Hawaiian Airlines flying with pets

What is Hawaiian Airlines policy on pet acceptance?

Hawaiian Airlines allows pets to travel on domestic flights in the passenger cabin, as checked baggage, or shipped separately, as cargo.

Service animals are allowed in the cabin, under certain conditions, or as checked baggage, free of charge.

What pets are allowed in the passenger cabin or accepted as checked baggage?

Only domestic dogs or cats are allowed as pets in the cabin provided that other applicable restrictions are complied with.

Hawaiian Airlines accepts only domestic dogs, cats, and household birds as checked baggage if all other applicable restrictions are complied with.

Any other animals are not accepted!

What responsibilities do I have?

You have to make advance arrangements with Hawaiian Airlines, contacting the Reservation Department to make a reservation for your pet. The first-come, first-served rule applies. Hawaiian Airlines allows a limited number of pets per flight, in the passenger compartment, or as checked baggage, depending on the type of aircraft and route.

You must supply your own pet carrier, ensuring that the container meets all governmental requirements for the safe and humane transportation of the animal.

You are responsible for obtaining your pet a health certificate, signed/issued by a licensed/certified veterinarian, prior to the first departure date as follows:

• 14 days prior to travel to Hawaii.
• 14 days prior to travel from Hawaii (30 days prior to travel for a return flight to the US Mainland booked as part of a single round trip reservation).
• Not required to travel within the State of Hawaii.

Additional documents are required for transporting household birds.

You have to assume full responsibility for complying with any applicable laws, customs, and government regulatory requirements or restrictions of the country, state, and territory to which the animal is being transported.

Carry-on Pets

Pet containers allowed are sherpa bags. One passenger can transport only one container, and one container may be occupied by only one adult dog or cat. Up to 2 puppies or 2 kittens, at least 8 weeks, but no more than 6 months, may be carried in one kennel, provided they comply with the maximum weight restriction. Your pet must remain in the container, and the container must be stored beneath the seat in front of you.

Pet carrier weight and size restrictions:

• Maximum weight: 25 lbs / 11 kg.
• Maximum length: 16 inches / 40 cm.
• Maximum width: 10 inches / 25 cm.
• Maximum depth: 9.5 inches / 24 cm.

Route restrictions:

• Not accepted on international flights.
• Not accepted on flights to/from New York – JFK and Boston.
• Not accepted in the First Class cabin on all North America flights.
• Accepted on Neighbor Island flights.
• Accepted on flights between Hawaii and North America only in the Main cabin.

Fees

For pets traveling in the passenger cabin, Hawaiian Airlines charges the following fees one-way, per kennel:

• $35 – within the State of Hawaii.
• $125 – for flights from Hawaii to North America.

All fees are subject to change.

Checked Pets

If you want to check in your pet, you need a hard-sided container complying with the following size and weight restrictions:

Pet acceptance as checked baggage is subject to weight limitation. Hawaiian Airlines does not allow a weight over 70 lbs / 32 kg for the pet and kennel. If maximum weight is exceeded, you may use the cargo shipment option and refer to Hawaiian Airlines Cargo.

Additional conditions regarding route, temperature, embargo period, snub nose dogs and cats, etc., apply to the acceptance of animals as checked baggage.

Route restrictions:

• Not accepted on flights to/from Austin (AUS), Boston (BOS), New York (JFK), Orlando (MCO).
• Not accepted on flights to/from San Jose (SJC), Sacramento (SMF), Las Vegas (LAS), and Phoenix (PHX) between April 15th and October 15th
• Accepted on Neighbor Island flights, Hawaii to North America flights, and North America to Hawaii flights (except Austin (AUS), Boston (BOS), New York (JFK), Orlando (MCO)).

Pets are required to meet all quarantine clearance requirements. If all of the specific 5-Day-Or-Less program requirements are not met, the law requires dogs and cats to be quarantined for up to 120 days upon arrival in Hawaii.

All pets arriving in Honolulu (HNL) will be taken to the Animal Quarantine holding station at the Honolulu airport. For direct flights from North America to an approved neighbor island airport, the Neighbor Island Inspection Permit issued by the State of Hawaii Industry Division is required, without which Hawaiian Airlines will not accept any animal.

Fees

For pets traveling in the baggage compartment, Hawaiian Airlines charges the following fees one-way, per kennel:

• $60 – within the State of Hawaii.
• $225 – for all other flights.

All fees are subject to change.

Service Animals

Service Animals are accepted on Hawaiian Airlines flights free of charge. A Service Animal is a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a qualified individual with a disability. When traveling with a Service Animal, Hawaiian Airlines requires at least 48 hours advance notice and submission of the required forms: U.S. Department of Transportation Service Animal Air Transportation Form and U.S. Department of Transportation Service Animal Relief Attestation if your flight is over 8 hours long.

In addition to all applicable State of Hawaii entry permits, Hawaiian Airlines requires an animal health certificate for all animals entering Hawaii. Service Animals must travel at the passenger’s feet. If the leg space of a second seat is required, the animal will be accommodated to empty adjacent seats in the same cabin. The passenger may purchase a second seat, but no refund will be offered if there are unoccupied seats on the day of departure. If no accommodation can be made to fit safely in the cabin, the animal must be checked as baggage.

Effective January 2021, in line with the new U.S. Department of Transportation regulation, Hawaiian Airlines no longer accepts Emotional Support Animals as Service Animals free of charge. Emotional Support Animals may be transported as pets if all the above requirements are met.

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