Now you can get to the beach faster with the latest option from three of Hawaii’s airlines. Participating passengers will receive a Pre-Clear wristband after verification of documents before boarding their flight to Hawaii. This should help everyone, given that there will be less work to be done and far less uncertainty on arrival at Hawaii’s airports.
United Airlines Pre-Clear Starts February 1.
UAL Hawaii passengers with a valid and negative COVID-19 test can show results before boarding. This saves time and skips document screening upon arrival. It will be available for passengers on United’s 110 weekly flights to Hawaii.
UAL said, “We’re making it easier for customers traveling to Hawaii to spend more time enjoying their trip and less time waiting in lines.”
To use the program, passengers enroll in the Hawaii Safe Travels program, complete a health questionnaire within 24 hours of departure, and upload their negative test results, from an approved agency, within 72 hours of the transpacific flight. At the airport, passengers will see a United Airlines’ team member at the departure gate, where they will receive a wristband if they qualify to bypass airport screening in Hawaii.
Hawaiian Airlines’ Pre-Clear.
Last week, Hawaiian Airlines announced that it had just joined Alaska Airlines in pre-clearing Hawaii visitors at select mainland locations. This allows those participating who have a negative test to bypass all COVID screening protocols on arrival in Hawaii.
The Hawaiian Airlines Pre-Clear Program last week at SFO and, starting January 29, will expand to Boston, JFK, Long Beach, and Phoenix. Hawaiian’s other US gateways will join the program in February.
Hawaiian’s VP Jeff Helfrick said, “With the Pre-Clear Program, our guests will spend less time in line at the airport and more time safely enjoying Hawaii.” Participating passengers need to do the following.
1. Create a Safe Travels account for each adult and add all flight and lodging information.
2. Complete the mandatory Safe Travels health questionnaire.
3. Upload a negative test result in PDF format from an approved testing partner to Safe Travels.
4. The airline is recommending guests also carry a printed copy of the negative results.
Hawaiian said that “Travelers whose negative COVID-19 test results are not uploaded to the Safe Travels app before departure or not made available during screening would be required to sign the state of Hawai‘i’s 10-day self-quarantine agreement.”
Alaska Airlines Pre-Clear.
Launched last month in partnership with the State of Hawaii, Alaska Airlines also has a Pre-Clear program that makes traveling to Hawaii easier. Daniel Chun, Hawaii Sales Director, told Beat of Hawaii that Alaska is “The first airline to receive approval to pre-clear our guests before departure so that they can avoid lines and bypass the airport screening process after they arrive in Hawaii with an approved negative COVID-19 test.”
Alaska said, “To be eligible for the Hawaii Pre-Clear program, Alaska guests will receive an Alaska Airlines email before departure asking them to complete the following steps. First, create a Safe Travels profile online for every adult traveler. Then, Add all flight details and lodging information. Upload your negative test results from a trusted testing partner as a PDF. Complete the mandatory travel health questionnaire.”
Once the above requirements are met, the guest will be pre-cleared and will receive a pre-clear wristband at check-in or at the departure gate. For more details on the Hawaii Pre-Clear program and pre-travel testing options arranged exclusively for Alaska guests, go to Hawaii Bound.
Pre-Clear is still coming to other airlines.
It was interesting to us that this was announced for only one Hawaii airline to start, Alaska. Then last week, Hawaiian joined, and today United. We believe it should and will be expanded and be available no matter which airline you are flying. Next up should be American, Delta, and Southwest.
We were expecting today’s announcement when last week, commenter Jean said, “On our flight to Hawaii on United Airlines, we were precleared in Denver and given a wrist band on December 29, 2020. Worked great.”
Two more things to keep in mind.
First, on the Big Island, visitors can be subject to a free on-site rapid COVID test on arrival. This Pre-Clear process does not obviate that. Also, Kauai is not participating in this program.
Updated 1/27/21.
Disclosure: We receive a small commission on purchases from some of the links on Beat of Hawaii. These links cost you nothing and provide income necessary to offer our website to you. Mahalo! Privacy Policy and Disclosures.
David says
Please reconsider travelers returning to Hawaii who have flights cancelled or delayed due to weather and subsequently fall out of the 72 hour Covid test for last link of mainland departure a variance. Especially if they can produce a valid Covid negative test for original flight and or a vaccine CDC verification. To have returning travelers venturing out into dangerous
weather condition for Covid retesting because the 72 hour window has passed due forced flight cancellations is subjecting them and family to physical harm-Times are difficult enough.
Respectfully,
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi David.
If your scheduled flight is canceled or delayed, you are not responsible and the 72 hours will not be strictly adhered to. If there’s any question on that, suggest you call the Safe Travels Hawaii Program Service Desk toll-free at 1-855-599-0888 between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time.
Aloha.
Jim says
Called Safe Travels 3 days ago, stayed on the phone for 40+ minutes then left my call back number. Still no return call.
My guess; way too many inquires for a small staff with no funding for a larger staff.
Valerie A says
So do these rules apply to babies under one years of age?
LorraineS says
Appreciate the information. Mahalo
Pekelo T. says
Mahalo nui fo all da info! Keep it up. Malama!
Leita says
Do you still have to be tested if you had Covid? Or can you show proof of your positive test results and be date?
DanM says
If travelling to Maui you also must show that you have AlohaSafe Alert or other tracking app on your phone. I think it’s required for, at least, 1 person in your family or travel pod.
Bob G says
Why dosen’t Kauai get with the program? They are making it difficult to vacation and spend money. yeesh
Ed H says
When will proof of receiving the vaccine be acceptable in lieu of testing if ever.
Bonnie W says
so we will be in Maui and then on to big island, would we be able to use that for our covid test there or do we have to get 1 prior to leaving Maui?
Donald M says
do we have faith that this preclearance is recognized by the state of Hawaii and that they are not going to change their minds sometime in Feb or come up with some other bureaucratic step to make Hawaiian tourists regret they got involved with this?
Teri F. says
Unless you’re flying to Kauai! I’m a resident who just returned from the mainland. I was there taking care of a friend who had just had surgery. I got my Covid test and my QR code and returned home to a mandatory 10 day quarantine! If I was a tourist and spent 3 days in a resort bubble I could get a second test on my 4th day and be released.
This is not an option for returning residents, your quarantine is mandatory 10 days no exceptions. Unless you want to spend $1500 to stay for 3 days at a resort bubble then pay to take a second test. This is not only extortion from residents it’s discrimination!
David B says
Teri – I’m curious: Why did you bother with the time/expense of a pre-flight Covid test and getting a QR code (etc.), if you are going to be stuck with 10 days house arrest no matter what? I know you know this, but you also had the option of going to another island for three days and then taking the second test. Would still cost you $$$, but not nearly as much as a hotel bubble and would be more enjoyable.
But I agree with you. Anyone stuck in quarantine should be able to test out after three days. A hotel bubble is not any “safer” (code word for not catching COVID) than being locked in a room at the Tip Top or being stuck at home. It makes no sense, other than your mayor really wants to motivate people to stay at a bubbler hotel or on another island for a while.
Agatha D. says
What happened to : HONOLULU (KHON2) — House Speaker Scott Saiki plans to introduce a bill when the House reconvenes on Wednesday, Jan. 20, to make the state’s safe travel program uniform regardless of which island is being visited.
Mark says
Gary,
my wife flew to Kona last week and she only had to wait 2 hours in her condo before she was free to leave. If she didn’t hear back from the state then she was good to go. I’m not sure where you got the 24 hour notice from but did you wait in your condo for 24 hours before you ventured out?
Mark
joy b says
Do you have any indication of when you can fly from mainland (Phoenix) to Kauai?
Sharon Y says
What happens when we have had the 2 shot covid vaccines? Will we still be required to have a pre travel covid neg?
Mary Anne P says
Aloha! In December, We used Vault (non-insurance covered) with no incident before flying from San Diego to Oahu, stayed low key for three days, then took another Covid test to make sure we were clean. It was an expensive effort, but made our entire HawaIi family feel comfortable. FYI
Shaun says
Great news!! We have rescheduled our Big Island trip for Spring Break!
Ted B says
New (22 Jan, 21) bypass screening for all the Hawaiian Islands including Kauai or “all” except Kauai? Help.
Teri F. says
As a resident of Kauai, I can tell you that’s a big NO! If you want to come here it’s 3 days in a resort bubble then a second test on the 4th day to be released out of quarantine. I just flew home yesterday from the mainland and I have a mandatory 10 day quarantine even with a negative Covid test and no option to take a second test to be released early from quarantine! They basically are discriminating against the residents of Kauai
Gary C says
Thanks for your helpful updates. We flew to the Big Island last Fri on Alaska Air. They were the first to have wrist bands that allowed you to skip arrival screening. The only problem is it does not really work that way. When you arrive in Kona you are ushered to an area where you fill out another health questionnaire. Then you go through a line with several stations for a rapid test, nasal swab. You don’t have the wait for the results so it is not that inconvenient, unless you are the last ones off the plane. If you do not hear from them in 24 hours, no news is good news.
I think it is a little misleading for the airlines to say your wrist bands allows you to skip arrival testing. Maybe it is different on other Islands.
Gary
Beat of Hawaii says
Hi Gary.
Thanks for the input. We will note that in the article.
Aloha.
Roy H says
We flew into Kona mid November. We too got screened for covid at the airport. (NAAT rapid test) The only difference I can see, is we had to sit for 15 minutes to get are test results back. Also had to put the results in PDF form and upload to safe travels within a week, No big deal. I found the testing at the Kona airport to be very unprofessional. We were on United.
Aloha Guys
Mike S. says
Just the opposite! We flew in on Jan 7th. Uploaded all our info to the safe travels website before leaving (testing by Vault – $119). Took another rapid test at Kona upon arrival. I thought that the tests were done professionally. Proof of negative test needed for rental car and at accomodations.