Jan 27, 2021, 9:38 am
Last edit by: FlyinHawaiian
The Hawaii "Safe Travels" program ends on March 25, 2022. For more information, please see: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hawaii/2044877-state-hawaii-safe-travels-program-ends-march-25-2022-a.html
Wristband access
Most UCs
EWR: C104
IAD:
ORD: 7/17 UC@B16, gate@C16 || 7/29 not avail at UC@B6, yes avail at gate@B16
IAH: E7
DEN: online screening/verification then B34 or club
LAX: T7 customer service desk, around the corner from 70A
SFO: F15/16; Designated desk pre-security at Door 3.
SNA: Opposite Gate10
COVID-19 testing for United travelers
Wristband access
Most UCs
EWR: C104
IAD:
ORD: 7/17 UC@B16, gate@C16 || 7/29 not avail at UC@B6, yes avail at gate@B16
IAH: E7
DEN: online screening/verification then B34 or club
LAX: T7 customer service desk, around the corner from 70A
SFO: F15/16; Designated desk pre-security at Door 3.
SNA: Opposite Gate10
United Makes Hawaii Travel Easier with Expanded COVID Testing and Pre-Clearance Program
Customers traveling to the islands can save time by showing proof of negative tests at United's hub airports and skip document screening process in Hawaii
CHICAGO, Jan. 27, 2021
Beginning February 1, United customers traveling to Hawaii who have a valid negative COVID-19 test can show their results before boarding to save time and skip document screening lines upon arrival. The new pre-clearance process will be in place for customers traveling on 110 of United's weekly flights to Hawaii.
United is also making it easier to get the right tests to avoid Hawaii's 14-day quarantine by making approved COVID-19 tests available to all customers traveling to the islands no matter where in the U.S. their travel begins.
"We're making it easier for customers traveling to Hawaii to spend more time enjoying their trip and less time waiting in lines," said Toby Enqvist, chief customer officer at United. "Testing is the key to opening domestic and international travel so we'll continue to lead the way in rolling out solutions that are simple and safe so our customers have what they need when they take their next trip with us."
To begin the pre-clearance program, customers will enroll in Hawaii's Safe Travels program and complete Hawaii's COVID-19 questionnaire within 24 hours from departure. Next, customers will use the Safe Travels website to upload their negative test results from one of Hawaii's trusted testing partners which must be taken within 72 hours of their departure. At the airport, customers will see a United team member at the gate for their flight to Hawaii where they will receive a wristband if they qualify to bypass airport screening in Hawaii. Customers who have been pre-cleared will be able to skip test screenings in Hawaii and begin their trip as soon as they land.
For images of United's pre-clearance program click here.
Customers traveling to the islands can save time by showing proof of negative tests at United's hub airports and skip document screening process in Hawaii
CHICAGO, Jan. 27, 2021
Beginning February 1, United customers traveling to Hawaii who have a valid negative COVID-19 test can show their results before boarding to save time and skip document screening lines upon arrival. The new pre-clearance process will be in place for customers traveling on 110 of United's weekly flights to Hawaii.
United is also making it easier to get the right tests to avoid Hawaii's 14-day quarantine by making approved COVID-19 tests available to all customers traveling to the islands no matter where in the U.S. their travel begins.
"We're making it easier for customers traveling to Hawaii to spend more time enjoying their trip and less time waiting in lines," said Toby Enqvist, chief customer officer at United. "Testing is the key to opening domestic and international travel so we'll continue to lead the way in rolling out solutions that are simple and safe so our customers have what they need when they take their next trip with us."
To begin the pre-clearance program, customers will enroll in Hawaii's Safe Travels program and complete Hawaii's COVID-19 questionnaire within 24 hours from departure. Next, customers will use the Safe Travels website to upload their negative test results from one of Hawaii's trusted testing partners which must be taken within 72 hours of their departure. At the airport, customers will see a United team member at the gate for their flight to Hawaii where they will receive a wristband if they qualify to bypass airport screening in Hawaii. Customers who have been pre-cleared will be able to skip test screenings in Hawaii and begin their trip as soon as they land.
For images of United's pre-clearance program click here.
UA's Hawaii preclearance at all UA hubs: questions, experiences, ... New Process DEN?
Aug 12, 2021, 10:37 pm
#166
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 187
Does anyone know if the United Club in SFO does the Hawaii pre-clearance inside the club? I know that the United Club in LAX can do the pre-clearance for Hawaii as we have done it there a few times before. We were just wondering as we are connecting through SFO tomorrow morning. Thanks in advance.
Aug 16, 2021, 2:18 am
#167
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: 3,620
Just a reminder that wrist bands are not required. I have never gotten a wrist band on my past three trips to the Islands. This AM at SFO there were probably 100 people in line to get the wrist bands at gate F17 as there were flights heading out to both OGG and KOA at nearly the same time. KOA even now has a line for "non wrist banded" paxs and I cleared it in literally a couple of minutes. So don't freak if you are running a bit late and are confronted with a huge preclearance line, just board and handle it upon arrival.
Aug 16, 2021, 10:10 am
#169
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 2,531
Aug 16, 2021, 10:13 am
#170
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 2,531
For me, my first time through the process, I was glad to get the wristband because I knew I had done all of the steps right.
If it had turned out my vaccine card wasn't acceptable or I hadn't gotten tested at the right place or whatever, I would have preferred to find out at my home airport and delay my trip by a day, rather than the arrivals line in KOA.
Now that i'm more familiar with the process, I would not fret about getting on a flight without a wristband if pressed for time.
Aug 16, 2021, 12:49 pm
#171
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: MEX
Programs: TK G,UA *S
Posts: 1,137
I would like to ask you if the pre clearance can be done also in other airport than the one from where you fly directly to Hawaii.
For example if connecting in IAH and SFO could we already go to the UC in IAH and get there the wristband? Has anybody tried it?
Thanks
For example if connecting in IAH and SFO could we already go to the UC in IAH and get there the wristband? Has anybody tried it?
Thanks
Aug 18, 2021, 7:42 am
#172
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: MEX
Programs: TK G,UA *S
Posts: 1,137
I would like to ask you if the pre clearance can be done also in other airport than the one from where you fly directly to Hawaii.
For example if connecting in IAH and SFO could we already go to the UC in IAH and get there the wristband? Has anybody tried it?
Thanks
For example if connecting in IAH and SFO could we already go to the UC in IAH and get there the wristband? Has anybody tried it?
Thanks
Aug 18, 2021, 8:05 am
#173
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 2,531
At the UC I do not think they looked at my boarding pass (other than barcode scan to enter the club) so I don't think they would even know you aren't on a nonstop, unless there aren't any or the only nonstop has already departed or something.
Aug 30, 2021, 3:12 pm
#174
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: 3,620
Just flew back with yet another pax who got reject in Hawaii for having a negative test but from a non approved lab. He was with his entire family and got turned around in KOA to head back to SFO to retest at SFO and then try and get the next AM flight back to KOA. Pretty harsh three 1/2 TPACS in 24 hrs!! This is like 5th time I have personally run into people who have done this. Sad, but I guess novice travelers to Hawaii just figure get any test. He said he went to a "travel test site" which I have heard before as well. You would think that the so called travelers test site would inform the pax if they were going to Hawaii they are not approved.
Aug 30, 2021, 4:00 pm
#175
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,447
Just flew back with yet another pax who got reject in Hawaii for having a negative test but from a non approved lab. He was with his entire family and got turned around in KOA to head back to SFO to retest at SFO and then try and get the next AM flight back to KOA. Pretty harsh three 1/2 TPACS in 24 hrs!! This is like 5th time I have personally run into people who have done this. Sad, but I guess novice travelers to Hawaii just figure get any test. He said he went to a "travel test site" which I have heard before as well. You would think that the so called travelers test site would inform the pax if they were going to Hawaii they are not approved.
As soon as you click the Covid NAAT/PCR test exception box on the safe travel website a popup comes and clearly says in bullet #1
- Only upload COVID-19 test results from Hawaii's Trusted Testing and Travel Partners, found on https://hawaiicovid19.com/travel-partners/. All other tests will be rejected.
Aug 30, 2021, 4:30 pm
#176
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,020
Agree - you can provide people with all the info they need, but some will ignore it or think they can get away with something not in line with the requirements. I have zero sympathy for the decision-maker(s) of the group, but feel sorry for the others who depended on the bonehead(s) who led them down the wrong path. Lesson learned? Who knows? There are some people who just don't learn...
Aug 30, 2021, 4:32 pm
#177
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: 3,620
You really have to make a colossal mistake and miss clear warnings even if you don't preclear. And UA is pretty good about directing people to preclear.
As soon as you click the Covid NAAT/PCR test exception box on the safe travel website a popup comes and clearly says in bullet #1
As soon as you click the Covid NAAT/PCR test exception box on the safe travel website a popup comes and clearly says in bullet #1
- Only upload COVID-19 test results from Hawaii's Trusted Testing and Travel Partners, found on https://hawaiicovid19.com/travel-partners/. All other tests will be rejected.
Aug 30, 2021, 7:47 pm
#178
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,020
I'm sure he was trying to blame anything/anyone but himself. Sounds like a "travel web site" was his initial target. I've see travelers start yelling at the document checkers on Maui. Luckily, OGG's often stationed an airport police officer in the vicinity and it doesn't get out of hand.
Sep 11, 2021, 7:41 am
#179
Moderator: Hawaii-based airlines & Hawai'i forums
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Ka ʻĀpala Nui, Nuioka
Programs: NEXUS/Global Entry, Delta, United, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott, and Hertz
Posts: 18,038
+1 and I are flying UA363 today, the EWR-HNL non-stop. We’re departing from Gate 102 so it was very easy to pop over to Gate 104 to get our wristbands. There wasn’t any line at all and we got our wristbands and green check on SafeTravels with plenty of time to spare.
Sep 11, 2021, 12:10 pm
#180
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,447
Sadly - demand to Hawaii has dropped by over 50% so not surprising wristbands were easy - your mostly empty plane even flew with empty F seats which used to be unheard of on this route.