Man that is quite the ordeal, but a cool story since it's not like you HAD to be somewhere on the other side of the Pacific. When I flew the Hopper a couple weeks ago everything went smoothly. Though it sure does tell you something when they fly a second set of pilots and a mechanic.

Also I received a similar response when I told my seatmates that I was going all the way to Guam. They're like, you know there is a direct flight, right?