If you’re flying out of Honolulu (HNL), on Alaska or Hawaiian Airlines, don’t rely on the flight number to choose your terminal.
Instead, look at the airline logo in your app or boarding pass.
If you’ve flown out of Honolulu before, you probably had this memorized:
- Hawaiian (HA) = Terminal 1
- Alaska (AS) = Terminal 2
That shortcut is now broken.
Since April 22, Hawaiian Airlines flights show up with “AS” and the flight number.
I’ll test you, which terminal do you think AS842 to Seattle is out of? AS is the code for Alaska and we all know Alaska flies direct from Honolulu to Seattle everyday. So do you go to Terminal 2 to checkin? Ill tell you a bit later
I’ve been hearing the same story repeatedly: someone gets dropped at Terminal 2 because of an “AS” flight… only to walk all the wayback to Terminal 1. Good grief.
Quick Reference: How To Tell If You Are Flying on Hawaiian or Alaska
Here’s the simplest way I’d break it down:
- Interisland flights (HNL → OGG, KOA, LIH, ITO)
- Always Hawaiian
- Terminal 1
- Hawaiian Airlines (Pualani logo)
- Terminal 1
- Alaska Airlines (any Alaska logo)
- Terminal 2, Lobby 5
- Hawaiian Airlines to Japan
- Terminal 2, Lobby 4
In addition to the terminal challenges here are 10 things that have changed as of April 22nd.
The New Problem at HNL: Flight Numbers Don’t Mean What They Used To
Both of the flights above are to PDX (Portland) and both have AS flight numbers, but the logos are different.
How to Tell If You Are Flying Hawaiian or Alaska (This Is What Actually Matters)
This is the one thing you need to check every time now—and it solves almost all the confusion.
Ignore the flight number. Look at the airline branding.
If you see the Hawaiian Pualani logo:
- You are flying Hawaiian Airlines
- Go to Terminal 1 (Japan flights on Hawaiian are still out of Terminal 2 lobby 4 where they have always been)
If you see the Alaska logo:
- You are flying Alaska Airlines
- Go to Terminal 2, Lobby 5
If you see the new Alaska tail design:
- Still Alaska Airlines
- Still Terminal 2, Lobby 5
Connecting Flights: Where It Gets Even More Confusing
If your itinerary looks like this:
- HNL → OGG (Hawaiian)
- OGG → SEA (Alaska)
Here’s what to do:
- Start at Terminal 1 (because your first flight is Hawaiian HNL to OGG)
- In Maui (OGG) check in with Alaska
Important:
Only Hawaiian operates interisland flights. So if your trip includes another Hawaiian island first, you’re starting in Terminal 1.
The Check-In & Bag Drop Problem (Why People Are Walking Between Terminals)
This is where things can get a bit tricky between checkin and dropping bags.
Right now:
- Hawaiian agents in Terminal 1 can check you in for Alaska flights
- But they cannot accept checked bags for Alaska
So travelers end up doing this:
- Go to Terminal 1
- Get checked in
- Get sent to Terminal 2 for bags
Or:
- Go to Terminal 2 early
- Counters aren’t open yet
- Walk to Terminal 1
- Then back again
That’s the loop I keep hearing about. Hawaiian Airlines runs a massive operation in HNL and is going non-stop from early morning to late at night. Alaska counters open 2.5 hours before departure, plan accordingly.
The Most Common Mistake I’m Seeing
People are still using the flight number as their decision-maker.
That worked before. It doesn’t now.
The new rule is simple:
- Flight number = unreliable
- Logo + operating airline = everything
Final Takeaway
HNL didn’t physically change—but how you navigate it did.
The old way:
- Flight number → airline → terminal
The new way:
- Airline logo → operating airline → terminal
It’s a small shift, but if you miss it, you’ll feel it—usually as a long walk between terminals.
Oh yeah, AS842 is on Hawaiian Airlines
FAQ: HNL Terminals After Alaska + Hawaiian Changes
- Which terminal is Hawaiian Airlines at HNL?
Hawaiian Airlines departs from Terminal 1, except for Japan flights, which use Terminal 2 (Lobby 4). - Which terminal is Alaska Airlines at Honolulu Airport?
Alaska Airlines uses Terminal 2, Lobby 5 for check-in and baggage. - Why does my Hawaiian flight say “AS”?
Hawaiian flights now use Alaska Airlines flight numbers due to system integration, even if the flight is still operated by Hawaiian. - How to tell if you are flying Hawaiian or Alaska?
Check the logo or “operated by” line in your app or boarding pass. Hawaiian flights show the Pualani logo, while Alaska flights show the Eskimo or new tail design.
