Next month I'm hoping to do an HNL-LIH roundtrip in a Hawaiian or Island Air jumpseat. I've J/S'd to and from HNL and OGG from the mainland with no issues, but haven't ever tried inter-island jumpseating. Any tips would be much appreciated...

Use patience at the desk because gate agents are on island time. Nothing is in a hurry for them, even though there is a flight in 30 mins they will put you on the one in 1hr 40 mins away.

Island Air usually takes very good care of jumpseaters.

Typically easier to j/s / non-rev inter island than between mainland and the islands. Many more options.

Ran into this issue this past summer hopping around the islands:

You’ll need to go to a ticket counter to get on the list for the jumpseat. Simply going to the gate does not work.

So- like what others have said, this means you’ll want to show up earlier than you’ve planned for a flight.

For example- KOA-HNL. It took me all of the 1:15 prior to departure time for me to wait in line at the ticket counter to list, then wait in line to go through security, and then check in at the gate.

The issue is there are no check-in kiosks for passengers (everyone must see the ticket agent), and there are no KCM or TSA precheck lines for security. Also, nearly everyone is a tourist, so expect slow progress through the metal detector.

But, with that all said, the HAL flight and cabin crews are very nice and welcoming. Class act all the way.

just drive, it's faster.

I would review the ALPA jumpseat website for current HA info. A couple things changed there recently and I'd have saved myself a bit of stress had I checked.

But the short story: HA in HNL: set up for JS airside at the customer service desk in the interisland terminal. At one of the outer island stations: ticket counter. Listing: not required but appears to be appreciated. Call Hawaiian central reservations. About what moonwolf said... if they set you up for a later flight, you can thank them and then go to the gate and try to hop on an earlier one. That usually works.

Island Air: I tried to catch a ride when it looked like I'd miss two flights in a row on HA (other pilots commuting). The agent turned me away after I showed up :35 prior and the didn't know what to do.... at :31 prior she said 'well, sorry you're too late, the deadline is :30 prior to departure' As there was no way to get the crew's attention, I hoofed it back to Hawaiian.

Perhaps some Krispy Kreme donuts could have paid for your passage......

A couple of cans of SPAM would actually be better received.

For Hawaiian make a listing on the reservations line before you go to the airport. Speeds things along nicely once you get to the desk!