The September 11th attack
Early arrivals hurry up for wait at airport

By Johnny Brannon
Advertiser Staff Writer

Many travelers who've gone to Honolulu International Airport early to catch flights for the Mainland have found that the only thing their early arrival earned them was a longer wait.

Airline passengers struggle with their luggage in an agricultural checkpoint line that snakes from just inside the airport all the way onto the street. Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser

Hundreds of passengers have been arriving hours sooner than that to make sure they have plenty of time to pass through security checkpoints, where lines sometimes last an hour.

But travelers can't get to the checkpoints until they've passed agricultural inspection and checked in their bags, so they have little choice but to flop down in the heat outside the terminal on concrete benches or the ground.

"Obviously things could be a little better coordinated," said Jack Garrison of Dallas, who arrived five hours early yesterday for a flight to St. Louis. He and many others figured they would check in extra early, then have a meal or a drink inside while waiting for their flight.

Tim and Marsha Bauer of Pittsburgh had the same plan, but ended up splitting a dry granola bar for lunch on a bench outside while waiting with hundreds of others.

"They said come early, so here we are," Marsha Bauer said, adding that she was glad to see increased security at the airport.

The state Transportation Department has advised passengers to arrive at least three hours before their flight, but now says it could be a mistake to come any sooner than that.

"Extra early isn't always better, and I guess this is one of those cases," said department spokeswoman Marilyn Kali. "Three hours should be enough time to clear all of the security hurdles. Three hours is three hours, not five hours."

USDA Port Director Hilda Montoya said it makes no sense to open inspection stations sooner if the airline counters aren't open, because passengers could not proceed any farther. She said stations would open earlier if airlines ask them to.

"If they request it, we're happy to provide the service," she said.

So far, only United Airlines has asked that inspection stations serving its flights be open at least four hours earlier, she said.

Kali said the problems should diminish soon because the backlog of passengers who were stranded when the airport closed after last week's terrorist attack have since flown home.

Passengers should still expect delays of up to an hour at security checkpoints inside the terminal, she said.

"If you come an hour early and it takes an hour to get through the checkpoint, you've missed your plane," Kali said.

Reach Johnny Brannon at 535-2431 or jbrannon@honoluluadvertiser.com