We know that Hawaii is busy and that isn’t going to abate. With international travel all messed up once again, exotic yet domestic Hawaii is sure looking good!
To help make travels easier for visitors and residents alike, Hawaii Safe Travels offered its Pre-Clear testing and vaccine verification program through all domestic airlines to avoid all Covid clearance on arrival in Hawaii. But now, Pre-Clear isn’t working as planned, and you’ve confirmed that in comments.
In theory, how Pre-Clear should work.
Travelers who comply with Hawaii’s testing requirements will be exempt from quarantine and receive a Pre-Clear wristband from their airline, which will verify their documents before boarding. Once in Hawaii, travelers will be allowed to deplane and bypass airport screening lines entirely. Pre-Cleared passengers avoid the frequently slow and tedious Hawaii airport process and get on with their vacations. You have reported in comments countless times how much this streamlines the Hawaii arrival process.
Pre-Clear programs are offered at mainland to Hawaii gateway airports by Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines.
Reality: Staffing shortages impact Pre-Clear availability.
As Covid issues at the airlines have caused Hawaii flight delays and cancellations, it has significantly reduced both Pre-Clear availability on the mainland, while it has increased screening lines at Hawaii airports.
The Pre-Clear availability and the long lines in Hawaii are now variable and unpredictable. They are being fueled by staffing issues associated with the Omicron variant. Because of that, airlines have either reduced or put a halt to the Pre-Clear screening that largely happened at their gates prior to boarding flights to Hawaii.
Hawaii’s Safe Travels team reports it too is experiencing staffing shortages and is attempting to mitigate lines through employee overtime and additional shifts.
What you can do.
1. Check with the airline immediately upon arrival at your mainland to Hawaii gateway airport. Find out where they are offering Pre-Clear, if they are.
2. Be sure that you have uploaded your proof of vaccination or a test to Hawaii Safe Travels and have received your QR code, prior to arriving at the airport.
3. A commenter’s suggestion. Hat tip to regular John W. who just said, “Just learned a new tip for getting the wrist band. Been flying HA and they’ve been great doing it at the gate, turns out you can get the wrist band at the front counter as well as at the departure gate, potentially saving you some time if they are short-staffed at the gate. This was in SEA.
What is the Pre-Clear Process and how to use it in 4 steps?
To qualify to be pre-cleared for arrival into Hawaii, travelers are required to complete the following prior to departure from the mainland:
1. Create a Safe Travels account for every adult on the itinerary. (Minors to be added to an adult itinerary.)
2. Add mainland to Hawaii flight information to the account.
3. Upload negative test results (PDF format) for every adult and minor (five years and older) on the itinerary to Safe Travels prior to boarding. Bringing a printed copy of negative testing results is also highly recommended. Note that the COVID-19 test must be from a Trusted Testing and Travel Partner and taken no earlier than 72 hours prior to departure.
Your recent comments about Pre-Clear have included these:
Dot: We’ve just arrived on the BI. If possible, get the COVID pre-clearance bracelet at the airport before entering HI! We registered when we arrived in Dallas Ft. Worth, Gate D28, didn’t wait in line, no problem getting bracelet. Amer. Air must have announced every 10 min. if you can, do that now! People with kids scrambled at the last minute cause they didn’t pay attention. We avoided a 2 hr. wait to enter HI by having the bracelet. Dirty looks from those in line! More airports should provide this.
Wil: Today at DEN on flight UA384, we were told by United staff that they are no longer offering Hawaii Pre-Clear wristbands due to “lack of staff.” It is also to note that we saw the flight crew getting wristbands, however. Thought you guys might want to pass the word around.
Margaret: If you travel at a busy time (like between now and mid-Jan), allow at least 30 minutes extra time at your departure airport for the airline pre-screening where you get the wristband. When you check in, ask an airline rep where the Hawaii pre-clearance center is and go there right after getting thru security. Also have your vaccination certificate or copy of your negative Covid test with you – you may be asked by the pre-clear staff for this documentation. (Advice based on Dec 6 experience).
Kathi: I recently heard that Denver has done away with the pre-clear because they don’t have enough employees to do it at the Denver airport.
Updated 1/6/22.
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Chris says
We flew Alaska Airlines thru LAX on Jan 20, 2022. They were not doing pre clear screening at the gate. Instead, some internal person at corporate was virtually screening profiles, and if your profile was lucky to be picked, then you would receive the green checkmark next to “screened”. You must have both green checkmarks next to “screened” and “exempt” in order to receive the wristband from the Alaska Air gate attendant. Unfortunately, our profile was not screened in time for boarding.
mruch says
Please let me know the best way to do this. Going to Hawaii soon through L. A.
Fred H says
We are traveling to the big island via honolulu with gateway thru Minneapolis on delta. Arriving feb 3 rd.
Is anyone aware if they are providing pre clear?
It’s so difficult getting a straight answer from any where.
Even delta rep didn’t know what we were talking about
Thanks
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Fred.
If you mean an airline rep on the phone, it isn’t surprising they aren’t aware of it. At the gate when departing to Honolulu, they will be aware of Pre-Clear. Whether or not they will be offering that is another matter.
Aloha.
Nancy says
Do you need proof of vaccination including the booster AND a negative test????
BARBARA M says
LEPO F… Can’t find your original post but the reason CLEAR is rarely mentioned is that it is so limited in its availability. Last I knew, it only accommodated digital vaccination cards which, last time I looked, were only offered by about 2 or 3 states. So although it is a good system, basically, it’s useless to most of the country.
Pamela M says
Flying from Memphis via DFW. Do I get the wristband in Memphis or DFW? My time changing planes in DFW doesn’t allow time to spare flying American
Thank you
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Pamela.
You can check with the airline, but typically it is at the boarding gate for the flight that lands in Hawaii.
Aloha.
Ashley says
Pamela,
You obtain the wristband at DFW Airport.
Specifically D28.
If your time to layover @ DFW does not enable you to obtain a
Wristband pls proceed directly to your gate and board your flight.
Better to arrive in Hawaii and have to stand in line vs. miss your
flight!
Lepo F says
CLEAR Health pass has the approved and necessary skip-the-line power. I hardly see a mention of it. It’s worth it.
CLEAR = BYPASS
BARBARA M says
WALT A… No matter what answer you receive regarding pre-check at Atlanta, the answer doesn’t matter because what they are or are not doing today may not be what they will be doing tomorrow or in the future. Do not depend on whatever answer you received – things are changing on a daily basis.
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Barbara.
Good point. This is very fluid.
Aloha.
Richard B. says
We arrived in HNL yesterday from MSP & the pre-clear process worked well. The only things that might have made it smoother were 1)announcing before boarding began to get your bracelet (it was a bit of a mad dash at boarding), & 2)making it clear before we left the plane that those w/bracelets could walk through the screeners. The announcements before deplaning didn’t mention that detail, which made it a bit confusing. However, the bracelets made arrival so much easier!
William G. says
We flew to Hawaii in September. We a a photo of our vaccination card on our phones. Southwest Airlines that we could not pre-clear unless we had our original vaccination card wit us, Word to the wise.
BARBARA M says
WILLIAM G… We had been warned last summer to carry the original paper copy of our vaccine cards – thank goodness we heeded that warning as we, as did you, were required to show that at both the airport and at our hotel.
Holly V says
I flew HA from Sacramento to Maui on Sunday January 2nd. Getting my bag checked in took 50 minutes with a long line of passengers doing the same for our flight and the HA flight to Honolulu. No Safe Travel check in at the Sacramento airport either at the front counter or at the gate. Upon arrival in Maui, long line to get thru Safe Travel. I saw NO orange wristbands on anyone the entire time I was in the airport. So yes, staff shortages are really slowing things down.
WaltA says
Does Delta do pre-check in Atlanta
Jim M. says
Aloha BOH,
I hear a lot about wristbands. How/where do we get these?
Got our QR code from Safe Travels, but our hotel does not have a QR code reader. Hotel says we need to show them the 2 green checkmarks on the Safe Travels website. These will appear after we’re screened by the proper authorities. Where, at our departing airport? Just looking to avoid delays at HNL.
Thank you, BOH and your readers!
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Jim.
When available, you get the wristbands at the departure airport to Hawaii. If you have an intermediate stop, you get the wrist band at the last mainland stop before Hawaii. It is typically at the gate but not always so just ask. You’ll either be screened in advance if there is Pre-Clear available, or at your first landing point in Hawaii.
Aloha.
Chris S says
I just have to give a serious tip of the hat to you guys. You two have the patience of SAINTS. I don’t know how many more times or ways you guys can explain the process to people and keep answering the same questions over and over. 😂
Gif bless you guys and happy new year!!
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Chris.
Thanks! We appreciate that as well as your many comments. You made us both laugh.
Best aloha.
Jon D says
So vax prof doesn’t work for pre clear any longer? Thanks.
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Jon.
Yes, it does. The Pre-Clear is for both vaccination exemption and for testing exemption.
Aloha.
Cindym says
Seems it’s a full time job just keeping up with all the changes for Hawaii travel. Mahalos, BOH, for keeping us updated.
If they are going to test anyone, they really must test all, vaxxed or not, as multiple studies from all over the globe well prove that the vaccinated carry and spread, & contract the virus as well as those that are not. In fact I have read several studies showing the viral load of the vaxxed can be very high.
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Cindy.
Thanks for your comments and nice words.
Aloha.
Heather V. says
We are flying to Maui mid February. We have entered all our vaccination records on the Hawaii safe travels website and received our QR code. Do we still have to be tested within 72 hours before arriving and have proof of a negative test result to enter Hawaii? I have read conflicting statements about this and want to be responsibly prepared. Does anyone know the answer? Thank you
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Heather.
Unless something changes, what you’ve done is all that is necessary. Just do yourself a favor and at least try to get the Pre-Clear bracelet if it is offered on departure for Hawaii.
Aloha.
Amanda H says
We flew OAK to LIH 11 dec. HA were doing bracelets at front counter next to check in. As long as you had registered it was vey simple and don’t take long. Some people didn’t see me know about the program and wee s cram Ling to get organized No wait at all when we landed. Very easy as long as you knew the information in advance. Thank you for keeping us up to date
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Amanda.
Thanks for the feedback. That’s very helpful.
Aloha.