Hawaiian Airlines Baggage Size Leeway?
Hawaiian Airlines specify that the dimensions of hold luggage should not exceed 157cm when added up. The sum of my suitcase's dimensions however is 164cm. I've asked them and they say I could face oversized baggage charges of $100 for each flight I travel on, just for these few little centimetres. My questions are: how do they even know if a case is mildly oversized? Has anyone ever gotten away with oversized cases with Hawaiian?
Hawaiian Airlines (HA) allows 1 carry-on bag and 1 personal item (purse, briefcase, laptop bag) per passenger fee free. Carry-on should not exceed the following size and weight restrictions: 45 linear inches (22 x 14 x 9 in) or 115 centimeters (56 x 36 x 23 cm) including handles and wheels.
Have you considered FedEx or UPS overnight shipping, when baggage costs are excessive…
They measure it. With a tape measure.
When the say the limit is 157 cm, that means that the LIMIT 157 cm. 164 cm is over that limit.
There's no leeway. Should they decide to measure your bag, and it's over the limit - even by 1cm - it's over the limit and you'll pay the same overage charge if it's 1cm, 10cm, or 100cm over.
That said, I've never had an airline measure the size of my bag. They're more concerned about the weight of the bag. So if you aren't overweight, and the bag doesn't appear to be OBVIOUSLY over-sized then you're probably OK. PROBABLY.
62 inches linear, defined as 157cm, 157.48cm, and 158cm depending upon airline, is the standard maximum on Hawaiian, United, American, Delta, Southwest, China Southern (International) (Domestic China allows 40cm x 60cm x 100cm as each Maximum rather than total), Jetblue, Alaska Air, Air Canada, Volaris, Aeromexico, Westjet, Spirit as a minimum, covering major airlines of the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
over 80 inches requires special planning with the airline in advance.
The airlines earn a lot of their profit from fees and are happy to measure bags and charge you $100 or $150 as appropriate.
Generally, it is cheaper to check a 2nd bag, and they don't want you bringing more than 2 checked bags as rates go up typically.
Your bag is obsolete for North America. Buy a new one, or two if necessary that meets the stadard size.
If you never travel to North America or Hawaii, then pay the one time fee if you prefer.
There's an opportunity to reject the bags at many checks in the process as the bags all get scanned and xray'ed and baggage handlers have a lifetime of experience to know bag sizes and weights.
There's a chance they will leave your bag if it is oversized and not paid for as a condition of carriage as you buy the ticket.
The leeway is under 158cm rather than 62 inches. 63 inches is 160cm, and that ALWAYS gets the fee.
Do you want to ruin your vacation because you don't own an appropriate piece of luggage for North American air travel. Or want to bring more stuff than properly fits in a normal size case.
ADD - SINCE TRAVEL AND FEES ARE EACH WAY, THEY HAVE TWICE AS MANY CHANCES TO CATCH YOU.
They will measure it with a measuring tape. They did it to me back in 2014 when I went on vacation to Hawaii, and again when I moved to Honolulu earlier this year.
Honestly, you'd be better off buying a cheap suitcase that meets the dimensions, or going to two smaller suitcases. I don't know about Hawaiian, but at Delta, the check-in agent told me that my carry-on was too large just by looking at it, and I had to prove that it wasn't. Fortunately, I had made it myself to comply with the dimensions on their website. But that tells me that if a bag is even close, they will put it on you to prove it meets dimensions. Possibly, they would be less likely to hassle you if the bag is exceptionally light, but I wouldn't count on it.
Also, there's a fare war going on right now, so expect all airlines to try to recover costs in any way they can.
There's no "leeway" whatsoever. Buy a new suitcase that meets their criteria.
If they're in any doubt, they whip out a measuring tape.
It's hardly rocket science.
Don't take that risk; get a bag that satisfies the requirements.
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