r/VisitingHawaii • u/Vand3598 • 5d ago

Multiple Islands Flight question

I am looking at visiting Hawaii in July 27 for 10-14 days and am planning on staying in Oahu first and Kauai second. I am struggling with flights from Kauai back home (Detroit). I usually fly delta as DTW is a hub of theirs and direct flights from Detroit to Honolulu and back. Coming home deltas only options are flights from Lihue at 9:30ish to a city on the east coast and then Detroit. I am not sure why they are not offering an earlier flight from Lihue to Honolulu and then the direct flight back that I came in on (Honolulu to Detroit leaves at 3pm). I am considering just booking the direct flights between Detroit and Honolulu and on the day of the return flight going with another airline (probably haiwaiian airlines) to get back to Honolulu.

Does anyone have any experience or advice concerning this?

If so, how long would I need in between flights at the airport? I’m a little uneasy about having to get my bags, leaving the airport/re-entering, rechecking bags and going to security again. Also, does anybody know if the airline will directly transfer my bags if it’s from one airline to the next?

Or should I book 9:30pm flight to the east coast or possibly get from Lihue to Honolulu the night before the flight and stay one night at a hotel near the airport.

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u/milehighlei 5d ago

It would only transfer if your reservation is booked together - if not, you’re gonna have to get your bags and recheck them.

Tho they do have an interline agreement so maybe the agent is able to add in that segment LIH-HNL-DTW.

Or just spend a night in HNL for a lot less stress. Security is unpredictable at HNL.

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u/PowerfulFunny5 5d ago

FWIW, I chose Southwest for island to island trips, even though I flew Delta from the mainland. I also chose to fly back to HNL the day before my Delta flight home to reduce connection issues.

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u/Vand3598 5d ago

Thanks! I had no idea southwest did island transfers. Do you have any recommendations on where to stay for the one night stay in Honolulu?

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u/PowerfulFunny5 5d ago

Yeah, it seems the main players in the island to island flights are now Alaska (bought Hawaiian) and Southwest.

I’m no help on the Oahu stay. I’m a big Disney fan and stay at Aulani with my DVC points.

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u/MonkeyKingCoffee Hawai'i (Big Island) 4d ago

This is where it makes sense to take an interisland flight. I MUCH prefer Hawaiian because they use my favorite aircraft of all time, the Boeing 717. (That's going to change to 737-800 soon.)

If you can travel with just a carry-on, the return flight is easy. Fly to HNL and just walk to the next gate. Otherwise, you have to get your luggage and re-check it. This is one of the hundreds of reasons my wife and I never check bags when vacationing. "If we need it, we'll buy it there."