Sep 25, 2020, 11:19 am
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
For general discussion of the Hawai'i test-out program and /or discussion of non-UA partners (CVS, Walgreens, your local provider, ....), please use COVID-19 - 14-Day Trans-Pac Arrivals Quarantine/Oct. 15 [Target] Pre-Arrival Test-Out
United Airlines Becomes First U.S. Carrier to Make COVID-19 Tests Available to Customers
1) Day of Travel Rapid Test option
GoHealth Urgent Care will offer at airport COVID testing for UA passengers traveling to Hawaii starting Oct 15
Appointments ??? Hawaii SFO COVID-19 Testing ??? (unverified)
2) Advance of Travel Option (The latest word is Hawai'i will not accept the mail-in option at this time -- change of mind?)
3) Drive thru test at SFO in advance of travel
Color has opened an (qualifying) in-person drive-thru testing site in a United Airlines parking lot right outside of SFO. $105
Customers taking the drive-through test option – administered by Color – can schedule an appointment in advance online and should make the appointment for 48-72 hours before their flight departs. Walk-in appointments will not be available. Once a customer takes the test, they will receive an electronic copy of their results in 24-48 hours. The testing facility is located at United's San Francisco Maintenance Center parking lot at 800 S Airport Blvd – a short drive away from the airport. Customers must take the test within 72 hours of their flight's departure and will receive their results electronically.
appointment link
For more non-airline specific info on Hawaii's test-out and quarantine programs, see
COVID-19 - 14-Day Trans-Pac Arrivals Quarantine/Oct. 15 [Target] Pre-Arrival Test-Out
Other carrier options
Hawaiian to offer drive-through testing at sites near SFO and LAX - $90 for results w/i 36 hours, $150 day of travel.
Oakland Airport will offer free COVID-19 tests for Hawaii-bound travelers (Oct. 15th)
United Airlines Becomes First U.S. Carrier to Make COVID-19 Tests Available to Customers
1) Day of Travel Rapid Test option
GoHealth Urgent Care will offer at airport COVID testing for UA passengers traveling to Hawaii starting Oct 15
- Presenting negative test results on arrival to Hawai'i officials will exempt the traveler from the 14-day quarantine
- Appointments are needed and with results in 15 minutes
- The ID NOW COVID-19 test is a rapid, molecular point-of-care test that detects COVID-19 in 13 minutes or less.
- Test location is arrivals level SFO International Terminal, pre-security
- Present cost is $250 (paid to the tester - GoHealth)
Appointments ??? Hawaii SFO COVID-19 Testing ??? (unverified)
I watched an interview with a representative from the testing company on Fox News today. The takeaways I got were:
- Test will be administered land side, not airside
- Part of the "agreement" is that a positive test will be shared with the local health authority and you will be unable to get through security, let alone board a plane
- The results are NOT shared with UA (or subsequently any other airline partner).
-A positive test will get you sent home if you are local or into local quarantine if not
- The test and paperwork take less than 20 minutes to process and get a result
- The intent is to expand to other airports and other airlines once the pilot is successfully rolled out
- There was no discussion of cost
- Connecting passengers would need to go landside for the test. If the test is positive UA would be notified to offload bags if necessary. That is the only "involvement" with UA
Those were the salient points that I remember. Others who saw the interview please add anything I missed.
- Test will be administered land side, not airside
- Part of the "agreement" is that a positive test will be shared with the local health authority and you will be unable to get through security, let alone board a plane
- The results are NOT shared with UA (or subsequently any other airline partner).
-A positive test will get you sent home if you are local or into local quarantine if not
- The test and paperwork take less than 20 minutes to process and get a result
- The intent is to expand to other airports and other airlines once the pilot is successfully rolled out
- There was no discussion of cost
- Connecting passengers would need to go landside for the test. If the test is positive UA would be notified to offload bags if necessary. That is the only "involvement" with UA
Those were the salient points that I remember. Others who saw the interview please add anything I missed.
- 10 days in advance request a physician-ordered Self-Collection Test from Color and return no earlier than 72 hours of travel (arrival to Hawai'i?) via overnight mail or to a dropbox at SFO.
- Color then processes those tests at their local, CLIA-certified COVID-19 testing laboratory and returns results via text and/or email within 24-48 hours.
- Present cost is $80 (paid to the tester - Color)
3) Drive thru test at SFO in advance of travel
Color has opened an (qualifying) in-person drive-thru testing site in a United Airlines parking lot right outside of SFO. $105
United Airlines COVID-19 testing program
United Airlines is partnering with Color to enable fast, reliable test results for people traveling directly out of San Francisco International Airport to Hawai’i starting October 15, 2020.
If you are traveling to Hawai’i on a direct United flight out of SFO, you should expect an email from United seven (7) days before your scheduled flight. Please contact United for more information at 1-800-864-8331 (1-800-UNITED-1).
United Airlines is partnering with Color to enable fast, reliable test results for people traveling directly out of San Francisco International Airport to Hawai’i starting October 15, 2020.
If you are traveling to Hawai’i on a direct United flight out of SFO, you should expect an email from United seven (7) days before your scheduled flight. Please contact United for more information at 1-800-864-8331 (1-800-UNITED-1).
appointment link
For more non-airline specific info on Hawaii's test-out and quarantine programs, see
COVID-19 - 14-Day Trans-Pac Arrivals Quarantine/Oct. 15 [Target] Pre-Arrival Test-Out
Other carrier options
Hawaiian to offer drive-through testing at sites near SFO and LAX - $90 for results w/i 36 hours, $150 day of travel.
Oakland Airport will offer free COVID-19 tests for Hawaii-bound travelers (Oct. 15th)
UA Pre-flight COVID Testing for SFO-Hawai'i (and other destinations)
Sep 24, 2020, 4:51 pm
#46
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,447
Right now - you can't get a test wherever you like. Right now, it is CVS and Kaiser (both of which no details have been released but the State did confirm they won't test under 12 years old) and the UA partnership.
Sep 24, 2020, 4:51 pm
#47
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: YVR
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 975
Is this test airside or landside? As a Canadian I think the best option to go to HNL is to fly to SFO first and take the rapid test?
Sep 24, 2020, 4:58 pm
#48
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: *G^2, Bonvoyed, NEXUS
Posts: 3,516
The test is for the Hawai'i health authorities -- that is a question for them but be Hawai'i is working a deal with CVS and Kaiser Permanente Walgreens
see https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hawa...-test-out.html
UA is not requiring the test, Hawai'i is
see https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hawa...-test-out.html
UA is not requiring the test, Hawai'i is
I can get a FDA-approved test from a CLIA-approved lab in much less than 72 hours from a place that is not CVS or Kaiser... so is that all that is needed?
Is UA going to play a role in checking this as well?
Sep 24, 2020, 5:07 pm
#49
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2019
Programs: AA: CK
Posts: 2,230
A little confused here. The Hawaii governor's declaration specifically calls for a NAAT COVID test, which is a molecular test (includes PCR). The testing that UA can offer with 15 minute results is an antigen test. How will UA's rapid tests be accepted by Hawaii?
Also, the governor also said that CVS and Kaiser are "approved partners." Does that mean other testers are not permitted? I wouldn't think so, but...
https://governor.hawaii.gov/newsroom...-sept-16-2020/
Thanks
-BlooJoo
Also, the governor also said that CVS and Kaiser are "approved partners." Does that mean other testers are not permitted? I wouldn't think so, but...
https://governor.hawaii.gov/newsroom...-sept-16-2020/
Thanks
-BlooJoo
Sep 24, 2020, 5:11 pm
#50
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: New York / Hawaii
Programs: UA Global Services, HH Diamond
Posts: 5,178
My biggest question is what happens when someone has a positive result?
Can UA deny boarding to an asymptomatic positive? and if you test positive, does HIPAA prevent the testor from sharing your result with UA and Hawaii? If one really wanted to go to Hawaii, I imagine if they tested positive, they would still go but say they didn't test. They'd still have to quarantine, but they'd do so in Hawaii.
Can UA deny boarding to an asymptomatic positive? and if you test positive, does HIPAA prevent the testor from sharing your result with UA and Hawaii? If one really wanted to go to Hawaii, I imagine if they tested positive, they would still go but say they didn't test. They'd still have to quarantine, but they'd do so in Hawaii.
Sep 24, 2020, 5:11 pm
#51
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: San Jose, CA USA
Posts: 1,791
I heard different. As long as the test is from a CLIA certified lab, they said they would take it.
Sep 24, 2020, 5:17 pm
#52
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,447
Also, the governor also said that CVS and Kaiser are "approved partners." Does that mean other testers are not permitted? I wouldn't think so, but...
https://governor.hawaii.gov/newsroom...-sept-16-2020/
Sep 24, 2020, 5:23 pm
#53
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: LAS ORD
Programs: AA Pro (mostly B6) OZ♦ (flying BR/UA), BA Silver Hyatt LT, Wynn Black, Cosmo Plat, Mlife Noir
Posts: 5,992
Again, the specific Abbott test mentioned (the so-called "ID NOW") is a molecular test.
Sep 24, 2020, 5:23 pm
#54
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA MM Plat, UA 1MM, Hilton Lifetime Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz Gold, CLEAR, AS MVP Gold
Posts: 3,619
I as well can get free testing through my work as well but don't want to risk some red-tape issue with the State of Hawaii and turned away from my flight or worse denied entry at Hawaii and have to fly back to the mainland. If they (State of Hawaii) accept for example a CVS test, then that is what I will do and just charge it to my HSA. Having gone through this last month, and don't take this the wrong way, the people checking at the airport work for Civil Defense (at least some) and they basically follow a script. If all the boxes are not checked off correctly you will be denied entry. I went through this at HNL and also on inter-Island travel last month.
Sep 24, 2020, 5:31 pm
#55
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2019
Programs: AA: CK
Posts: 2,230
Thanks.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Sep 24, 2020 at 5:41 pm Reason: merged consecutive posts by same member
Sep 24, 2020, 5:32 pm
#56
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,447
You won't be denied entry - you'll simply be told you are under 14 day mandatory quarantine.
Sep 24, 2020, 5:34 pm
#57
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA MM Plat, UA 1MM, Hilton Lifetime Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz Gold, CLEAR, AS MVP Gold
Posts: 3,619
Sep 24, 2020, 5:37 pm
#58
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,852
UA is not requiring the test and it is not being done for UA. Hawai'i is requiring the test and will determine the suitability. See the discussion on the Hawai'i forum.
As a PCR test and as joint agreement with Hawai's, yes
There is the mailin appraoch which should work for everyone (Domestic and maybe Canada) -- and it is cheaper
Sep 24, 2020, 5:52 pm
#59
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: No. California
Programs: UA MP HH LTD
Posts: 2,040
Sep 24, 2020, 6:05 pm
#60
In memoriam
Join Date: Dec 2001
Programs: DL 2MM, AA MM, DL Sky Club Life, AA Admirals Club Life, Hilton Gold Life
Posts: 1,732
Will the testing fee be buried in the fare structure for business and above bookings? It would make it easier to handle in expense accounts