Question about the health questionnaire from Safe Travels.

[twodogs]

We just returned from Maui yesterday. I realize this is a different airport than you will be using into Aulani, but I want to comment on the process for us on American from DFW direct to OGG (Maui). We arrived at the gate in DFW over an hour before departure time. There were flights to HNL and OGG out of side by side gates, so they funneled all passengers from BOTH flights into two lines for the Hawaii pre-clear blue bands. The lines were atrociously slow, and very few people actually got bands. At 45 minutes prior to the departure, they made everyone get out of the pre-clear line and board the flights. It was chaos, and we did not get the blue bands. Once in OGG, we were very near the front of the plane, and we waited only about 30 seconds in the line to get cleared in Hawaii. They were VERY organized and quick. One important note, we had uploaded our vaccine cards and had the QR codes as mentioned above, but the REQUIRED our original vaccine cards also be presented to the agent to clear in Hawaii. We visited the spa at the Westin, and they also required our original vaccine cards. I was very nervous to be traveling with them, but please bring them so you don’t have any issues on your trip. We saw a family get turned away and mom and 9 yo had to fly right back to LA to get him tested as they failed to do it (rest of family was vaccinated and allowed in).

 

[twodogs]

So bottom line, if you want to Pre-clear in DFW, you need to be in the line for pre-clear (likely NOT at your actual gate) at least 2 hours prior to departure time If you want to make it through. So many people had the wrong information etc that the lines just didn’t move. I knew we were all vaccinated, had our QR code’s and had our original vaccine cards, but I still worried for 8 hours on the flight that something might go wrong and they would not let us leave the airport in Hawaii. I would have been much more relaxed to have that blue band in DFW prior to departure.

 

[MouseOfCards]

We did everything required and completed all the information on the Safe Travels site and received our QR codes. On our departure, at baggage check, the Hawaiian Airlines rep handed out the wristbands. The rep said that there was an issue with one member of our party and would not give him the wristband until he showed the QR code screenshot on his phone and the rep was able to scan it.

We were meeting up with another family on arrival at the Hawaii airport. The slow moving line for those without wristbands was several hundred deep. As we walked past that long line, we saw the other family in the line. They had received their QR codes prior to departure also. However, one member was unable to get their wristband due to some unknown issue at the departure airport. We went first and waited for them at baggage claim. When the finally arrived, they said they were in the line for about 40 minutes. They were only asked for their name and contact info before being allowed to leave.

There's obviously some major glitches with the system or process. Everyone heading to Hawaii should definitely get all the requirements completed under Safe Travels, and do everything they can to get the wristband before flying into Hawaii.

 

[helenk]

Well our American Airlines flight was canceled so we ended up taking United to San Francisco and then San Francisco to Honolulu. Unfortunately we only had an hour layover which was not enough time to get in line for the bands. But the line to get checked at the Honolulu airport was not too bad so it all worked out.

 

[FoodieFriend]

Well our American Airlines flight was canceled so we ended up taking United to San Francisco and then San Francisco to Honolulu. Unfortunately we only had an hour layover which was not enough time to get in line for the bands. But the line to get checked at the Honolulu airport was not too bad so it all worked out.

Glad to hear HNL seems to have improved their processing of non-wristband guests. I definitely think people who haven't completed the steps on the Hawaii Safe Travels site can result in slowing down the lines. Enjoy your time in Hawaii!

 

[travelgirl06]

Piggybacking off this - does anyone know what needs to be done for the exemption for a kid under 5? Do we need to do anything in Safe Travels other than adding them to our account?