Thanks to the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport modernization project, Hawaiian Airlines is ending drive thru check-in. And that really sucks.
Many frequent fliers will tell you that checking a bag is for rookies. But sometimes, checking a bag is vital. Hell, I always check a bag whenever I travel, even for short hops to the neighbor islands. Why? Because my camera gear typically takes up much of my carry-on space, and because I don’t like to limit what I can bring back. Like that time I brought back four bottles of top-end whiskey from Texas. Or other times when I brought back wine from Maui or Ohelo Berry Jam from the Big Island.
However, checking your bag is a pain. And this is especially true at Hawaii’s largest locally-based airline, Hawaiian. Their check-in lobby is always insanely crowded, the kiosks are glacially slow, and the bag drop line is ALWAYS ridiculously long. However, you could avoid the pain by using Hawaiian Air’s super convenient drive thru check-in. But, thanks to (much needed) improvement being made at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, this fantastic service will soon be a thing of the past.
Drive Thru Check-In Ending
April 30, 2018, will be the final day of Hawaiian Airlines’ drive thru check-in service. And from May 1, 2018, passengers will need to use either Hawaiian Airlines check-in Lobby 2 (North America + Neighbor Islands) or Lobby 3 (International) to check-in for their flight and drop off their bags.
The specific reason for the drive thru check-in closure is due to construction related to the build-out of the new Mauka Concourse. This new concourse will provide six new gates with two jet bridges each and will provide capacity for six widebody or eleven narrowbody aircraft. And, as you can imagine, this expansion is crucial for Hawaiian’s future growth, with a new fleet of Boeing 787-9’s and Airbus A321neo’s on the way.
Hawaiian Airlines is Ending Drive Thru Check-In, Final Thoughts
While I understand the need for the new Mauka Concourse, I’m dismayed at the loss of Hawaiian’s ultra convenient drive thru check-in service. I hope it’s a service they’ll bring back in the future. Especially since Aloha Airlines’ drive thru check-in facilities are currently sitting idle in the Interisland Garage.
Or, at a minimum, I’d like to see Hawaiian improve its check-in experience. It could be as simple as, I don’t know, having more than one bag drop line available! Many airlines in Honolulu do, so I’m not sure why Hawaiian doesn’t feel it’s necessary. They are the busiest airline in the state, after all. And better yet, why not have reusable bag tag holders and allow passengers to print their own tag at home like Alaska? I LOVE that feature! It makes everything so much easier. Especially since I always use an electronic (Apple Wallet) boarding pass anyway.