Starting today, the State of Hawaii is requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test in order to enter an airport lounge. While Honolulu already requires proof of vaccination to dine indoors, this rule has a bizarre exception.
New Restrictions on Airline Lounges In Hawaii, But An Odd Exception
Live and Let’s Fly has reviewed a memo delivered to United Club agents today outlining the new requirements. In order to enter the United Club in Honolulu, a passenger must show:
- Proof of full vaccination and a matching photo ID
- This can be a printed state-approved vaccination card or a photo of the card, or a Hawaii state-approved digital/smart device application confirming full vaccination status
- Two weeks must have passed since their final shot
- Proof of a negative COVID-19 test result taken within 48 hours of entry and a matching photo ID
- This can be a test result for an FDA-approved COVID-19 molecular or antigen test
The testing or vaccination requirement also applies to employees.
But there’s a very odd exception. Per the memo, “This requirement does not apply to anyone remaining in the United Club at HNL for 15 minutes or less.”
I really don’t understand this exemption. If the concern is public health and the spread of virus, why bother at all if anyone can enter the lounge without showing proof of vaccination or a negative test, as long as they pledge to say less than 15 minutes? This new regulation presumably applies to all airline lounges in Hawaii or at least on Oahu: will extra staff be hired to ensure that those without vaccines do not overstay their 15 minutes? This is particularly relevant because I would guess most passengers would use the lounge on their way home from the Hawaiian islands, a situation in which COVID-19 testing is not necessary for Mainland flights.
Children under the age of 12 are also exempt, which makes sense considering they are not eligible for the vaccine.
CONCLUSION
While the new vaccine entrance requirement can be traced to public health concerns, I am puzzled by the 15-minute exception. Logically, how does that possibly make sense?
Hawaii clearly is not interested in tourists and their $. I will accommodate them by going elsewhere.
Yeah. Hawaii hates money.
Excellent choice. We don’t need your money. We locals very much enjoyed our time when there were very few tourist. No traffic, unmasked rude tourists roaming around, parking where they’re not supposed to at beaches, etc The tourism agency will be implementing measures to limit tourists. Stay away.
Ron you are frankly an IDIOT. Hawaii badly needs tourism dollars – to think otherwise is foolish but hey you sound like someone who is one. Hey on the bright side Maybe you can spend some time on all those empty beaches of yours pondering how you ended up where you’re at right now in life.
You mean … in Hawaii?
Life could be worse.
Mahalo nui. Bring @Kyle Stewart with you please!
This is due to the exception for restaurants customers that who opt for take-out, the reasoning being it should not take more than 15 mins to pick up food. Club lounges are in the same category as restaurants which explains the over-lap. Technically, they should not be taking a seat…take your cheap snacks and go.
^ I believe this is the answer to your question — it seems 15 minutes is the standard exception to the Honolulu order, to account for take-out and similar in/out situations.
Thanks Jaymes. Makes sense for restaurants (to go orders) but less sense for airline lounges where signs state food should not be taken out of lounge. Does the Honolulu order prohibit someone from entering a bar without papers as long as they drink up and depart within 15 minutes?
No, the exception does not pertain to bars. The lounges are technically considered restaurants by the city and county of Honolulu so the same rules apply.
I think it may be also a suitable exception as a service desk to get assistance from agents.
As always, to all the crybabies past, present and future… Don’t like it?… Don’t come. Mahalo nui.
To those who abide by our restrictions, all the best in HI. Wat so hard brah?
Pa`a ka waha, brah.
Could it be for people who are being rebooked by the agents at the front desk?
No desire to spent one dollar in Hawaii….also known as the land of welfare and morbid obesity.
redeaux: As always, to all the crybabies past, present and future… Don’t like it?… Don’t come. Mahalo nui.
Pass the message to @GLeff (another HI hater)
Wow. Did someone use their big, black Sharpie to move Hawaii to the American South???
Oh, like the entire Red State American South?
Is it vac + test or vax or test? Because the rule you cited was missing a connector.
They might be using the take-out food loophole to allow vendors and such into the club for short periods. For passengers, it matters little as the vast majority would stay more than 15 minutes but employees and basically everyone has to be vaccinated or tested. Vendors and non-employee airport staff would not be allowed to enter for short periods if no exception could be made. Besides it’s all Covid Theater (everyone knows you can’t catch covid in less than 15 minutes).
Give Hawaii its independence. Puerto Rico as well while we are at it. One can always dream!!
The 15-minute exception to the lounge policy likely stems from the CDC’s definition of “close contact”. According to the CDC: “For COVID-19, a close contact is anyone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for a total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period (for example, three individual 5-minute exposures for a total of 15 minutes).”
In other words, contact with an infected person can be either “close” (more than 15 minutes) or “incidental” (less than 15 minutes). The CDC says incidental contact rarely results in infection spread, so there is no reason to require a vaccine or negative test in these short-exposure instances.
The CDC has a 15 minute exposure rule: within 6 feet for more than 15 minutes is considered an exposure.
You will see some K-12 schools change their lunch periods to 14 minutes, that way unvaccinated kids can eat unmasked and it is not considered and exposure, since under 12 cannot get vaccinated.
Why this applies to a lounge? I have no idea!
Hawaii = New Zealand & Australis wannabees. To hell with these Covid Nazis. If their economy crashes from lack of tourism, I will laugh about it.
The tourists are already there spending money before they get turned away from a lounge upon departure. And just so you know, you can’t laugh on a ventilator, brah.