Hawaiian Airlines COVID tests are set to be offered to passengers beginning about October 15. That in order to avoid a mandatory 14-day quarantine. The bellwether airline has initially partnered with a mobile testing lab company to offer two drive-thru options.
For a fee of $90, testing will be available within the required 72 hours, whereas for $150, tests are taken and results returned on the day of travel (in less than 5 hours). Test results are obtained using a phone app. The service is being offered in dedicated portable labs to be set up in multiple locations. The first labs will be in the Los Angeles and San Francisco areas, but they are expected to soon expand to cover most if not all of Hawaiian’s 11 mainland gateway cities. Today’s announcement comes one day after United Airlines Hawaii Covid tests were announced.
The type of Hawaiian Airlines COVID tests being offered is what Hawaiian is calling “Droplet Digital PCR shallow nasal swab tests – a ‘gold standard’ COVID-19 screening that meets the state of Hawai‘i guidelines.”
Hawaiian Air SVP Avi Mannis said “As Hawai’i’s leading airline, it is critical to ensure that access to testing does not impede travel to Hawai‘i, for visitors or our kama‘āina (residents)… Our testing option will offer Los Angeles and Bay Area travelers superior value and we look forward to expanding the program and bringing additional choices to more of our gateway cities as we welcome guests back.”
Hawaiian’s first testing partner is Long Beach, CA-based Worksite Labs which offers “drive-thru labs” that are creatively using what appear to be traditional shipping containers for the lab space. CEO Gary Frazier said, “Worksite Labs is proud to offer Hawaiian this innovative solution as we work to combat the current pandemic and provide more testing options so travelers can understand their COVID-19 status and enjoy their trip to Hawai‘i while stimulating the local economy.” Hawaiian said that they will shortly announce other testing partnerships.
Issues remain to be addressed.
We are unable to determine the minimum age for the Worksite Labs tests. Prior options announced have only been available for passengers age 12 and above. We have heard, however, that testing for children, or a waiver in the testing of children under certain ages, will occur.
Where will these locations be set up, and exactly what does drive-thru mean in this context. We don’t see driving through a shipping container if you know what we mean.
Furthermore, what about spending five or more hours sitting next to people on a plane who may or may not have been tested? This remains a sticking point, as many of you have pointed out in your comments. It will take federal government action, however, for that to change, and there has been no indication of that being forthcoming. On the other hand, we are doubtful that many travelers will be willing to go into quarantine. Thus, the question is, practically speaking, how many passengers will be untested. We will undoubtedly get answers to that question very soon after Hawaii travel resumes. Also see As Hawaii Restarts Visitors Concerned About Airports, Airplanes and Others.
Changes to Hawaiian Airlines Schedule.
Through October, Hawaiian has reduced planned flights and removed many of those to neighbor island destinations. From Los Angeles and San Francisco, for example, the airline is now showing nonstop flights only to Honolulu. Starting in November, however, Hawaiian plans to resume flights to neighbor island destinations, Kauai, Kona, and Maui. That change in schedule is likely due to multiple reasons, not the least of which is to allow Hawaiian to assess demand when travel resumes without mandatory quarantine on October 15. We’ll be updating you on the Hawaiian Airlines flight schedule as it evolves.
Does this change your Hawaii vacation plans?
What are the chances of COVID testing being removed January 2021? Flying from Sacramento to Honolulu. Should I book my trip?
I was told the $150 test was the 15 minute test. Your article says 5 hours. So if I choose the 5 hour same day test, that means I don’t find out if I am negative or positive until I arrive on Oahu (my direct to Kauai flight was cancelled). If I arrive on Oahu on my way to Kauai, that means I have to quarantine on Oahu. I was under the impression the results had to be confirmed at departure. Can you confirm??
Any word from American on Covid testing? They have been silent. We have tickets in January out of Phoenix. That is another port where we’ve heard nothing.
Here’s a bit more info on traveling to Hawaii. People will need to register with the State of Hawaii Dept of Transportation, you will need to give them a current valid e-mail address. In return they will send you a QR code. This code will be scanned upon arrival in Hawaii. That’s how your covid information will be given to Hawaii. Hope this information is helpful.
Mahalo Guys.
Hi Roy.
There will be more updates coming on procedures in the next week or so. We appreciate that info.
Aloha.
I can have a covid test done in my home either a blood one or nose . Will Hawaii except either of those. I go to Hawaii in November 5th. Which test should I take
What is going on? People not spreadung on plané, than upon landing your in the good ole fresh air…wake up people its a mild virus…
O have 2 places here that have covid testing . Which is the one i can take to go to Hawaii
Please install a mobile testing sight in Portland, Oregon before November 5th 🙏🙏🙏. Thank you.
Hi Lauren.
We have been expecting to hear about the Pacific Northwest. Hopefully soon.
Aloha.
Aloha!
Thank you so much for keeping us all informed. We’re hoping to spend New Year’s Eve on Maui with our daughter. We’re flying Southwest so appreciate any updates you know of. We also have Kaiser-Northern CA so hope they will offer travel tests by then. Mahalo! P.S.Already got our flu shots!
Hi Suzanna.
Thanks. There will be enough time between reopening and your trip for any issues to be worked out. We’ll have many updates as this unfolds. Thanks.
Aloha.
There is a short sentence at the end of the Hawaiian Airlines press release that states the option will only be available to first and business class passengers due to limited supply! What!!!!
This is good news. My August trip to Honolulu was cancelled and will need to be rescheduled, but I have a trip in May 2021 scheduled and another to Kauai in July 2021. Yes, I would love Hawaii to be my second home. 🌴🐟🐠🐠🐠
Wanting to know if Hawaiian Airlines is going to have COVID-19 testing leaving Las Vegas we are leaving October 24
Any news on requirements traveling from Asia? All passengers must be tested to board so tighter regulations. Please let me know once you hear anything. Thanks for your hard work in keeping us informed!
Hi Nancy.
No word on international travel so far. Thanks.
Aloha.
No surprise Hawaiian is coming up with a good option. All they do is serve Hawaii and that’s their only focus.
I see that as particularly important during these times. Mainland airlines feed their Hawaii flights from multiple destinations.
Hawaiian is strictly in the business of flying passengers non stop to Hawaii. One extra little margin of safety on Hawaiian.
Originally traveling on Alaska but due to their cancellation of nonstop flights out of Portland we were rerouted by Alaska to a Hawaiian flight that stops in Honolulu and has a layover of about three hours and then travels to Maui. We are somewhat confused about Timing of the required Covid testing since we land in Honolulu and any interisland travel also requires a current Covid test. Does that mean we have to be tested twice or will the results from our original Covid test be acceptable for Honolulu and for Maui? Due to the layover, we may possibly be landing in Maui more than 72 hours After the Covid testi
Was administered. I guess our biggest question is how to handle this and which tests will be accepted?
Suzy L, I am in the exact same flight situation as you and have been checking into this. Although it would be nice if the state would detail it further, I believe your 72 hour test timeframe counts back from your PDX departure time to HNL as HNL would be your entry point into the state. So, if your flight leaves PDX at 10am on a Thursday, you would need to have your test taken 10 am Monday or later.
Testing in PDX: OHSU at Hillsboro stadium or Expo Center (if you pass their questionaire test), Walgreens drive thru in Cornelius, and the LT Gov just mentioned in a news clip Friday about a “APS” in Portland of which I do not know who or what entity that acronym is for. There may be more providers in the coming weeks as well.
Mahalo
We have had plans to travel to Maui since April and still have hotel reservations for End of October,but we have a 4 year old. Having a child under 12 seems to be a problem to get tested, I’m interested in knowing where I can get my 4 year old tested so we can make our trip or know this is just going to be impossible and Cancel.
Hi, My comment is about this sentence: “for $150, tests are taken and results returned on the day of travel (in less than 5 hours).”
It seems to me that means that most people will be inflight by the time their test results become available, and may not receive the results until they land.
My recommendation is that this $150 test be available for the two or three days prior to travel, so people know not to get on the plane if they test positive.
Thanks for listening.
Hi Howard.
That makes sense. It doesn’t mean you could not go the day before for the reason you are stating.
Aloha.
Any word if you will have to be Retested in Hawaii before You return to your Mainland Destination?
Have you heard about any testing from DELTA flying out of Seattle?
Mahalo,
Deb P.
Hi Deb.
No, you will not need to be retested, and no we have not heard anything about Delta in Seattle.
Aloha.
The mayors are talking about retesting today. No one knows what they will decide.
Mahalo for all your updates. It looks like we’re finally getting some clarification. We are still hoping for January! Kaua’i nō ka ʻoi.
Hi Barney.
Thanks for all your comments. Yes, it is finally moving forward.
Aloha.
United Airlines just posted on their FB page, “Go from air to beach with no 14 day quarantine. That’s using United’s covid test. As I remember so long as your covid test is done by a government approved CLIA lab your good to go. That’s from the Hawaii travel page. As you mentioned previously, There’s no reason why an airline wouldn’t give you a valid covid test for travel to Hawaii. I’m sure Hawaiian air’s test will be good one too.
Mahalo Guys
Hi Roy.
Thanks for that.
Aloha.
One other thing I did notice, is that United’s covid testing center is only open from 9 to 6 at SFO.
Hi guys!!
I’m starting to like the way things are “fleshing out”.
At the very least, it’s showing that people are trying to figure this mess out.
One thing about America, we have freedom.
Freedom to spend time and money on what we choose.
Freedom to sit next to non-Covid19 tested individuals.
As evidenced by the never-maskers and anti-vaxers.
Freedom is a double edged sword.
Mahalo for your updates!!
Hi Pam.
We feel the same way about a plan starting to take form. Thanks for all of your participation in the conversation!
Aloha.
(I won’t mention my first few cancelled flights in April that occurred during an unforeseen crisis – this is 6 months into it!)
I first bought a nonstop LIH-LAX for Aug 24, and got a cancellation email. They rescheduled it to the first available nonstop on Oct. 1st, and then sent another cancellation email for that flight. I then got the next available nonstop for Oct 14 (I have no idea why not Oct. 15?!).
Today I received cancellation email #3 and I am expected to believe it when they give me another date for November?! Really?! …Might be 3 strikes – your out on this one…
I thought they have to follow DOT agreements to have a license for these routes!
It seems they every aspect of this airline from the app that is substandard (just sends you to website), to customer service that is substandard, to management that is, as many see it, ‘out to lunch’, or worse.
I’ve lived here 20 yrs, and I’ve lost faith that I can travel to the mainland with any confidence at all, and may have to just move away due to this. We’ve gone from reasonably priced coupons for inter island travel- like when you couldn’t be exact when you needed to get to State offices on Oahu, to a bumbling monopoly that’s now about as far from serving the citizens of Hawaii as I could ever imaging… $150 HA tests to fly?! Poppycock!
No wonder I have chosen any available other airline for the last 10 yrs at least… if only SWA had been established here for awhile longer before this fiasco. SWA rules. They are a people’s airline. HA is not.
I neglected to head my comment with Hawaiian Airlines. All mentioned flights were scheduled with HA.
Thanks again for your great reporting and keeping us up to date. I’m hoping this time we’re able to open and stay open. Seems like a good time to get all the kinks worked out since it’s not a popular time to travel anyway. Hopefully the airlines will separate passengers that have been tested in the front of the plane and those that haven’t in back.
I had a flight on HA leaving non stop from SEA to OGG, got notification this morning that flight was canceled. 3rd attempt…… I use the Chat option opposed to waiting on the phone. Very good rep, got me on another flight but layover in Honoruru (LOL). Checked with Walgreens and they do have the required test and they assured me it would get done within 72 hours before takeoff. Don’t ask the Pharmacist, drive up to the testing window, they have all the answers. Wow…are we having fun yet!!! Will get there, have to soon, had some remodeling done and I can’t wait to see it. Best of luck to everyone, this has tried our patience for sure. Stay safe and healthy..
Hopefully, Alaska Airlines will follow suit. We are supposed to travel to Maui via Alaska Airlines in January. Have you heard whether they will offer testing?
Thanks,
Julie
Hi Julie.
We have not heard. Will update with whatever we do learn.
Aloha.
Has there been any news regarding when direct flights from Australia to Hawaii will resume?
Hi Frances.
We have heard they will not resume for another six months.
Aloha.
Hawaii can practically eliminate the problem of sitting on an airplane next to an untested person as well as those that will skip out on the Mandatory 14 quaantine by announcing that the Hawaii will be escorting those that come to Hawaii wihout being tested to a guarded quarantine facility for the 14 days. Once word of this procedure gets out No One will come to Hawaii without being tested first so both of those problems will be eliminated and most probably there won’t be anybody in the guraded quarantine facility to concern ones self with. Giving travellers the option to Not get tested when you can get tested is ridiculous.
So not only do you have to pay $90 – $150 for a test but you also have to buy a plane ticket! SMH
the price of paradise.
Are these tests currently accepted by the state? In other words, are they NAAT/CLIA/PCR? United’s are not. THANK YOU
Hi Tim.
We’re waiting for an update from the state on that, but it is inconceivable that the UAL and HA sponsored tests won’t be accepted.
Aloha.
Nothing is inconceivable after the past 6 months! :)) I appreciate your prompt reply. THANK YOU
Yes, the United announcement specifically said that the test is approved by Hawaii. Why else would they offer this??
It is not…we called the lab and checked.
I wonder why they would allow a waiver of testing for a young child. If they are mobile, they can spread Covid just as easily as any adult.
Honestly, I still have no idea if I can fly to Kauai? Has the mayor said anything?
Of course you can fly to Kauai. I’ve flown there through HNL several times the last few months to work on my property there. Had to quarantine. If you arrive on 10/15 or later and have a valid negative test, you don’t need to quarantine. Simple as that.
Here we go again. Hawaiian cancels flights from Oakland for October and sends an email only saying you may have a change to your flight but provides no detail. Log in to HA account and flight still there but when you click on Itinerary it says its not available. Finally realize from this site that flight is actually cancelled. Have to call and wait on hold for 30 minutes to cancel one leg and get HA miles refunded. Other flight purchased with Chase points so call Chase and they say HA policy is the flight is not eligible for a refund because alternative flight available – even though that alternative is no longer non-stop and goes to an airport over an hour away. But I can have a voucher. So another complaint to DOT. Does HA know or care how much they are angering fliers. We used to travel 1-3 times a year to Hawaii on HA but once we use up our HA miles we can’t fly them again. Shame on them and I hope the DOT throws the book at them and the other airlines that continue to blatantly be in violation of DOA regulations.
If you want to go to Kauai, then why didn’t you rebook through HNL? Yes, they cancelled the non-stop flights but you can fly from SFO through HNL to LIH… I wasn’t happy about them cancelling the non-stop from OAK to LIH either but there are options. United is flying non-stop to LIH from SFO nonstop.
Because we live next to Oakland so a 7 minute drive turns into an hour plus each way and the layover adds another 1+ hours. I am not complaining about their schedule – they are free to change it but it does not work for us – I am complaining that they won’t issue me a refund.
Aloha, I enjoy all your posts and updates. Thank you! I do have a question that I would like clarified please. I know the covid 19 test needs to be taken for travel to Hawaii. The confusion is that I hear from a trusted site(State of Hawaii Department of Transportation) it needs to be done before arrival and in an interview with Dr Josh Green on KHON2 he said it needs to be done before departure. Factoring in the time changes etc., I would not want to mess this up if I can finally get there! Mahalo
Hi Marianne.
Yes, that is one of the questions that need to be perfectly clear and is not. Hope it will be soon. Sorry for the confusion.
Aloha.
Thanks BOH for the updates. You’ve made keeping up with the developments very easy. I was scheduled to travel on 10/23 but Hawaiian cancelled the flight. I’m now weighing whether to attempt the trip in mid November or wait until Spring. I’m a bit dubious that their plans for COVID testing will work out.
Hi David.
Thank you. Call us forever optimists or what, but it is our sense that testing will actually work out. There will be some startup glitches.
Aloha.
Why don’t you just let them connect you through HNL? You can still travel to whatever Island you want on 10/23…
This really begs the question : How are the airlines able to obtain these “fast COVID” testing but the state of Hawaii has been unable to put this in place?
I hope that people will once again return to Hawaii and that many of you business can remain open. This virus has been hard on all. God bless Hawaii and all your people. I hope this virus is defeated soon.
We rescheduled our Kauai October trip to April. Hopefully all bugs will be worked out by then.
thanks so much for all of your updates!
Hi Jon.
We concur. Thanks.
Aloha.
Has there been any news with Alaska Air and testing?
Question… If you are flying back to Honolulu on Oct. 12. Can you obtain a covid test and give results after Oct. 15 so you don’t have to quarantine the full 14 days?
No, you need to arrive on 10/15 or later otherwise you need to complete the whole 14 days of quarantine…
Here is the direct quote from the Hawaii Dept. of Health:
“Yes. If you arrive prior to Oct. 15, you will still need to complete the full 14-day quarantine. The pre-travel testing program starts on Oct. 15. Any travelers who arrive before then will need to quarantine.”
Ok considering there is a rapid test now that costs five dollars who in the bloody hell is going to pay 90 or 160 dollars? This may permanently cancel our visit.
So don’t use their services and find something cheaper or free. No one is forcing you to use this service for testing… But for some it will be convenient.