Suggested arrival time: 1.5 hours before scheduled departure time for Neighbor Island flights. 2.5 hours before scheduled departure time for North America flights. 3 hours before scheduled departure time for international flights to/from the US.
People Also Ask
How? The best way to stay comfortable on any flight over four hours is to wear loose-fitting clothing and layers so you can adjust to temperature changes. Items like loose-fitting jeans, t-shirts, and comfy tops for work well. Tennis shoes are also great for long trips.
It's such a short flight, that you can even go for the weekend! On average, the absolute shortest flights from Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco (SAN) to Hawaii are about six hours non-stop.
One of the best ways to beat Hawaii jet lag is to get some much-needed sleep on the plane ride over. This is especially true if you can “get” on Hawaii time by catching a few zzzz's mid-flight.
Hawaii's perfect year-round climate means that summer is always a hugely popular time to visit. The most expensive days to fly this summer will be on the weekends. To get the best airfare prices, look to fly on Tuesday and Wednesdays. All summer long, midweek flights are a better price.
Allow enough time: Customs can be time-consuming, especially during peak travel periods. Make sure you allow enough time to clear customs and get to your connecting flight. As a general rule, it's best to allow at least two hours for international layovers.
Hawaii is a popular tourist destination, and airlines recognize the demand for flights to the islands. By offering affordable fares, airlines can attract more passengers and maximize their revenue. Airlines often use Hawaii routes as a way to fill seats during off-peak travel times.
Generally, the best time to visit Hawaii for the most ideal overall weather, lowest statewide rates, and the fewest visitors on-island is April and May during the spring and September and October during the fall. Some refer to these times as Hawaii's 'off-season period' or 'shoulder months.
April thru June and mid-August thru mid-September are Hawaii's low seasons, and airfares are lower then. No matter what time of year you travel, you may be able to score better deals if you travel midweek.
Former airline pilot and Hawaii aviation expert Peter Forman said clear air turbulence is fairly common between Hawaii and the mainland, but severe or extreme turbulence is uncommon because the airlines route traffic around those areas.
Sure, you can wear jeans in Hawaii. But unless you're going up to the summit of Haleakala you'll probably be more comfortable in almost anything else due to the balmy temperatures and humidity. I have visited Hawaii in every season and never wished I had jeans with me.
Busiest Days and TimesThe TSA warns us that Honolulu's checkpoints are busiest from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 to 8 p.m. The busiest days to travel locally and nationally are Thursdays, Fridays, Sundays and Mondays.
The General Guideline for How Early You Should Get to the Airport. Generally speaking, most airlines advise that you arrive at the airport at least 2 hours prior to a domestic flight, and at least 3 hours prior to an international flight.
If you know you'll be traveling during a peak time, it's probably still a good idea to plan on the standard two hours for domestic flights and three hours for international flights. If you're heading to the airport at a slower time of day, then you can consider arriving a little later.
This is because international flights can have additional check-in requirements, like passport verification, that need to be completed before you receive your boarding pass. Further, international flights tend to begin their boarding process 15 to 30 minutes earlier than domestic flights due to the larger plane size.
December (except for the first week), January and February are the busiest months, when prices for airfare and accommodations are at their highest. In particular, the last two weeks of December and the first week of January are prime times for travel, and hotels and flights are often booked to capacity.