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72 thoughts on “Free Airport COVID Tests Announced + Will Airlines Step Forward?”

    1. Beat of Hawaii

      Hi Frank.

      So far the state has said nothing about what if anything will be required of those who have been vaccinated.

      Aloha.

  2. Joan B

    Just a few words of warning about getting an appointment for the OAK location. I have tickets for Jan 16 (fingers crossed for the 3rd time). I went online more than one month before and there were no appts available until January 23. I drove down the testing site and got an appt for the 14th. So if you live close to the OAK airport your best bet is to drive down and make an appointment and not do it online. Mahalo!

    2. Herman T.

      I ran into the same problem when trying to book on line — first available test January 21. My Southwest flight from Oakland was December 15. Thank you for the suggestion to drive to Oakland Airport to get a test appointment

    3. ThomA

      Joan…are you able to get a NAAT test as listed on the Hawaii Safe Travel Site? I’ve looked at City Health and it says it’s a PCR test. I don’t think that is accepted. I’m so close to just giving up on any Hawaii travel this year and have a blow out trip in 2022…..

  3. Margaret P

    Your article (helpful as always) has a Dec 17 2020 date, but all the comments have October dates. Are they actually comments submitted in October, or is there a calendar glitch?

  5. Suzanna G

    Sadly, within 1 day of SMF opening up an airport testing site, appts are already booked up. They aren’t offeeing the 24hr rapid test, just the reg PCR test with CityHealth. No appts available in time if you have a Weds 12/30 departure date.
    We had no idea when we booked our flight pre-Covid that Weds would be the worst day to travel from a testing standpoint. In person testing options in the Sacramento area with a 72hr turnaround are severely limited now that CVS & Kaiser warn results can 4-5days. If you aren’t travelling til mid-Jan there are airporr appts open, but book ASAP! We have fingers crossed with kaiser for now. Please wish us luck! Thank you!

    1. Beat of Hawaii

      Hi Suzanna.

      Thanks for the up-to-date info on their testing availability. Let us know how it goes.

      What the Sacramento announcement says is that they are also offering the rapid test, albeit at a cost of $120. The free/$20 admin fee test is the 48-72 hour results variety.

      Aloha.

      1. Suzanna G

        That announcement is not correct. When you click the $120 option it defaults back to the regular test, with a note that the other isnt available yet at the SMF location. Other tough issue might be testing is open to the general public too. I dont know if that’s the case at other airports. It says there are 2 seperate portals but there aren’t. I was able to sign us up for a 1/30 tests for our Feb visir to the Big island. So it does look like you can schedule about 3p days out. Thanks again! Aloha!

        1. Beat of Hawaii

          Hi Suzanna.

          Thanks for the update on the Sacramento location testing option, or lack thereof. Since it just started this week, hopefully it will get sorted out.

          Aloha.

      3. Tina M.

        Aloha All,
        Just wanted to let you know that I was just in touch (today 12/18) with Samantha Mott who is the SMF contact person with the Sacramento County Public Information Office. She has stated that at this time, only the PCR test is being offered at SMF. They do not offer a rapid antigen test. Further, on the City Urgent Health Care website, it specifically states that their rapid antigen test is not approved for Hawaii bound travelers. I hope this helps eliminate some confusion.

        norcalcovid19testing.com/

        Mahalo and Mele Kalikimaka!!

        1. Beat of Hawaii

          Hi Tina.

          Thanks for that clarifications. I think their biggest issue is going to be testing availability, based on comments since yesterday.

          Aloha.

  6. Harry

    Why can’t we get our test results from our own medical provider (who we trust)and feel more confident about the whole processing than Walgreens/Cvs
    We should have a choice of where we go and of course our records will be validated

  7. Cheri F.

    I agree with some of the posters, there is no such thing as a “free lunch” or a “free test”.

    Can anyone recommend a COVID testing site in the Newport/Laguna/Dana Point area with results within the required 72 hour timeframe?

    Thanks!
    Cheri

    1. Beat of Hawaii

      Hi Cheri.

      Lots of OC people around here so likely we’ll hear from them on your question. We’ve had the most positive feedback in comments regarding Vault mail-in tests for what that’s worth.

      Aloha.

    2. LauraW

      Our experience with Vault, and from what others have been posting on online travel forums, is that you receive your results in your inbox in about 30 hours after you spit in the test tube on Zoom. One caveat: Vault is warning that those traveling to Hawaii on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, they cannot advise you will receive your results prior to your flight. This is due to the fact that UPS does not have overnight air on Sundays.

  8. Dn

    Hawaiian Air is a pain. I held a fare but they would not let me use my credit on a held fare. Then they said I could only rebook main cabin basic. After arguing with her she said as a “courtesy” they would allow main cabin this time. I also could not use the credit for baggage. Be careful and read the fine print!

  9. Becky D.

    Aloha! It is my understanding that one still needs to have a negative COVID test within 72Hrs with verification in order to avoid the 14 day quarantine. I also read that Hawaii is only accepting PCR Covid test results. This would rule out the free tests offered by some airlines for flights to Hawaii to avoid quarantine. This may change however. A friend of mine who recently flew to Honolulu due to traveling with her dog, and lives on Kauai, had two different PCR negative tests with documentation. She cleared Honolulu and flew to Kauai. At Lihue airport she was told she needed to be quarantined because they only accept tests from Walgreens and CVS. Being a resident of Kauai, she is furious! How stupid was that! Like others who have commented on your site, she called the 800 # given to her for four days and never heard back. Airport personnel need to get their facts consistent and accurate.

  10. Ernest L.

    Will Hawaiiaccept the IDNow test? What about the NAAT requirement? Plus, United Airlines is not a Trusted Partner.

    1. Maranda W

      yes, they are. They’re using a lab called Color. Scroll down to the Domestic Trans-Pacific Trusted Testing Partners. hawaiicovid19.com/travel-partners/
      It has to be out of the SFO airport, though.

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