Those sprayers you saw in Hawaii is what we, in the Air Force, call a bird bath. It's used to remove salt deposits from aircraft that's flown over saltwater at low altitude for an extensive length of time. I also spent the night in Kwaj a few weeks ago. It's a shame you couldn't leave the aircraft at all. I can honestly say it's one of the most beautiful but strangest places I've ever been to.
You can disembark but only if you either transfer to Ebeye or are military personnel or have been invited by someone based on Kwaj. I never did that, just stayed onboard but Kwaj looks stunning from the air. Ebeye however is another story, sometimes called the Manhattan of the Pacific with squalid living conditions
Tbh there is not a lot to see during the apprx 4 hr HNL-MAJ leg. You might spot Johnston atoll but until you get close to the Marshall Islands and see the first islands there, its not terribly interesting. After MAJ it gets much better scenery wise.
That vid had special meaning to me.... Daddy died 3 years ago today.. and I stumbled upon this... During WWII.. his Navy ship visited those Islands .. and it was just nice to see where had been his youth ... Thanks very much....Scott in Cleburne, Tx
I feel bad for your loss. I have no grandfathers because they have passed away. My grandfather in my moms side died before my 23 year-old cousin was born.
Great overview of this classic flight. I worked for Continental in the late 1970s and early 80s and took this marathon run as a non-rev, with a co-worker. Back then it was Air Micronesia and Continental pilots vied for the slots flying in Micronesia. The flights also landed at Johnston Island, another U.S. military installation where no one was allowed off except government contractors. There was no non-stop from HNL-GUM then, it was the hopper or no go. In addition to the stops you mention we also visited Saipan, Yap, and Palau. Back then it was Ponape and Truk (not Pohnpei and Chuuk), and no one could get off and back on at Truk because of a cholera epidemic. Your picture of the 727 shows the giant cargo door that was forward in the aircraft, the passenger section was the rear 2/3 of the plane, economy only. We saw fridges, washing machines, lots of coolers, and other weird cargo being loaded and unloaded at each stop. Passengers got on and off via the rear "air stairs," made famous by the D.B. Cooper hijacker parachutist. Yes, the runways were crushed coral and all the "airports" were open-air thatched huts. We spent about 2 weeks in Micronesia and on the way back to HNL we got bumped at Majuro and the next flight was 3 days later! The water system for the entire island was broken, so no water for those days. The "hotel" was a bunch of trailers set on concrete blocks. We procured water (to flush the toilet) with buckets from the locals' well next door,. The water smelled like kerosene, and we had to dodge a giant pig that roamed around the village. Ah, those were the days. Thanks for this great report, I've been looking forward to it for a long time.
I've taken the island hopper to and from. But my journey started in Saipan and yes it was called Truk and Ponape (where I was born) also Palau not Belau. I was able to get down on every island ( where I met a lot of old freinds at each stop) except for Johnston island. I do remember them load in the forward bin, that was one on the highlights of the flight, Thank you for your service and sacrifice for the all the micronesian islanders. Air Mic all the way💪🏾, ps I worked for Continental Airline 90 to 97, ramp agent ✈
Thanks for showing off our islands! I'm personally from Guam, but know many people from the other islands. If you're going to visit family, traveling with COOLERS is a must!! We bring coolers of local fish and other local foods to our families living in HI, WA, TN, and CA. Funny story, we brought a cooler of fish to Seattle all taped up, but TSA cut the tape for inspection and didn't sufficiently tape it back and you can probably guess what happened next...When we got to the baggage claim we saw our fish going around the baggage claim as our cooler opened up on its way down the conveyor belt!! As you can imagine at the time many people were not happy that their items got all fishy, but it's a great story to laugh about now. It's also a dead giveaway to spot another islander at the airport and extend a smile and greeting! If you ever get a chance, check out Yap and Palau as well as the Northern Mariana Islands. We have a lot to offer!
As a United Airlines employee, I'm humbled of your kind words for the great people I have the opportunity with which to work. I've flown this route many times and I always enjoy the amazing views. Thank you for your business and coverage of our fine people and this truly unique route.
@@ElseAndrecool Yup, really. Or at least it was true in the '70s and '80s. Back then, none of the flights went to Kosrae but all of them went to Johnston.
Hey Jeb, I'm from the Marshall Islands and I live on Majuro. I've watched your video for so long, and I never thought you would ever take this island hopper route. Love that you took this route so that we can see our beautiful islands from the sky. Komoltata (Thank you).
I have tried this route with economy class, and it delayed for more than 4 hours. I ended up finished it in 20 hours plus 5 hours's 737 from Hong Kong to Guam and 7 hours' 737 from Hololulu to Vancouver. I believe nobody have taken continuously 32 hours of 737 in the world... But it's just AMAZING! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
I went to college In Anchorage. There was Alaska Airlines flight called, "The Milk Run." You flew in a 737 Combi (1/2 cargo, 1/2 passenger) and made a stop at 7 or 8 little towns between Seattle and Anchorage. Sometimes the plane didn't even get above the mountains before you were landing again. It was great, dirt cheap to get on....$100, maybe. Direct flights in winter could go to $800, no problem. I heard that flight doesn't exist anymore. : (
Done the combi between Anchorage and Kotzebue (stopping by Nome) and done the milk run from Seattle to Juneau, stopping in Ketchikan and... can't remember the other town in southeast Alaska. Incidentally, landing in Juneau is quite the experience as the plan turns around inside the fjord to be able to be at the altitude to have the approach stick.
Used to take this flight quite a few times back in early 2000s when it was still CS (Continental Micronesia). They had the most stunning and beautiful inflight video I have ever seen, highlighting the beauty of this region most people do not even know exists. I highly recommend also taking the GUM-YAP-ROR-MNL part of the Island Hopper service. The Rock Islands of Palau are breathtaking and long time ago I was treated to a low level (2000 ft) sightseeing departure from ROR over them. The 1st officer called Fiskejoy was Norwegian and upon striking up a convo with him I asked if they could do that. They did. Since there was virtually no-one else flying there they could request and get approved special departures like this one. They just asked over PA to please not to thank CS for this as it used up a lot of fuel and the airline would not appreciate this. Since CS/CO no longer exist and 2 decades have passed, I think it is safe to tell this story
I used to take this flight a couple times a year for vacation as I grew up on Kwajalein, It's definitely a unique flight. Back in the early 200's the military would allow the civilians on Kwajelein to travel on the c-140's back to Hickam Air Force Base Honolulu. 2015 I believe they stopped allowing that and civilians are only allowed to fly on the Island hopper. Another awesome flight I went on was from Christ Church New Zealand to Mcmurdo station..that was a once in a lifetime experience.
Those small shed type airports with minimal security and staff operating on their own time, reminds me very much of the tiny regional airports we have throughout Australia, mainly served by Qantas Dash 8 aircraft
I'm from pohnpei and In my 5yrs of staying in America i always fly island hopper when i visit home every year.. the views of the beautiful islands never change..
I know this video is old but it’s just so calming I keep watching it over and over especially the music and beautiful views of the Pacific at 5:12 What a beautiful 😍 takeoff from HNL!!!
You know you're a true Av Geek when you take the Island Hopper for fun. Not just the people who upgrade for 1st Class on a Trans-Pacific or Trans-Atlantic flight because it's special and luxurious. The Island Hopper is really a truly special flight that I don't think a lot of non-Av Geeks really love and appreciate.
Spectacular Jeb!!! I’ve been an airline geek for 40 years (even worked for United) and never ever knew or thought to look into this. This is now on my bucket list! Fantastic!!!
Myself, my wife, my son and my daughter flew direct non-stop HNL-GUM in Business Class on a Continental 777(?) in July 2005. Although I was aware at the time of the island-hopping alternative, and very much wanted to experience it, I felt as though I couldn’t put my family through that itinerary. I regret to this day not trying it out.
I grew up on Kwajalein and went back out there for work a couple years ago, its a uniquely beautiful place to live and I am glad you got to get a glimpse of it.
Yes, I was aware from training and through my love for aviation of the 727-200s doing the island hopper stops years ago by Continental Airlines. Yes, you are so right about places like these island around the world. It is an experience to see islands like these...I am glad you took this trip. I had had family and friends base in Guam...
I was once on a similar flight with Alaska Air, it was a ‘milk run’ flight from Anchorage to Seattle with stop overs in 3-4 different cites. The flight I was on stopped in Juneau (1 hour and 30 minuet flight), then Sitka (20 Minute flight) and this is where the flight crew changed out, and for me as my final destination Ketchikan (a 40 minute flight). Than after that the flight took off for Seattle that took about 2 hours. It was fun, was stormy and made the ride a bit rough but overall the landings were great and the view was better. I would definitely do it again.
I live in Guam and fly the island hopper half a dozen times a year for work. It's incredibly beautiful but the charm wears off quickly when you just want to get some work done but have to take off or land every 60 minutes, but then again, I've never gotten served coconut water either, maybe that would bring the luster back. Great Video, Jeb. Thank you.
Nice Jeb! Loved some of those tropical scenes from the window. I also often wish I could explore some of the small islands that I fly over. There's something exciting about imaging that you're an explorer visiting an uninhabited island, but back to reality.... ahah
a lot of people including myself ship a ton of fish (the most being like 5 coolers) over to the mainland. moved from guam in 2019 n got all my fish in washington 🇬🇺🤙🏼
Hi Jeb. That's another great video, thank you. I did the HNL-MAJ leg in 2018. We were delayed 24 hours by a technical issue. United put me in a Waikiki hotel, a real bonus. I landed at MAJ again in 2019, twice, in a Nauru Airlines 737, Brisbane to Tarawa via Nauru and Majuro, and vice versa; an AvGeek's dream. Have you been to Tarawa? I'd love to see a video on Air Kiribati.
I flew this flight 11 years ago from Guam to Honolulu, the staff was accomodating, but I remember telling myself that I was so ready to land in Honolulu
One thing i picked up on - we often overlook seeing 737s because they’re extremely common and smaller than many other planes, but those views of the plane from the ground really put in perspective that the 737 is still such a large and prevalent machine
We book the island hopper because it is our only choice. We may not "fly for the food," it would be nice to feel nourished throughout the duration of the flight. Now round trip tickets are over $2,000 along with terrible service for economy passengers and horrible customer service with United (airport) staff, especially in Hawaii.
I've heard the Guam Based Flight Attendants provide a different vibe compared to the flight attendants on the mainland. I've also heard similar with AA Based flight attendants in Bogota and Lima.
Thank you Jeb! I flew this route on Continental Air Micronesia B727 in 1989 and your video really brought back memories! I remember a short stop on Johnston Island, it was the first stop and we were not allowed to leave the aircraft.
I did this flight back in 2003 but the opposite direction... from Guam to Chuuk where I spent part of a bespoke diving holiday. Then onto Majuro via all the island stops, where I stayed for another diving trip to Bikini Atoll. Then back to Honolulu. A truly memorable experience.
WOW!!! I Lived in Maui 17 years and except for Guam had NEVER heard of these islands nor this flight! This was very educational and scenery exceptional. Thanks!
I liked the island hopper - I started in Guam, we were two passengers, more followed. It's simply a great experience. I liked the views, I liked Kwaj, with all the people sitting walking biking around the airfield.
17:30 -Just for the record ,coconut water is not squeezed out of the coconut ,the coconut fruit is cut and then coconut water is either poured into a container or drunk directly using a straw ,in case you havent seen one just google for it
Jeb: my favorite view is when Im heading to Myrtle Beach. My plane does a full 360° over the Atlantic before landing, so you can get a panoramic view of the beach. It's magnificent! Then, when I go back to Central NY to spend the summer with my parents, the plane does a 360° again over the Atlantic so you can say bye, before heading up the coast. I love it!
Jeb! Nothing compares to your videos ... your videos are superb, your narration, your enthusiasm, passion and it’s so informative !!! Even the music is suited.. there’s nothing negative I can ever say about your videos
What a brilliant trip....and as for the inflight entertainment, some people do not fully appreciate what can be seen by looking out of the window. I recall with fondness watching a "light" show provided by mother nature as we flew around a thunderstorm....or the majesty of the Alps at 35K feet.
Hafa Adai! I hope you enjoyed GUM too. It was great sharing your excitement. I've flown the island hopper both directions (GUM-HNL, HNL-GUM) and on the westbound it is usually by the time we get to PNI that I'm starting to feel weary from the take offs and landings. It is all good fun none the less. I plan on taking this route to cross my 2MM threshold just for nostalgia sake. Interesting to see how the food service has trimmed down a lot! For example, from MAJ-HNL they used to offer fresh baked cookies before landing. We also had a sandwich service on the KWA-KSA leg and again on the TKK-GUM leg. I've also experienced IRROP where delays caused the pilots and flight attendants to time out and force us to overnight in PNI and continue to TKK and GUM the next day. Up until last fall, the same GUM based crews used to work the entire flight eastbound and westbound; the MAJ switch off just started last fall. OH, and up until I believe 2001 there was an additional stop on the westbound between HNL and MAJ in Johnston Atoll - I think JON was the airport code.
This video made me smile. And at the end, methane even get a little teary eyed. You hit the nail on the head for us aviation geeks. I hope to have this experience someday. Great job!!
@Jeb Brooks You know, for someone who loves flying as much as you do, you should really look into getting your diving certification. When diving, you get control over your Z-axis, which makes it feel like effortless hovering flight. The first time you casually hover over an underwater cliff seeing a difference in height from 10' to 50' is a thrill hard to explain. The first time you realize that you can control your your depth by 3 to 4' simply by how you breathe is another real thrill.
Jeb I’m an aviation nerd like you but I took a plane over to st.martan and loved the flight over there. Then I went scuba diving with my Dad and it was great it is an experience which will stay with you for ever.
Hey Jeb! That was so much fun... I remember in 1972 flying Continental to HNL from LAX. I kept seeing 'Continental Micronesia'... and wondering what they were all talking about. Now I know. See you later bud.
Thanks for sharing! I knew of the flights to Kwaj, as my brother did a couple stints there in the 90's as a contractor. It was $2500 round trip back then (wasn't an option for me), looks to have gone up since...shocker! Pretty cool on the other islands. I'll add this to my bucket list. I'll have to ask my brother if he ever made it to Guam or the other stops. And those censored pics on your stop in Kwaj? It's a great island...for those who haven't seen it...go if/when you can.
I flew this flight back in the 70s on the 727 called Jeju while I was working the Ramp in Honolulu, as well as the weight / balance for Continental. When I became a Flight Dispatcher in Los Angeles in the early 80's, I diapatched the flights as well. Was also was the Dispatcher of record for flight 614 to Yap on November 21, 1980.
Thanks for sharing. Good old AirMic. That said I done this flight countless times over past 15 years. First was back in 2003 with AirMic Continental. We actual stopped at Johnston Atoll which soon after that first flight stopped landing there. After Peace Corps I still done many island hopper flights. I was Peace Corps in Chuck.I was in Military and spent time in Guam followed by time in Hawaii. I really like Continental airlines/AirMic. I recall few times being on new planes. As to entertainment system they didn’t restart after each stop in past. Also they seemed to have better meal service in past. You get two meals and snacks consisted of sandwiches. Since Continental took over United I did see decline. Now I am no longer in military and it’s been bit over 3 years since I done island hopper. First crews always been nice. But it seems my economy class was better than your business/first class. Also something else I might add. Depending on time year they sometimes have flights that skip some of the islands. Also earlier I mentioned I was in Chuck. While there I wouldn’t even go to airport till I saw airport overhead. Plenty of time plus I new folks at airport. About 5 years ago I took friend with me to Chuuk for diving. My friend wasn’t U S citizen but told her to stay with me. Also I warned her if I say anything at customs immigration that you think get person in trouble don’t worry. So we arrived in Chuuk. She decided to go in line that said non FSM and US citizens. Anycase I got to window said something. Next moment women comes around window and gives me great hug. She was one my old friends. I told her I brought friend so she had my friend come over she stamped her passport. Great thing about folks in Chuuk is it you been gone week or three years it’s like time hasn’t passed. By the way one perks of old AirMic was that on island hopper if you booked all way to Guam you could stop at each island for few days and it wouldn’t cost any extra.
Now that's an interesting flight! Thank you so much Jeb for introducing me to the Islands Hopper by United, I never knew it existed up until now! Definitely on my bucket list :D
I got so excited when I saw the notification for the new vid. I love the scenery! I may be biased but I'm pretty sure the views from the sky in The Bahamas is the best in the world!
interesting video. I was stationed at Hickam AFB in the 1970's and visited all these islands many times. The water is beautiful in all these places. Thanks for sharing
Flew the Island Hopper last February (for the first time) and had a great trip! I was able to get passport stamps on all of the stops, except for Kwajalein, and found the staff to be quite friendly. The FAs were the same for my ride and had no problem watching my rollerboard while I got off and back on the flight.
Last night a united 737 island hopper just taked off on 11:37 PM in Philippines i saw it and now its flying from Hawaii to San Francisco lol i slept for just 3 hours to see it again haha.
I am speechless . By far your best post IMO. BREATHTAKING!! Your facial expressions always crack me up! Ugh, the colour of the water, the clouds, the view .... thank you Jeb!,
Sounds like both sets of pilots are Gram based. I'm surprised they wouldn't have an SFO or LAX-based set of pilots fly a route from the west coast to HNL, get a layover, and then fly to MAJ and get a layover and fly back.
Thank you the video. I grew up on Kwajalein and took the HNL-KWA leg many times on Air Mike 727s. However, my family mostly flew on AMC C-141s. Back in the 90s, we did not have multiple classes or amenities of today’s aircraft. This is completely different.
Instead of chartering 6 separate flights to the small islands, they decided to make one island hopper flight (as this light may be the only form of transport for the residents and military personnel to those islands). I guess united didn't blindly open this route without knowing the demand for those destinations.
This one was special eh, could you imagine doing it back in the days of the flying boats!? Even for you this was some really stand out amazing content and thanks for bringing to all of us. As an AVGeek myself I found this fascinating.
Hey Jeb. Great video as I to have been blessed to see and fly the island hopper from Guam to Palau and trukk for some incredible diving of old relics of the war that take you back in time. Seeing the South Pacific islands and the blue water and tropical fish and even the palm trees is A total different scenery from the Caribbean. The people are fantastic and super nice to help in anyway they can. That trip will be the most memorable one I’ve taken. First class to and from USA. AWESOME 🐬🌴
Thanks for the upload. Great job!!! Flew the island hopper back in 2001 when it was originally branded Continental Micronesia flight 957. The 737-800 had just come to market replacing the 727s that made the famous run as flight 957. To date that is still my best avgeek globetrekking.
Those sprayers you saw in Hawaii is what we, in the Air Force, call a bird bath. It's used to remove salt deposits from aircraft that's flown over saltwater at low altitude for an extensive length of time.
I also spent the night in Kwaj a few weeks ago. It's a shame you couldn't leave the aircraft at all. I can honestly say it's one of the most beautiful but strangest places I've ever been to.
Clangston3, just curious, do you work for the U.S. military?
Well, since he mentioned "we, in the Air Force," I'd assume so.
@@JamesDavidWalley and it's Hawaii
clangston3 Why is it one of the ‘strangest’ places you have been too?
You can disembark but only if you either transfer to Ebeye or are military personnel or have been invited by someone based on Kwaj. I never did that, just stayed onboard but Kwaj looks stunning from the air. Ebeye however is another story, sometimes called the Manhattan of the Pacific with squalid living conditions
15:33
People on the flight: oh no the entertainment system doesn’t work!
Pacific Ocean: Am I a joke to you?
LOL
This is true tho
Tbh there is not a lot to see during the apprx 4 hr HNL-MAJ leg. You might spot Johnston atoll but until you get close to the Marshall Islands and see the first islands there, its not terribly interesting. After MAJ it gets much better scenery wise.
That vid had special meaning to me.... Daddy died 3 years ago today.. and I stumbled upon this... During WWII.. his Navy ship visited those Islands .. and it was just nice to see where had been his youth ... Thanks very much....Scott in Cleburne, Tx
Wow man, your dad must've truly cared about you. But i know he will still help you. He is always with you and he is in heaven.
Sorry for your loss, I lost my grandma recently also.
:(
😭
I feel bad for your loss. I have no grandfathers because they have passed away. My grandfather in my moms side died before my 23 year-old cousin was born.
Great overview of this classic flight. I worked for Continental in the late 1970s and early 80s and took this marathon run as a non-rev, with a co-worker. Back then it was Air Micronesia and Continental pilots vied for the slots flying in Micronesia. The flights also landed at Johnston Island, another U.S. military installation where no one was allowed off except government contractors. There was no non-stop from HNL-GUM then, it was the hopper or no go. In addition to the stops you mention we also visited Saipan, Yap, and Palau. Back then it was Ponape and Truk (not Pohnpei and Chuuk), and no one could get off and back on at Truk because of a cholera epidemic. Your picture of the 727 shows the giant cargo door that was forward in the aircraft, the passenger section was the rear 2/3 of the plane, economy only. We saw fridges, washing machines, lots of coolers, and other weird cargo being loaded and unloaded at each stop. Passengers got on and off via the rear "air stairs," made famous by the D.B. Cooper hijacker parachutist. Yes, the runways were crushed coral and all the "airports" were open-air thatched huts.
We spent about 2 weeks in Micronesia and on the way back to HNL we got bumped at Majuro and the next flight was 3 days later! The water system for the entire island was broken, so no water for those days. The "hotel" was a bunch of trailers set on concrete blocks. We procured water (to flush the toilet) with buckets from the locals' well next door,. The water smelled like kerosene, and we had to dodge a giant pig that roamed around the village. Ah, those were the days. Thanks for this great report, I've been looking forward to it for a long time.
I've taken the island hopper to and from. But my journey started in Saipan and yes it was called Truk and Ponape (where I was born) also Palau not Belau. I was able to get down on every island ( where I met a lot of old freinds at each stop) except for Johnston island.
I do remember them load in the forward bin, that was one on the highlights of the flight, Thank you for your service and sacrifice for the all the micronesian islanders.
Air Mic all the way💪🏾, ps I worked for Continental Airline 90 to 97, ramp agent ✈
Yea Micronesia sucks
The route is a lifeline to those islands. Robert Six, the founding CEO of Continental, recognized that and that this could be profitable.
Thanks for showing off our islands! I'm personally from Guam, but know many people from the other islands.
If you're going to visit family, traveling with COOLERS is a must!! We bring coolers of local fish and other local foods to our families living in HI, WA, TN, and CA.
Funny story, we brought a cooler of fish to Seattle all taped up, but TSA cut the tape for inspection and didn't sufficiently tape it back and you can probably guess what happened next...When we got to the baggage claim we saw our fish going around the baggage claim as our cooler opened up on its way down the conveyor belt!! As you can imagine at the time many people were not happy that their items got all fishy, but it's a great story to laugh about now. It's also a dead giveaway to spot another islander at the airport and extend a smile and greeting!
If you ever get a chance, check out Yap and Palau as well as the Northern Mariana Islands. We have a lot to offer!
As a United Airlines employee, I'm humbled of your kind words for the great people I have the opportunity with which to work. I've flown this route many times and I always enjoy the amazing views. Thank you for your business and coverage of our fine people and this truly unique route.
I remember taking this flight back in the 90s on a Continental Micronesia 727. Back then there was an additional stop at Johnston Island.
first reply and also really?
@@ElseAndrecool Yup, really. Or at least it was true in the '70s and '80s. Back then, none of the flights went to Kosrae but all of them went to Johnston.
That was discontinued once the airfield was closed for good in 2005. Today the island is uninhabited.
Hey Jeb, I'm from the Marshall Islands and I live on Majuro. I've watched your video for so long, and I never thought you would ever take this island hopper route. Love that you took this route so that we can see our beautiful islands from the sky. Komoltata (Thank you).
Zobonny Joel 🥰🥰👌🏼
I have tried this route with economy class, and it delayed for more than 4 hours. I ended up finished it in 20 hours plus 5 hours's 737 from Hong Kong to Guam and 7 hours' 737 from Hololulu to Vancouver. I believe nobody have taken continuously 32 hours of 737 in the world... But it's just AMAZING! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
I went to college In Anchorage. There was Alaska Airlines flight called, "The Milk Run." You flew in a 737 Combi (1/2 cargo, 1/2 passenger) and made a stop at 7 or 8 little towns between Seattle and Anchorage. Sometimes the plane didn't even get above the mountains before you were landing again. It was great, dirt cheap to get on....$100, maybe. Direct flights in winter could go to $800, no problem. I heard that flight doesn't exist anymore. : (
Done the combi between Anchorage and Kotzebue (stopping by Nome) and done the milk run from Seattle to Juneau, stopping in Ketchikan and... can't remember the other town in southeast Alaska. Incidentally, landing in Juneau is quite the experience as the plan turns around inside the fjord to be able to be at the altitude to have the approach stick.
Alaska retired the combis I think
Sounds like a great flight tho, I love Alaska Airlines
The combi has been retired but the Milk Run for passengers still exists!
Matthew Thrasher no it still exists
Used to take this flight quite a few times back in early 2000s when it was still CS (Continental Micronesia). They had the most stunning and beautiful inflight video I have ever seen, highlighting the beauty of this region most people do not even know exists. I highly recommend also taking the GUM-YAP-ROR-MNL part of the Island Hopper service.
The Rock Islands of Palau are breathtaking and long time ago I was treated to a low level (2000 ft) sightseeing departure from ROR over them. The 1st officer called Fiskejoy was Norwegian and upon striking up a convo with him I asked if they could do that. They did.
Since there was virtually no-one else flying there they could request and get approved special departures like this one.
They just asked over PA to please not to thank CS for this as it used up a lot of fuel and the airline would not appreciate this.
Since CS/CO no longer exist and 2 decades have passed, I think it is safe to tell this story
I used to take this flight a couple times a year for vacation as I grew up on Kwajalein, It's definitely a unique flight. Back in the early 200's the military would allow the civilians on Kwajelein to travel on the c-140's back to Hickam Air Force Base Honolulu. 2015 I believe they stopped allowing that and civilians are only allowed to fly on the Island hopper. Another awesome flight I went on was from Christ Church New Zealand to Mcmurdo station..that was a once in a lifetime experience.
Those small shed type airports with minimal security and staff operating on their own time, reminds me very much of the tiny regional airports we have throughout Australia, mainly served by Qantas Dash 8 aircraft
Yep there's still such things called Island Time 😂😂
I'm from pohnpei and In my 5yrs of staying in America i always fly island hopper when i visit home every year.. the views of the beautiful islands never change..
Just found this vid. Fantastic! I have been sailing there on cruiseships. Would be awesome to fly into!! Love u r channel! 😍
I know this video is old but it’s just so calming I keep watching it over and over especially the music and beautiful views of the Pacific at 5:12 What a beautiful 😍 takeoff from HNL!!!
What an amazing route! Would love to do that one - one day! Congrats on another great video.
DennisBunnik Travels Nice to see you here!
Glad to see your comment Dennis :) I am your follower too :)
You know you're a true Av Geek when you take the Island Hopper for fun. Not just the people who upgrade for 1st Class on a Trans-Pacific or Trans-Atlantic flight because it's special and luxurious. The Island Hopper is really a truly special flight that I don't think a lot of non-Av Geeks really love and appreciate.
Exactly. It's fun to start, to fly, to land.
Spectacular Jeb!!! I’ve been an airline geek for 40 years (even worked for United) and never ever knew or thought to look into this. This is now on my bucket list! Fantastic!!!
Awesome video! Thanks 😊
Myself, my wife, my son and my daughter flew direct non-stop HNL-GUM in Business Class on a Continental 777(?) in July 2005. Although I was aware at the time of the island-hopping alternative, and very much wanted to experience it, I felt as though I couldn’t put my family through that itinerary. I regret to this day not trying it out.
I grew up on Kwajalein and went back out there for work a couple years ago, its a uniquely beautiful place to live and I am glad you got to get a glimpse of it.
Yes, I was aware from training and through my love for aviation of the 727-200s doing the island hopper stops years ago by Continental Airlines. Yes, you are so right about places like these island around the world. It is an experience to see islands like these...I am glad you took this trip. I had had family and friends base in Guam...
I was once on a similar flight with Alaska Air, it was a ‘milk run’ flight from Anchorage to Seattle with stop overs in 3-4 different cites. The flight I was on stopped in Juneau (1 hour and 30 minuet flight), then Sitka (20 Minute flight) and this is where the flight crew changed out, and for me as my final destination Ketchikan (a 40 minute flight). Than after that the flight took off for Seattle that took about 2 hours. It was fun, was stormy and made the ride a bit rough but overall the landings were great and the view was better. I would definitely do it again.
I did this two years ago and cashed in miles to do it first class the whole trip and it was amazing. I loved all the takeoffs and landings.
I live in Guam and fly the island hopper half a dozen times a year for work. It's incredibly beautiful but the charm wears off quickly when you just want to get some work done but have to take off or land every 60 minutes, but then again, I've never gotten served coconut water either, maybe that would bring the luster back. Great Video, Jeb. Thank you.
Jeb, you have the best voice for a trip report channel! Every one of these videos is so well made and a joy to watch!
Nice Jeb! Loved some of those tropical scenes from the window. I also often wish I could explore some of the small islands that I fly over. There's something exciting about imaging that you're an explorer visiting an uninhabited island, but back to reality.... ahah
My dad flew the island hoper in Guam for 10 years it was one of his favorite flights!
a lot of people including myself ship a ton of fish (the most being like 5 coolers) over to the mainland. moved from guam in 2019 n got all my fish in washington 🇬🇺🤙🏼
I was on that flite in 1994 and made it out to Pohnpei. That was when it also had a stop on Johnston Atoll
Hi Jeb. That's another great video, thank you. I did the HNL-MAJ leg in 2018. We were delayed 24 hours by a technical issue. United put me in a Waikiki hotel, a real bonus.
I landed at MAJ again in 2019, twice, in a Nauru Airlines 737, Brisbane to Tarawa via Nauru and Majuro, and vice versa; an AvGeek's dream. Have you been to Tarawa? I'd love to see a video on Air Kiribati.
One of the best videos Jeb has ever done. Absolutely love it, the footage, locations, memories and insight to this flight.
I flew this flight 11 years ago from Guam to Honolulu, the staff was accomodating, but I remember telling myself that I was so ready to land in Honolulu
One thing i picked up on - we often overlook seeing 737s because they’re extremely common and smaller than many other planes, but those views of the plane from the ground really put in perspective that the 737 is still such a large and prevalent machine
We book the island hopper because it is our only choice. We may not "fly for the food," it would be nice to feel nourished throughout the duration of the flight. Now round trip tickets are over $2,000 along with terrible service for economy passengers and horrible customer service with United (airport) staff, especially in Hawaii.
Rather than Audible, United Airlines should sponsor this video
Excellent video, yes I would try this route with enough food :) The views are incredible, well worth the 15 hour ride. A+ Awesome Dude :)
I'd have to have at least 3 full meals packed with me....
I've heard the Guam Based Flight Attendants provide a different vibe compared to the flight attendants on the mainland.
I've also heard similar with AA Based flight attendants in Bogota and Lima.
"freshly squeezed coconut water" 😅
Lmao
Lol
Now i'm wondering how strong your hand needed to sqeeze a whole coconut
He's from the East Coast. 😂😂😂😂
definitely didn't look squeezed, if it was it would be milkier in colour.
I love your pun at 8:00
"2B(to be), or....NOT, 2B(to be)..." and for the matter of the seat next to it, "2A(to a), or....NOT, 2A(to a)..." LOL
Oh man I had no clue your name was actually Jeff!! Where does Jeb come from? I love it haha 💪 😎
Love your channel
For those wanting an even longer marathon trip: Take the island hopper from Honolulu, and then connect to another UA flight to Manila or Palau at GUM.
or tokyo
@@ishan4763- At one time, one could also connect on a 737 flight to Vietnam…but Vietnam has since been dropped (it was via Hong Kong).
Thank you Jeb! I flew this route on Continental Air Micronesia B727 in 1989 and your video really brought back memories! I remember a short stop on Johnston Island, it was the first stop and we were not allowed to leave the aircraft.
I did this flight back in 2003 but the opposite direction... from Guam to Chuuk where I spent part of a bespoke diving holiday. Then onto Majuro via all the island stops, where I stayed for another diving trip to Bikini Atoll. Then back to Honolulu. A truly memorable experience.
WOW!!! I Lived in Maui 17 years and except for Guam had NEVER heard of these islands nor this flight! This was very educational and scenery exceptional. Thanks!
17:42 That plane flies so well on one engine ;-)
What a fascinating route the island hopper is - will definitely have to try that one day soon
What a interesting and beautiful trip. You should have counted the number of golf courses on each island. Lol
I liked the island hopper - I started in Guam, we were two passengers, more followed. It's simply a great experience. I liked the views, I liked Kwaj, with all the people sitting walking biking around the airfield.
I love the "dramatic heart ❤️ pounding" 🎵🎶 music around 17:45 😂 great video tho love these!
17:30 it’d be pretty damn hard to “squeeze” a coconut… 🤣🤣
😁😁😁😁 you just let the plane run over them
17:30 -Just for the record ,coconut water is not squeezed out of the coconut ,the coconut fruit is cut and then coconut water is either poured into a container or drunk directly using a straw ,in case you havent seen one just google for it
15:46 the blue water and the island. Looks amazing.
Jeb: my favorite view is when Im heading to Myrtle Beach. My plane does a full 360° over the Atlantic before landing, so you can get a panoramic view of the beach. It's magnificent! Then, when I go back to Central NY to spend the summer with my parents, the plane does a 360° again over the Atlantic so you can say bye, before heading up the coast. I love it!
As an aviation enthusiast I must say this was a great video. I’m going to try this route in P3D soon!
Jeb, this is one of the best reviews ever! I thoroughly enjoyed it, the history and all the thought behind it. It was well worth the wait!✈️❤️
Jeb! Nothing compares to your videos ... your videos are superb, your narration, your enthusiasm, passion and it’s so informative !!! Even the music is suited.. there’s nothing negative I can ever say about your videos
The video we’ve all been waiting for, and I gotta say, it surpassed expectations!
What a brilliant trip....and as for the inflight entertainment, some people do not fully appreciate what can be seen by looking out of the window. I recall with fondness watching a "light" show provided by mother nature as we flew around a thunderstorm....or the majesty of the Alps at 35K feet.
Jeb you trully live the life man. You are so blessed
Hafa Adai! I hope you enjoyed GUM too. It was great sharing your excitement. I've flown the island hopper both directions (GUM-HNL, HNL-GUM) and on the westbound it is usually by the time we get to PNI that I'm starting to feel weary from the take offs and landings. It is all good fun none the less. I plan on taking this route to cross my 2MM threshold just for nostalgia sake. Interesting to see how the food service has trimmed down a lot! For example, from MAJ-HNL they used to offer fresh baked cookies before landing. We also had a sandwich service on the KWA-KSA leg and again on the TKK-GUM leg. I've also experienced IRROP where delays caused the pilots and flight attendants to time out and force us to overnight in PNI and continue to TKK and GUM the next day. Up until last fall, the same GUM based crews used to work the entire flight eastbound and westbound; the MAJ switch off just started last fall. OH, and up until I believe 2001 there was an additional stop on the westbound between HNL and MAJ in Johnston Atoll - I think JON was the airport code.
Fantastic video! This trip is definitely in my top 5 bucket list for aviation things.
Keep up the great work!
The anticipation you built up for this video on Instagram was totally worth it! Jeb, back at it again with another banger video!
This video made me smile. And at the end, methane even get a little teary eyed.
You hit the nail on the head for us aviation geeks. I hope to have this experience someday. Great job!!
@Jeb Brooks You know, for someone who loves flying as much as you do, you should really look into getting your diving certification. When diving, you get control over your Z-axis, which makes it feel like effortless hovering flight. The first time you casually hover over an underwater cliff seeing a difference in height from 10' to 50' is a thrill hard to explain. The first time you realize that you can control your your depth by 3 to 4' simply by how you breathe is another real thrill.
Fascinating video! I had absolutely no idea that this route existed! Thanks for taking us along!
Jeb I’m an aviation nerd like you but I took a plane over to st.martan and loved the flight over there. Then I went scuba diving with my Dad and it was great it is an experience which will stay with you for ever.
That was very cool.
Hey Jeb! That was so much fun... I remember in 1972 flying Continental to HNL from LAX. I kept seeing 'Continental Micronesia'... and wondering what they were all talking about. Now I know. See you later bud.
Thanks for this ! The island hopper has been on my bucket list since its Air Mike days.
I want to be just like you
when I grow up!
Thanks for sharing! I knew of the flights to Kwaj, as my brother did a couple stints there in the 90's as a contractor. It was $2500 round trip back then (wasn't an option for me), looks to have gone up since...shocker! Pretty cool on the other islands. I'll add this to my bucket list. I'll have to ask my brother if he ever made it to Guam or the other stops. And those censored pics on your stop in Kwaj? It's a great island...for those who haven't seen it...go if/when you can.
I’ve gotten to dive in Pohnpei and let me tell you it’s amazing! The best diving I’ve done in my life so far!
I flew this flight back in the 70s on the 727 called Jeju while I was working the Ramp in Honolulu, as well as the weight / balance for Continental. When I became a Flight Dispatcher in Los Angeles in the early 80's, I diapatched the flights as well. Was also was the Dispatcher of record for flight 614 to Yap on November 21, 1980.
You are a great youtuber
Great video Jeb! I've flown United from Honolulu to Guam but not the UA 154 Island Hopper. It's now on my bucket list. Thanks!
As an American that’s been in love with obscure European trains routes, this makes me excited to experience obscure American plane routes.
I have been to all of the stops on your flight when I was in the US Coast Guard. Thanx for sharing.
For anyone who wants to know, the KC-135 at 4:48 is from Kadena AB, Japan (as denoted by the "ZZ" tailcode).
Thanks for sharing. Good old AirMic. That said I done this flight countless times over past 15 years. First was back in 2003 with AirMic Continental. We actual stopped at Johnston Atoll which soon after that first flight stopped landing there. After Peace Corps I still done many island hopper flights. I was Peace Corps in Chuck.I was in Military and spent time in Guam followed by time in Hawaii. I really like Continental airlines/AirMic. I recall few times being on new planes. As to entertainment system they didn’t restart after each stop in past. Also they seemed to have better meal service in past. You get two meals and snacks consisted of sandwiches. Since Continental took over United I did see decline. Now I am no longer in military and it’s been bit over 3 years since I done island hopper. First crews always been nice. But it seems my economy class was better than your business/first class. Also something else I might add. Depending on time year they sometimes have flights that skip some of the islands. Also earlier I mentioned I was in Chuck. While there I wouldn’t even go to airport till I saw airport overhead. Plenty of time plus I new folks at airport. About 5 years ago I took friend with me to Chuuk for diving. My friend wasn’t U S citizen but told her to stay with me. Also I warned her if I say anything at customs immigration that you think get person in trouble don’t worry. So we arrived in Chuuk. She decided to go in line that said non FSM and US citizens. Anycase I got to window said something. Next moment women comes around window and gives me great hug. She was one my old friends. I told her I brought friend so she had my friend come over she stamped her passport. Great thing about folks in Chuuk is it you been gone week or three years it’s like time hasn’t passed. By the way one perks of old AirMic was that on island hopper if you booked all way to Guam you could stop at each island for few days and it wouldn’t cost any extra.
Now that's an interesting flight! Thank you so much Jeb for introducing me to the Islands Hopper by United, I never knew it existed up until now! Definitely on my bucket list :D
I got so excited when I saw the notification for the new vid.
I love the scenery! I may be biased but I'm pretty sure the views from the sky in The Bahamas is the best in the world!
My cousins lived on Kwajalein for 5 years before they moved back to the states and they always say that it’s a beautiful place to see
interesting video. I was stationed at Hickam AFB in the 1970's and visited all these islands many times. The water is beautiful in all these places. Thanks for sharing
Thanks for this Jeb. Loving this video so much I had to replicate the flights on my flight simulator (Prepar3d). Love your cute smile by the way :)
Flew the Island Hopper last February (for the first time) and had a great trip! I was able to get passport stamps on all of the stops, except for Kwajalein, and found the staff to be quite friendly. The FAs were the same for my ride and had no problem watching my rollerboard while I got off and back on the flight.
Last night a united 737 island hopper just taked off on 11:37 PM in Philippines i saw it and now its flying from Hawaii to San Francisco lol i slept for just 3 hours to see it again haha.
I am speechless . By far your best post IMO. BREATHTAKING!! Your facial expressions always crack me up! Ugh, the colour of the water, the clouds, the view .... thank you Jeb!,
Great video as always Jeb!
That was an epic journey! Those mountainous islands look like paradise.
Sounds like both sets of pilots are Gram based. I'm surprised they wouldn't have an SFO or LAX-based set of pilots fly a route from the west coast to HNL, get a layover, and then fly to MAJ and get a layover and fly back.
Breathtaking! And the clouds Wow!! Been to a lot of the Hawaiian islands just loved it! I need to do the island Hopper sometime
Nan Madol on the island of Pohnpei is on my bucket list.
I did many parts of that flight on Continental and I spent time on many of these islands.
Thank you the video. I grew up on Kwajalein and took the HNL-KWA leg many times on Air Mike 727s. However, my family mostly flew on AMC C-141s. Back in the 90s, we did not have multiple classes or amenities of today’s aircraft. This is completely different.
Great video. I didn't know they made these flights.
Instead of chartering 6 separate flights to the small islands, they decided to make one island hopper flight (as this light may be the only form of transport for the residents and military personnel to those islands). I guess united didn't blindly open this route without knowing the demand for those destinations.
Hi There You meant Air Micronesia.
These flights started back in 1970s
This one was special eh, could you imagine doing it back in the days of the flying boats!? Even for you this was some really stand out amazing content and thanks for bringing to all of us. As an AVGeek myself I found this fascinating.
Hey Jeb. Great video as I to have been blessed to see and fly the island hopper from Guam to Palau and trukk for some incredible diving of old relics of the war that take you back in time. Seeing the South Pacific islands and the blue water and tropical fish and even the palm trees is A total different scenery from the Caribbean. The people are fantastic and super nice to help in anyway they can. That trip will be the most memorable one I’ve taken. First class to and from USA. AWESOME 🐬🌴
Just re-Watched this video for the third time, so much fun!!
Thanks for the upload. Great job!!! Flew the island hopper back in 2001 when it was originally branded Continental Micronesia flight 957. The 737-800 had just come to market replacing the 727s that made the famous run as flight 957. To date that is still my best avgeek globetrekking.