Alright,
Just got back from a week long flying in the pacific. Was on UA155 last week on Wednesday, so there was no stop in KSA which probably was for the best. We left GUM completely packed, they were forcing people to gate check. I was in group 1 and sitting in E+ so no one bothered me with it and I only had a small back pack. The flight left on time, and while I didn't catch the reg it was one of the older 738's with DirectTV and the looping movies everyone said. They had some pretty recent movies, if you really wanted to catch one. Would've loved for Chan 9 to be available. We sat in 8F on all sectors and I managed to get all of my boarding passes printed in NRT and my bag checked all the way to HNL from there.
8F was pretty good and I honestly think either side is scenic.
The first stop at TKK we lost half of the plane who stayed there and only took on a family of about 8 who were locals on their way to HNL flying stand by. Buiness only had one couple the entire way until we reached KWA. No idea why I wasn't bumped but honestly too tired to even ask at any point and we got to the gate at the last moment cause our car return in GUM took forever.
As a seasoned traveller and as an ex airline pilot who would sometimes do 5 leg days, this was a tiring flight. The TKK and PNI we're all jazzy and happy full of energy but the not being able to get off the plane at KWA and having to stay on until MAJ kinda of killed us. We delayed at MAJ for about an hour due to a pet flying in the the hold and it was way too hot (I was ok with this, I travel with my dog in the hold sometimes). MAJ had the "biggest" of the terminals, with a bar inside. There was WiFi for like $5 (everything was $5 for some reason) but it was packed.
Food wise:
Unless in J, BRING YOUR OWN FOOD. I cannot stress how disappointed I was with UA with the "meals" or lack of on these flights, specially with those hopping all the way to HNL. On the TKK leg they served some sort of sandwich, and we we're promised "lunch" on MAJ-HNL which ended up being some sort of sorry ham and cheese sandwich with water only. You can buy snacks along the way but if you can carry from GUM or eat a full meal at GUM before you go, please do so. They have SPAM snacks and stuff along the way, chicken and rice in the stalls but my stomach was already in recovery mode after visiting China and I didn't want to risk it considering I still had a way to LAX.
Crew:
Relatively meh, they only chatted with the locals and seemed to give better service to them. I was sprayed by a local in water who was sitting on 7A when she opened one of those camel back water bottles and it prbably had too much pressure inside and water flew everywhere, the FA saw and didn't even offer a napkin except please clean the seat.
My biggest upset was with an F/A sitting in 7E. She joined in MAJ together with a mom travelling with her maybe 5 month old. The FA sat first and then the momma sat. I was paying attention to the pay who was pretty cute and you could NOTICEABLY tell the FA was upset there was a baby there. At one point the baby was staring at her and she actually told the mom if she could please move him to the other side. The senior purser came by later on and audibly said "I'm sorry you have to sit there" which I found pretty unprofessional. The baby was fine most of the way except getting a bit pissy towards the end which was understandable.
Stamps:
Got one at TKK easily, the UA agent got it for me. PNI they said I had to go through immigration and back in and while the UA agent said she would escort me through the entire ordeal and wouldn't let them leave without me, it seemed like a hassle for a stamp. MAJ I practically had to beg for it. The immigration manager was mad at the incoming crew (they changed crew here) and was in no mood. The island chill officer on the other side was amazed at a Costa Rican passport and gave some leafs and nut things to his manager in exchange for me getting a stamp which was nice.
All in, unless I was stopping somewhere, either at MAJ or TKK, I probably wouldn't do it again. I've always wanted to do this flight and while it was a good experience, it's not as a fun as it seems halfway through the trip.