• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Ask Scott
Travel Codex

Travel Codex

Your Resource for Better Travel

  • Subscribe
  • Credit Cards
  • Reviews
  • Guides & Tips
  • Award Travel

Guide To Alaska Airlines Hawaii Covid PreClear Program Part 2 of 2

by Steve Case
Last updated January 8, 2021

Alaska Airlines in cooperation with the State of Hawaii has partnered in the Pre-Clearance program for visitors to Hawaii.  At the time of this writing, Alaska Airlines is the only air carrier to participate in this program.  Visitors flying to Hawaii on Alaska Airlines can save from three to five hours upon arrival in Hawaii with this fast track program.  Previously, I wrote a post that was an overview of the program, you can read it here.   Yesterday, I walked through my pre-travel steps to qualify for the pre-clearance program, you can read that post here.  Today in part 2, I will go through the steps that I went through on the day of my flight to Hawaii.  

a group of blue and green wristbands
Alaska Pre-clear wrist band. Photo credit: Alaska Airlines.

Kauai Is Back Open

Kauai had opted out of the pre-clearance program during the resurgence of Covid.  Kauai has reopened with modified restrictions.  Please refer to the official Hawaii information page by clicking here.

Kauai travel advisory: Beginning January 5, 2021, a new pre-and post-travel testing program for out-of-state visitors will be implemented.
Kauai will also resume participation in the State of Hawaii’s pre-travel testing program for inter-island travel only.

Prior To Leaving Home

In review from yesterday, you should have uploaded your negative Covid test PDF file and answered the health questionnaire to the Hawaii Safe Travels website.  After completing those tasks, you will receive an email from travel@hawaii.gov with a QR code.  I saved the QR code to my cell phone.

a qr code on a cell phone
QR code from travel@hawaii.gov.

You may need to show this QR code when you check in with Alaska Airlines at the airport.  Alaska Airlines does receive a daily manifest from the State of Hawaii with the names of pre-cleared passengers for that day’s flights.  I recommend that you have the QR code with you just in case there is a problem with the manifest.

Huge Sale: Lindblad Expeditions Galápagos Cruise From $5,000
Trending
Huge Sale: Lindblad Expeditions Galápagos Cruise From $5,000

At Your Departure Airport

The customer service agent (CSA) will be your point of contact to receive your pre-clearance wristband.

a sign in a airport
PDX Pre-Clearance sign at PDX check-in.

If you are on a nonstop flight, you will receive your wristband from the CSA when you check your bags or at your boarding gate.  If you have a connecting flight, you will receive your wristband from the CSA at the boarding gate for your final flight that is landing in Hawaii.

a hand holding a blue paper
Receiving my wristband from the CSA at the gate.

Wristbands are quantity controlled by the airline.  Do not lose your wristband.  Make sure that it is fastened tight enough that it will not fall off.  If you lose your wristband, you will not be issued a replacement.

Also, be aware that wristbands are color-coded for your flight.  If you try to deplane with the wrong color wristband, you will join the general population line to enter Hawaii.

Arriving In Hawaii

Upon deplaning at the gate, you will turn to baggage claim if you have a wristband.  If you don’t have a wristband or do not have the required negative Covid test results, you will be put in the general population line.  I was told by CSA’s at Alaska Airlines that the general population line can take three to five hours to exit.

a blue sign with white text
Pre-clearance sign to fast track arrival at HNL.

We made it from the aircraft to baggage claim in less than 10 minutes with pre-clearance.  After another 18 minutes, we had our bags and we headed to the exit.

Final Thoughts

The Hawaii Pre-clearance program can save you several hours on exiting the airport.  We had to make an extra trip to Portland airport to take the Covid test at a cost of $135.00.  It was easy to build my safe travels account and upload my test results and health questionnaire.  

My arrival in Honolulu was quick and easy just like it was before the pandemic.  For me, it was worth the extra time and expense in the front end to sail through on the arrival in Hawaii.  I definitely recommend the pre-clearance program.

  • 7shares
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Email

Read This Next

  • a screenshot of a travel application
    Guide To Alaska Airlines Hawaii Covid PreClear Program Part 1 of 2
  • a group of blue and green wristbands
    Alaska Airlines Announces Hawaii Pre-clearance Program
  • a passenger jet flying in the sky
    Alaska Airlines Receives CARES Act Payroll Protection Program Funds

About Steve Case

Steve is a life-long avgeek and a points and miles player. The photo is from my first premium, international award flight in 2012. That is all it took, I was hooked. I used my airline mile and hotel points to travel well and cheap. I am truly an "out-of-the-box" traveler which has enriched my travel experiences.

Primary Sidebar

Over 100K+ Followers

Subscribe to updates from Travel Codex

none

Learn to how to find the cheapest awards.

Search Now

none

Transfer points to get more value.

See Options

none

Compare credit cards to earn more miles.

Explore Offers

Contact

If you have a question or would like to make a press inquiry, please contact:

Scott Mackenzie
Editor in Chief
scott@travelcodex.com

For updates:
Subscribe to RSS
Subscribe to Apple News

Privacy Policy


© Travel Codex, LLC All Rights Reserved.


Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Travel Codex with appropriate and specific directions to the original content.