A Look to the Past and Stepping into the Future (UA F/Y, AA F/Y, JL F, CX F)
Dec 14, 2014, 2:24 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: HKG/YVR/NYC
Programs: AC 75K, A3*G, AS MVPG, AA LT Gold 1MM, JL/JGC (OWS) , Marriott Titanium, Hertz 5*, Avis PC
Posts: 3,697
A Look to the Past and Stepping into the Future (UA F/Y, AA F/Y, JL F, CX F)
Introduction
This Trip Report sadly has been buried around forever. Hell it was from Nov 2013 and I’ve flown stuff like Shenzhen, and Philippines Airlines since then.
But if you have read one of my other trip report, you would already know that..
Still if you think I was slow at writing trip reports, I’m nowhere better at posting facebook photos either, that is also on a one year delay…
Luckily this report has nowhere the amount of parts as the one prior, otherwise it probably will take a year to complete
As to the Title of “A Look to the Past and Stepping into the Future, I’ll let people come up with their own conclusions as to why.
Shouldn’t be too hard when you have United Airlines and Japan Airlines competing in the same Trip Report
I was finally able to find some spare time to take off on this 1 week trip after all the mega trips earlier in the 2013. 3 Months Grounding was rough but again, I went over my usual flying limits with 240K BIS in First 8 Months, considering I did 267K total in the Year 2012 and 160K in 2011.
Some Austerity might not be such a bad thing after all …
Route Map
Flights (11 Flights, 23443 Miles)
All Flights Flown
United Airlines 180 – Hong Kong to Guam (Economy Class)
United Airlines 200 – Guam to Honolulu (Business Class)
United Airlines 200 – Honolulu to Houston George Bush (Business Class)
United Airlines 1014 – Houston George Bush to Cancun (Business Class)
American Airlines 1671 – Cancun to New York Kennedy (Business Class)
American Airlines 3628 – New York LaGuardia to Toronto Pearson (Economy Class)
American Airlines 1485 – Toronto Pearson to Miami Int’l (Economy Class)
American Airlines 1261 – Miami Int’l to Washington Reagan (First Class)
American Airlines 3425 – Washington Reagan to New York Kennedy (First Class)
Japan Airlines 5 – New York Kennedy to Tokyo Narita (First Class)
Cathay Pacific 543 – Tokyo Haneda to Hong Kong (First Class)
Trip Parts
Part 1 – Retro Flying, former Air Mike/Continental Micronesia Economy Class HKG - GUM
Part 2 – Flying like it’s the 90s, United Airlines BusinessElite GUM - HNL
Part 3 – If that was the 90s, then this is the 80s, United Airlines Business Class HNL – IAH
Part 4 – And Kaboom, we’re in the era of Cost Cutting of 00’s, United Business IAH – CUN
Part 5 – On the not-so-friendly beach resort of Cancun, Mexico
Part 6 – Dying in the Heat of the Yucatan, Chichén Itzá
Part 7 – Back to Normal flying, American Airlines J/Y CUN – JFK/LGA – YYZ
Part 8 – Talk about a Crazy Reroute, AA F/Y YYZ – MIA – DCA
Part 9 – Dulles, Northern Virginia, A Flying Enthusiast’s Paradise
Part 10 – A Foreshadow to the North American Winter of 2013/2014, Crazy Windchills of Washington, DC
Part 11 – The Most Memorable Eagle Flight of 2014, American Eagle First DCA – JFK
Part 12 – The 21st Century Godzilla, Japan Airlines Boeing 777-300ER SkySuite First, JFK – NRT
Part 13 – A Farewell to an Old Friend, Cathay Pacific Boeing 747-400 First Class HND - HKG
Links to Other Written Trip Reports
Click Here for Other Trip Reports
This Trip Report sadly has been buried around forever. Hell it was from Nov 2013 and I’ve flown stuff like Shenzhen, and Philippines Airlines since then.
But if you have read one of my other trip report, you would already know that..
Still if you think I was slow at writing trip reports, I’m nowhere better at posting facebook photos either, that is also on a one year delay…
Luckily this report has nowhere the amount of parts as the one prior, otherwise it probably will take a year to complete
As to the Title of “A Look to the Past and Stepping into the Future, I’ll let people come up with their own conclusions as to why.
Shouldn’t be too hard when you have United Airlines and Japan Airlines competing in the same Trip Report
I was finally able to find some spare time to take off on this 1 week trip after all the mega trips earlier in the 2013. 3 Months Grounding was rough but again, I went over my usual flying limits with 240K BIS in First 8 Months, considering I did 267K total in the Year 2012 and 160K in 2011.
Some Austerity might not be such a bad thing after all …
Route Map
Flights (11 Flights, 23443 Miles)
All Flights Flown
United Airlines 180 – Hong Kong to Guam (Economy Class)
United Airlines 200 – Guam to Honolulu (Business Class)
United Airlines 200 – Honolulu to Houston George Bush (Business Class)
United Airlines 1014 – Houston George Bush to Cancun (Business Class)
American Airlines 1671 – Cancun to New York Kennedy (Business Class)
American Airlines 3628 – New York LaGuardia to Toronto Pearson (Economy Class)
American Airlines 1485 – Toronto Pearson to Miami Int’l (Economy Class)
American Airlines 1261 – Miami Int’l to Washington Reagan (First Class)
American Airlines 3425 – Washington Reagan to New York Kennedy (First Class)
Japan Airlines 5 – New York Kennedy to Tokyo Narita (First Class)
Cathay Pacific 543 – Tokyo Haneda to Hong Kong (First Class)
Trip Parts
Part 1 – Retro Flying, former Air Mike/Continental Micronesia Economy Class HKG - GUM
Part 2 – Flying like it’s the 90s, United Airlines BusinessElite GUM - HNL
Part 3 – If that was the 90s, then this is the 80s, United Airlines Business Class HNL – IAH
Part 4 – And Kaboom, we’re in the era of Cost Cutting of 00’s, United Business IAH – CUN
Part 5 – On the not-so-friendly beach resort of Cancun, Mexico
Part 6 – Dying in the Heat of the Yucatan, Chichén Itzá
Part 7 – Back to Normal flying, American Airlines J/Y CUN – JFK/LGA – YYZ
Part 8 – Talk about a Crazy Reroute, AA F/Y YYZ – MIA – DCA
Part 9 – Dulles, Northern Virginia, A Flying Enthusiast’s Paradise
Part 10 – A Foreshadow to the North American Winter of 2013/2014, Crazy Windchills of Washington, DC
Part 11 – The Most Memorable Eagle Flight of 2014, American Eagle First DCA – JFK
Part 12 – The 21st Century Godzilla, Japan Airlines Boeing 777-300ER SkySuite First, JFK – NRT
Part 13 – A Farewell to an Old Friend, Cathay Pacific Boeing 747-400 First Class HND - HKG
Links to Other Written Trip Reports
Click Here for Other Trip Reports
Last edited by Short hair Francis; Apr 27, 2015 at 7:44 am Reason: All Completed :)
Dec 14, 2014, 2:29 pm
#2
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: HKG/YVR/NYC
Programs: AC 75K, A3*G, AS MVPG, AA LT Gold 1MM, JL/JGC (OWS) , Marriott Titanium, Hertz 5*, Avis PC
Posts: 3,697
Part 1 – Retro Flying, former Air Mike/Continental Micronesia Economy Class HKG – GUM
Guam was always one of those places I wanted visit for a long time especially since I was a favorite of World War 2 history and Guam was one of the more accessible battle sites of the Pacific War.
One Issue, there really weren’t many natural routings to Guam from HKG, United formerly Continental Micronesia and Air Mike have flown HKG – GUM at 3-5x weekly for the last couple of years and Eva Air (a recent newbie of Star Alliance) also flies to Guam via TPE are the two more natural routing .
United never seems to release J space on HKG – GUM, but can I blame them on a 14F cabin. As for EVA, equally lacking in frequency and times don’t always work either.
Finally, I decided to suck it up and put up with United Economy Minus, just thinking of E- is already giving me shudders…
Nov 16, 2013 – Saturday
UA 180 HKG – GUM 11:10pm – 6:10am(+1) [Nov 17] (738/Y)
I arrived at HKG around 6:30pm after taking the regular airport bus, I was hoping for minimal traffic and it worked out to a 75 minute trip today. Not Great, but not horrible especially it’s hard to justify taking a taxi with my usual light travel gear.
United Airlines Premium Check-In
Check-In took about 5 minutes which was fine, the agent in the Global Service line served me since someone was being served at the Premium Access Line. Apparently it was his first time seeing an Aegean Gold card, have to say it was the best 20K I ever flown.
Security was relatively light on a Saturday, first a quick dinner at the SQ Silverkris Lounge
HKG Singapore Airlines Silverkris Lounge
After a 45 min dinner, I headed out to the United Club out by the 60s Gates by walking, got to walk off the calories somehow
HKG United Club
I was able to locate a window side table with a power plug, and the lounge started to fill up as the US inbounds passengers came in for their late night (SGN, SIN, GUM) regional flights.
About 9:15pm, HKG finally posted the gate assignment for the GUM flights, rats.
Gate 508, North Satellite Terminal, ugh…
I shouldn’t expected much since the GUM plane has been parking in HKG since 10am coming in from SGN.
For anyone not familiar with HKG, we have the main terminal (Gate 1 – 4, 15 – 49, 60-71) who tends to have the wide-bodies flights. However, with the creeping of narrowbodies in HKG, the airport resorted to building the North Satellite Terminal (Gate 501-510) between 2007-2009 to decrease the overall amount of passengers using bus gates.
Sounds Good Right?
One issue, the planning idiots decides instead of building underground trains between the terminals, let’s run shuttle buses (every 4 mins, according to the airport) between the two instead to save money.
You have to wonder who hired those consultants since planes have the right-of-way on taxiways and the bus journey leaves from under Gate 15. Guess what’s usually park at Gate 15, Airbus 380 since it’s one of the few HKG gate that can handle them.
Anything that’s taken a 380 flight knows the pushback to wheels rolling, give or take 10 minutes.
I would hate be the passenger that were running to catch their flights out in North Satellite, because you might as well roll down your windows and wave.
As I was at United Club, I left around 9:50pm, 10-15 minutes to get to the bus, and god knows how long otherwise. Overall it took me 12 minutes to walk back to around Gate 15, 15 Minutes waiting inside the bus to fill up, 3 minutes to drive across the apron.
You have been warned, North Satellite means head out around T-60, but do most of your shopping prior, since there are barely any shops out that way.
United Airlines Boeing 737-800
*1st flight of the Trip, 2117 Miles Flown
United Airlines 180
Hong Kong to Guam
Scheduled - 11:10pm – 6:10am(+1)[Nov 17], 5 hr flight
Actual Departure – 11:02pm
On Time Arrival – 5:52am(+1)
Economy Class, Seat 10C
Food – Snack
Equipment – Boeing 737-800 (14F/18Y+/123Y Micronesia/Version 4 Config)
Boarding Started T-35, and Group 1 and 2 were boarded very quickly, elites were few and far between on a flight like this
United Airlines Boeing 737-800 Economy Class Cabin
Row 10, otherwise known as Economy Minus, uh…
*Let’s just say this, shorter people tend to be disadvantage in life, be it on job apps, salary, girls, you name it.
With one big exception, seating in an economy seat!
Plane was about 85% full, consisting mainly HKG Tourist, Japanese, American, and Pacific Islanders on the flights.
We were mostly boarded in 15 minutes, you have to admit HKGers tend to be very quick when it comes to boarding. Now we’re just waiting for 1 pax, 10A.
Finally he boarded after getting escorted coming in from Port Moresby on an Air Niugini Flight, I comforted him HKG tends to be very quick with checked bags.
To my memory, he was doing POM-HKG-GUM-another Micronesia Island, either way if they left his bag, he’s got awhile to wait with the infrequent flight around the region.
Door were closed at 11:02pm, flight time tonight was 4 Hours 18 Minutes and it was 4 hrs 18 too long in these PmCO seats.
The Pillow went to my lower back because the seats feels like sitting on plywood.
Pushback at 11:08pm and wheels-off by 11:25pm off Runway 7R.
Quick Red-Eye, roll clocks ahead 2 hrs and it’s already 1:25am, tomorrow is going to be ROUGH!
Guam Immigration Form were handed out first with concurrently with anyone needing I94
After handing out the form, our Micronesia crew handed out a small tray for our overnight snack
UA 180 Snack
To Start
Fruit Bowl
Main Course
Chicken Bacon Wrap
Dessert
“Kee Wah” Pineapple Short Cake
Was presently surprised the wrap was ok in taste, this flight used Gate Gourmet catering in HKG and GG usually isn’t great on the catering front to my experience.
Was hungry to go for Double Wraps anyway lol
The Night flight was relatively quick, managed to pick up about 2 hours of sleep and we made our descent at 5:30am into Guam and landing at 5:48am.
A quick taxi and we’re at the gate, one of the most welcoming or unwelcoming traits of Guam are the huge grey divider separating Departing and Arriving Passengers
Part 1 Continues Below
Guam was always one of those places I wanted visit for a long time especially since I was a favorite of World War 2 history and Guam was one of the more accessible battle sites of the Pacific War.
One Issue, there really weren’t many natural routings to Guam from HKG, United formerly Continental Micronesia and Air Mike have flown HKG – GUM at 3-5x weekly for the last couple of years and Eva Air (a recent newbie of Star Alliance) also flies to Guam via TPE are the two more natural routing .
United never seems to release J space on HKG – GUM, but can I blame them on a 14F cabin. As for EVA, equally lacking in frequency and times don’t always work either.
Finally, I decided to suck it up and put up with United Economy Minus, just thinking of E- is already giving me shudders…
Nov 16, 2013 – Saturday
UA 180 HKG – GUM 11:10pm – 6:10am(+1) [Nov 17] (738/Y)
I arrived at HKG around 6:30pm after taking the regular airport bus, I was hoping for minimal traffic and it worked out to a 75 minute trip today. Not Great, but not horrible especially it’s hard to justify taking a taxi with my usual light travel gear.
United Airlines Premium Check-In
Check-In took about 5 minutes which was fine, the agent in the Global Service line served me since someone was being served at the Premium Access Line. Apparently it was his first time seeing an Aegean Gold card, have to say it was the best 20K I ever flown.
Security was relatively light on a Saturday, first a quick dinner at the SQ Silverkris Lounge
HKG Singapore Airlines Silverkris Lounge
After a 45 min dinner, I headed out to the United Club out by the 60s Gates by walking, got to walk off the calories somehow
HKG United Club
I was able to locate a window side table with a power plug, and the lounge started to fill up as the US inbounds passengers came in for their late night (SGN, SIN, GUM) regional flights.
About 9:15pm, HKG finally posted the gate assignment for the GUM flights, rats.
Gate 508, North Satellite Terminal, ugh…
I shouldn’t expected much since the GUM plane has been parking in HKG since 10am coming in from SGN.
For anyone not familiar with HKG, we have the main terminal (Gate 1 – 4, 15 – 49, 60-71) who tends to have the wide-bodies flights. However, with the creeping of narrowbodies in HKG, the airport resorted to building the North Satellite Terminal (Gate 501-510) between 2007-2009 to decrease the overall amount of passengers using bus gates.
Sounds Good Right?
One issue, the planning idiots decides instead of building underground trains between the terminals, let’s run shuttle buses (every 4 mins, according to the airport) between the two instead to save money.
You have to wonder who hired those consultants since planes have the right-of-way on taxiways and the bus journey leaves from under Gate 15. Guess what’s usually park at Gate 15, Airbus 380 since it’s one of the few HKG gate that can handle them.
Anything that’s taken a 380 flight knows the pushback to wheels rolling, give or take 10 minutes.
I would hate be the passenger that were running to catch their flights out in North Satellite, because you might as well roll down your windows and wave.
As I was at United Club, I left around 9:50pm, 10-15 minutes to get to the bus, and god knows how long otherwise. Overall it took me 12 minutes to walk back to around Gate 15, 15 Minutes waiting inside the bus to fill up, 3 minutes to drive across the apron.
You have been warned, North Satellite means head out around T-60, but do most of your shopping prior, since there are barely any shops out that way.
United Airlines Boeing 737-800
*1st flight of the Trip, 2117 Miles Flown
United Airlines 180
Hong Kong to Guam
Scheduled - 11:10pm – 6:10am(+1)[Nov 17], 5 hr flight
Actual Departure – 11:02pm
On Time Arrival – 5:52am(+1)
Economy Class, Seat 10C
Food – Snack
Equipment – Boeing 737-800 (14F/18Y+/123Y Micronesia/Version 4 Config)
Boarding Started T-35, and Group 1 and 2 were boarded very quickly, elites were few and far between on a flight like this
United Airlines Boeing 737-800 Economy Class Cabin
Row 10, otherwise known as Economy Minus, uh…
*Let’s just say this, shorter people tend to be disadvantage in life, be it on job apps, salary, girls, you name it.
With one big exception, seating in an economy seat!
Plane was about 85% full, consisting mainly HKG Tourist, Japanese, American, and Pacific Islanders on the flights.
We were mostly boarded in 15 minutes, you have to admit HKGers tend to be very quick when it comes to boarding. Now we’re just waiting for 1 pax, 10A.
Finally he boarded after getting escorted coming in from Port Moresby on an Air Niugini Flight, I comforted him HKG tends to be very quick with checked bags.
To my memory, he was doing POM-HKG-GUM-another Micronesia Island, either way if they left his bag, he’s got awhile to wait with the infrequent flight around the region.
Door were closed at 11:02pm, flight time tonight was 4 Hours 18 Minutes and it was 4 hrs 18 too long in these PmCO seats.
The Pillow went to my lower back because the seats feels like sitting on plywood.
Pushback at 11:08pm and wheels-off by 11:25pm off Runway 7R.
Quick Red-Eye, roll clocks ahead 2 hrs and it’s already 1:25am, tomorrow is going to be ROUGH!
Guam Immigration Form were handed out first with concurrently with anyone needing I94
After handing out the form, our Micronesia crew handed out a small tray for our overnight snack
UA 180 Snack
To Start
Fruit Bowl
Main Course
Chicken Bacon Wrap
Dessert
“Kee Wah” Pineapple Short Cake
Was presently surprised the wrap was ok in taste, this flight used Gate Gourmet catering in HKG and GG usually isn’t great on the catering front to my experience.
Was hungry to go for Double Wraps anyway lol
The Night flight was relatively quick, managed to pick up about 2 hours of sleep and we made our descent at 5:30am into Guam and landing at 5:48am.
A quick taxi and we’re at the gate, one of the most welcoming or unwelcoming traits of Guam are the huge grey divider separating Departing and Arriving Passengers
Part 1 Continues Below
Dec 14, 2014, 2:31 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: HKG/YVR/NYC
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Immigration for Guam is separated into 4 lines, Global Entry, Transit Passengers, US Citizens, All Others.
Immigration took about 15 Minutes and I was in Guam.
As it was still bright and early, I picked up my rental car and drove my way to the hotel, Hyatt Regency Guam which was 10 minutes away.
Hyatt Regency Guam
Lobby was recently refreshed, hallways were in a sad shape and carpet in a humid environment like Guam doesn’t work well either. Add on a Slight Mildew smell to top it off.
Room was look like it came out of the 1980s
As I was checking in early as a Hyatt Diamond, I was upgraded to a Suite due to full occupancy the night prior.
Door definitely needs a new coat of paint
Hyatt Regency Suite
Entrance Hallway
Bedroom
Living Room
Bathroom, get they get a jackhammer and re-do it, eek
Dressing Room
Rest of the Outside View
Part 1 Continues Below
Immigration took about 15 Minutes and I was in Guam.
As it was still bright and early, I picked up my rental car and drove my way to the hotel, Hyatt Regency Guam which was 10 minutes away.
Hyatt Regency Guam
Lobby was recently refreshed, hallways were in a sad shape and carpet in a humid environment like Guam doesn’t work well either. Add on a Slight Mildew smell to top it off.
Room was look like it came out of the 1980s
As I was checking in early as a Hyatt Diamond, I was upgraded to a Suite due to full occupancy the night prior.
Door definitely needs a new coat of paint
Hyatt Regency Suite
Entrance Hallway
Bedroom
Living Room
Bathroom, get they get a jackhammer and re-do it, eek
Dressing Room
Rest of the Outside View
Part 1 Continues Below
Dec 14, 2014, 2:33 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: HKG/YVR/NYC
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Regency Club
I ended up enjoying the breakfast up at the Regency Club before heading out for the Island road-trip.
I left just around 9am, first for Two Lovers Point
After about a 20 Minutes stop, I made my way south to War in The Pacific National Historical Park
War in the Pacific National Historical Park Visitor Center
Asan Beach Unit
Part 1 Continues Below
Dec 14, 2014, 2:33 pm
#5
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Join Date: Sep 2007
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T. Stell Newman Visitor Center
I tried to back track to the Piti Gun Unit, sadly the path were recently washed out and with the October US Gov’t Showdown, no money has flow through for the repairs
That said, I came across this below
Rooster walking in the Open?!?
*Guess there’s a first time for everything
Ga’an Point, remaining bunkers and AA artillery
Part 1 Continues Below
Dec 14, 2014, 2:35 pm
#6
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Philippines Sea and Oreta Peninsula, part of the US Naval bases at Guam
As I continued by way Southwards towards the South End of the Island, came across the dullest, if not the dumpiest of a McDs I’ve ever seen
Talifak Bridge
Sella Bay Overlook
Colored Bridge
You have to be $hitting Me, a random Bull on the street
Cocos Island
Bear Rock
Inajaran Natural Pool
Are you serious, first roosters, bulls and now feral pigs????
Part 1 Continues Below
As I continued by way Southwards towards the South End of the Island, came across the dullest, if not the dumpiest of a McDs I’ve ever seen
Talifak Bridge
Sella Bay Overlook
Colored Bridge
You have to be $hitting Me, a random Bull on the street
Cocos Island
Bear Rock
Inajaran Natural Pool
Are you serious, first roosters, bulls and now feral pigs????
Part 1 Continues Below
Dec 14, 2014, 2:36 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: HKG/YVR/NYC
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Talafofo Bay
First Beach
Haganga
A Dump of a Colonial Office
Marie Cathedral Basilica
San Antonio Bridge
Asan Bay Outlook
Asan Bay
Tumon Bay Resort Area
Back in Paradise
Sadly with minimal sleep on the redeye, I proceeded to pass out in the Suite between 3-9pm…
OUCH
One Tropical destination finished but another one is awaiting…
Next Part
Part 2 – Flying like it’s the 90s, United Airlines BusinessElite GUM - HNL
First Beach
Haganga
A Dump of a Colonial Office
Marie Cathedral Basilica
San Antonio Bridge
Asan Bay Outlook
Asan Bay
Tumon Bay Resort Area
Back in Paradise
Sadly with minimal sleep on the redeye, I proceeded to pass out in the Suite between 3-9pm…
OUCH
One Tropical destination finished but another one is awaiting…
Next Part
Part 2 – Flying like it’s the 90s, United Airlines BusinessElite GUM - HNL
Dec 14, 2014, 4:19 pm
#9
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,592
Dec 14, 2014, 10:16 pm
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: HKG/YVR/NYC
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Compare to lots of Asia however, alot more expensive in terms of local spending hence why its more of a Korean/Japanese market.
Maybe lacking in activities if you are not a Sand/Sun person nor a diving person.
If I wasn't date restricted, I probably would've try to add either Saipan or Koror as part of the trip.
United 738 Y, bareable with no middle seat partner.
Otherwise eek!
Thank you SFO777, it's been awhile since my last TR.
Looks ok but I didn't spent much time in the Resort area, that part felt like some odd-ball American - Japanese concoction.
Compared to the Jeff MuMuffin or the United Jail Steak, ALOT BETTER! ^
The bull and the feral pigs are new one, I still haven't encountered that type of experience in any countries travelled and I've got some podunk ones over the years
It takes alot of development to get to Godzilla level of JAL.
Don't spoiler the ender too much though
Dec 15, 2014, 12:10 pm
#13
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Guam isn't that bad!
I've done worse, try Paraguay
And I think you learn more going to poorer countries vs. rich ones.
At least it makes you appreciate your home more after
I'll get another section up soon but probably will slow down with the Christmas season coming up
I've done worse, try Paraguay
And I think you learn more going to poorer countries vs. rich ones.
At least it makes you appreciate your home more after
I'll get another section up soon but probably will slow down with the Christmas season coming up
Dec 15, 2014, 12:53 pm
#14
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Join Date: Sep 2007
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Posts: 3,697
Part 2 – Flying like it’s the 90s, United Airlines BusinessElite GUM – HNL
Time to go from one Beachside Paradise to another, that is Guam to Honolulu to Houston to Cancun.
Wait a Minute, discount Houston, that isn’t a Beachside Paradise LOL
And RIP to the Gummy Bear, if you don’t know what that is then don’t worry about it because it’s extinct already.
Yes I booked last minute so I only got sour Gummy Bears and not sweet ones.
Nov 18, 2013 – Monday
UA 200 GUM – HNL 7:10am – 6:20pm(-1) [Nov 17] (772/J)
A wake-up call at 3:15am and I shortly checked out and left the Hyatt around 4am.
A Fill-up of the rental car, 10 mins drive and I’m back to the airport to drop the car off.
Guam Antonio B. Wat Airport
*Outside photo taken the day prior
United Airlines Premier Access Check-In
*Check-In was divided to individual (Coach or Premium), and group (Coach or Premium) check-in
Why operated a huge group check-in?
*This is why! Lots of JTB travellers
Security took about 10 minutes and another massage from the TSA.
A quick stop at the duty free to pick up a fridge magnet (yes I collect those) and I was back airside to head to the United Club.
Not sure if I should use unique or eyesore for those tall Grey Dividers
GUM United Club
The Bar, a drink at 5am? Nah, more sleep please
Chamorro Cookies and Sushi Riceballs
Cup Noodles
*Hey got to cater to the right clientele
The Guam Club was of a rectangular shape, sadly with concurrent 772 departures to Narita and Honolulu, it was mostly packed.
With broken garbage can
I ended up sharing a table with someone and devoured about 4 riceballs, 2 cup noodles, bagels plus anything on offer.
Or in the Chinese eating sense, basically anything that moves and has blood is edible LOL
Yes my body was screwed up by the HKG – GUM red-eye plus my 10pm Subway dinner after passing out in the hotel room fiasco
United Airlines Boeing 777-200
GUM – HNL undertake a different procedure for US entry purposes, you pre-clear immigration at GUM but clear Customs at HNL.
GUM immigration starts working the flight about 75 minutes out, and has 3-4 agents manned for all passengers.
Afterwards you are placed in a holding pen prior to boarding, Group 1 Boarding started at 6:25am
*2nd flight of the Trip, 5918 Miles Flown
United Airlines 200
Guam to Honolulu, Continuing Service to Houston George Bush
Scheduled - 7:10am – 6:20pm(-1)[Nov 17], 6 hr 50 mins flight
Actual Departure – 6:55am
On Time Arrival – 6:02pm(-1)
Business Class, Seat 5B
Food – Breakfast, Lunch
Equipment – Boeing 777-200 (32F/98Y+/214Y New Hawaii/Version 6 Config)
Like usual, I was the Premiere Gate Lice and the first one onboard
United Airlines Boeing 777-200 “Hawaii” First Class Cabin
Part 2 Continues Below
Time to go from one Beachside Paradise to another, that is Guam to Honolulu to Houston to Cancun.
Wait a Minute, discount Houston, that isn’t a Beachside Paradise LOL
And RIP to the Gummy Bear, if you don’t know what that is then don’t worry about it because it’s extinct already.
Yes I booked last minute so I only got sour Gummy Bears and not sweet ones.
Nov 18, 2013 – Monday
UA 200 GUM – HNL 7:10am – 6:20pm(-1) [Nov 17] (772/J)
A wake-up call at 3:15am and I shortly checked out and left the Hyatt around 4am.
A Fill-up of the rental car, 10 mins drive and I’m back to the airport to drop the car off.
Guam Antonio B. Wat Airport
*Outside photo taken the day prior
United Airlines Premier Access Check-In
*Check-In was divided to individual (Coach or Premium), and group (Coach or Premium) check-in
Why operated a huge group check-in?
*This is why! Lots of JTB travellers
Security took about 10 minutes and another massage from the TSA.
A quick stop at the duty free to pick up a fridge magnet (yes I collect those) and I was back airside to head to the United Club.
Not sure if I should use unique or eyesore for those tall Grey Dividers
GUM United Club
The Bar, a drink at 5am? Nah, more sleep please
Chamorro Cookies and Sushi Riceballs
Cup Noodles
*Hey got to cater to the right clientele
The Guam Club was of a rectangular shape, sadly with concurrent 772 departures to Narita and Honolulu, it was mostly packed.
With broken garbage can
I ended up sharing a table with someone and devoured about 4 riceballs, 2 cup noodles, bagels plus anything on offer.
Or in the Chinese eating sense, basically anything that moves and has blood is edible LOL
Yes my body was screwed up by the HKG – GUM red-eye plus my 10pm Subway dinner after passing out in the hotel room fiasco
United Airlines Boeing 777-200
GUM – HNL undertake a different procedure for US entry purposes, you pre-clear immigration at GUM but clear Customs at HNL.
GUM immigration starts working the flight about 75 minutes out, and has 3-4 agents manned for all passengers.
Afterwards you are placed in a holding pen prior to boarding, Group 1 Boarding started at 6:25am
*2nd flight of the Trip, 5918 Miles Flown
United Airlines 200
Guam to Honolulu, Continuing Service to Houston George Bush
Scheduled - 7:10am – 6:20pm(-1)[Nov 17], 6 hr 50 mins flight
Actual Departure – 6:55am
On Time Arrival – 6:02pm(-1)
Business Class, Seat 5B
Food – Breakfast, Lunch
Equipment – Boeing 777-200 (32F/98Y+/214Y New Hawaii/Version 6 Config)
Like usual, I was the Premiere Gate Lice and the first one onboard
United Airlines Boeing 777-200 “Hawaii” First Class Cabin
Part 2 Continues Below
Last edited by Short hair Francis; Dec 15, 2014 at 1:15 pm
Dec 15, 2014, 12:54 pm
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United Airlines Boeing 777-200 “Hawaii” First Class Seat
BusinessFirst or simply First Class on this plane is configured at 53 inches pitch, 22 inches wide with faux leather seat. This plane has been reconfigured from the old Hawaii 772 which previously had 38 pitch, YUCK.
As suspected, row 5 A/B is pretty private since the middle section only has 4 rows, and 5A/B also has slightly better recline which is in fact true, however do note the noise from the galley at the second door can be annoying.
Plane was also very full in the back, but with a couple open seats up front. I even lucked out with a double seater pair in 5B.
BusinessFirst Blanket/Pillow Combo
Pre-Departure Beverage
Door Closed at 6:55am and pushback 3 minutes later after the UA Tokyo flight left the gates
Tokyo Bound United Airlines Boeing 777-200 Taking Off
Our Turn
Bye Bye Guam
Passing By Andersen Air Base
Part 2 Continues Below
BusinessFirst or simply First Class on this plane is configured at 53 inches pitch, 22 inches wide with faux leather seat. This plane has been reconfigured from the old Hawaii 772 which previously had 38 pitch, YUCK.
As suspected, row 5 A/B is pretty private since the middle section only has 4 rows, and 5A/B also has slightly better recline which is in fact true, however do note the noise from the galley at the second door can be annoying.
Plane was also very full in the back, but with a couple open seats up front. I even lucked out with a double seater pair in 5B.
BusinessFirst Blanket/Pillow Combo
Pre-Departure Beverage
Door Closed at 6:55am and pushback 3 minutes later after the UA Tokyo flight left the gates
Tokyo Bound United Airlines Boeing 777-200 Taking Off
Our Turn
Bye Bye Guam
Passing By Andersen Air Base
Part 2 Continues Below