In the early part of 2023, shortly after I was sworn into office, I received numerous complaints about the burdensome and frustrating travel experience Guam-based passengers faced when transiting through Honolulu to the U.S. mainland via United Airlines. Most concerns were from families traveling with elderly relatives and small children. The complaints were about how the Honolulu airport has a policy that forced Guam-based travelers to pick up their luggage and then trek a considerable distance to another terminal to check in their luggage before they can proceed to their connecting flight to the U.S. mainland. It is a case of Guam residents being treated as second-class citizens.
As the vice chair for the legislative committee on air transportation, I began to search for solutions to remedy the situation. In March and April of last year, I communicated directly with United’s Sam Shinohara, managing director of airport operations in Guam, and Dan Weiss, managing director for global government and regulatory affairs, about addressing the concerns and resolving the issue. Both insisted they had limited ability to solve the problem because they were constrained by the Honolulu airport rules and regulations. It seemed that the solution could only be provided by Hawaii government officials, Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
So, in March, April and May of 2023, I wrote to Hawaii officials, Gov. Josh Green and Sen. Brian Schatz, asking for their assistance in making it easier on Guam-based travelers transiting via Honolulu onto the final destination of the U.S. mainland. I was determined to get answers and find a way to remove the unnecessary trek and burden of our travelers from Guam lugging baggage from one terminal to another, just to re-check in the baggage at the Honolulu airport.
Unsatisfied with the results, I also began looking for solutions from TSA and CBP.
On Dec. 16, 2023, Gov. Leon Guerrero, Speaker Terlaje, A.B. Won Pat International Airport Executive Manager Quinata and I met the Acting Deputy Commissioner for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Washington, D.C., Pete Flores; Director of Field Operations, San Francisco, David Salazar; Area Port Director, Area Port of Honolulu, George Minamishin; Chief CBP Officer, CBP Port of Entry, Kenneth Gibbons; and Port Director, CBP Guam Port of Entry, Mark Pablo. During this meeting, it was discovered that TSA had provided an additional baggage re-check-in area in the Honolulu airport. And if utilized by United Airlines, the need for Guam residents and Guam-based travelers to trek across the airport to re-check in their baggage before transiting onto U.S. mainland would be eliminated.
Now, with the discovery of a simple and viable solution that is sanctioned by the Honolulu airport, CBP and TSA, I have once again written to Director Sam Shinohara and Director Dan Weiss of United Airlines, this time asking them to immediately implement this additional re-check-in area and streamline the transit procedure for our Guam-based passengers. I hope they will be true to their word and treat Guam residents and Guam-based flyers with the dignity we all deserve.
Jesse Lujan is a senator in the 37th Guam Legislature.
Source: The Guam Daily Post