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Honolulu International Airport, also known as Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, is a gateway to more than the Aloha State. It also serves as a major layover point for destinations between North America and Asia or the South Pacific.
Whether you’re starting your island adventure, making a connection, or boarding a flight to someplace perhaps not as tranquil as Hawaii, spend that time in style. Head to one of the lounges in the Honolulu airport.
Getting around the Honolulu airport
Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 are connected at Honolulu airport. That makes it possible to visit lounges in either terminal without having to exit security.
Because the airport is quite large, you might use the bus called the Wiki Wiki Shuttle. The Wiki Wiki Shuttle is located post-security, and it can transport you between gates and terminals if you’re not keen to walk.
Terminal 1: Hawaiian Airlines lounges
Hawaiian Plumeria Lounge
Location: Third level, Terminal 1.
Accessible to: Certain business and first class Hawaiian Airlines passengers, Pualani Platinums traveling to specific destinations, day pass holders, as well as passengers with Priority Pass and their guests.
Hawaiian Premier Club
Location: Second level, Terminal 1.
Accessible to: Certain first class Hawaiian Airlines passengers, Pualani Platinum and Gold members, and Premier Club members.
Terminal 2: Admirals Club, Delta Sky Club, United Club and more
American Airlines Admirals Club
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Location: Third level, Terminal 2.
Accessible to: Certain passengers traveling on American Airlines. This includes qualifying customers in first class and business class, qualifying AAdvantage Executive Platinum members, AAdvantage Platinum Pro members and AAdvantage Platinum members, as well as Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® holders. You can also buy an American Airlines Admirals Club day pass for $79, or an annual membership for $850. Elite status holders are offered discounts.
ANA Suite Lounge and ANA Lounge
Location: Above Gate C4 in Terminal 2.
Accessible to: Premium members in ANA's Mileage Club (Bronze, Platinum and Diamond levels), passengers with ANA suite lounge vouchers, Super Flyer cardholders and the travel companions of these eligible guests.
Delta Sky Club
NerdWallet rating
Location: Across from Gate F1 in Terminal 2.
Accessible to: Certain passengers traveling on Delta Air Lines, as well as holders of The Platinum Card® from American Express and the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card who are flying on a same-day Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight. Passengers booked in Delta One are also welcome, as are elite members who buy an annual membership. Enrollment required. Terms apply.
Four Season Resort Lana’i Guest Lounge
Location: Near Gate D1, Terminal 2.
Accessible to: Guests of Four Seasons Resort Oahu.
I.A.S.S. Hawaii Lounge
Location: Garden Court Area, Terminal 2.
Accessible to: Passengers with Priority Pass.
KAL Lounge
Location: Garden Court Area, Terminal 2.
Accessible to: Eligible first and prestige class passengers, certain elite Skypass members and SkyTeam Elite Plus members.
Ko Olina Lounge
Location: Garden Court Area, Terminal 2.
Accessible to: Confirmed guests and owners staying at Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa, Marriott's Ko Olina Beach Club, Four Seasons Resort O‘ahu at Ko Olina, and the Beach Villas at Ko Olina. Reservations are required, though walk-ins may be allowed depending on capacity.
Qantas Business Lounge
Location: Garden Court Area, Terminal 2.
Accessible to: Certain flyers on Qantas, including members of the Qantas Frequent Flyer program or Qantas Club Annual Guest cardholders.
United Club
Location: Above Gate G3 in Terminal 2.
Accessible to: Customers with United Premier Gold elite status (or higher) as well as customers flying business or first class on a United flight. You might also buy a United Club annual membership, which costs $650 (though discounts are offered to some elite status holders). Certain United Airlines credit cards also get you access.And since United participates in the Star Alliance, passengers on Star Alliance member airlines with Star Alliance Gold status, as well as those on partner airlines who hold a business or first class airfare, can also get in.
Honolulu Priority Pass lounges
One of the best ways to gain airport lounge access is through the Priority Pass membership program. Priority Pass membership can net you entrance into more than 1,400 airport lounges worldwide at no additional charge.
Honolulu International Airport is home to two Priority Pass lounges. One is significantly better than the other.
The IASS Lounge provides a pleasant waiting room filled with plumeria print chairs and a view of lush, tropical plants outside, but refreshments are extremely limited. Expect little more than some nonalcoholic beverages.
Most Priority Pass travelers prefer the Hawaiian Airlines Plumeria Lounge. There, expect light bites such as soup and packaged snacks. Certain snacks are specific to Hawaii, such as the cookie jar filled with Honolulu Cookie Company shortbread.
You can buy a Priority Pass membership, or get Priority Pass lounge access by holding certain travel credit cards. These cards often have high annual fees, but they offer many benefits that frequent travelers use to justify the fees — airport lounge access included.
Top cards with Priority Pass
The Platinum Card® from American Express
NerdWallet Rating
on American Express' website
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
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Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
NerdWallet Rating
on American Express' website
U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card
NerdWallet Rating
Annual fee
$695.
$395.
$650.
$400.
Priority Pass benefits
Priority Pass Select membership. Enrollment required.
Terms apply.
Full Priority Pass Select membership. Includes two guests per visit. No restaurants.
Priority Pass Select membership. Enrollment required.
Terms apply.
Eight free Priority Pass lounge visits per year.
Learn more
Does Honolulu airport have a Centurion lounge? What AmEx lounges are open?
American Express Centurion Lounges are considered the cream of the crop as far as airport lounges go. Alas, there is no Centurion Lounge at Honolulu airport.
But that’s not to say holders of The Platinum Card® from American Express are entirely out of luck. With Priority Pass access, they can enter the two aforementioned lounges. Enrollment required. Terms apply.
If they’re flying on a same-day Delta-marketed or Delta-operated flight, they can also flash their membership card to gain access to the Delta Air Lines Delta Sky Club.
Can you purchase day passes to Honolulu airport lounges?
Some lounges, like the Hawaiian Airlines Plumeria Lounge, offer day passes for purchase; prices vary. Day passes to The Plumeria Lounge cost $40 per adult, though prices are discounted for travelers with Hawaiian Airlines Pualani elite status.
That’s a deal compared to the American Airlines Admirals Club day pass price of $79 (though the Admirals Club offerings are far more robust).
Depending on how much time you have to spend at the airport, day passes can be worthwhile — especially if you plan on taking advantage of lounge amenities like alcohol, which could otherwise be expensive if purchased a la carte at the airport bar.
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024:
Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card
Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express
Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
