Hawai'i travelers offer tips on coping

Advertiser Staff

What's the skinny about security, delays, hassles? Honolulu travelers offer mixed reports ...

Do we lead the nation in airport unpleasantness?

Rachel Wyler, 17, of Sacramento, Calif., waits out a long line at the Honolulu Airport. Some Hawai'i travelers recommend flying to smaller Mainland airports — Ontario, Calif., instead of LAX — to avoid crowds. Advertiser library photo

"The Honolulu Airport security people (at least interisland) are thorough, friendly and very professional. The guys in Kona were not. I was thoroughly, and I mean thoroughly, searched in Kona" in a way that angered and embarrassed Bess, he said.

"The Kona airport is also a terrible place to get stuck," Bess said. "The cafeteria is overpriced ($6.50 for a tuna sandwich), dingy, somewhat unkempt if not downright dirty, and not a particularly great place to leave from. The Maui terminal, for food, is much better, has a pleasant view of the airport, a better and cleaner restaurant and separate bar with TV."

Tip: Bess was stuck at both with delayed and canceled flights.

"I found that making reservations is increasingly important," he said. "I used to just show up at the airport with my interisland coupons and ask for the next plane. No more."

Comment: "What strikes me about our airports, and the millions of visitors who go through them, is how Hawai'i is missing the boat. If you've traveled through San Francisco, Seattle, Portland, Dallas, Minneapolis, etc., one's immediately struck by how 'regional' the airport is by the large and eclectic selection of food, clothing, books, CDs and other things people shop for that pertain to that particular region of the country. Why doesn't the state realize the value and uniqueness of Hawai'i's products and have them available at the large retail venue at the airport? When passengers are stuck in an airport and have discretionary income, the state should take a stronger interest in having itself represented on a regional basis."

Travel light

Judy Joseph, manager of Pzazz, a consignment clothing store in Honolulu, flies to Europe and the Mainland several times a year. Returning from Dallas-Fort Worth Airport last week, she encountered no problems with increased security.

Tips?

"Travel light!" says Joseph. "I always travel with a roll-on bag holding a change of clothes, handy wipes, ready-to-go toiletries, small pillow, pashmina (a shawl), medications and reading matter. I have everything I need, and it's easy to move. Also, I avoid wearing a belt; removing it at security will definitely hold you up."

Favorite airport to be stuck in?

"San Francisco and London, both have great stores."

Fly to a smaller airport

Judy, Howard and Adam Glickstein flew to California last month for a family Thanksgiving and encountered no airport hassles. Rather than LAX, the family decided to fly Hawaiian Airlines' daily flight into Ontario Airport, less than an hour east of Los Angeles.

"I would far rather fly into Ontario," said Judy Glickstein. "The airport is seconds away from Route 10, which is a direct artery into Los Angeles. It's accessible, uncrowded and much less hassle. Plus, it's easy to get into the city."

Glickstein travels in a velour top and pants to stay warm on the airplane.

Earplugs are essential

Hob Osterlund, coordinator of pain management services at Queen's Medical Center, recently traveled through Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland and Phoenix airports with "no hassles or even slowdowns."

"I wear loose-fitting clothing in layers so I can adapt to the occasional frigid flight as well as the ones that feel like menopause boot camp," Osterlund said.

Tips: "I bring something good to read ... you never know when the next delay will happen. Bring earplugs ... the roar of the jet is constant, and part of the fatigue of flying. They also prevent me from becoming annoyed with drunken, loud travelers or frustrated babies. If I'm charmed with my seatmate, I leave the earplugs out as long as the conversation sparkles. When it has run its course, the earplugs don't feel like a rude retreat."

Favorite airport to be stuck in?

"San Francisco. There's a restaurant that serves healthy food and where I can sit quietly with my laptop or book. It also has a better-than-average choice of books and magazines, and well-done art/history exhibits that change regularly."

Put on a big smile

Honolulu businessman Greg Marshall flies to the Mainland once or twice a month. He returned last week from an East Coast trip via Boston, Cleveland, San Francisco and Phoenix airports.

Hassles? "Not really," said Marshall, "... but I did witness objections from other passengers to security searches. It's best just to smile and cooperate as much as you can. It gets you through faster."

Tips: "I don't check my bag. I get by for seven to 10 days with a carry-on, which saves time, and if you have your ticket, you can go straight to the gate, and if you're stranded anywhere, like Chicago in the dead of winter, you won't be stuck in your aloha shirt.

Favorite airport to be stuck?

"San Francisco ... it's cleaner and nicer than LAX. But it's weather-oriented, and if the weather is iffy — which it can be in San Francisco — planes easily get backed up and flights canceled. However, there are plenty of good hotels nearby, and San Francisco's not a bad city to be stuck in!"

Little gifts keep the peace

Navy personnel Mary and Jon Van Slyke of 'Ewa Beach travel with two children younger than 7. Visiting Portland, Ore., recently, they encountered no problems.

"Having small children meant we could board the aircraft straight away, which helped," Jon Van Slyke said.

Tips: When traveling with small children, give them little gifts every half-hour or hour. Wrap them out of sight, buy little goodies like a simple toy car or crayons and a fun writing tablet, something they enjoy but don't have. "You don't need to spend much, and the kids think it's awesome, and it gets away from the 'Are-we-there-yets?' "

The Van Slykes take a backpack for each child with extra clothes for accidents or spills.

Favorite airport to be stuck? "Spokane, Wash. Both our families live in the area!"