Send luggage in advance

Question

We arrive in HNL April 17 at 2 pm. We planned to fly to Kauai that afternoon to begin our trip. After a long flight from Chicago with a young child, we are considering spending the night in HNL and flying the next morning to Kauai. Is there a way to send our luggage in advance to meet us at the Kauai airport rather than pick it up and re-check? We are flying United from Ohare, and plan to take Aloha, or Hawaiian airlines to Kauai. Any advice would be helpful.

Answer

It's great that you're planning to take it easy after your long flight from Chicago, and spending the night in Honolulu before heading to Kauai sounds like a good option, especially with a young child in tow. When it comes to sending luggage in advance, there are a few options you could explore, though it might not be as straightforward as sending it directly to your Kauai hotel or airport. Here are some ideas:

Option 1: Check with United Airlines for Luggage Forwarding Services
United Airlines typically allows you to check your luggage through to your final destination, even if you're switching airlines in Honolulu. However, this would require you to pick up your luggage in HNL and re-check it for your Hawaiian or Aloha Airlines flight to Kauai. If you want to avoid picking it up at all, you can inquire with United Airlines about any luggage forwarding options. Some airlines partner with luggage forwarding services to send luggage directly to your next destination, but this option is more common with international flights. It's worth calling United to check if they offer such a service on domestic routes.

Option 2: Luggage Shipping Services
While it's not the most common option, some luggage shipping services can help you send your bags ahead. These services, such as Send My Bag or Luggage Forward, allow you to ship your luggage to a hotel or airport in advance, although it can be expensive. You would need to ship your luggage from Chicago before you leave and arrange for it to arrive at your Kauai destination (either the airport or your hotel) the following day. However, this could be quite costly for domestic shipments and might require advance planning, as shipping luggage across states can take several days to arrive.

Option 3: Contact Hawaiian Airlines or Aloha Airlines for Luggage Options
Another potential option is to check with Hawaiian Airlines or Aloha Airlines about whether they offer any specific services for transferring luggage from United to their planes. Sometimes, if your connection between airlines is relatively short, you may be able to get your luggage transferred without re-checking it. This is more common with code-share partners, but it's worth asking both United and the Hawaiian carriers if they can arrange this for you.

Option 4: Consider Using a Hotel Concierge
If you're spending the night in Honolulu, you can check with your hotel in Honolulu about luggage forwarding services. Some hotels can arrange for luggage to be sent ahead to another hotel or airport for you, though this is more common for travelers going on longer trips or international flights. It may not be common for short, domestic transfers, but it doesn’t hurt to ask.

General Advice
Since you'll have to collect your luggage in HNL, if you decide not to ship it ahead, be sure to plan some extra time when you arrive at the Honolulu airport to retrieve your luggage from the baggage claim area. You will then need to re-check your bags with your next airline (either Aloha or Hawaiian), and allow time for that process as well. You could also consider the option of taking a cab or shuttle to your hotel in Honolulu with your luggage, staying overnight, and then flying to Kauai the following morning.

To summarize, while it's not typical to send luggage ahead of time for domestic flights, there are several options you can explore. Calling United Airlines to inquire about forwarding services or luggage transfer options with Hawaiian or Aloha Airlines is a good first step. If you're open to shipping, luggage forwarding services may be an option, but it can be more expensive and may take several days to arrive. Checking with your hotel for assistance is another potential avenue.

Send luggage in advance

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