A new warning just went out for passengers flying from Honolulu Airport, and it has nothing to do with Tropical Storm Moke. But it has everything to do with baggage-screening equipment failure in Terminal 2. If you’re checking bags on Alaska, American, Delta, Southwest or United, Hawaii transportation officials say to arrive at HNL at least two and a half hours before your flight.
The Hawaii Department of Transportation issued the advisory Sunday morning for Terminal 2. The problem also affects other airlines operating there, including Air Canada, Japan Airlines, Korean Air and other international carriers.
Passengers using Terminal 1, where most Hawaiian flights are, will not be affected.
This isn’t a TSA checkpoint delay.
HDOT says the equipment outages will not affect the time it takes passengers to get through TSA checkpoints, so those with only carry-on bags should not be impacted. The problem is specifically with the separate screening process for checked baggage, and canine teams are being mobilized to help mitigate delays.
That creates an unusual situation at HNL. The passenger security line may look completely normal while checked bags face delays elsewhere in the system. Thus, TSA wait times won’t necessarily inform passengers checking luggage how early they need to arrive.
HDOT hasn’t said how many baggage screening units are out of service or how long it expects the problem to last. The state says passengers should continue allowing the additional time until it advises that the extra time is no longer needed. We’ll update this as soon as we learn more.
Hawaiian Airlines passengers are mostly unaffected.
Hawaiian Airlines passengers departing from Terminal 1 can continue following the airport’s normal arrival recommendations. The airport currently recommends arriving at least 90 minutes before interisland flights and two hours before overseas flights, unless otherwise advised by your airline.
There is one Hawaiian exception worth knowing. HNL currently lists a small number of Hawaiian Airlines flights at Terminal 2, so passengers on those flights who are checking bags should also follow today’s Terminal 2 advisory. Today’s checked-bag warning affects virtually every major U.S. carrier at Honolulu Airport, except Hawaiian’s Terminal 1 operations.
Another HNL problem travelers can’t see coming.
We’ve been following Honolulu Airport’s aging infrastructure and billions of dollars in planned improvements, including work that stretches years into the future. Today’s problem is much smaller in scale, and the impact will hopefully be short-lived.
Are you flying out of Honolulu Airport? Let us know which airline you’re flying and what you’re finding at bag check and TSA.
Lead Photo Credit: © Beat of Hawaii at Terminal 2, HNL.
By Rob and Jeff, Beat of Hawaii.
Some of the most meaningful parts of Hawaii are the ones visitors walk right past without knowing they are there. We’ve spent nearly 20 years finding them firsthand for BOH as full-time Hawaii residents reporting on travel, culture, and island life, and telling you what they mean for your trip. Join us →
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