Airline offers discounts and special perks for college students in the US

As if we needed another reason to study at one of the most beautiful landscapes on Earth, Hawaii Airlines has announced discounts and perks for students at three Hawaiian universities.

Students registered for fall classes at Chaminade University, Hawaii Pacific University, and the University of Hawaii can receive:

• 5% discount on transpacific flights
• complimentary check-in for two bags
• flexible booking policy — one free change in case of change in travel restrictions

The travel assistance programme will include matching HawaiianMiles — its version of frequent flyer miles or travel points — to universities purchasing miles for their students and families.

The offer is valid through Dec. 31, 2020.

In a news release, senior vice president for global sales and alliances at Hawaiian Airlines Theo Panagiotoulias said, “We are delighted to welcome onboard local, out-of-state and international students attending Hawaii universities so they can arrive refreshed and ready to resume their studies or begin their higher education.”

“We always look forward to bringing students to Hawaii at the start of a new semester, and it will be a specially rewarding experience for us this year.”

Good news from Hawaii Airlines for those registered for the fall term at Chaminade University, Hawaii Pacific University and the University of Hawaii. Source: Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images North America/Getty Images via AFP

Students have to book via a special portal available through universities.

Travel restrictions

Visitors landing in Hawaii will have to self-quarantine for 14 days. According to the Hawaii Tourism Authority, this is mandatory for anyone arriving on the island after March 26, 2020. From Sept. 21, individuals are required to get tested for COVID-19 within 72 hours prior to trip.

If they test negative, they will be able to avoid the 14-day quarantine.

“Beginning Sept. 1, all travellers arriving in Hawaii from out-of-state will be required to get a valid COVID-19 Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT) within 72 hours of boarding their flight to Hawaii, and to show proof of a negative test result upon arrival at the airport, to avoid the 14-day quarantine,” said the authority’s website.

“The FDA-approved NAAT test from a CLIA-certified laboratory will need to be done prior to arrival. No testing will be provided upon arrival at the airport.”

CLIA refers to the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments, a programme regulating laboratories that test human specimens.

Students travelling to Hawaii to attend college or university will be subject to a “modified quarantine”. They will go straight to quarantine in their residence upon arrival. Officials announced on July 13, that they can take part in university activities if they test negative for COVID-19. Students will have mandatory daily health checks for symptoms such as fever, loss of taste or smell, as well as difficulty breathing.

People swim in the Pacific Ocean Dec. 29, 2015 in Honolulu, Hawaii. Source: Brendan Smialowski/AFP

“The modified bubble will last for a full 14 days,” said University of Hawaii president David Lassner, as reported by Star Advertiser. “They would be in full lockdown until they have a negative test, at which time the remainder of the 14 days will be in a modified bubble programme.”

Most University of Hawaii campuses as well as at private institutions such as Hawaii Pacific University, Chaminade University and Brigham Young University – Hawaii will be part of this special scheme.

“The notion is that a student with a negative test instead of being in a full lockdown quarantine for 14 days would be in a modified bubble quarantine,” said Lassner.

“With that negative test, they will be allowed to attend university activities only. Other than that they would remain at in their place of residence,” he said. “We would ensure that they are fed.”

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