167 thoughts on “This Hawaiian Airlines Terminal Is A Traveler’s Nightmare”
Don R.
LAX is a dump..always has been, always will be. No matter how many billion$ of dollars they put into the airport, it will still look old and beat up when completed.
Ontario Airport is a alternative option, but needs to have more flights.
Long Beach is also an option with very easy access to the gates.
All I know, is Hawaiian/Jet Blue need to return to Terminal 4 and their original location on the east end where the AE Platinum Lounge is, Terminal 3 is a nightmare and there is no Brand synergy as to alliances. Git’r dun!
100% Nightmare!!! I had to fly Maui to LAX for my daughter’s emergency surgery- I had No idea I was gong to land at 5:00am and Walk for 20+. minutes without anyone to ask for directions, without any help and being basically pooped from flying over night. I always “carry-on” luggage but this made Absolutely No difference at all, as it turns out everyone has to snake up/down/across the freakin terminal to get the heck out of there! If I had known about this I would have 100% Never Flown Hawaiian Ever!!! Going back was equally a Nightmare, as I was given bad airport staff directions and had to Run to get to the gate area! 100% Never Again!!! Next time I flew Maui to LA, I flew Southwest to Long Beach- easy peezy pumpkin easy !!! I Hate LAX !
Let us keep in mind one fact about the move Hawaiian had to make from T5 to TBT West. When the moving notice came down to HAL, they had already been moved once from T2 where they were for years, to T5, with the understanding that this would be a long-term play. Long-term only was for a handful of years and then were uprooted again. As some may know here, HAL sued LAWA over the TBT move, but I guess the settled out so now we have what is the equivalent of what you experience in LAS when you arrive…a very long walk, also.
We have two round trips to Kahului and back since the move to terminal B. The map above does not do justice to the maze through which you must travel. As was pointed out the food options are shortly after check-in and few are open in the morning when you start boarding at 7:30. There are a few stands near the gate where you can pick up a snack or drink.
Upon returning to Los Angeles, indeed there is a horrible maze you follow. I wonder if that route is the final path or only temporary until all the work on Terminal B is completed?
We flew LAX to Maui thru the new terminal in May and it was a miserable experience as described in this posting. Our son and his family (2 year old & an infant) had to really rush with their stroller & carry ons just to make it to the gate in time to board the flight. None of us had anticipated the very long and confusing hike to the distant gate. Same long and circuitous hike to baggage claim on our return but of course now it was night and we were all tired and kids were cranky after the long flight. In my mind, because of this horrible LAX terminal situation, Hawaiian will no longer be my carrier of choice for our annual trip to Maui.
Im always suprised that Hawaiian has such a cult like following. I hate transferring from another island in Hawaii it’s a huge pain and very awkward. I can’t imagine how bad LAX is now. I flew Hawaiian for several times I went to Hawaii but the last If 5 or so times we have flown exclusively Alaska.
Aloha Jeff and Rob. Your description of Hawaiian’s LAX terminal is too kind. It’s a nightmare! The first time I navigated this labyrinth, I assumed it would be a 10-minute walk. Every time I turned a corner I expected to see my gate. No such luck. Up and down escalators, walking long cor
ridors to make a turn to another long corridor. I was run-walking, sweating and yes, swearing under my breath. I almost missed my flight. When I reached the plane, I mentioned it to the attendant. Her response: “Tell me about it. I have to walk it twice a day.” Someone mentioned it’s temporary. I hope it is. Between the mile walk to my gate, and the 30 min+ shuttle to the Uber/Taxi lot, it’s horrible. Perhaps flying out of another airport is in my future.
LAX is a dump..always has been, always will be. No matter how many billion$ of dollars they put into the airport, it will still look old and beat up when completed.
Ontario Airport is a alternative option, but needs to have more flights.
Long Beach is also an option with very easy access to the gates.
All I know, is Hawaiian/Jet Blue need to return to Terminal 4 and their original location on the east end where the AE Platinum Lounge is, Terminal 3 is a nightmare and there is no Brand synergy as to alliances. Git’r dun!
100% Nightmare!!! I had to fly Maui to LAX for my daughter’s emergency surgery- I had No idea I was gong to land at 5:00am and Walk for 20+. minutes without anyone to ask for directions, without any help and being basically pooped from flying over night. I always “carry-on” luggage but this made Absolutely No difference at all, as it turns out everyone has to snake up/down/across the freakin terminal to get the heck out of there! If I had known about this I would have 100% Never Flown Hawaiian Ever!!! Going back was equally a Nightmare, as I was given bad airport staff directions and had to Run to get to the gate area! 100% Never Again!!! Next time I flew Maui to LA, I flew Southwest to Long Beach- easy peezy pumpkin easy !!! I Hate LAX !
Let us keep in mind one fact about the move Hawaiian had to make from T5 to TBT West. When the moving notice came down to HAL, they had already been moved once from T2 where they were for years, to T5, with the understanding that this would be a long-term play. Long-term only was for a handful of years and then were uprooted again. As some may know here, HAL sued LAWA over the TBT move, but I guess the settled out so now we have what is the equivalent of what you experience in LAS when you arrive…a very long walk, also.
Wouldn’t it be great if Hawaiian would fly the A-330 from Long Beach? Yes, the runway at LGB is long enough, it is about 3,500 longer than Kahului!
We have two round trips to Kahului and back since the move to terminal B. The map above does not do justice to the maze through which you must travel. As was pointed out the food options are shortly after check-in and few are open in the morning when you start boarding at 7:30. There are a few stands near the gate where you can pick up a snack or drink.
Upon returning to Los Angeles, indeed there is a horrible maze you follow. I wonder if that route is the final path or only temporary until all the work on Terminal B is completed?
We flew LAX to Maui thru the new terminal in May and it was a miserable experience as described in this posting. Our son and his family (2 year old & an infant) had to really rush with their stroller & carry ons just to make it to the gate in time to board the flight. None of us had anticipated the very long and confusing hike to the distant gate. Same long and circuitous hike to baggage claim on our return but of course now it was night and we were all tired and kids were cranky after the long flight. In my mind, because of this horrible LAX terminal situation, Hawaiian will no longer be my carrier of choice for our annual trip to Maui.
It’s horrible! Sadly I don’t think I’ll fly Hawaiian to LAX again!
Im always suprised that Hawaiian has such a cult like following. I hate transferring from another island in Hawaii it’s a huge pain and very awkward. I can’t imagine how bad LAX is now. I flew Hawaiian for several times I went to Hawaii but the last If 5 or so times we have flown exclusively Alaska.
Aloha Jeff and Rob. Your description of Hawaiian’s LAX terminal is too kind. It’s a nightmare! The first time I navigated this labyrinth, I assumed it would be a 10-minute walk. Every time I turned a corner I expected to see my gate. No such luck. Up and down escalators, walking long cor
ridors to make a turn to another long corridor. I was run-walking, sweating and yes, swearing under my breath. I almost missed my flight. When I reached the plane, I mentioned it to the attendant. Her response: “Tell me about it. I have to walk it twice a day.” Someone mentioned it’s temporary. I hope it is. Between the mile walk to my gate, and the 30 min+ shuttle to the Uber/Taxi lot, it’s horrible. Perhaps flying out of another airport is in my future.