Originally Posted by KosraeTV
Hi KathyMoore,
Continental Micronesia operates the flight you are talking about, it's called the island hopper. It's a killer flight made worse now due to FAA regulations that require half the plane to get off at each stop with all luggage. They pick sides, say seats ABC, or DEF, and if you are in those seats you have to get your bags and get off. The other side that is allowed to stay on the plane has to get their carry on and put it in their lap, then switch sides while they inspect the aircraft. FSM is currently trying to work with them to change this rule but as of right now it is out of their hands.
Why has the FAA started with this strange rule?!? I visited Micronesia a lot in 2003 and 2004 (but I've never been to Chuuk or the Marshalls), and I don't recall ever having been asked to get off the plane. Did they just start recently?
As an aside, I have to say that I was quite impressed with the reef in KSA and with the wonderful preservation works the islanders did with the buoys. We stayed at the Kosrae Village and thought that their diving operation was excellent and very professional (especially after visiting PNI and noticing how careless dive guides can be with the reef there).