United Streamlines Pre-Clearance for Hawaii-Bound Travelers
Showing negative test results prior to boarding allows customers to skip document screening lines on arrival
Beginning Feb. 1, travelers to Hawaii on United Airlines will be able to show their negative COVID-19 test results before boarding, allowing them to skip document screening lines on arrival.
United launched pre-departure testing for flights to Hawaii in October in coordination with the state’s health officials.
The Safe Travel program is intended to allow arrivals to bypass a mandatory 14-day quarantine period. However travelers must present confirmed negative test results prior to departure. The new pre-clearance process will be in place for customers traveling on 110 of United’s weekly flights to Hawaii.
In addition, United is also expanding the availability of approved mail-in COVID-19 tests to all customers traveling to the islands no matter where in the US their travel originates.
To take advantage of the pre-clearance program, travelers must first enroll in Hawaii’s Safe Travels program and complete Hawaii’s COVID-19 questionnaire within 24 hours prior to departure, available here.
Next, customers use the Safe Travels website to upload their negative test results from one of Hawaii’s trusted testing partners. The test must have been taken within 72 hours of their departure.
At the airport, customers showing a negative test result will receive a wristband if they qualify to bypass airport screening in Hawaii.
“We’re making it easier for customers traveling to Hawaii to spend more time enjoying their trip and less time waiting in lines,” said Toby Enqvist, chief customer officer at United. “Testing is the key to opening domestic and international travel so we’ll continue to lead the way in rolling out solutions that are simple and safe.”
The carrier has also announced it is expanding the availability of approved COVID-19 mail-in test options for Hawaii-bound travelers. Customers flying to Hawaii will be notified in advance of what testing options they have locally.
Last year, United also teamed up with XpresCheck to open additional same-day testing facilities for United customers in select airports. XpresCheck currently has locations open in United’s Denver terminal, and expects to open additional locations in United’s terminals in Houston and Newark in the coming weeks.
The carrier has also announced a new Travel-Ready Center in the United app and online where customers can review COVID-19 travel requirements, find local testing options and upload any testing and vaccination records that their destinations requires.
