Aloha! Are you getting ready to call the Islands home with your pet by your side? If you’re considering Hawaiian Airlines as the best option to get you and your four-legged family member to paradise, it’s important to understand their specific rules for pets in flight. Here’s an overview to help you prepare.
Moving pets to Hawaii
Hawaii is a dream vacation spot, and more pet parents are hoping to bring their dogs and cats along. However, it’s not a practical choice for a quick trip with your pet. Because of state regulations, your pet will spend time in quarantine instead of relaxing on the beach with you.
Hawaii is the only rabies-free state in the US and one of very few rabies-free locations in the world. To protect that status, all incoming animals must meet strict health requirements (including a microchip, vaccinations, blood testing, and related documentation). If you don't want your pet to spend time in quarantine in Hawaii, they will have to follow a specific timeline to meet these conditions.
It can take about four months to complete the requirement for the five day or less program. So if your family is planning a permanent move to Hawaii, you'll want to start the process early.
What pets can fly Hawaiian?
Hawaiian Airlines accepts cats, dogs, and household birds, as long as they meet the airline’s requirements. Depending on their size, health, and itinerary, your cat or dog may be able to travel in the passenger cabin with you, or they may need to travel as checked baggage or cargo.
The airline accepts service animals defined as “a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a qualified individual with a disability.” Hawaiian Airlines provides detailed guidance on service animal travel requirements.
Emotional support, comfort, therapy, companion or in-training animals are considered pets and not service animals, so they must follow the requirements for in-cabin, checked, baggage or cargo pet travel.
In-cabin restrictions
If you are traveling between the Hawaiian Islands or departing Hawaii for another US state, a small dog or cat may be permitted to travel with you in-cabin. However, if you are flying internationally, no pets are allowed in the passenger cabin. They must travel as checked baggage or as cargo so they can be transferred directly to the quarantine facility upon arrival. Be sure to review the airline’s in-cabin requirements in detail before you book.
Guests need to be at least 18 years old to bring an in-cabin pet and the maximum size the travel carrier can be is 17” L x 11” W x 9.5” H. Your pet must be able to stand up and turn around comfortably inside the carrier, and they are required to remain inside it at all times while in the terminal and on the aircraft.
Hawaiian Airlines requires at least 48 hours notice to book your pet with you in-cabin and there is a $35 fee for flights within Hawaii and $125 for flights to/from the mainland.
Checked baggage restrictions
Dogs, cats and household birds may travel as checked baggage on many Hawaiian Airlines routes, but there are important exceptions. Pets cannot travel as checked baggage on flights to or from any international destination or Pago Pago. Whether traveling as checked baggage or cargo, pets must be transported in a crate that complies with International Air Transport Association (IATA) standards.
The largest size kennel that will be accepted is 36” L x 25” W x 28” H and the maximum accepted weight of your pet and the kennel is 150 lbs. If your pet does not meet these conditions, then they would need to be booked as cargo through the Pet Connect service.
Because of extreme temperatures, pets are not accepted as checked baggage or cargo between April 15 and October 15 if the itinerary includes San Jose (SJC), Sacramento (SMF), Las Vegas (LAS), Phoenix (PHX) or Salt Lake City (SLC). Additionally, if the temperatures at your pet's origin, destination or connection airport are higher than 85 degrees Fahrenheit or lower than 20 degrees Fahrenheit, then an acclimation certificate will be required and/or pets may not be able to travel.
Concerns for snub-nosed pets
Pet safety is the top priority when planning air travel. Brachycephalic (snub-nosed) breeds of dogs and cats are already prone to breathing difficulties, and those risks can increase during air transport. For that reason, Hawaiian Airlines strongly advises against allowing brachycephalic pets to travel as checked baggage and they will NOT accept these breeds (or their mixes) to be booked as cargo.
Dogs
Boston Terrier, Boxer, Bulldog (all breeds), Bull Terrier, Brussels Griffon, Chow Chow, English Toy Spaniel, Japanese Spaniel/Japanese Chin, Mastiff (all breeds), Pekingese, Pit Bull, Pug, Shih Tzu, Staffordshire Terrier.
Cats
Burmese, Exotic Shorthair, Himalayan, Persian.
These breeds may be permitted to travel in-cabin if they meet the requirements for in-cabin travel.
We can help
The requirements for moving pets to Hawaii can be complicated, but the team at Starwood Pet Travel can manage the logistics, documentation, and timing on your behalf. That way, you can step off the plane knowing your best friend is already safely on-island and one step closer to being back in your arms.
**Photo by Cosmin Serban on Unsplash