Category Archives: Travel

Travel

Direct flights to India and Asia from Hawaii

1 Comment

This question came from a reader about the best way to fly to India from Hawaii:

I will be in Hawaii in December [sic] and I would like to fly home to India from there instead of having to fly halfway back around the world to the UK and then back again. Do you have any suggestions for cheap flights from Honolulu to any of the large Asian hubs (say, Bangkok, or Kuala Lumpur, or Hong Kong)?

Here’s what I suggest:

Flying back to the UK from Hawaii to then fly India sounds painful. However, there are no direct flights to India from Hawaii. You will need to use an Asian hub city and then connect. Tokyo, Hong Kong, Manila, Seoul, and Guam serve as hub cities for direct flights from Honolulu, Hawaii (see HNL’s flight tracker to see all airlines and direct flights).

Flights to Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Bangkok and other Asian hubs usually go through Tokyo. Kayak or Travelocity might be able to help you find the cheapest fare. If you’re flying to more than on Asian city, consider using an Asian Airpass to get the most for your money.

Travel

Connecting in Honolulu Airport (HNL) to an Interisland Flight

wiki-wiki-shuttle-bus-honolulu-airportThis series covers using airports in Hawaii. Click here to see the rest of the articles in this series. This post covers connecting in Honolulu International Airport (HNL) from a Mainland flight to an interisland flight (a domestic to domestic transfer).

TIME FOR CONNECTIONS

Allow anywhere from 30-75 minutes to connect for your interisland flight on any Hawaiian Airlines flight or on a Mokulele Airlines flight operated by Republic Airways on the EMB-175. These times listed are extremes: thirty minutes is really pushing it and 75 minutes is fairly relaxed. (If you are connecting to a go! or Island Air flight, please read the segment listed below.) I have heard of a few who have made 15 minute connections, but remember that your bags might not make the flight you’re on. Allow at least 45-75 minutes if you plan on checking your bags through to your final destination. More importantly, use your best judgment and understand that neither Hawaiian nor Mokulele provide free “standby” for passengers who miss their flight (see below).

You can walk between terminals or ride the free Wiki-Wiki shuttle bus. You will not exit security. Continue reading Connecting in Honolulu Airport (HNL) to an Interisland Flight →

Travel

Connecting with Island Air, go! or Hawaiian Airlines

This series covers using airports in Hawaii. Click here to see the rest of the articles in this series. This post covers connecting with Island Air, go! or Hawaiian Airlines.

CHECK-IN TIMES

Be very sure to allow the maximum time for connecting on to an Island Air, go!, or Mokulele caravan flight and check with your carrier on what their cut-off for check-in is. The last thing you’d want is to be stranded in Honolulu after missing the last Island Air/go! flights to the neighbor islands. The airlines currently operate out of the commuter terminal, which is further past main inter-island building, meaning a longer walk/Wiki Wiki shuttle commute (please refer to map linked above).

Online Check-in

However, be aware that both these carriers offer online check-in, which means one can have their boarding passes in advance. Also, security times are normally very minimal at the commuter terminal. But also note that Island Air usually locks you out of online check-in if you have a ticket ticketed with a partner airline’s miles (e.g., MileagePlus, OnePass, etc). Take this into consideration as you schedule your layover in HNL, since Island Air does require passengers to be checked in 60 minutes prior. (Note that not being able to check in online should not affect your ability to interline your bags to your final destination).

TRANSFERRING IN HNL

You do not need to leave the secured area if transferring from any domestic airline to go! or Island Air. Simply walk to gate 66 (the last gate in the interisland terminal in the Hawaiian Airlines terminal), proceed down the escalator and wait for an agent to escort you via the tarmac to the commuter terminal holding area.

WIKIWIKI SHUTTLE

There is a WikiWiki shuttle (electronic buses) that operate behind security and make a loop to all terminals including the commuter terminal. If you are arriving off one of the airlines operating in the Diamond Head area of the domestic terminal (United, Continental or Northwest Airlines) and were not able to check your luggage to your final destination, this may be an alternative option that may get you to the commuter terminal faster. The WikiWiki shuttle that operates airside does not continue to the commuter terminal. The last stop is the interisland terminal.

STANDBY ON GO! OR ISLAND AIR

Note that Island Air and go! do provide free standby for passengers wishing to take an earlier flight. Consult your fare rules and the airlines’ websites for more information.