Question 1

Are there any items I can’t bring to Hawaii?

Accepted Answer

Per the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), certain plants, plant products, animals, and animal products will not be permitted when traveling to Hawaii. For a complete list of items not permitted, visit here.

All agricultural items must be declared on the Plants and Animals Declaration Form prior to arrival. Forms will be distributed and collected by Flight Attendants prior to landing in Hawaii. Declared agricultural items must be presented for inspection to a Hawaii Department of Agriculture (HDOA) Plant Quarantine inspector in the baggage claim area. Most plants are permitted into Hawaii after inspection.

Question 2

Are there any items I can’t bring when traveling between Hawaiian Islands?

Accepted Answer

Southwest operates from the Mainland terminal in select Hawaii airports. In these instances, mainland agriculture regulations for carry-on bags will apply. Agriculture restricted items need to be placed in checked luggage.

Per the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulations, certain fruits, vegetables, plants, and flowers are prohibited in carryon items when traveling between Hawaiian Islands. Examples of these carryon restrictions include but are not limited to: fresh fruits and vegetables, berries of any kind, fresh flowers, plants or plants in soil, seeds, live insects, cotton or cotton bolls, and sugarcane.

Question 3

Are there any items I will not be allowed to bring back with me from Hawaii?

Accepted Answer

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) prohibits or restricts the transportation of many agricultural products from Hawaii to the U.S. mainland, including most fresh fruits and vegetables and certain types of plants and flowers.

Please pay attention to airport signage to find an agriculture check station and complete an agriculture check prior to checking your bags and proceeding through TSA security. Find out what items are prohibited and/or allowed for transport back to the U.S. mainland here.

Question 4

Can I bring my pet to Hawaii?

Accepted Answer

You cannot transport pets to or from Hawaii.

Question 5

Can I take my pet with me when traveling between Hawaiian Islands?

Accepted Answer

Pets can travel with you when traveling between Hawaiian Islands. Our pet policy and procedures must be followed when traveling with your pet between Hawaiian Islands. For more information on the State of Hawaii pet policy and procedures, visit here.

Question 6

Can I bring my trained service dog to Hawaii?

Accepted Answer

Yes. No other animals are permitted on flights from the U.S. mainland to Hawaii. There are strict guidelines and specific procedures that must be completed before your service dog can be accepted into the state of Hawaii. Customers also must adhere to our procedures for accepting trained service dogs.

When transporting trained service animals to or from Hawaii, you’re responsible for full compliance with Hawaii’s laws, rules, and regulations pertaining to the transportation of animals, including all documentation requirements. Hawaii Department of Agriculture documentation requirements for trained service dogs must be verified with a Customer Service Agent at both your origin station and any connection city.

If you’re traveling to any destination other than Honolulu, you must obtain a Neighbor Island Inspection Permit.

All animals must be declared on the Plants and Animals Declaration Form. These forms will be distributed and collected by Flight Attendants prior to landing in Hawaii.

If an Unaccompanied Minor (UM) is traveling with a trained service dog, a person 18 years of age or older is responsible for completing the required documentation.

Animals arriving without proper documentation may be quarantined for up to 120 days in Honolulu at the owner’s expense. Southwest Airlines is not responsible for any costs incurred should you arrive in Hawaii without proper health documentation.

For more information and specifics regarding the document you must present, see the Animal Quarantine Information Page at https://hdoa.hawaii.gov/ai/aqs/animal-quarantine-information-page/guide-service-dogs-entering-hawaii/.

Question 7

What time do I need to arrive to Honolulu if I’m traveling with a trained service dog?

Accepted Answer

You should arrange for your trained service dog to arrive at the Airport Animal Quarantine Station at HNL Airport by 4:30 p.m. Normal inspection hours are between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. local Hawaii time. We suggest you allow sufficient time to complete the inspection process by arranging travel on a flight arriving by 3:30 p.m. Trained service dogs not arriving at the facility during normal inspection hours noted above will not be released from the airport the same day. Customers may alternatively request inspection in the terminal at HNL between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. local Hawaii time by notifying the Rabies Quarantine Branch seven (7) days or more before arrival.

Question 8

Are there any fees to bring my trained service dog to Hawaii?

Accepted Answer

Southwest does not charge fees for you to bring your trained service dog onboard with you.

However, there are fees associated with the State of Hawaii Quarantine Program, and inspection hours and Quarantine Program Fees are subject to change at any time without notice. For more information, visit here or contact the Airport Animal Quarantine Station at (808) 837-8092 or email rabiesfree@hawaii.gov.

Question 9

What happens to my trained service dog if my flight is delayed or diverted to another Hawaii location?

Accepted Answer

In the event of a delay that would result in your dog not being released from quarantine until the following day, we’ll rebook you on the next available flight upon request.

If your flight from U.S. mainland to Hawaii is diverted to a Hawaii location other than your scheduled destination, a Customer Service Agent will meet your inbound flight and ensure your dog remains in the gate area until you have boarded the final flight to your destination.

Question 10

Do I need a permit to travel with my trained service dog to Hawaii?

Accepted Answer

Yes, if you’re traveling somewhere other than Honolulu. Honolulu International Airport (HNL) is the only point of entry for dogs entering Hawaii unless a valid Neighbor Island Inspection Permit has been issued by the Hawaii Department of Agriculture.

If you don’t have the permit at your departure airport, you must be rebooked to HNL. Dogs that are denied entry to a Hawaii destination other than HNL will be transported to HNL for inspection or transported out-of-state at the owner’s expense.

Question 11

Can Unaccompanied Minors and Young Travelers travel to Hawaii?

Accepted Answer

Unaccompanied Minors (ages 5-11) and Young Travelers (ages 12-17) can fly on nonstop or direct flights to Hawaii. Young Travelers can also fly on connecting flights to Hawaii.

When checking an Unaccompanied Minor (UM) or Young Traveler (YT) in for travel, the parent/guardian must complete the Plants and Animals Declaration Form at the departure gate. A Gate Agent must verify that any UM/YT has a completed and signed Plants and Animals Declaration Form.

For additional information regarding Unaccompanied Minors and helpful tips, visit here.

For additional information regarding Young Travelers and helpful tips, visit here.

Question 12

What food and drinks are available onboard between the U.S. Mainland and Hawaii?

Accepted Answer

All flights between Hawaii and the U.S. mainland are offering alcoholic beverages, as well as free sodas, juice, and coffee. You’ll also get an exclusive Hawaii snack bag. For passengers that require a full meal during travel, we highly recommend bringing these items onboard as food is not sold on Southwest flights.

Service onboard interisland flights varies. Flights between HNL-ITO and LIH-OGG offer alcoholic beverages, as well as free sodas, juice, and coffee. All other interisland routes feature water service only due to restrictions with total flight time.

Question 13

Can I charge my device onboard?

Accepted Answer

We don’t have standard or USB plugs onboard, so if you smartphone, tablet, or laptop is running low on battery, we recommend getting a quick charge in the airport prior to boarding.

While charging currently is not available onboard, we have a plan to bring the next generation of Customer Experience in travel through more than two billion dollars in planned investments. Why? Because we’re the airline with Heart. New initiatives, including upgraded WiFi, in-seat power, and larger overhead bins, combined with recent enhancements, aim to transform your experience from booking to boarding and beyond. Learn more about the future here.

Question 14

What inflight entertainment will be available?

Accepted Answer

Our Inflight Entertainment Portal features a flight tracker¹, texting², movies, TV series on demand, and live TV³—all for free! Or purchase internet for $8 per device from takeoff to landing (free for our A-List Preferred Members)⁴.

¹Where available. Available only on WiFi-enabled aircraft. Limited-time offer.

²Texting only allows access to iMessage and WhatsApp (which must be downloaded and activated before connecting to SouthwestWiFi).

³Due to licensing restrictions, on WiFi-enabled international flights, free live TV and iHeartRadio may not be available for the full duration of flight.

⁴Internet access for $8 per device from takeoff to landing. Price is subject to change. May not be available for the full duration of flight. In order to provide a top-notch Internet experience, we prohibit access to certain high-bandwidth applications and websites. We also prohibit access to certain obscene or offensive content.