Category Archives: Travel

News, Travel

Hawaiian Airlines removes an exit row on Mainland flight

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Hawaiian Airlines removed one of the two exit rows on its Boeing 767-300 flight 16 bound today from Honolulu San Diego and replace it with at least two more standard coach rows.

Hawaiian Airlines removes one of two exit rows on its Boeing 767-300 bound for the Mainland

Flight details:

Flight: HA 16, Hawaiian Airlines

From: HNL, Honolulu, HI to SAN, San Diego, CA

Duration: 5h 20 m

Equipment: Boeing 767-300

A quick search of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rules reveals that the Boeing 767-300 aircraft is required to only have one pair of Type III exits, the kind found on either end of exit row seats. Hawaiian’s removal of an exit row practice appears to be within the FAA’s rules.

However, removing a safety feature in order to pack the plane tighter with passengers calls into questions the airlines motives.

Family, Travel

Checking pets to and from Hawaii

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Question from a reader: What are the airlines’ rules for kennels to transport pets as checked cargo/baggage to and from Hawaii?

Answer:

American Airlines provides the most specific details on which size of pet (dog or cat) kennel / crate they allow. According to their website:

Pets Traveling as Checked Baggage

The maximum size for checked kennels is a series 500 kennel with the following dimensions: 40″ long x 27″ wide x 30″ high. However, this size kennel is not accepted on the Boeing MD-80 (S80). Kennels checked on MD-80s must be able to fit through the cargo door while remaining in an upright position. MD-80 cargo doors are 29″ high x 53″ wide.

Series 700 kennels are not allowed on any aircraft.

The maximum weight of a checked pet and kennel (combined) cannot exceed 100 lbs.

Collapsible Kennels (those which can fold down flat) can not be accepted due to the risk of collapse during transport.

Pets Traveling as Carryon

The maximum size for cabin pet carriers is 23″ long x 13″ wide x 9″ high.

Other domestic airlines are likely to have similar guidelines, but they aren’t posted. I suggest calling your desired airline to check before booking a ticket.

Remember that the FAA also imposes runway temperature restrictions for pets. Generally, pets are only allowed to travel when the runway is not more than 85 degrees F and not less than 45 degrees F. An exception can be made to 20 degrees F, if a veterinarian certifies that the pet is acclimated to lower temperatures. No exceptions are allowed over 85 degrees (think Dallas in summer) or under 20 degrees (think Boston in winter).

Basic health requirements must also be met, including original proof of vaccination for rabies for pets departing Hawaii. For pets traveling to Hawaii, stringent health rules apply. Learn more about those from the state quarantine office. Due to state budget cuts, the inspection facility at Honolulu Airport has reduced its hours as follows:

Effective December 1, 2009 inspection hours for dog and cats at Honolulu International Airport (HNL) will be between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily, including weekends and holidays. This information is particularly important for those who are qualifying their pets for direct release at the airport.  Pet owners should be sure to arrange for their flights to arrive by 3:30 p.m. because it may take up to one hour for the airlines to transport a pet to the Airport Animal Quarantine Holding Facility and animals not arriving at the facility by 4:30 p.m. will not be released at the airport that day.   Pets arriving in the late afternoon and evening will be held overnight until inspections are completed the following morning.  Pet owners who are connecting to neighboring islands should pay particular attention to the change in inspection hours.  (An advisory was posted on this website on August 17, 2009 to advise pet owners of the probability of reduced inspection hours.)

Lifestyle, Travel

How to Choose Carry-On Luggage that Will Pass Airline Inspection

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First, the Rules (Updated 2018)

Each airline publishes size limitations and often change these to force passengers to pay more. Check with your airline directly. However, the general rule is that a bag cannot exceed 45 linear inches, according to the FAA. That means that if you add up the length, height and width, the total inches cannot be more than 45 inches. These airlines fly to Hawaii:

Air Canada21.5″ L x 15.5″ W x 9.5″ H
(23 cm x 40 cm x 55 cm)		22 lbs
(10kg)
Air New Zealand46.5″ (linear)
(118 cm)		15 lbs
(7kg)
Airtran Airways24″ L x 16″ W x 10″ H
(61 cm x 40.6 cm x 25.4 cm)		n/a
Alaska Airlines24″ L x 17″ W x 10″ H
(61 cm x 43 cm x 25 cm)		n/a
American Airlines22″ L x 14″ W x 9″ H
(56 cm x 36 cm x 23 cm)		n/a
Delta Airline22″ L x 14″ W x 9″ H
(56 cm x 35 cm x 23 cm)		n/a
Frontier Airlines24″ L x 16″ W x 10″ H
(61 cm x 40.6 cm x 25.4 cm)		35 lbs
(15.9 kg)
Hawaiian Airlines22″ L x 14″ W x 9″ H
(56 cm x 35 cm x 23 cm)		25 lbs
(11.5)
United Airlines22″ L x 14″ W x 9″ H
(56 cm x 35 cm x 23 cm)		n/a
US Airways22″ L x 14″ W x 9″ H
(56 cm x 35 cm x 23 cm)		50 lbs
(22 kg)
Virgin America
24″ L x 16″ W x 10″ H
(61 cm x 40.6 cm x 25.4 cm)		50 lbs
(22 kg)

TSA has rules about carry on luggage. Each airline also has its own rules for carry on luggage. You need to be familiar with both. TSA’s rules for carry on luggage mean that you cannot bring any liquid or gel in greater amount than 3 ounces (100 mL), and those 3 ounce bottles must fit into one quart size plastic bag. You also cannot have anything sharp, like scissors or knives.

Next, the Luggage

Three brands of luggage offer the best warranty service, including guarantees against damage done by the airlines: Eagle Creek, Patagonia and Tumi. I have successfully used all three and used their lifetime warranties. As an elite flier, I personally use:

Other companies, such as TravelPro, Hartmann, Victorinox, Swiss Army and  Samsonite, sell solid luggage sets with good warranties. I have traveled with all of these brands as well. However, these don’t guarantee against damage done to your luggage by the airline. Only Eagle Creek and Patagonia offer this type of warranty. And let’s face facts, most of wear and tear on luggage comes from the airlines’ luggage handlers and sorters.

Whichever bag you choose, I hope you find one that really works well for you!