How to Fly Standby on Hawaiian Airlines

Can’t wait to hit the beach and spend a whole day basking under the sun? Fortunately, you may be eligible to fly standby with Hawaiian Airlines. Check the following rules to see if you are eligible to fly earlier than our original flight. The sooner you can go on your vacation, the more time you get to spend relaxing and enjoying your trip.

Hawaiian Airlines Same Day Standby

Hawaiian Airlines allows same-standby for the following types of travelers:

• Pualani Platinum members
• Pualani Gold members
• Corporate Customers who have booked through the Corporate Web Portal

If you fall under any of these three categories, you can stand by for an earlier flight to neighboring islands on the day of departure. There is no fee as it is a complimentary service.

However, you might want to take note of some exceptions to same-day standby flights.

If you have a Main Cabin Basic ticket (non-changeable and non-refundable), you are not eligible for steam-day standby. Booking Class O and inter-island web special fares (OWEB, OXOWEB, and ZWEB) are also ineligible for standby. This is regardless of whether you are a Pualani Platinum, a Gold member, or a corporate customer.

Restrictions to Flying Same-Day Standby on Hawaiian Airlines

Hawaiian Airlines commits to doing everything it can to get you on a same-day standby flight. However, if one or both of the following restrictions apply, you cannot fly same-day standby:

• You’ve already checked in your baggage on your confirmed flight.
• Your desired standby flight is departing in less than 30 minutes.

When you find yourself in any of the situations above, you will have no choice but to fly on your original flight. You can also opt to buy tickets for a different flight.

How to Request a Same-Day Standby Flight

How to request same-day standby on Hawaiian Airlines depends on whether you are checking in a bag.

If You Are Checking in a Bag

1. Check-in at the customer service desk located in the airport lobby.
2. Let the airport customer service agent know you would like to stand by for an earlier Neighbor Island flight. Make sure your bag is tagged with your requested standby flight information.
3. Once you have your request in, Hawaiian Airlines will add your name to the standby list. They will keep your name for the original confirmed flight reservation in case the seats are full on the standby flight.
4. Head over to the standby flight’s gate to await your new flight.

If You Are Not Checking in a Bag

1. Check-in for your scheduled flight using Hawaiian Airlines’ web check-in, the kiosk at the airport, or with an airport customer service agent.
2. If you checked in using the web check-in or kiosk, you’ll need to talk to a Hawaiian Airlines airport customer service agent. Let them know you would like to stand by for an earlier Neighbor Island flight.
3. Once you have your request in, Hawaiian Airlines will add your name to the standby list. They will keep your name for the original confirmed flight reservation in case the seats are full on the standby flight.
4. Head over to the standby flight’s gate to await your new flight.

If you are checking in at Honolulu International Airport, you may also have to go through security and notify the service podium agent by Gate 56.

Best Carry-On Luggage When Flying on Standby

If you are looking for a great carry-on bag when flying on standby, I recommend the Travelpro Maxlite 5 Expandable Spinner. I have used this carry-on for years. It’s durable, reasonably priced, and holds everything I need for shorter trips. Plus the spinner wheels make it very easy to get through the airport quickly and effortlessly.

If you know you are going to be flying on Standby, it’s always best to travel with only a carry-on!

Rules for Missed Flights on Hawaiian Airlines

If your flight was delayed or canceled by Hawaiian Airlines, they will transport you to your destination, next stopover point, or transfer point at the same class of service at no extra cost. This, however, is subject to availability, and you may have to stand by for more than one flight. Hawaiian Airlines may also arrange for you to travel on another carrier or give you the option of a refund or travel credit.

If you are already a standby guest under Hawaiian Airlines’ FTP pass and the flight gets delayed, canceled, or has a schedule change, you may request to standby for another available flight. You may also opt to get refunded the whole or a portion (check with Hawaiian Airlines Rule 24 for more information).

If the missed flight is your fault, there’s no guarantee that Hawaiian Airlines will let you stand by for another flight, but you can ask and see. Be prepared, however, to buy another ticket or re-book your trip entirely.

Rules for Employees, Friends, & Family Members

Hawaiian Airlines employees can enjoy unlimited travel on the airlines. This is all for free unless you travel to an international destination. This travel privilege of flying standby is not just for you but extends to your spouse, dependent children, and parents.

Hawaiian Airlines Friendship Travel Pass (FTP)

Employees also get 20 discounted passes every year that they can give to other family members and friends. This is known as the Hawaiian Airlines Friendship Travel Pass (FTP). Each pass is based on space availability, is good for a one-way journey, and fees apply.

Hawaiian Airlines is also part of the ID90 Travel system, which allows its employees to purchase tickets at a huge discount (90%), though all ID90 ticket holders are only allowed standby travel.

Standby Rules for Upgrades

If you are a Pualani Platinum and Gold member, you can enjoy complimentary upgrades to Extra Comfort seats on all Hawaiian Airlines-operated flights. A Pualani Platinum or Gold member must add themselves to the standby list for seat upgrades when checking in for their flight to be eligible for the upgrade. You can also contact an airport customer service agent and ask for assistance.

The gate agent will notify you about the upgrade confirmation and issue you a new boarding pass if an upgrade is available. Seating is assigned by priority of status first (Pualani Platinum before Pualani Gold) and then by time. Guests who sign up earlier receive priority.

Pualani Platinum members may also enjoy complimentary upgrades to First Class and Extra Comfort on all Hawaiian Airlines-operated flights between Neighbor Islands, subject to seat availability. If you are a Pualani Platinum member, you may reserve your First Class or Extra Comfort Seat (if available) when you check-in. All other upgrade requests you have will be assigned according to the priority of status and the time you were added to the upgrades standby list.

Pualani Gold members may enjoy complimentary upgrades to Extra Comfort on all Hawaiian Airlines-operated flights between Neighbor Islands, subject to seat availability. Like all other instances when availing of upgrades, you need to add yourself to the upgrade standby list when you check-in. If there is an available seat, a gate agent will notify you and issue a new boarding pass. Upgrades are assigned according to the time the member is added to the list, with the earlier time receiving priority.

The Hawaiian Airlines Standby List

Hawaiian Airlines lists standby passengers according to priority. If many people are flying, you might want to ask the customer service or gate agent what your chances are of getting on an earlier flight. It might be wiser to reschedule your trip or take on your original flight.

Related Content:

Here are some more articles that explain how the standby list works on other airlines:

• Air Canada Standby Rules
• American Airlines Standby Rules
• Alaska Airlines Standby Rules
• Delta Airlines Standby Rules
• Frontier Standby Rules
• jetBlue Standby Rules
• Spirit Standby Rules
• Southwest Standby Rules
• United Airlines Standby Rules
• WestJet Standby Rules

Here are some more articles on Hawaiian Airlines:

• Hawaiian Airlines carry-on size and weight limits
• Hawaiian Airlines’ delay and cancellation policy
• Hawaiian Airlines flight deals