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)
Oct 9, 2020, 3:38 pm
#181
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Lahaina, HI & Los Angeles, CA
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,403
Personally, I favor a Kauai type model, giving notice in a quantitative fashion, that the quarantine requirement could be reinstated or the implementation of a post arrival testing procedure.
Last edited by LAXOGG; Oct 9, 2020 at 4:22 pm Reason: Further info about contingency plan
Oct 9, 2020, 6:55 pm
#182
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: HNL & SFO
Programs: UA MM/Gold
Posts: 292
I fly back SFO-HNL ON 10/15. I just received this email from United:
Oct 9, 2020, 7:14 pm
#183
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: San Francisco
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The Hawaii forum has more details on what was shared today, but the pre-travel testing program may not work at all airports United serves in Hawaii, aren't good for interisland flights, and even with a test before departure, 10% of passenger arrivals will be subject to additional testing, details TBD in the coming days.
The other thing Governor Ige confirmed is if you come to an island/airport that is not participating in the pre-travel test program, you are subject to the 14 day quarantine regardless of your testing status. He used an example of flying into KOA from the mainland as an example at today's press conference. If you buy SFO-KOA on UA and connect to OGG on HA, any test you took before is moot and you will need to quarantine for 14 days on Maui.
The other thing Governor Ige confirmed is if you come to an island/airport that is not participating in the pre-travel test program, you are subject to the 14 day quarantine regardless of your testing status. He used an example of flying into KOA from the mainland as an example at today's press conference. If you buy SFO-KOA on UA and connect to OGG on HA, any test you took before is moot and you will need to quarantine for 14 days on Maui.
Oct 9, 2020, 7:52 pm
#184
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: New York / Hawaii
Programs: UA Global Services, HH Diamond
Posts: 5,176
Although I suspect the I know the answer on this. What about the so called "back door" onto the Big Island? Such as SFO-HNL, then take inter island into KOA at a "later time". I assume they are locking up all inter island travel with quarantine restrictions as strange as it seems. It wouldn't make sense to allow that, hence the need for a state wide plan. As many have stated let's see what happens after the first couple of weeks.
If someone is planning to fly to Hawaii anytime soon on United, they should make sure it's on a single ticket and ideally, you're flying to the island you plan to park on for a bit. When you pop up with another airline ticket and an out-of-state license for a connecting flight purchased separately from your mainland flight, you run the risk of getting yourself into all sorts of problems.
Oct 9, 2020, 7:54 pm
#185
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,447
Although I suspect the I know the answer on this. What about the so called "back door" onto the Big Island? Such as SFO-HNL, then take inter island into KOA at a "later time". I assume they are locking up all inter island travel with quarantine restrictions as strange as it seems. It wouldn't make sense to allow that, hence the need for a state wide plan. As many have stated let's see what happens after the first couple of weeks.
Oct 9, 2020, 9:37 pm
#186
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: New York / Hawaii
Programs: UA Global Services, HH Diamond
Posts: 5,176
FYI, KOA will welcome pre-travel testers, but everyone must take a free test at the airport upon landing. Once those negative results are in, you are free to go. ITO is not participating.
Oct 9, 2020, 11:33 pm
#187
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Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
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Posts: 42,165
Oct 9, 2020, 11:57 pm
#188
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: New York / Hawaii
Programs: UA Global Services, HH Diamond
Posts: 5,176
Roughly 15 minutes. They're going to stage people across from the terminal where the rental car desks were in the "old days" prior to the rental shuttles.
While it takes 15 minutes to get a test result, I don't know yet how long it will take to wait in line to get a test. Not sure how they'll round up people from baggage claim and get them across the street nor do I know how many resources will be out there testing... although an island-based healthcare company is administering the tests.
While things are changing with airport construction, the UA baggage claim area has traditionally been at the "north" end of the airport and this testing area is about 600 feet away from there in the middle of the airport.
While it takes 15 minutes to get a test result, I don't know yet how long it will take to wait in line to get a test. Not sure how they'll round up people from baggage claim and get them across the street nor do I know how many resources will be out there testing... although an island-based healthcare company is administering the tests.
While things are changing with airport construction, the UA baggage claim area has traditionally been at the "north" end of the airport and this testing area is about 600 feet away from there in the middle of the airport.
Oct 10, 2020, 12:43 am
#189
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 812
If I have a negative test result upon landing at KOA and exempt myself from quarantine on the Big Island, can I use that to fly to LIH 4 days later without quarantining on Kauai?
Oct 10, 2020, 12:54 am
#190
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: New York / Hawaii
Programs: UA Global Services, HH Diamond
Posts: 5,176
For now, there is no way to travel between islands without the 14 day quarantine (unless an island grants you an essential service exemption which is getting more difficult to get/use.)
Oct 10, 2020, 10:12 am
#191
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: 3,614
Roughly 15 minutes. They're going to stage people across from the terminal where the rental car desks were in the "old days" prior to the rental shuttles.
While it takes 15 minutes to get a test result, I don't know yet how long it will take to wait in line to get a test. Not sure how they'll round up people from baggage claim and get them across the street nor do I know how many resources will be out there testing... although an island-based healthcare company is administering the tests.
While things are changing with airport construction, the UA baggage claim area has traditionally been at the "north" end of the airport and this testing area is about 600 feet away from there in the middle of the airport.
While it takes 15 minutes to get a test result, I don't know yet how long it will take to wait in line to get a test. Not sure how they'll round up people from baggage claim and get them across the street nor do I know how many resources will be out there testing... although an island-based healthcare company is administering the tests.
While things are changing with airport construction, the UA baggage claim area has traditionally been at the "north" end of the airport and this testing area is about 600 feet away from there in the middle of the airport.
Oct 10, 2020, 10:59 am
#192
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,447
It'll be interesting to see what happens if you test positive on 2nd test and you were only there for a long weekend. Where do you quarantine? How long do you stay on the island?
Oct 10, 2020, 12:50 pm
#193
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: New York / Hawaii
Programs: UA Global Services, HH Diamond
Posts: 5,176
If you test positive on the second test, you must stay quarantined at your intended destination until the third test comes back negative, which could take up to 3 days. If you didn't take the pre-travel test but still test negative at the airport, you're still stuck in quarantine for 14 days.
Oct 10, 2020, 3:20 pm
#194
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: 3,614
If you test positive on the second test, you must stay quarantined at your intended destination until the third test comes back negative, which could take up to 3 days. If you didn't take the pre-travel test but still test negative at the airport, you're still stuck in quarantine for 14 days.
Last edited by nomad420; Oct 10, 2020 at 3:20 pm Reason: typo
Oct 10, 2020, 3:24 pm
#195
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Join Date: Sep 2003
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I believe he may have been asking if even the third test comes back positive and you are only there for only a short stay can they basically force a 14 day quarantine? While unusual I thought they were actually letting you leave. Otherwise they would have to basically lock you up given, in theory, you would have no place to stay. Again, an unlikely but possible scenario I suppose.