CDC is considering this while airlines have a differing view.
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98 thoughts on “Mandatory Testing of All Hawaii Travelers? Feds & Airlines Weigh In”
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CDC is considering this while airlines have a differing view.
Get Breaking Hawaii Travel News
Comments are closed.
I would like to the data related to travel on airlines that shows it is a high risk activity. I would think that if it were high risk, then the airlines would have cut back. I recall that the highest risk is at home. I also think the SWA’s G Kelley’s analogy is a fair one. The air filtration in grocery stores is not as good as on SWA’s, for one (replaces cabin air every 3-4 minutes per its advertising). And I get exposed at grocery stores more often than flying: in the last 38 weeks, about 40 – 45 grocery store visits compared to 3 flights. Also, isn’t Hawaii’s infection rate quite high for very restrictive travel rules?
I believe that requiring a test 4 days in advance of Arrival would be much more practical than the current 3 Day Plan. If your flight departs on Sunday you are currently required to test on Friday. It is difficult to receive your results on a weekend. A 4 Day Plan would be much more practical for weekend travel.
Thank you and Aloha
Hi Jon.
What you are suggesting has been proposed by many if not most stakeholders. It doesn’t seem like that change will be forthcoming, however, for whatever reason.
Aloha.
If you got the vaccine, do you still need to be tested? I am going to Honolulu in early April with my family, traveling on Alaska Airlines. Thank You for our feedback.
Hi Andrea.
Please see our update on vaccine travel.
Aloha.
I see this as placing an undue/unequal burden on Hawaii residents that don’t have a choice but to fly; we don’t have the capability to drive like all the other states. Financially it would prove much more devastating/burdening to Hawaii residents than our mainland counterparts. I don’t see that interisland would’ve be exempted from testing. We already don’t see our family and friends and this puts another nail in the coffin.
I believe that we need to require testing within 4 days of arrival instead of 3. If you fly on Sunday as I recently did you must take your test on Friday. It’s difficult getting results over a weekend. The additional day would make things run much smoother.
Southwest Airlines’ analogy is likely based on a published Harvard University study completed in October that found traveling on a plane was less likely to result in contracting covid than going grocery shopping. Isn’t it time for some covid policies to be based on fact and available data rather than media-manufactured fear? Any data I have read concerning airline travel has indicated there has been extremely little covid transmission. On an airplane or otherwise, you wear a mask, you sanitize your hands, avoid touching your face, wash your hands when you can,and you won’t contract covid. Or alternatively you can listen to the one-sided news, hide under your bed and lead a sheltered life, and you won’t contract covid. But if you do this, please stop calling for unnecessary and illogical controls on those who wish to live their lives as normally and safely as possible. You can’t always undo stupid, and mandatory testing costing more than the airline ticket itself will kill airline travel.
I don’t recall any precedence for disease testing before travel. We don’t test for measles (also highly contagious), influenza, HIV, hepatitis, etc. The issue will be litigated before any rollout is implemented. By the way, SWA Kelly has a point – we aren’t talking about testing for train or cruise travel are we? Costco visits, which can be just as dense as airplanes?
Airlines are right: this equals a major demand limiter for just one travel mode.
The cruise industry is talking about testing AND vaccines. Amtrak requires masks, but no testing. They do have a limit on passenger capacity however, think its 50%. Took the auto train a month ago, splurged for own cabin and felt very safe.
The CDC can’t seem to even agree with itself on what protocols should be in place. First it was ‘masks are not needed’, now double masking is recommended. School’s need to close, now it’s ok to send my kid to school because kids are safer at school. Airlines are safe because the air is 90% fresh air run through a HEPA filter, now their proposing a mandatory negative test before flying. This kind of chaos and confusion is exactly why the US is in the position it is. If our lovely government had looked at COVID as the worst case scenario early on and implemented more drastic protocols, we’d likely be in a much better position now. Oh…..wait, that’s right….’Mericans can’t just stand idly by and let the government take away our civil rights. Total joke, you can’t even get half the country to wear masks, how they going to implement a mandatory test for flying. Logistical nightmare. Everyone ripped on Hawai’i when we started mandatory quarantine/testing…turns out we may have been on to something…..
I would rather manditory testing than manditory experimental vaccines. I’m not getting vaccinated for personal health reasons, so manditory vaccines would end my travel anywhere.
The biggest issue with Hawaii program is the restriction to ‘approved’ testers. Here in Las Vegas that makes it impossible to be sure you can get a test and results in 72 hours before final leg of flight! Approved testers cuts number of sites, in some cases, by about 90%.
Thank you for this article. Unfortunately it only makes the whole travel thing more confusing. Even if you tested negative it is no guarantee that you are covid free. The accuracy of the results are not close to being 100%. Also, you could be sitting next to someone who tested negative a day or two ago, but within the 72 period, has come into contact with someone who has covid. All this testing will just destroy the travel and airline industry even more. I don’t know the answer but I don’t believe forcing people to test, especially at their expense is the solution.
Hi Richard.
Thanks. Good points.
Aloha.
Richard
My exact thoughts. A COVID test is just a snapshot of that time only. In 72 hrs a person could definitely come in contact with a person that is positive OR they could become positive several days later after testing. I don’t have any answers but there has to be something done to save the travel business & airlines
The key to this is added capacity for short term test results. We did the safe travel program to come to Hawaii and found a Walgreens with a drive through but we were lucky. I have read on several Beat of Hawaii posts that it is often a nightmare to find a testing site that will give you the results in time. We need to get the testing up then apply it or with our current capacity air travel may come to a screeching halt. If you can’t find a testing site for Hawaii travel, how are you going to find one if it applies to every traveler?
I like this idea. If nothing else, it evens the playing field, and having everyone that desires to use airline travel, tested, at least gives others the peace of mind that they’re not surrounded by people who may have tested positive and still chose to travel.
I honestly believe that a Federal Government testing program/mandate will be an incentive to get on a plane. The process could be streamlined and utilize the National Guard, and the Red Cross. Two entities that work together on a continual basis. Safety is of the utmost importance, and with a side of comfort in knowing that you’re on a plane with every single person tested would definitely be a boon to the travel industry.
If this type of plan we’re in place, I can guarantee that my entire family would be buying tickets to Timbuktu and beyond in a heartbeat!
Mahalo guys. Again, you’re right out front with breaking news. Stay safe and blessed. Aloha 🌺
Hi Pam.
Thanks. It is interesting to see the comments so far. Many good ideas. We both think it would give us some additional comfort in traveling. We know of someone who flew back to Kauai, did not test, and did have COVID. Not a good situation.
Aloha.
It would Not even the playing field for Hawaii. What about those traveling from the east coast that would need 2 covid tests prior to traveling due to layovers? Once arriving in Hawaii they then have to stress about the tests for the return flights. Added expense and stress will deter travel to Hawaii and anywhere else. It will kill the travel industry.
While this would be a logistical nightmare, perhaps it should be tired to vaccination. Proof of full vaccination (say two weeks prior to departure so that it has reached effective levels) could be an alternative. Cumbersome, yes, but a Federal mandate would clear up the issues between states. It might also help if the requirement was for departure from home, assuming no stops other than plane changes so that someone departing Bangor for Kona would have to be negative in Bangor. Certainty, across state borders, would really help.
My husband and I received Covid shot #1 two weeks ago. Next week we receive shot #2. Vaccinated! Shouldn’t we be cleared to travel without further testing???
Vaccinated doesn’t mean you can’t be a carrier.
Please be aware that even vaccinated people can still contract and spread Covid.
If we had our COVID Vaccination and proof that should be enough to get on a flight to Hawaii!
You do realize this is all for something has a 99.8% recovery rate. Once the point of the vaccine again? This is all such a joke. Destroying Hawaii’s economy. Did you do this for swine flu? Absolutely ridiculous.
Agreed, especially since vaccinated people can still contract and spread Covid.
It seems to be that the easier requirement for air travel is vaccination once vaccines are widely available, which may be a few months away or even less if the Johnson & Johnson vaccine receives approval at the end of February. Rolling out a testing program for all air travels when in a few months nearly everyone will have the option of vaccination seems like wasted effort to me.
Hate to say it but we saw this coming about testing everyone on any kind of domestic flight going anywhere in the US. Big questions are how much will the testing add to the cost of your trip? Will you have to bear the extra cost of a rapid test just to make sure you have the results back in time for you flight? Not to mention the insuing anxiety waiting for the results. Even people who are vaccinated would still test as there is the possibility they can infect others without themselves getting sick. Since I’m assuming all these test results would have to go in an airlines system in order to show they checked all passengers how does that not violate HIPAA laws? I appreciate being able to express myself on this.
Hi Kym.
Thanks for your comment. It is definitely an interesting discussion. Hard to know how it will turn out.
Aloha.
I would be fine with pre flight testing for the next 8 months. By then most people who opt for the vaccine will have had it long enough to gain maximum immunity. After that the requirement should shift to only those who have not been vaccinated. The cost should be born at that point by the unvaccinated.
But, the fast tests are maybe 50 percent accurate so I wait for the vaccine before flying.
Testing each and every of the thousands of daily flights would be a nightmare, backing up testing facilities, slowing down the results and thus not guaranteeing the results would be out in time for a flight. And then what? Lose the money you paid for the ticket? And what about last minute emergency travelers? Weekendenders?
This will cause many, many, many people not to fly because of the hoops to jump through, and dampen the economy. There have been no mass outbreaks traced to any flight – airlines are safe. I have personally flown a half dozen times in the past few months, and no illness.
This would be a mistake, and a nightmare.
I have never studied anything more in my Life than covid19. It is criminal beyond belief what I have learned. Germ theory is a theory. This ‘virus’ has never been purified (which means isolated). The PCR ‘test’ is NOT a test – it is a procedure of amplification that can not be used to diagnose anything. The vax is NOT a vax – it is genetic therapy – and extremely reckless and dangerous. Until we stand up and stop believing the main stream narrative of fear mongering – travel will never resume. I will never get tested, tracked, traced or jabbed as I believe I know what is best for my own health, and I stand for freedom. Those of you interests in Freedom – check out Dr. Dolores Cahill – she is a world renowned Phd who knows the truth. And she is starting Freedom AIrlines – which will not require illegal measures such as masks or testing. I will be flying Freedom Airlines as soon as it is available (and if they are not allowed in Hawaii than so be it – I will spend my money elsewhere). I love you all and wish you all the most amazing joy, health and wellness.
I recently traveled to and from Maui for both pleasure and to help friends / family of mine who also want to visit Hawaii but are scared to come over because they are worried about meeting all the requirements to navigate the system that would allow them to get to and from the islands.
Shortly after arriving, I learned that the same person who had checked me in at the front desk of where I was staying had tested positive for the virus. (Kudos to the facility for letting all their residents know.) You can be exposed anywhere – even Hawaii. We all need to do what we can to stay safe but there are no guarantees. Because of the air exchange on all airlines, it’s actually much safer being around people on an airplane who have all tested negative within 72 hours of traveling to the islands than it is in a Grocery store or Hardware store. Hawaii is one of the safest places in the world to be right now and what a better place to be while you wait for the vaccine to come available!
Symptom free after 10 days from potential exposure in Hawaii, I checked into pre-testing for my trip back but I couldn’t find a facility on Maui that would guarantee results within 72 hours. Hawaii doesn’t have the resources or facilities to turn around 80,000 plus tests a month within 72 hours much less a single test for me. If this new requirement goes into effect, the doors to Hawaii will be shut because travelers won’t be able to meet the requirements needed to return to the main land. Thank you for considering my comment.
Bruce S.
It seems to me that mandatory testing before flying domestically would drastically reduce the amount of people who could fly. Adding the extra financial burden of testing twice (both to and from your destination) could eliminate a lot of people from flying (particularly families with several members), thus making it difficult for the airlines to keep their planes as full as they need to in order to stay in business. Plus, many of those tests required 72 hours prior to departure aren’t actually coming back in time. It sounds like a logistical nightmare.
They should test everyone! I have flown a couple of times during the pandemic and each plane was at complete capacity. I thought the airlines were limiting the number of passengers and leaving space. Kinda defeats the purpose of social distancing…..
I’ve been vaccinated. Why would I need to be tested? I think the airlines in the future should require proof of vaccination before flying.
Under the mandate to have a test before you fly, you would have to get a test before you leave your hometown and another one before you came back. That is expensive and tome consuming. I’m currently in Mexico because I have cancelled 2 Hawaii trips. We have to have a test before we fly back to the US which the hotel provided on site feee of charge. Very easy. If they force testing to fly domestically I will stop flying. As far as asymptotic people, the data shows that they either don’t spread the virus or do so at a very low rate. If you are afraid to fly then don’t but don’t punish people who are not afraid to fly. There seem to be a lot of us. I am sorry that people have died from this but for young healthy people the risk is almost zero. This is a bad idea.
While I fully support the idea of testing prior to any domestic flight, I worry about the availability of testing and obtaining results in the time needed. It seems testing (the ability to actually get a test without being symptomatic and getting results in less than 3-4 days) has finally been under control or at least less of a mess than it was 6 months ago. People are able to get a test when they need to and the results are coming quicker than they once were. I have a trip planned for Kauai in April that will include pre-testing and then a stay in a bubble resort before testing out moving to a rental for the rest of our two-week stay. The thought of every domestic flight requiring the same pre-travel test and more people feeling comfortable flying has me imagining that pretest might be harder to get or take longer for results. I was hoping before our trip it’s that the testing would be more affordable, the testing for our family two times at our cost is higher than the bubble stay cost. I have Kaiser where their average test turnaround time is now about 28 hours. That leaves me feeling hopeful that i could replace an expensive option elsewhere and chance that free test for my travels. If the rule changed, so might that timeline. Sorry, this sounds selfish to my particular situation but i do generally support the idea, I just think it’s going to be a nightmare to implement.
The only monkey in the wrench about everyone testing is that if you’ve been vaccinated it doesn’t make sense to test too. I will be traveling to Kauai in May and am hoping that they have figured out hour vaccinations are going to weigh in to the travel program. I will be watching for that info, soon I hope!
I’m all for testing prior to boarding a flight to avoid any hold up at arriving airport or quarantine, however, Hawaii needs to open up its list of approved test sites as it is very difficult to get results within 72 hours unless paying for Rapid Results, which costs are ridiculously high.
We had a 10 year anniversary celebration scheduled back in November that we had to cancel our trip for because of the high mandate back then of when we arrived we couldn’t leave our room we would have to quarantine for 14 days. We were willing to get a test 72 hours before and make sure it was negative. But not being able to get out of our room while we were there we couldn’t do. We couldn’t take more than 7 days off work. So, this was a sad day for us. I’m hoping 2021 will bring better news for us to get to Hawaii! And mandating a vaccine…in my opinion I feel like you are taking away someone’s choice. I don’t believe it should be a mandatory.
I want everyone who is going to fly to be pre-tested for the flu, and, any contagious disease. I don’t want to be on an airplane if there is any possibility of being infected by anyone, including the stewarts, stewardesses, pilots, and, any animals. If we are going to pre-test, let’s do it right. Airlines should be as clean as a clean room at an Intel chip plant. OK, maybe I went to far…but you see the point.
The tests need to be free, easy to get and receive results, and all on a list accepted universally.
Now it is costly; results are not delivered to the person quickly; and different tests are acceptable by different agencies, airlines, and businesses.
The entire testing process needs to be greatly improved.
Only then will it be able to be used as a standard for accessing travel, business and other activities.
Vaccine cards are held by those that took the vaccine. Those should be recognized as a standard pass to travel, business and activities.
The proof of vaccine cards are a sample of a universal standard recognized.
Judy R
I would think getting people their full COVID Vaccinations would be a number one priority. That’s the only thing that will stop the spread. Wanna Covid Test and vaccinate? OK…. but lets have an endgame plan? People who’ve been vaccinated and have been virus free, should be getting a positive nod or pass at some point in this process.
Whatever it takes, but lets do it…
As for Kauai…. I still have my ever rescheduling condo… There are many of us waiting to come and help their economy. Some of us, like myself, are COVID Free and Vaccinated. But, my group of friends are not jumping through all these COVID TEST and 3 day pre-stay hoops. Lets streamline these processes and plan for a COVID free future across the board….
The 21st century form of “show me your papers”! If you never masked up during flu season before then it is time to get over it already. Apparently the CDC is ignoring the WHO statement on what they said was an error in how strict the testing criteria was such that it was resulting in many more false positives on people that were not sick at all. And with all viruses, you can start shedding virus particles long before you will test positive so all of the ranters going off about this are still fundamentally clueless. Oh yeah, and I do have a degree in Microbiology with courses in virology and infectious diseases.
Don you are so right. My son has a PhD in biochemistry. His area of expertise is t-cell therapy. He has said from the get go that there are so many “asymptomatic” people is because the tests are too sensitive…it is picking up dead viruses. Hence, why people are still testing positive months later. Also, SARS viruses (COVID) are very similar to the common cold virus.
Thanks, again BOH for staying current on Hawaii travel regulations. How will testing be guaranteed to be received before travel with only a 72 hour pre-travel test. Mid-America and beyond flights start early in the morning and often have stopovers before arriving in Hawaii. Also I travel often but do not have a smart phone. How will I be able to receive the results and print the results? What about those with COVID vaccine 2part. Will they also need to retest?
Why is safe Hawaii site not comparable with I-pads?
Mahalo for you and your assistance.
Hi David.
Thank you for your comments. Those who do not have a smartphone can contact the Safe Travels Hawai‘i Program Service Desk toll-free at 1-855-599-0888 between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time. The question about your tablet is something we are aware of, but we can’t say exactly why that is the case.
Aloha.
Pretest for flight, mask mandatory, eliminate quarantine and reopen state…..or, find billions for everyone to line up for welfare checks….the islands are a national treasure and should be open to all to enjoy….tourists are essential…
It would be a logistical nightmare at this point. People are flying again. Passenger traffic at my home airport has increased 60% from the low last summer. Why try to institute a draconian measure like this now, just when airlines are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel? Is there data that backs up this need?
Mahalo, BOH.
I always say follow the money.
Just think about it.
How many of the politicians and government employees have stock in the companies that make the test and the makers of mask.
Another thing to think about are the teacher unions and teachers not wanting to go back to work, sure wouldn’t we all like to stay home and get paid.
What I would really like to know when is America going to wake up to all this?
It all sounds a bit too altruistic…the reality is mandatory pre-testing for all airline passengers (over 1 million domestic passengers a day?!) would be a logistical nightmare. Just look at the problems in getting a timely test now as well as the logistic issues with mass vaccine distribution. I have said many times, I am not willing to bet big travel dollars on a pretest and its risks (i.e., getting scheduled with the correct test type, results not available in time, false positive, other unintended consequences like a return airline flight in a few days). So until life returns to some normalcy, than driving vacation destinations are in order. Good luck to all as you maneuver through the changing landscape. Aloha!