Enough time between flights

Question

We have a flight back to Australia on Qantas leaving at 11am. We will be flying from Maui that morning. There is a flight leaving OCG at 8:47am arriving at 9:26am.

Is this enough time to make the 11am Qantas departure or do we need to take the earlier flight at 7:30am arriving at 8:05am?

Thanks in advance

Answer

Hi! For your itinerary, flying from Maui (OGG) to Honolulu (HNL) on the 8:47am flight to catch an 11:00am Qantas international departure is very risky. Here’s why:

Time Considerations

The 8:47am flight arrives at 9:26am, giving you only about 1 hour and 34 minutes before your 11:00am Qantas departure.
For international flights, airlines recommend arriving at least 3 hours before departure. Even if you are already checked in and have no checked baggage, you still need to clear security and walk to your gate, which can take 30–45 minutes or more depending on traffic inside the airport.
Domestic flight delays are common, and even a minor delay could cause you to miss your international flight.

Safer Option

Taking the earlier 7:30am flight arriving at 8:05am provides almost 3 hours before your 11:00am departure. This is much safer and aligns with typical airline recommendations for international departures.
While it means an earlier start, it greatly reduces stress and risk of missing your flight.

Summary

Even though the 8:47am flight seems close enough on paper, it does not allow adequate buffer time for security, potential delays, or unexpected issues. The 7:30am flight arriving at 8:05am is strongly recommended to ensure a smooth connection to your Qantas flight.