutes before flight time. 10 minutes is actually closer but your YMMV. You line up at an exit door, general boarding to the left and preborading to the right. They are very loose with the preboarding rules and most people push it since the seating is open and they want good seats. Once boarding begins you walk out to the plane and up a few steps to enter the plane. They use the DASH 8 in which there are 8 exit seats. The right hand bulkhead exit row at the front provides the most legroom.
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I don't see USAirways listed as flying to anywhere in HI. I'm pretty sure that they fly to HNL, LIH, OGG, and KOA. At least I hope so, as I just booked tickets to LIH
While the ORD, DEN, SFO and LAX flights in their schedule are certainly UA, I'd be very surprised if the HNL-PHX, OGG-PHX, OGG-LAS, LIH-PHX, or KOA-PHX flights to US hubs are on other metal.
I don't see USAirways listed as flying to anywhere in HI. I'm pretty sure that they fly to HNL, LIH, OGG, and KOA. At least I hope so, as I just booked tickets to LIH
Yeah, despite US Air flying to HNL since December, I've been a little slow at updating the airlines portion of the thread.
I'm thinking about removing it altogether or perhaps dumbing it down to include only the carriers operating. Might be a little easier...
We are flying on Delta from LAX to HNL arriving at 11:30am. Will we be able to make a Hawaiian Air 12:30pm flight to Kauai? I assume our bags go straight through but I am not sure how far apart the terminals are.
An hour is less than I would be comfortable with. You will probably make it, but if there's any delay or you're in the back of the plane it could add time. You're about a 10-15 minute walk.
I'd say the chances though of your luggage making the transfer are 50/50. If not, it will come on the next flight. That happens alot here
We are flying on Delta from LAX to HNL arriving at 11:30am. Will we be able to make a Hawaiian Air 12:30pm flight to Kauai? I assume our bags go straight through but I am not sure how far apart the terminals are.
The bags won't go straight to LIH without you actually telling the agent upon departure in LAX that you want to "check your bags straight through to LIH." If you don't make sure that your bags are tagged to LIH, they will inevitably end up at the baggage claim at HNL. The link that cblaisd provided above has a lot of great information on what to do to make sure you bags are tagged to LIH.
And, ::mod hat on:: as common practice, I'll move this thread to the Hawaii State forum, where all questions regarding traveling within Hawaii belong.
Ditto all the above - we made a 33 minute connection in HNL - CO->HA (maui). Our bags didn't, but came on the next flight. HA said minimum bag connection time in HNL to HA is 1:30. HA said they'd deliver the bags, but it was only about a 40 minute wait - we got the rental car, came back & picked up the bags about 10 min later.
How about timimg going the other way? Is 45 minutes enough time to connect in HNL from an Island Air flight to an HA flight back to the mainland? Is that too big of a chance to take with Island Air, or are they fairly reliable?
How about timimg going the other way? Is 45 minutes enough time to connect in HNL from an Island Air flight to an HA flight back to the mainland? Is that too big of a chance to take with Island Air, or are they fairly reliable?
I would say you're taking a chance. Although it's not a big deal, you still have to go through the ag. screening station, and the HA domestic and Island Air commuter terminals are not exactly close together. I would allow at least 60-75 minutes, especially since the Mainland flights board earlier than the interisland ones. Plus if you miss the domestic flight, it's not as easy to take the "next" flight as it is with interisland flights...
