Every day brings changes as Hawaii continues preparation to reopen for at least some mainland travel starting in exactly two weeks. Today we see greatly expanded testing options. Other critically important questions remain to be answered, but the ability to obtain timely tests for both adults and children now appears to be more assured. Then Alaska Air has jumped in with its own testing options and the announcement of more upcoming flights.
BOH: The availability of tests and the cost of tests is improving rapidly. We expect that free COVID tests may become the norm (in places beyond Oakland) as airlines and airports vie for your Hawaii flight business.Â
New Hawaiian COVID tests at home for all ages.
Hawaiian Airlines will expand its pre-travel COVID-19 test options with an at-home test that qualifies them to be exempt from the state of Hawai’i quarantine.
The new Vault Health test is available for $150 and is a mail-in saliva test. The test kit is available for all ages including children, is sent via overnight mail to travelers who self-collect saliva with the assistance of a testing supervisor via video call. It is then overnight mailed to the lab that processes the sample and provides travelers results within 24 hours of receipt of the sample.
Hawaiian said today, “We are excited to offer our guests at any of our U.S. mainland gateway cities a convenient way to take a pre-travel COVID-19 test that meets the state of Hawai’i’s requirements, and we look forward to welcoming them onboard and to our islands soon. ”
And, Vault Health added, “We’re happy to provide quick, accurate COVID-19 test results to Hawaiian Airlines guests. The test is easy to take at home, pain-free, and limits exposure or use of personal protective equipment. We provide comfort in having you know your status from your own home, before travel.”
Alaska Airlines Discounted COVID test options and Hawaii flight resumption plans.
Alaska Airlines has first partnered with Carbon Health in providing rapid COVID-19 tests in pop-up clinics across the West Coast, starting October 12 in Seattle. Test results within two hours are provided at a discounted cost of $135 for all Alaska flyers. Carbon Health is using the Abbott ID NOW rapid test (which is the same as what United is offering at San Francisco) and is said to meet the still to be clarified requirements Hawaii’s pre-travel testing program. Testing is for all Alaska guests over three months of age. Additional testing options are also being planned to Alaska.
Alaska is setting out its flight plan resumption program. Alaska Airlines, Hawaii’s second bellwether carrier, plans to return to twice-daily flights to Honolulu, Maui, Kauai and Big Island from Seattle beginning October 15. Then on November 1, they will restart Hawaii service from Portland, San Jose, and San Diego. Anchorage and Los Angeles to Hawaii flights are set to return on on November 20.
American Airlines Hawaii Covid Tests.
Beginning Oct. 15, travelers with flights to Maui and Honolulu on American Airlines will have three options available for pre-flight testing:
The first is, At-home test from LetsGetChecked, received and submitted by mail, results expected in 48 hours on average. The cost is $119. Also available is in-person testing at select CareNow urgent care locations. And lastly, on-site rapid molecular testing administered by CareNow via a nasal swab at DFW Airport, where results are expected in less than 15 minutes on average. We did not find details regarding travel-related tests on the CareNow website.
Hello – the info for American Airlines lists only Maui and Honolulu as destinations for testing. I am scheduled to fly into Kauai from DFW on Oct 27. Do you know if their testing through DFW Care Now facilities would be valid for travel to Kauai??
Much thanks!
Amy
Hi Amy.
Good question. It is the same no matter which island you fly to. Once you arrive, however, each island may have a second required or optional test. On Kauai that 2nd test is optional.
Aloha.
Hello,
My family is flying on Alaska 11/21 from Seattle to Kauai. We will be getting the Carbon test on 11/20. If the tests are negative, can we use those results for when we fly to Maui on 11/26 on Hawaiian Airlines? Or do we have to get tested again while we are on Kauai?
Thanks,
Shawna
Hi Shawna.
You will need to be retested on Kauai since that test for interisland also needs to be within 72 hours of that departure.
Aloha.
Be very careful and do your homework… The concept of “testing partners” is not as attractive as it sounds! We live in a 850,000+ Metro Area with CVS on darn near every corner. BUT there is not one within 100 miles that is doing the “testing partner” test. So we are restricted to Walgreens where you cannot make an appointment anything further out than two days – so two days before your test you COULD discover there are no appointments. As for us – we’re going to utilize VAULT – a teeny bit more expensive but at least controllable as far as scheduling. BUT (yet again), you to have your Zoom call in the wee hours because if you don’t get your test to UPS by 10:00am, they won’t guarantee results within the 2-3 day range. You just can’t seem to win!!!
Why not rapid testing in JFK to accommodate Hawaiian non stop and American via DFW and mYbe other airline travelers. You could get to airport earlier to factor in there is no layover time to contend with as well as long lines possibilities
How can DFW accommodate American’s testing process layover factor….?
Any delays in incoming fligbts or long lines could cut you short.
And all mail ins…2 days plus time in snail mail?
Do you know what the status is for Hawaii residents interisland travel is? Thank You, Terri
Hi Terri.
There has been no further information on residents traveling between islands without 14-day quarantine. So we have no idea where that is in planning.
Aloha.
Have you heard anything from Southwest Airlines on passenger testing plans? Would appreciate any updates on them please.
Thank you as always for being the most up to date and honest info source!
Hi Suzanna.
Thanks. No Southwest has not released anything on this.
Aloha.
I have the same question about Southwest announcing a program. That said, Vault Health’s tests are available to anyone. You can order on their website. So that, plus many local testing providers (hospitals, testing events, urgent care centers) could be used with any airline, including Southwest. The offering that Hawaiian Airlines is promoting is not even at any negotiated discount. It’s $150 a test if you order directly at Vault Heath website.
Thanks for asking this.