167 thoughts on “This Hawaiian Airlines Terminal Is A Traveler’s Nightmare”
TL
I would like to point out that Hawaiian had little say in their location at LAX. At only 6 flights a day, they were likely not given many options. The prime locations are given to the major 3 US airlines.
That said, it sounds like arriving at a high C gate at HNL after 7 hours from PHX and weaving around toward the bag claim, hoping that the exits to the bag claim are actually open. Of course, HNL does have the closely guarded super secret wiki wiki shuttle.
And don’t get me started on amenities near the high C gates open for the redeye flights back to the mainland!
Oh yes!! I got to experience this back in April. I’m always an early arrival person, but boy was I glad I arrived early And that I’m a fast walker. When I arrived at my gate at 0600 for my 0700 flight I was hungry. The only place open was a little shoppette that had sandwiches, bananas, yogurt, drinks. Needless to say, I’m glad I packed my own gluten free snacks.
Upon arriving back to LAX from HI, I felt the trip to baggage claim was Way more confusing than the trip from the ticket counter to the terminal.
Long story short, plan ahead! Bring snacks or food. Plan extra time cuz who really wants to miss their flight To Hawaii?! Good luck!!
It is a very long walk! We saw the sign at the escalators before heading down the long hallway to the gates about limited food availability. We had some time so we turned around and went to the last bar before heading down to the gates.
LAX sucks. Bradley Terminal sucks even worse… flew in their from Heathrow a couple of months back. Customs was a disaster of undirected lines, then get luggage, walk 5 terminals (did not see an actual “public” shuttle bus the entire slow walk) to terminal 2 to drop off luggage, go through security (undermanned and not terribly bright) again… after the similar joke of customs and security at Heathrow… it was not a pleasant day.
I unfortunately had to fly into LAX from Maui on Saturday as it was last minute and my usual Maui to Long Beach flight was fully booked. That walk was exactly as you described, escalators up, escalators down, corridors that seemed to go on forever, it was beyond ridiculous. Never again! It was a dumb decision by Hawaiian Airlines to move to this no-end-in-sight terminal. I’ll do everything I can to fly in and out of Long Beach in the future.
Totally agree. Hawaiian did not have their customers in mind when they switched terminals. As you said, there’s hardly any ear eating areas or places to buy food as u near the gate. The walk is inconveniently long for families with small kids and carry-ons.
We’re seniors and don’t like the walk either and lack of convenience stores near the gate.
We’re now looking into other airlines for our trips to Kauai as we frequently travel back and forth to the Mainland, but now it will Not be on Hawaiian Air. Whoever made the decision to switch to the Thomas Bradley Terminal at LAX should be fired!
We had the same “surprise” when arriving at LAX from Lihue. Great new airplane, wonderful in flight service and meal and all of it ruined by the arduous hike and circuitous route to the airport exit. Exhausting, confusing and seemingly endless. Plus the exit to the Bradley terminal is The Wordt at LAX. Crowds and traffic are overwhelming. Your advice for extra time might be optimistic. We will avoid the west gates in the future. FWIW the new terminal IS beautiful but not worth the trouble.
Wonderful meal…Really??? Ours are always not edible. SAN airport gates are also the furthest possible for Hawaiian. Never had lounge…on borrowed admission with Delta a long time ago.
I am with AJA…need to find another airlines. SWA is looking better & better!
We just experienced Bradley terminal going to rain coming back from Kona to LAX what a mess what a hassle what a fiasco ! It couldn’t be any farther, but going through the international TSA checkpoint with many people who don’t speak English, and not understanding the instructions really slowed the process down in the future we will use Ontario or another carrier
David C you might want to look at Long Beach. We have flown that route too. LGB is much smaller, much less of a stress producer. For what it is worth, I put a video on YouTube comparing Long Beach vs. LAX to Kahului. It might be worth 8 minutes of your time. Here is a link, if it is allowed. I am NOT a professional, and get nothing from this. youtube.com/watch?v=NbnBUTf6-wA
Aloha Rob and Jeff. So finally you got to see what I go through each time I visit Kauai. I wrote a letter to Hawaiian regarding the switchover in the very beginning. Thought it might be temporary, but no. Nothing is ever open when I depart and coming back, same thing. Who wants to eat at the airport with high prices anyway. By the time you get to baggage,get your bags,another hassle to get transportation. I either have someone pick me up or use The Parking Spot and take the shuttle which you also have to wait for. I get home from a 10:30 pm landing around 1am. I live 30 min from LAX. I deal with it because I am a loyal HA cardholder. I feel you. Glad you survived the craziness!!! Always the Best for you both. Be there in 3 wks. Mahalo nui
I would like to point out that Hawaiian had little say in their location at LAX. At only 6 flights a day, they were likely not given many options. The prime locations are given to the major 3 US airlines.
That said, it sounds like arriving at a high C gate at HNL after 7 hours from PHX and weaving around toward the bag claim, hoping that the exits to the bag claim are actually open. Of course, HNL does have the closely guarded super secret wiki wiki shuttle.
And don’t get me started on amenities near the high C gates open for the redeye flights back to the mainland!
Oh yes!! I got to experience this back in April. I’m always an early arrival person, but boy was I glad I arrived early And that I’m a fast walker. When I arrived at my gate at 0600 for my 0700 flight I was hungry. The only place open was a little shoppette that had sandwiches, bananas, yogurt, drinks. Needless to say, I’m glad I packed my own gluten free snacks.
Upon arriving back to LAX from HI, I felt the trip to baggage claim was Way more confusing than the trip from the ticket counter to the terminal.
Long story short, plan ahead! Bring snacks or food. Plan extra time cuz who really wants to miss their flight To Hawaii?! Good luck!!
Have you been to the airport in Salt Lake City?
Only to drive around. It was not particularly enjoyable in 2019 when it was under construction.
It is a very long walk! We saw the sign at the escalators before heading down the long hallway to the gates about limited food availability. We had some time so we turned around and went to the last bar before heading down to the gates.
LAX sucks. Bradley Terminal sucks even worse… flew in their from Heathrow a couple of months back. Customs was a disaster of undirected lines, then get luggage, walk 5 terminals (did not see an actual “public” shuttle bus the entire slow walk) to terminal 2 to drop off luggage, go through security (undermanned and not terribly bright) again… after the similar joke of customs and security at Heathrow… it was not a pleasant day.
I’m am totally with you on LAX. It is one of my least favorite mainland US airports.
I unfortunately had to fly into LAX from Maui on Saturday as it was last minute and my usual Maui to Long Beach flight was fully booked. That walk was exactly as you described, escalators up, escalators down, corridors that seemed to go on forever, it was beyond ridiculous. Never again! It was a dumb decision by Hawaiian Airlines to move to this no-end-in-sight terminal. I’ll do everything I can to fly in and out of Long Beach in the future.
I’m going to have to remember Long Beach!
Check out my video on YouTube comparing flying Hawaiian from Long Beach vs LAX. It is published under Music68Man
Totally agree. Hawaiian did not have their customers in mind when they switched terminals. As you said, there’s hardly any ear eating areas or places to buy food as u near the gate. The walk is inconveniently long for families with small kids and carry-ons.
We’re seniors and don’t like the walk either and lack of convenience stores near the gate.
We’re now looking into other airlines for our trips to Kauai as we frequently travel back and forth to the Mainland, but now it will Not be on Hawaiian Air. Whoever made the decision to switch to the Thomas Bradley Terminal at LAX should be fired!
We had the same “surprise” when arriving at LAX from Lihue. Great new airplane, wonderful in flight service and meal and all of it ruined by the arduous hike and circuitous route to the airport exit. Exhausting, confusing and seemingly endless. Plus the exit to the Bradley terminal is The Wordt at LAX. Crowds and traffic are overwhelming. Your advice for extra time might be optimistic. We will avoid the west gates in the future. FWIW the new terminal IS beautiful but not worth the trouble.
Wonderful meal…Really??? Ours are always not edible. SAN airport gates are also the furthest possible for Hawaiian. Never had lounge…on borrowed admission with Delta a long time ago.
I am with AJA…need to find another airlines. SWA is looking better & better!
Which “great new airplane”? The airbus A330? We are considering upgrading to economy comfort, but unsure if it’s worth the extra money.
We just experienced Bradley terminal going to rain coming back from Kona to LAX what a mess what a hassle what a fiasco ! It couldn’t be any farther, but going through the international TSA checkpoint with many people who don’t speak English, and not understanding the instructions really slowed the process down in the future we will use Ontario or another carrier
David C you might want to look at Long Beach. We have flown that route too. LGB is much smaller, much less of a stress producer. For what it is worth, I put a video on YouTube comparing Long Beach vs. LAX to Kahului. It might be worth 8 minutes of your time. Here is a link, if it is allowed. I am NOT a professional, and get nothing from this. youtube.com/watch?v=NbnBUTf6-wA
Mahalo for the Long Beach heads up! I will check out the video for sure, I appreciate it!
Aloha Rob and Jeff. So finally you got to see what I go through each time I visit Kauai. I wrote a letter to Hawaiian regarding the switchover in the very beginning. Thought it might be temporary, but no. Nothing is ever open when I depart and coming back, same thing. Who wants to eat at the airport with high prices anyway. By the time you get to baggage,get your bags,another hassle to get transportation. I either have someone pick me up or use The Parking Spot and take the shuttle which you also have to wait for. I get home from a 10:30 pm landing around 1am. I live 30 min from LAX. I deal with it because I am a loyal HA cardholder. I feel you. Glad you survived the craziness!!! Always the Best for you both. Be there in 3 wks. Mahalo nui
Hi Debra.
Thanks for the feedback on LAX. Happy travels!
Aloha.
Well, I don’t have any recent experience at LAX. However, your story makes me glad I’m flying in on United Airlines tomorrow.