It's recommended to arrive 2.5 hours prior to departure for North American flights, 1.5 hours before Neighbor Island flights, and 3 hours before international flights. Check-in: Gate agents are waiting to check you and your baggage in.
Afternoons/Evenings. The afternoons and evenings at Honolulu International Airport can also be quite busy, especially during the peak travel seasons. From around 3 PM to 6 PM, there is a significant increase in passenger traffic as many flights depart for various destinations.
Two hours is not enough time to leave the airport and take the bus to and from there, and re-clear TSA on the way back. If it's a layover in Honolulu, most likely you're either transferring from a mainland flight to an inter-island flight or vice versa.
The recommended layover time for domestic flights is normally one hour. However, as previously stated, you may require longer if your flights are booked with two different airlines, if you are traveling to a very busy airport or if you require special assistance.
Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) is one of the world's largest, busiest and most beautiful airports, formerly known as Honolulu International Airport.
If your itinerary was purchased as one ticket (as in: you have only one itinerary and one confirmation number), and the connection time was too short and you miss the second (or third) flight, you can rest easy, no matter what happens. The airline will simply put you onto the next available flight, free of charge.
If the missed connection is the airline's fault (a delayed initial flight due to mechanical problems, for example), the airline should rebook you on the next available flight. If the next outbound flight is the following morning, the airline should either book you on another airline or provide accommodations and meals.
Factor in a minimum three-hour window when flying to high traffic airports or traveling during peak days or hours. It's also important to know if you have to exit your terminal, collect your bags, and go through security again. If so, it's best to add another hour cushion for self-transfer flights.
What is a good connection time? Travel advisers say there's a lot to take into account when booking connecting flights, but a general rule of thumb is 60-90 minutes between domestic flights and at least two to three hours for international itineraries.
Even near-shore ocean temperatures don't vary that much, averaging 74° throughout the year. December (except for the first week), January and February are the busiest months, when prices for airfare and accommodations are at their highest.
Flights to Hawaii are more reasonable midweekTo get the best airfare prices, look to fly on Tuesday and Wednesdays. All summer long, midweek flights are a better price.