Clear Health Pass will soon speed up quarantine-free Hawaii arrivals
It's time to start thinking about creating a "COVID-19" folder on your smartphone — if you're hoping to travel over the next few months, there's a good chance you're going to need to install some apps.
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Airlines around the world will likely roll out their own document-verification tools, like the "Travel-Ready Center" now available in United's mobile app, but third-party applications may also work their way into the mix, such as Clear's and its integrated Health Pass feature.
Unlike Clear's expedited security screening, which carries an annual fee, the company's app is available free of charge, making it accessible to anyone with a mobile device.
Health Pass is already being used to verify negative tests where required for select sports arenas, and soon the technology will be used to approve tourists for quarantine-free travel to Hawaii.
Beginning next Thursday, Feb. 18, Delta and United flyers traveling nonstop from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Honolulu (HNL) will be able to securely link their test results and verify their identity, making it easy for Hawaii to identify travelers approved to avoid the state's otherwise-mandatory 10-day quarantine.
Travelers choosing to use the platform will be able to select an approved test, including labs and at-home options. From there, they'll login to their testing account, and results will be linked to the app.
At boarding, Clear employees will scan the traveler's Hawaii QR code, along with their Health Pass, and provide them with a wristband that they can then display to airport personnel upon arrival.
During the initial pilot program, Health Pass will only be available on Delta and United flights between LAX and HNL, though it could certainly roll out to other carriers and routes in the near future.