Flights to Hawaii

As the UK is literally on the opposite side of the globe from Hawaii, flying to the islands requires planning and strategy. All flights out of the UK necessitate at least one stopover in cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, or Seattle. This can be a good thing, as you’ll want to stretch your legs and ensure you don’t succumb to cabin fever halfway across North America.

Flights from London to Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), the largest airport in Hawaii, generally have the cheapest fares due to keen competition and many flight options.

There are many airlines to choose from, among them Air France, Asiana, Delta, Korean Air, United, West Jet and British Airways. Flight times range from 18 to 26 hours, but British Airways and Virgin Atlantic tend to have the shortest flight times, with a speedy stopover in Seattle.

Other UK airports such as Birmingham (BHX), Aberdeen (ABZ), Belfast (BFS), Edinburgh (EDI), Glasgow (GLA), Leeds (LBA), Manchester (MAN) and Newcastle (NCL) also offer cheap flights to Honolulu, with flight times ranging from 19 to 26 hours.

Although Honolulu’s airport is the state’s only ‘large hub’ airport, there are a few other international airports which provide more options for geographic convenience.

Hilo International Airport is located on Hawaii Island, while Kahului Airport (the second-largest airport in Hawaii) is on Maui. There’s also Kona International Airport on Hawaii Island and Lihue Airport on Kauai. While these smaller airports typically entail increased prices and potentially longer flight times with more layovers, they could be convenient if you’re looking to land and spend more time on a specific island.

Given Hawaii is an island state, many holidaymakers hop around from one island to another in order to see as many different islands as possible. It’s a great idea, since each island is so different, from the urban enclaves and boisterous beaches of Oahu to the jungle solitude of Kauai and Molokai.

Inter-island flights are a common method of travel on smaller planes, usually connecting through Honolulu. For example, a flight from Kauai to Hilo, Hawaii, would entail a quick stopover in Honolulu on Oahu. Fortunately, since all the islands are close together, inter-island flights generally top out at an hour and tickets are cheap. The only inter-island ferry operates between Maui and Lanai, where the islands are a mere 14km (9 miles) apart.

As the UK is one of the countries listed in the US’s Visa Waiver Program, British passport holders do not need a visa to enter Hawaii. However, you still must obtain an ESTA authorisation prior to your travel – ESTA stands for Electronic System for Travel Authorisation. The cost is $14 per application, and you can visit this page to apply.

If you’re booking an all-inclusive holiday to Hawaii, your tour operator is likely to sort out your ESTA authorisation on your behalf. Upon arrival in Hawaii, you must go to Immigration Review to hand over your passport, an entry card and customs declaration.