The Maui News

Travelers planning to fly off island for the Thanksgiving holiday should arrive early and plan ahead given that more travelers are expected and parking fills up fast at the state’s five busiest airports, the state Department of Transportation said Monday.

Based on reporting from the airlines, there are no major increases in the number of flights to Hawaii airports compared to the last Thanksgiving; however, flights are expected to be fuller and airports are expected to be busier, especially during the peak times between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., the DOT said. The busiest travel day is expected to be Wednesday, followed by Sunday.

During the Thanksgiving holiday week, the DOT recommended that air travelers:

• Plan to arrive at the airport at least two hours prior to their scheduled flight departure for Mainland or international flights, and 90 minutes early for interisland flights.

• Check with their airline on the status of their flight, including any delays, gate assignments and baggage claim area if picking up arriving passengers.

• Plan accordingly for parking given that lots at Hawaii airports fill up quickly, especially over the holidays.

Travelers who are using the airport’s public parking garages are advised to arrive early and allow for additional walking time to the ticket lobbies, as some lots are farther from the main terminal than others. The maximum parking rate for a 24-hour period is $24 in Honolulu and $15 at Neighbor Island airports.

For more information on parking at the Kahului Airport, which has 1,299 parking stalls, visit airports.hawaii.gov/ogg/getting-to-from/parking/.