Hawaiian Airlines Baggage Fees 2023: What To Expect
As the largest airline in the state of Hawaii, Hawaiian Airlines offers flights to nearly 30 destinations worldwide. This particular airline is known for its reliability and excellent customer service, as well as its relatively generous baggage allowances for passengers. If you’ll be flying with Hawaiian Airlines for the first time in the near future, you may be wondering what to expect when it comes to their baggage policies and fees. You can also compare to other airlines. Check out the Jetblue baggage fees as a reference.
Compared to most airlines, Hawaiian Airlines offers affordable baggage and simple policies that are easy to follow, which can make preparing for your next flight less stressful. Take the time to familiarize yourself with some of these specific policies so you can pack and plan accordingly while avoiding surprise expenses at the gate.
Hawaiian Airlines Checked and Carry-On Allowances
When it comes to Hawaiian Airlines checked and carry-on allowances, there are a couple of basics to be aware of. One is that not all fares come with a free checked bag, but some do. The other is that all ticketed passengers on Hawaiian Airlines flights are entitled to a free personal carry-on and a free standard-sized carry-on, which is rather generous, as many airlines only allow a free personal item.
Checked Bag Allowances and Fees
Whether or not checked baggage is included with your ticket will depend on what type of fare you’ve booked and your destination. In general, main cabin fares do not include any checked baggage unless you’re flying internationally to such destinations as Japan, Korea, Australia, American Samoa, or Tahiti. If you’re flying first class, your first and second checked bags will always be included regardless of your route.
For fares that do not come with checked baggage, you can generally expect to pay between $25 and $35 per bag, though all passengers should be aware that checked bags aren’t to weigh more than 50 pounds or measure greater than 62 linear inches.
Carry-On Allowances and Fees
Many passengers flying Hawaiian Airlines are happy to learn that a free personal item and a free standard carry-on bag are included with all fares. While there is no disclosed weight or size limits on personal items, it is generally accepted that these should be smaller items (such as purses or laptop bags) that can fit underneath the seat in front of you during your flight.
As for standard carry-on items, size dimensions should be no larger than 22″ x 14″ x 9″ and weigh no more than 25 pounds. If you try to bring a carry-on that’s too large or too heavy, you will be asked to check it and pay any applicable fees as a result. To avoid these fees, it’s a good idea to weigh and measure your carry-on before your flight just to be safe.
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What About Infants, Strollers, and Baby Gear?
If you’ll be traveling with a child under the age of two, he or she is permitted to sit in your lap and not require a ticket as a result. If you are traveling with a lap infant, you are permitted to bring a car seat onto the plane that does not count towards your carry-on allowance. If there are any extra seats available at the time of your flight, you are allowed to use it at no additional charge. On the other hand, if the flight is full, you can check your child’s car seat for free at the gate and it will be returned to you after your flight.
If you’re traveling with a stroller, you can also check it at the gate for free or, if it’s a small and collapsible stroller, it may be brought on-board without counting towards your carry-on allowance.
Charges For Additional and Overweight/Oversized Luggage
For most international flights and all first-class fares, your first and second bag will be included with the cost of your ticket. However, if you wish to check additional bags, you will need to pay extra fees. These fees can vary depending on your route. For flights to neighbor islands, you’ll pay $50 for each additional bag, and $100 for each bag on North American flights. For international flights, you can expect to pay $150 for each bag beyond your initial allowance of two checked bags.
Checked bags on Hawaiian Airlines should weigh no more than 50 pounds each and should not measure any larger than 62 linear inches. Be sure to include all handles and wheels when measuring the dimensions of your bag. If you have a bag that’s overweight, fees can vary depending on the weight of your bag and your route. For overweight bags within Hawaii weighing less than 71 pounds, you can expect to pay $35 in overweight fees, but that jumps to $50 for international flights and flights between North America and Hawaii.
Bags weighing 71 pounds or greater are assessed higher fees, starting at $70 for bags flying within Hawaii and jumping anywhere from $200 to $400 for other routes!
Oversized bags can also be assessed additional fees. An oversized bag flying within Hawaii will cost an extra $35, compared to fees of $100-$150 for longer-haul and international flights. Be aware that extremely oversized bags or bags weighing more than 71 pounds may not be accepted on some flights.
Saving On Hawaiian Airlines Baggage Fees (Or Avoiding Them Altogether)
If you’ll be flying Hawaiian Airlines anytime soon, you may be wondering what steps you can take to save on their baggage fees or possibly even avoid them altogether. We’ve got some suggestions worth considering.
Become a HawaiianMiles Member
If you plan on doing a lot of flying with this airline, you might want to look into becoming a member of their frequent flyer program, which is known as HawaiianMiles. This loyalty program allows you to earn points for each mile you fly with Hawaiian Airlines, and these points can accumulate and be redeemed for special perks. Furthermore, if you’re a HawaiianMiles member, you’ll enjoy savings on your baggage fees when you fly within the state of Hawaii. This includes a first checked bag for only $15 and a second bag for just $20.
Seek Credit Card Reimbursement for Eligible Fees
If you carry a travel credit card, check with your credit card company to see if they offer reimbursement for qualifying baggage fees. If so, you can charge your applicable baggage fees to your credit card and fill out a request for an account credit after your flight. When all is said and done, it’s like having your baggage fees waived entirely! Just keep in mind that most credit card companies that offer this perk will not reimburse for fees related to overweight and oversized bags.
Take Advantage of a Special Exclusion
Hawaiian Airlines offers a unique exclusion that you may want to take advantage of during your visit to Hawaii. Specifically, all ticketed passengers are permitted to bring back one pre-packaged box of pineapples or papayas at no additional fee, provided that your flight is staying within North America and the box doesn’t weigh more than 10 pounds.
Limit Luggage to Your Carry-Ons
Since Hawaiian Airlines offers a free personal item and free standard carry-on item, you can avoid baggage fees altogether if you simply limit what you pack to your carry-on luggage. This is ideal if you’re taking a shorter trip where you don’t need to pack a lot to begin with. Going this route also saves you the time and hassle of waiting at the baggage carousel after your flight.
Hawaiian Airlines Baggage Policies: Frequently Asked Questions
Below are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions we receive about Hawaiian Airlines baggage policies.
How can I pre-pay for baggage with Hawaiian Airlines?
Yes, you can pay for your baggage when you check-in for your flight online, which can be done starting at 24 hours before your scheduled departure time. This can be a great way to save yourself the hassle of paying at the airport.
How much will I pay for overweight or oversized luggage?
Oversized and overweight baggage fees can vary greatly on Hawaiian Airlines and Alaskan Airlines based on the weight of your bag and your route. In general, you can expect to spend anywhere from $35-$50 for slightly overweight bag and $70-$400 for a very overweight (71-100 pound) bag. Oversized bag fees will vary from $35 to $150, depending on your route.
What if I’m traveling with special equipment?
If you’ll be traveling with sporting gear, medical equipment, media items, or any other special items, you should contact the airline before your flight to inquire about any additional fees or accommodations that may need to be made. You can also check out Hawaiian Airlines’ guidelines and conditions for acceptance of special items on their website as some items may not be suitable in the plane recirculated air.
How much does Hawaiian Airlines charge for additional bags?
Excess baggage fees vary by route, but if you’ll be traveling with more than two bags, you can generally expect to pay $35 to $150 per bag.
