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Honolulu Airport Passenger Reviews and Honolulu Airport Customer opinions
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HONOLULU AIRPORT customer review : 22 March 2013 by John Smithers (USA) |
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Rating : 3/10 |  |
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Although the design of the airport may have worked in the 70s when it was built, today's security
requirements make many of the airport's spaces either cramped or abandoned. The first floor gates have ugly
dividers corralling the gates, creating narrow bottlenecks in the passageways. Meanwhile, the entire second
floor is completely abandoned, with old ceiling tiles laying about. In general, it isn't a very welcoming design.
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HONOLULU AIRPORT customer review : 28 October 2012 by Mike Villanueva (USA) |
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Rating : 7/10 |  |
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Aesthetically, Honolulu Airport is a throwback to the 70s. For a place that is supposed to welcome people to
a tropical paradise, it is heavy and dark concrete architecture. There needs to be more wood, greenery and
updates to the fixtures. If you are taking Hawaiian Airlines to a connecting neighbor island flight, be
prepared to walk if you are in the far terminal where some mainland and international flights are parked. Its
even a farther walk (or ride on the Wiki-wiki shuttle) if you're on Alaska Airlines. Our flight from Seattle
parked at the far terminal and we had less than an hour to our connecting flight to Hilo. It was a mad dash
with several co-passengers in tow scrambling for directions. Fortunately we made it in time. The airport is
trying to make improvements and there are better dining options along with more shopping for people waiting
at the gates for their flight. You may want to eat before coming to the airport as prices are steep. Its really
nice to hear announcements in Hawaiian too, which reminds you this is Hawaii after all.
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HONOLULU AIRPORT customer review : 13 September 2012 by Benjamin Pittman (New Zealand) |
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Rating : 2/10 |  |
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Although they are trying to improve the airport, at least in a cosmetic sense, it has to be once of the worst
designs ever with marathon hikes to go anywhere and dark, dingy areas which are truly hideous. Having come
and gone through Honolulu some 12 times since early 2011, I can at least say that the immigration, security
and customs people are generally pleasant and polite, this not always being the case in the US, who
generally have some of the rudest and surliest officials on earth! Officiousness and coldness are general
characteristics elsewhere in my experience over 50 years plus of travel. Since I spend a lot of time in Hawaii,
where I own a home, there is at least a bit of a positive here.
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Honolulu Airport customer review : 16 July 2011 by J Danan (USA )
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Customer Rating : 2/5 |
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I was amazed that a city so known for its tourism has such an outdated airport. Someone wrote that the decor
was 1980's, I would say it looks like vintage 1960's or 70's. The bathrooms looked as old, in disrepair and with
filthy floors. There is no free wifi nor could I find a place to charge up my electronics. You have to get around on a
clunky bus shuttle between terminals, and there are no good restaurants out by the gates. I ate literally the worst
sandwich of my life at the Quiznos subs; it was total (overpriced) lump of mush. It's not even possible to buy a
bag of normal packaged pretzels at the newstand, just a tiny zip-lock bag of them for $5. Positives: you can buy
leis upon arrival and even the security staff had that friendly aloha spirit.
Honolulu Airport customer review : 15 May 2011 by J Rose (USA )
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Customer Rating : 1/5 |
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Whoever designed this airport must not have been thinking too clearly or had very little
background in airport design. This is without a doubt one of the world's most confusing,
illogical places to depart, arrive or change planes. There is no sensible flow from one part of
the airport to the other. Gates are scattered about in a way that makes it difficult to get
from one to the other. Transport between terminals via Wiki-Wiki shuttle is inefficient.
Arriving internationally involved the longest walk imaginable from the gate to customs. No
signage at all after clearing customs for onward journeys on domestic flights. They should tear
it down and start over.
Honolulu Airport customer review : 13 October 2010 by Cathy Hartigan (Australia)
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Customer Rating : 1/5 |
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Found the checkin and agriculture check in process at Honolulu airport totally chaotic and
staffing unable to cope with demand. Long winding lines of hundreds of confused and stressed
people queuing to check baggage at kiosks, as commanded by 2 yelling roving staff. Directions
are not apparent outside the airport building (where lines begin) and its not until you reach
the beginning of the queue and get close to a human to find out you need to be on another
line. People were treated like cattle. We were in a line for an hour and a half, lost our
visa card in the confusion and were charged baggage fees when not required.
Honolulu Airport customer review : 7 September 2010 by E Mabley (USA)
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Customer Rating : 2/5 |
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Inter-island terminal (also used by Hawaiian Airlines flights to the U.S. mainland). The
terminal looks like a 1980s time warp. Dark corridors, dirty carpeting, cluttered floor space
between jetway and hallway, dirty restrooms, limited concessions and the worst food of any
airport in the USA. If you're stuck with a long layover bring a good book or a laptop and
your own food.
Honolulu Airport customer review : 2 September 2010 by Steve Conroy (Australia)
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Customer Rating : 3/5 |
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This is an unusual airport, to say the least. International arrivals are relatively straight
forward, although the immigration hall can be very crowded when 2 or more flights arrive.
Waiting times in excess of an hour are not unusual in the passport control hall. Queues can
be horrendous and disorganised at International check-in. If you are flying Star Class on Jet
Star, beware that you do have a priority check-in, but there are no signs directing you to it.
This can easily save you an hour. Security staff are typically surly and disinterested TSA
employees. They try to cram as many people as possible through one small x-ray machine/metal
detector, so allow a minimum of 30 minutes to clear security. Airside is average - whilst it
is hardly to the standard of Changi or Hong Kong, there are some shops selling overpriced
souvenirs, books and food. The open air walkways are very pleasant, and provide a nice
tropical feel to the terminal. International departure lounges are very plain, with old and
uncomfortable seats. A full A330/B747 will result in standing room only. They apply a
quarantine method here: once you are in your departure lounge, you cannot go back to the
shops. Overall it is probably one of the better US airports, but it still has a lot of work to
do.
Honolulu Airport customer review : 27 August 2010 by Nick Janides (Australia)
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Customer Rating : 3/5 |
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This airport desperately needs a major overhaul. It amazes me how such a busy airport can be
left to deteriorate and not receive any funds to remodel into a modern airport in the pacific.
The airport is gloomy and screaming out for a make over. Staff are always pleasant at all
times which is the island way of doing things. I also noticed that checking in can be shambles
with staff trying to keep people in straight lines.
Honolulu Airport customer review : 24 August 2010 by Neill Bell (USA)
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Customer Rating : 3/5 |
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Whilst this may not be the most modern airport, I like the design. It is open (welcome in
those islands) & airy. The bars/diners may not be the best nor cheapest but it is O'ahu; it
has to be expected. The plant shops are a delight for those who like growing things. Produce,
not so much. My gripe is the staff, at check in & security. They appear to hate their jobs yet
feel secure in them. Try security, upon leaving. Go First Class on United, United do not care
& security will ignore "Priority" passengers just because scanty clad young(ish) girlies are
going through. Whooppee! One month later, premier economy... "You are not flying First sir, I
know! use THAT line" YEP, He knew exactly which class I was flying each time & yet, failed to
give any priority. Males be warned. So I shall not be flying first through THAT airport again.
All the islands have airports, they all inter-connect. Really, the directly employed staff let
down HNL & leave a very nasty taste with their attitude. This Xmas we shall be trying Kaui'i.
Let the recession resolve the issues management fail to address.
Honolulu Airport customer review : 12 May 2010 by Phillip Kershaw (New Zealand)
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Customer Rating : 1/5 |
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First time back in Hawaii after 15 years. Nothing has changed in all that time - still a dark
and dingy airport with little natural lighting. I am sure that prisoners see more light!
Immigration on arrival took 50 minutes. On departure after clearing security there are limited
facilities. If the state government of Hawaii had any money they should bulldoze this airport
and build a new one.
Honolulu Airport customer review : 20 April 2010 by N Werner (Switzerland)
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Customer Rating : 3/5 |
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Arrived and departed during lunch time on Delta. Once you deplane you have to walk a long way
to the Delta baggage claim and signage is not very good. The airport is old but everything
works. I found it quite interesting to leave the gate area and walk outdoors to the main
terminal where baggage claim and the arrival hall is. Baggage was delivered within a few
minutes after the first pax made the long hike. Once outside I found the official airport
shuttle to Waikiki and was on my way. Departure was just as swift with your bags being scanned
by the agriculture department before heading to check-in. The departure lobby is really very
old and baggages are stacked behind the check-in counter before being transported to the
plane. Security was quite quick and if you are leaving on an international flight you have a
nice choice of duty free goods but if you leave on a domestic flight like I did, there really
is not much. I had some Japanese food before heading to the gate area and I was glad that the
plane left almost on time as it's pretty boring being stuck in that airport for long. As I was
on vacation I did not mind HNL but I guess if you are travelling on business through HNL on a
regular basis it would not be such a good experience.
HONOLULU AIRPORT customer review : 26 February 2010 by David Russell
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Customer Rating : 3/5 | |
Been five years since we last used this airport and it's still exactly the same. A throw back
to the 60's although they appear to be doing some upgrade work at the moment. Be aware if you
are on an early morning flight, we had a 7am departure and all checked baggage has to be
screened by the agriculture department before you can go to check in and nothing opens before
5am so no point in arriving mega early. Not a lot in the way of eateries and everything very
basic. Staff friendly enough though. Never a problem with immigration as most international
travelers from Europe have already cleared immigration prior to departing for Honolulu. No hassles.
HONOLULU AIRPORT customer review : 12 February 2009 : by D Rettie
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Customer Rating : 2/5 | |
I was first at Honolulu Airport in 1981 and thought it was an airport out of the 1960's.
Nothing has changed much. I was there in December 2008 (in transit) and again in January 2009
on way back to Sydney. The decor has not changed, the food choices are very limited and so
are the shops. Pity if you are catching an Hawaiian Airlines flight. After we checked in,
got our boarding passes and went through security you have to walk for miles to the gate (no
shuttle bus was made available. They make an announcement to passengers to enter the gate
lounge but once there you cannot leave (pity if you have to go to the toilet). Only one small
shop available to buy souvenirs, and only place to purchase drinks near the gate was Starbucks
and they were a rip-off. Honolulu is in desperate need of a makeover as it looks old and tired.
HONOLULU AIRPORT review : 24 June 2008 : by M Saunders
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Customer Rating : 2/5 | |
In the 1980s, Honolulu Airport was appalling, and I was sorry to discover that it still is. Poor
design has put courtesy phones half a mile (it seems) from baggage collection, so ring your hotel or
shuttle -- Reliable shuttle bus is great -- before collecting bags, or you'll have to drag them
back a long way to the phones.
HONOLULU AIRPORT review : 24 May 2008 : by W Van den Haas
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Customer Rating : 3/5 | |
I have been travelling thru the Honolulu airport for over 15 years, and many of the comments here
are very true. Poor decor, very poor signage, uneven staff regarding knowledge and "aloha spirit".
But many are just fine, helpful. Fortunately, its not a large airport, which makes it easier to have
patience. The food choices and shopping you see at other international airports just does not exist.
Most taxis are honest and the rates are approx $3.00 per mile to the Waikiki area 12 miles away. But
some are not. I had one airport taxi charge me $49 to Waikiki. Thats not even close, even in bad
traffic. I have found its easiest to make arrangements with one of the flat rate "car service"
companies. Its less than full meter rates and most dont charge for regular baggage. They will have
someone waiting for you. Its nice to know you'll be on your way when your ready. Security
checkpoints can often be long, and curbside for departures can also get congested. Because of
Hawaii's location and the time differences to Asia and US Mainland many flight arrive and depart
within the same time "window" to accommodate with the mainland schedules. Its unavoidable. Overall,
its not the best airport, but not the worst either.
Honolulu Airport by David Gallant
10 January 2008 Customer Rating : 
Checking in at HNL airport is like waiting in line at a busy subway station. Very dark, poorly lit
and totally colorless. One commentator likened it to a cement parkade. Once past the security area
it does get better. The open area is very nice. Though small in size there is a lovely garden area
in a V shape where one can walk and watch the planes dock and depart. On my last arrival I found it
a long walk from our gate to the baggage pick up. Some of the staff could perhaps do well by
treating people to the Aloha Spirit that permeates throughout the islands. Improvements are being
made at this airport.
Honolulu Airport by Peter Harrison
12 November 2007 Customer Rating : 
This is a busy but relatively small airport. Some improvements currently being made in the departure
area - but catering and shopping is limited. The best thing about the airport are the wonderfully
manicured lush gardens with water features and ponds with koi carp. Not a bad place to wait for a
delayed flight!
Honolulu Airport by D Walker
18 October 2007 Customer Rating :
I have flown in and out of Honolulu a few times and it reminds me of arriving in a car park in a 80's
shopping centre. Its true it has a laid back Hawaiian feel about it. But I do think the state gov
could spend money on a refurb. It is an international gateway from Asia, South Pcific. Restaurants,
cafes,duty free, internet etc! The check in area at the inter island terminal is a mess with 2
security check points, both for mainland and international flights. So if your on a Hawaiian flight
you must stay in the queue which ends outside the door of the terminal at peak times with no signage.
Make it a true aloha welcome!
Honolulu Airport by Hakan Ersoy
21 August 2007 Customer Rating : 
Waiting 2 hours to get your passport to be stamped by the US Immigration is unacceptable. Our flight
is arrived at the same time with 3 Asian Jumbos. The immigration was crowded and they couldn't cope
with the high number of pax. Thanks to a ground staff who directed us "Australian passengers arrived
with Hawaiian Airlines" to the US citizen entry point, then we were out in 10 minutes. We almost
missed our connection flight to Kahului. On the way back to Sydney, all was OK. We were warned by a
friendly domestic terminal staff if wanted to eat something before we caught the shuttle bus to
international terminal, we should eat at domestic terminal as the international terminal has very
limited to offer to eat or to shop anything. Very basic international terminal. The airport looks
tired like Kahului Airport.
Honolulu Airport by Samantha Healey
28 August 2006 Customer Rating : n/a
I may have an answer to Pam Frank's query. I would have to give the
Supreme Order of the Jobsworths Award to the staff who operate the USDA
machine at Honolulu airport for American Airlines. This is a joint
award given also to the person who refused to let us put our hold bags
through the other USDA machine being used not more than 30 feet away as
we were not travelling with "her" airline!. When we arrived at this
airport for our flight back to LAX there was a sign near this machine
informing pax that this machine operated at 5.30 am and 10am. There
was nothing else there indicating where pax should line up to get their
hold luggage x-rayed so of course when said staff arrived at 10am (and
not a minute beforehand) to start work there were three lines of pax and
total chaos. So what do said staff do - they started to shout at the
pax because of the disorderly lines!. Very helpful not. Please do us
all a favour and operate a proper queueeing system by having some poles
set out and a sign saying "line starts here". That is not hard to do
now is it?! Anyhow once hold bags had a sticker placed on them we made
our way with our hold luggage over to the American airlines check in
desk. Fortunately the woman we saw had some common sense and readily
assisted us. After receiving our boarding passes we stood in line for
the security checkpoint to open (they werent quite ready for us yet!).
Once through there you are airside. I like Honolulu airport overall
(its far better than practically all the other US airports I have
visited) as its open to the elements and it has plenty of shops and
restaurants catering to passengers needs. One last point - we flew at a
time when the no liquids on planes rule had been introduced a few days
prior. Two pax boarded our AA flight with drinks from the food court
and no-one said anything at the gate! Makes a mockery of the whole
exercise!
Honolulu Airport by Pam Frank
1 June 2006
I can't understand why Honolulu airport security would not let our
clients in the airport 4 hours earlier than their flight. When they
arrived they were told they could not go in until 2 hours before, this
is strange because all the airlines tell you , you must check in 3 hours
prior to return to the mainland. They wanted to get a bite to eat first
and be at the airport. Then when they asked about a rental car they were
told to go stand in the middle of the highway and flag down one of the
car rental companies. How rude and inconsiderate! I have never had
anyone be turned away from an airport because they showed up earlier for
their flight home, I have been selling tickets for 30 years. This has
put a x in the box for places I do not want to send my clients. Now we
have to call all the people we have going on a group cruise and let them
know just how inconvenient the Honolulu airport will be when they go to
return home.
Honolulu Airport by Stephen Knight
26 March 2006
I'm originally from Hawaii, live in Japan, and fly the Narita-Honolulu
route at least once a month, usually on JAL. My comments about
Honolulu's airport: except for the international departure terminal,
which has undergone a lot of renovation and has plenty of shops (though
not much in the way of restaurant choices), the airport is definitely
showing its age. While it's nice to have the open-air lobbies and
terminals, and the greenery that should characterize Hawaii's gateway,
stepping inside presents a gloomy, poorly lit, run-down, plain-old dusty
interior. Much of the airport looks as though people seldom use it.
With the state budget in surplus and tourism up, the local government
really needs to look at making improvements beyond the duty-free shops
catering to the Japanese visitor. Domestic (Hawaii-Mainland) terminals
and gates are certainly far behind the clean, bright mall-like
atmosphere of many newer airports elsewhere. There were a lot of
comments about immigration and customs. I have never had a problem
(though Immigration booths are often understaffed) - usually getting
from arrival gate through immigration and customs in no more than 10-15
minutes. It pains me to see people talking about rude staff in Honolulu
especially - the very place the Aloha spirit is most needed.
Honolulu Airport by Christian Rocha
16 November 2005
The first problem, as already explained by previous poster, is the lack
of adequate signals around the airport, which prompts for common
mistakes. Following our arrival, the entire group of passengers got lost
in its way to the baggage claim areas. Perhaps we made the mistake of
not taking the "Wik-Wiki" transports, but those vehicles were so slow.
Security can be an issue, especially with all the laws that protect the
ecological environment of the island, which is quite understandable.
Still, the achille's point of the airport is that is so far away from
the city. The transport system from/and to the airport is frankly
pathetic, and don't be surprised if you wait 15 minutes for an
overpriced cab.
Honolulu Airport by M Hackner
12 November 2005
After living in Honolulu for the better part of two years and making
about a dozen trips to/from the mainland US, I've conluded that HNL is
one of the most antiquated "major" airports in the US. Check-in lines
are often lengthy as most domestic flight departures are bunched n the
early morning, mid afternoon or late evening and are jumbo jets full
with tourists. Security generally moves well but once inside, you'll
find nothing but a couple of sundries shops, an archaic bookstore, two
dirty fast food restaurants and a dilapidated bar. Gate areas are
straight out of the early 70s and are in bad need of a
makeover/refurbishment. Like to chew gum on an airplane? Bring it
ahead of time as it's not sold in the airport because it "makes a mess".
Amazingly, cigarettes are available wherever you turn presumably because
they don't make a mess! When arriving domestically, avoid the wiki-wiki
("express" in Hawaiian) buses and opt for the three minute walk to
baggage claim. Be patient if you choose to take a taxi - a wait upwards
of 20-30 minutes is not uncommon. In short, HNL has a long way to go to
catch up to other mainland and Asian airports.
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