Are you getting back to travel again? Your Beat of Hawaii editors are, and we both have plans to cover all of the Hawaiian Islands and travel between Hawaii and the US mainland starting soon.
It’s an understatement to say that things have changed and what we valued before isn’t the same as it is now. So even though many of you and we are experienced travelers, we all want to find new ways to avoid being caught in unsafe and uncomfortable Hawaii travel situations.
Here are our top airline travel tips for making the most of your flights now to and from Hawaii. Please add your best suggestions too on how to reduce flight stress and discomfort.
#1 Seat Selection/Window Seats Rule:
Try this: Choose window seating whenever possible as it reduces your potential exposure to germs by limiting contact with others. Huffington Post said “The window seat might be the safest place to sit compared to an aisle seat, as you do not have other passengers walking past you… Also, choosing a seat in the back of the plane may be safer than the front, as again, you would have less passengers walking by… The window seat is the safest option due to the direction of airflow within the cabin.”
#2 Online Check-In Is a Must:
Try this: Up to 24 hours in advance, check-in online, and avoid the line or the kiosk options at the airport. This is for both comfort and safety. Also, checking in exactly at 24 hours may provide additional options to move or upgrade seating. We can’t tell you how many times we have improved our onboard situation with this trick.
#3 Avoid Cramped Quarters: You walk onboard and see that some coach seats have more legroom than others. Meanwhile, you’re stuck with limited space.
Try this: Check out Seat Guru or Seat Expert in advance so you know what to look for. Most airlines now let you upgrade to exit row, bulkhead or other preferential seating for an additional fee. On two flights, we were able to get an exit row at the front that had more leg room and on the other flight, 2 seats across instead of 3.
Or this: The value of more space on the airplane, and less busy boarding can’t be overstated. More than ever before, we are looking for ways to upgrade in order to achieve that. We have been hording miles from both Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines and plan to use them for either premium seating or when possible, business class travel at economy travel prices.
#4 Be More Prepared For Security:
Try this: Avoid plastic bins as much as possible. Instead, keep everything within your carry-on at TSA. We used to empty our loose items into the plastic tray. But no more. Instead, we keep things like wallet, phone, wallet, keys, etc.
Or this: Keep food in plastic bags within your carry-on and ready to remove for inspection .
#5 Look Cool on Arrival While Staying Comfortable Onboard: You want to wear warm clothes at 30,000 feet but look and feel cool and local getting off the plane in Hawaii.
Try this: Wear convertible pants. Once you land in Hawaii, you can zip off the legs at the knee. Instant shorts! We’ve found them online and at sporting goods stores. A favorite brand for travel clothes remains E
x Officio.
Or this: There’s nothing quite as comforting as a shirt/sweatshirt with a hood for flying. Drafts aren’t unusual on planes, even just depending on your seat (ever tried sitting next to an exit door which leaks air?).
x Officio#6 Avoiding Jet Lag: Start the time change on board to get your Hawaii vacation off to a good start.
Try this: When you board the plane, adjust your watch to Hawaii Time. If they ask you to lower your window shade during flight, leave it open at least a crack. It’s important for your body to see the light or darkness for a smoother time adjustment.
Or this: Mayo Clinic recomends these tips to avoid jet lag: Arrive early, get plenty of rest before your trip, gradually adjust your schedule before you leave, regulate bright light exposure, stay on your new schedule, stay hydrated and try to sleep on the plane if it’s nighttime at your destination.
#7 Germ Reduction: Who’s been sitting in your seat? You don’t know. While this was always a concern, it has risen to a new level of worry. The last thing you want is an illness that affects your vacation, or worse.
Try this: Bring ample anti-bacterial wipes to clean off all surfaces before and during flight. This includes the tray and buttons on arm rest. And then there’s the restroom. We used to feel foolish doing this. Ha!
Or this: Have a number of disposable face masks with you. So much easier to change them than trying to keep something clean.
And this: Keep your air vent open. That may create more cleaner, HEPA-filtered air all around your seat.
#8 Sleeping: You want to sleep, but it’s not easy to with the noise onboard or a talkative seatmate.
Try this: Pack disposable foam ear plugs and reduce the sound level by up to 33 decibels. Or an active noise cancelling headset. Bring your own airline blanket and pillow.
#9 Drinking Water Plan Strategy: Unless you’re traveling first class and depending on the airline, it can be a hassle to get regular water service on board.
Try this: If time is an issue, just buy water after passing through security. Otherwise, have each person pack an empty water bottle in their carry-on. After you’re through the screening process, your first stop is a water fountain to fill the empty bottles.
#10 Avoid Opening The Overhead Bin:
Try this: Pack a small bag with everything you need on the plane separately or within your carry-on. Lip balm for chapped lips, gum to chew on descent to relieve middle ear pressure, pain reliever for a headache, and anything else that could make your flight easier. Food too as TSA usually wants food to be removed from your other items. Also bring a book to read or load one or more (including Hawaii travel guides) on your tablet or phone.
Your tips: What are you planning to do differently when flying to and from Hawaii?
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Here are some of my travel tips:
1. I don’t have circulation problems, but I wear compression socks on long flights to prevent blood clots.
2. I carry an empty water bottle in my carry on/personal item. It’s great to have enough water to drink on the plane, and if you have a connecting flight, you can refill it at the next airport. Remember that the bottle has to be empty when you go through security.
3. When travelling to a warm place, I always put shorts, a T-shirt, and sandals in my carry on so that I can change into temperature appropriate clothing as soon as I land. I also carry things I’ll need in the first 24 hours in the carry on/personal item – pajamas, a small tube of toothpaste and toothbrush, a small tube of sunblock (reef-safe, please), medications and vitamins, a book to read on the plane, and a pen.
Thanks BOH for the tips, I hope My experience will be helpful to others.
My current employer supplies sanitizer spray in small bottles and a 5 gallon refill. I have one in each car; my wife carries mini sanitizer bottles; which can be part of the toiletries bag.
My wife has always wiped down arm rests; seat trays; buttons and knobs. She’s always carried wipes that she buys from a Japanese supermarket.
She never eats airline food (brings our own) or uses airline pillows or blankets. She brings her own blanket for the plane; I use my windbreaker. The airline blanket I use for my back; especially if it’s the first flight of the day…..less likely to have been used.
Both of us are well seasoned travellers; I used to work for an airline and knew most of these tips; my wife has flown lots of business trips prior to us meeting.
Thanks for the tips!
Hi Reg.
Thanks for the tips. We appreciate your dozens of comments over the past five years!
Aloha.
When your flight is over the ocean please lower your window shade. There is nothing interesting to look at and it makes it easier to watch a movie without a glare
I always select a window seat (sometimes it costs an extra fee) so I can look out the window if I choose too. I don’t know about you but when my plane leaves at 10 in the morning I don’t want to fly in a dark cabin for 6 hrs. I surely don’t pull all my shades down in my house and turn off my lights to watch TV in the day time.
After a 10 1/2 hour flight from Dulles there is something about putting your bare feet in the sand (or other ground) that realigns your body. It grounds you (pun intended). I’m not sure why this works, but I found that this really helps me with jet lag. I dragged three exhausted people outside when all they wanted to do lie in bed and within 20 minutes they were revived for the remainder of the day. Having a view of Diamond Head doesn’t hurt either.
This is one thing that I wish all airlines would take into consideration. Every seat has an overhead bin…at least several years past the bin that was over YOUR seat was yours. Now as people board they put their belongings in bins closest to where passengers disembark from the plane upon landing. It’s really frustrating to open the overhead bin above your seat and find it crammed full with someone else’s baggage that’s seated in another row. I wish the airlines would change that action. It would definitely stop the bottleneck of passengers trying to find an overhead compartment to store their luggage because someone put theirs in the one above.
Thanks for these travel tips. I think you should have a brief reminder in each edition about the over-the-top fees for car rentals…just as a reminder. I projected a rental on a mid-sized rental from a major rental business for June 2022. For ten days it was $2,000. Your article in the last edition put me on the phone for a car in July/August 2021. Nothing was available. Please keep us updated. Thank you.
Hi Kim.
We have written about the fast-changing and challenging car rental situation many times. And we’ll undoubtedly write about it again soon.
Aloha.
Mahalo and aloha.
Hi Kim,
Check out costcotravel.com for rental cars. Not sure where you are headed in HI, but 8/20 – 8/30 in OGG was showing at $1,375 for a full-size car. Good luck!
Breeze past the crowds in security lines with TSA PreCheck! You don’t need to remove your shoes and in most cases I have found you avoid the slowpokes and the first-time flyers. Most people going through the TSA lines understand the process and it flows smoothly. Definitely worth the cost! Just get it. 🙂
We’re in OC and stay in San Diego the night before our flight. It’s great not having to fight the traffic on the 5 freeway.
Thank you, guys! I agree with the noise-cancelling headphones, water, pillow, blanket, and almonds are a great snack.
Hi Cheri.
Yes, we concur that it almost always works better. Thanks for your many comments!
Aloha.
I am a big believer in noise cancelling headphones. The background noise is quite loud and I never really noticed it until this trip. I used my AirPods and they blocked out a lot of noise. I felt so much more refreshed when we landed. I am going to get them for the kids for our next trip.
One thing we have started to do is build in a recovery day when returning. You get in at 11pm and home either really late or the next day. It’s great to be able to unpack, sleep in (a bit), and do grocery shopping. It allows you to go back to work refreshed and a great memories. It makes a huge difference. Coming back a day early seems like you’re cutting your vacation short, but it makes your trip (and work life) so much more enjoyable!
Mahalo and safe travels
Great reminders and suggestions, as usual. MAHALO! Passing these ideas on to our son and family who will be traveling with us later this year.
Another suggestion for less stress. We choose seats a bit further back in the plane (safer, even in event of a disaster (https://time.com/3934663/safest-seat-airplane/), and then just relax once we land and let everyone else get off first. Nothing worse than standing up and trying to get your carry on and get off a plane that hasn’t even opened their doors yet. :0) Probably a difference of a minute or two.
Hi Colleen.
For your many comments and friendship and being a source of inspiration.
Aloha.
I never travel on an airplane without a couple of old tennis balls stuffed into a sock to use as lumbar support or to target trigger points on my back. It seems like I never have enough time in my day to do my physical therapy but I have a few hours to,spare when flying from Oakland to Maui. When I walk off the plane, my back feels great and I feel,like my flight was productive.
What I learned is try and stay up as long as you can stand it……so you won’t be one of THOSE tourist zombies wandering around Waikiki at 5am
Hey guys, long time no talk.
You forgot my most important one…
Move around!! At least every hour. Walk the isles, stand and stretch where you can, etc.
I know the airlines discourages this for the most part but my back thanks me for it!
Noise reducing headphones are worth the cost – and you don’t need an expensive pair. Remember, they’ll get banged up with travel, if not left behind on a plane.
I was concerned about jet lag. Rather than adjusting sleep habits I used “Timeshifter” app and adjusted my light exposure prior to leaving and it worked. I did not experience jet lag either way.
If you’re flying from the west coast and arriving in Honolulu between 10:00 and Noon, consider using another condo day’s worth of points so you can check in when you get there instead of just waiting around until 4:00pm, the regular check in time. It is worth it!
When traveling to Hawaii, be sure to have a pen or pencil handy to fill out the required Agriculture Department form.
Pack your swimsuit and flip flops in a carry on bag. If your luggage doesn’t make it with you then you can head to the beach.
I hate that one Rich. The only state that actually makes people fill out a form on arrival that i know of. The flight attendants dont have extra pencils which is pathetic.
Great tips! I was concerned about the jet lag but I think I’ll deal better with it. I’m flying to Hawaii next month!
I have somewhat of poor circulation on my legs. I have a routine that I use on my flight to Hawaii. I begin before boarding, I take 2 aspirin and 1 bottle of water. I then put on compression socks and comfortable slippers. I make sure that every hour, I get up and make a couple of laps around the aisles. Do some ankle rolls and stretch out your calves muscles. I make sure that I drink water every hour and every 4 to 6 hours I take 2 more aspirins. I find that it helps to.make my legs and feet are less swollen. It’s a bit of work, but worth doing when your going to Hawaii!
Great tips. Thank you!