We know that Hawaii is busy and about to get busier. To help make travels easier for visitors and residents alike, especially this summer, Hawaii Safe Travels has just expanded its Pre-Clear testing verification program with new domestic partners. Travelers can confirm compliance with Safe Travels prior to departure from the mainland and avoid mandatory airport screenings upon arrival. This streamlines the Hawaii arrival process
Updated List of U.S. Pre-Clear Partners
Pre-Clear programs are offered at many mainland gateways to Hawaii. That list is going to grow according to the state.
Alaska Airlines: Pre-Clear is offered from all U.S. mainland hubs with non-stop flights to Hawaii.
Hawaiian Airlines: Pre-Clear from more than 15 cities, including international ones. Austin and other gateways coming soon.
Southwest Airlines: Offering Pre-Clear service from five gateway airports in California.
United Airlines: Pre-Clear is offered from every United U.S. mainland hub with flights to Hawaii.
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 all flight and lodging information to the account.
3. Complete the mandatory health questionnaire within the account.
4. 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 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.
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.
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Ernest L says
My wife and I are traveling from Tampa to Kona on United, with a very quick flight change in Denver for the flight to Kona. I don’t know if we’ll have time there to preclear. Do you know if we can do it inflight, or if we can do it in Tampa?
Jim R. says
Aloha Guys,
Definitely convenient, not having to wait, when landing in Oahu and continuing to any of the outer islands…especially with a short layover, one hour or less.
I almost missed my connecting flight in November, but in February they had just started the Pre-Clear program out of SMF, and it was easy to make my short connection.
This will be convenient, with the new influx of travelers in the coming months, for sure.
Take care you two! 🙂
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Jim.
Thanks. You too. We appreciate your more than 200 comments.
Aloha.
Ralph H says
Will safe travel be available at American Airlines? We will traveling to Hawaii in dec of this year. Thank you.
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Ralph.
There is no information available about AA participating at this time.
Aloha.
Jacki N says
Arriving in Maui on May 16th.
Linda D. says
This all sounds all good however, recently I flew to Maui from Sacramento on Hawaiian. I was given a wristband at the airport in Sacramento prior to boarding…I was thrilled until I arrived in Maui where it took forever to get off the plane. I couldn’t understand the delay until I made it to the front of the line and there was someone…yes ONE taking the temperature of every passenger. When I flew Southwest to Maui in January it was a much quicker process as they have you walk a distance in the terminal to arrive at the check out location…NO WAITING. They just kept you moving. It was great!
Thanks for keeping everyone updated. I frequent Maui and it is helpful knowing what is going on. Linda
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Linda.
Thanks for the update on your recent experience on Maui.
Aloha.
Deb P. says
Do you see Delta coming up with Pre Clear program as well ?
Wendy M. says
Mahalo for the update on this. It’s encouraging that the pre-clear program is expanding. I’m disappointed, though, to not see American Airlines on the list. Do you happen to have any idea if/when AA will follow suit and offer this as well?
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Wendy.
Yes, we were surprised by that too. We couldn’t find anything about them participating.
Aloha.
Phyllis M says
Are residents required to show or do a pretest if you have been vaccinated? Thank you
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Phyllis.
Residents have the same requirements as do visitors.
Aloha.
Amy A says
Does United offer Pre-Clear in Houston at IAH? I could not locate any information on United’s website as to whether this service is offered at this airport.
Bernadette T says
If you have been vaccinated do you still need to be tested before returning to Hawaii
Bernadette T says
Those of us who have been vaccinated and go to the mainland do we still need to be retested to get back home to. Hawaii.
Thank you
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Bernadette.
At least at this time, yes you do.
Aloha.
Rhea says
If you have your vaccination for Covid. You don’t have to do any of that stuff.?
Andrea B says
Dear Rhea, as of right now in order to travel to Hawaii a person must have a negative test result. It isn’t official yet but Hawaii is working on vaccine passport.
Rhea says
If you have your vaccine. Do you have to do any of the pre testing? Thank you.
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Rhea.
At this point, yes you do. That will change at some point.
Aloha.
Geoffrey D says
What is the policy going to be in regards to Pre-Clear for those that have been vaccinated?
Ted B says
Ditto. (also) What is or will be with status of the vaccination cards (with 2 dated vac entries)?
Ted B says
edit sorry.
Ditto. (also) What is or will be the status of the vaccination “cards” we were issued/carry (with 2 dated vac entries)?
Andrea B says
Hi Ted, for people who don’t want to be vaccinated they will still have the option for testing.
Andrea B says
Dear Ted, we have to wait for the vaccine passport to become official first, then we will know everything else.
Bob Y says
As off this point in time vaccination cards are of no help in the arrival process. We are hoping by June we will be able to use the vaccination cards for entry in lieu of COVID testing or quarantining from the mainland.
Hal says
We just returned from 2 weeks on the Big Island. Getting set up to go (testing, Safe travels) was bit of work as we were flying out on a Wednesday, which precluded a lot of the available tests. But, Alaska had the airport experience well set-up. On arrival we were quickly moved through for our arrival test and sent on our way. System worked well for us.
Angie S says
Aloha!
We are currently in Maui for a couple weeks and we did receive or pre travel wristbands from ONT airport before we boarded but still had to go through a clearance line at OGG – we had to be given a ticket (think raffle ticket) with the number cleared in our party to pass through the section before leaving the terminals. The security team asked to see this ticket before letting us pass through. Unsure what this was about – but it didn’t seem to matter that we had wristbands. But the wristband clearance did help when we had a layover in HNL.
Lori says
Why did the wristbands help in Honolulu?