Hawaiian Airlines Baggage Fees: How They Work

The first checked bag will cost $30 - $40 depending on where you're flying, but there are ways to avoid the fee.

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Updated · 3 min read
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Nerdy takeaways
  • Hawaiian charges $30 for the first checked bag and $40 for the second on flights between the islands and North America.

  • You can avoid these fees with a branded credit card or by earning elite status.

When you want to pack a 12th swimsuit and your third pair of sandals — not to mention leave extra room in your luggage for that bottle of Koloa rum picked up in Kauai — is Hawaiian Airlines going to ding you with baggage fees? Check out this guide on checked gear.

Hawaiian Airlines checked bag fees

You can expect to pay different baggage fees based on where you’re flying on Hawaiian Airlines.

Route

First checked bag

Second checked bag

Within Hawaii

$30.

$40.

Between Hawaii and North America

$40.

$45.

International

Free.

Free.

For those flying from a Hawaiian island to a neighbor island (wholly within the state of Hawaii), your first bag will set you back $30, and your second will cost $40.

If one of your destinations is somewhere else in North America, expect to shell out $40 for your first checked bag and $45 for the next.

Hawaiian Airlines also flies direct to destinations in Asia and the South Pacific, like Auckland, New Zealand, Brisbane, Australia, and Fukuoka, Japan. Travelers on these international flights can check up to two bags for free.

🤓Nerdy Tip

Need to check a third bag? You’ll be dinged $50, $150 and $150 for Hawaii travel, North America travel and international travel, respectively.

All checked bags on Hawaiian Airlines must meet certain size and weight criteria to avoid additional fees for overweight baggage. If your luggage weighs less than 50 pounds (23 kilograms) or its linear dimensions (height, width, length) add up to 62 inches (157 centimeters) or less, you’re golden.

Fees for checked surf, kite, paddle and wake boards

Travelers can check their surf, kite, paddle and wake boards on their flight.

Here’s how where fees start depending on where you're headed:

  • Neighboring island: $25 each way.

  • North America: $75 each way.

  • International: $75 each way.

  • Australia and New Zealand: No fee as long as your board is one of your two complimentary checked bags and you don't have any connections over 24 hours.

Keep in mind that boards will need to be packed in a padded board bag and cannot exceed 50 pounds (23 kilograms) or 115 inches (292 centimeters) in length to get these starting rates. As your equipment increases in weight above 50 pounds, the fee does as well.

See Hawaiian's dedicated board fees page for more information.

How to avoid checked bag fees on Hawaiian Airlines

Get a credit card that includes free checked bags on Hawaiian Airlines

Primary Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® cardholders will enjoy two free checked bags on Hawaiian Airlines-operated flights between Hawaii and the mainland or between islands in Hawaii. Flights must be booked directly to take advantage of this benefit.

Fly in a premium cabin

Beyond Hawaiian Airlines’ signature Mai Tai cocktail, first class passengers are exempt from paying checked bag fees for their first two checked bags. Any additional checked bags beyond that will be charged at the next sequential bag fee. Applicable overweight baggage fees apply.

Become a HawaiianMiles member

HawaiianMiles, Hawaiian Airlines’ free frequent flyer program, offers reduced baggage fees to members flying within the state of Hawaii. Members pay $10 less for their first checked bag and $15 less for their second checked bag when flying to neighboring islands.

Earn elite status (Pualani)

Elite Pualani members are rewarded with additional benefits for their frequent flying. Regardless of the destination of your Hawaiian Airlines operated flight, Pualani Club and Pualani Gold members each receive up to two checked bags for free. Members of the highest tier, Pualani Platinum, receive the first three bags complimentary.

Applicable overweight and excess baggage fees apply.

Let them know you're a military member

Travel on military orders

Hawaiian Airlines flight passengers who double as active duty U.S. military passengers and military personnel who are retired or retiring, who have proof of official government travel orders or who are qualified dependents while the military personnel is traveling on military orders can check up to four complimentary bags per person. What’s more, these bags can weigh up to 70 lbs and max out at 80 linear inches (20 pounds and 18 inches more than the typical allowance).

Note that if you're traveling on military orders as an active, retired or dependent, you'll need to show a valid military ID at check-in.

Personal travel

Active duty U.S. military personnel with a valid active duty military ID are given two free checked bags on Hawaiian Airlines flights. These bags adhere to Hawaiian Airlines’ normal baggage expectations — each can weigh up to 50 pounds and should not exceed 62 linear inches.

Dependents of active U.S. military personnel doing personal travel are not eligible for this perk.

Don’t forget your pineapples and papayas

If you’re obsessed with fresh tropical fruit, you’ll love this Hawaiian Airlines baggage allowance: Airline passengers can often check a prepackaged box of up to 10 pounds of pineapples or papayas on the plane — free of charge.

Want to bring your gorgeous lei home, too? Make sure it’s USDA approved.

Fees across U.S. airlines

In NerdWallet's most recent analysis of airline fees, we compared seat selection, checked baggage and overhead carry-on baggage fees charged by the major U.S. airlines on typical one-way fares.

Note: This analysis is based on 2023 data and does not take into account recent baggage fee price hikes across multiple airlines. Our next analysis will happen in the fall of 2024.

Here's how they stacked up:

Frequently asked questions

Hawaiian charges $30 each way for the first checked bag on flights within North America, and $15-$25 for the first checked bag on flights within Hawaii. On international flights, Hawaiian allows two complimentary checked bags.

Yes, all Hawaiian Airlines fares include one free overhead carry-on and one free personal item. This includes main cabin basic fares, the airline’s most affordable ticket type.

There are three ways to get a free checked bag on Hawaiian Airlines: Carry the Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard®, have Pualani elite status or fly on an international route.

All Hawaiian Airlines fares include a complimentary carry-on bag that can fit in the overhead bins, as well as a personal item that can fit underneath your seat.

If you fly Hawaiian Airlines with luggage

Hawaiian Airline flyers will be subject to various baggage fees depending on their flight origin and destination. You can lessen the sting of baggage fees (but not that sunburn) by joining HawaiianMiles, flying first class or opening a Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® and booking travel with it.

Aloha and happy travels!


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