Re customs/immigration, never had any questions about trip, purpose, stay etc. so my guess is they'll just stamp and send you on your way. But my shortest trip there was just under 24 hours and others have all been longer.

I wouldn't be so sure. HNL-GUM non-stop is certainly ineligible, but the Island Hopper always has been, at least until UACO.

The trick was, *all* segments had to be upgradeable, or the u/g wouldn't clear. The odds of that were practically non-existent.

I've flown the route twice, as an NW plat back then, and wistfully looked at empty F seats on some of the segs, that I couldn't get on because the following segments were occupied. :(

Awesome flight tho'. ^ ^

That's exactly my fear. I booked a through flight so I am guessing I should reasonably expect to sit in the back with my partner all the way across the Pacific.

Look forward to enjoying the hopping though :cool:!

I see that the stopover on each island is only about 45 minutes. Can passengers get off to snap a few pictures? :)

Anyone have any dates left with the island hopper for $800 price range?

Looks like K bucket is needed and price jumps to over $1000 when its not available.

I'm looking for November timeframe.

And the nonstops GUM-MNL-GUM are eligible -- I booked them a few days ago as part of a msy-sfo-hnl-gum-mnl rt.

So you mean the only leg that are not upgradable (on K fare) is hnl-gum right? (if gum-mnl is really upgradable?)

I don't quite understand why hnl-gum is not upgradable since they use the domestic version of 777-200 and the Business (Domestic F) class is nothing special.

[QUOTE=concorde02;18618739]So you mean the only leg that are not upgradable (on K fare) is hnl-gum right? (if gum-mnl is really upgradable?)

We flew UA NRT-GUM, GUM-MNL post merger and upgraded on both flights.

[QUOTE=mtndave47;18618935]Would it be better to use RPU for better chance to get upgraded?

Should be able to get off for photos
 

I got off at every stop except the somewhat restrictive Kwajalein. In fact they made 1/2 the passengers get off at each stop and anyone else who wanted to could also get off for the brief time we were at each island. At least that was how it was in 2007. Fun routing! The islands are really beautiful.

I don't understand why HNL-GUM is not upgradeable either. May be due to duration of flight even though it is operated by a domestic 772?:confused:

It is what it is, I'm afraid. The rules are spelled out clearly on the upgrade overview page https://pss.united.com/web/en-US/con...de/default.asp "Global Premier Upgrades are not available on flights booked in fare classes Z, P, S, T, K, L, G or N" (for hnl-gum and some other routings)

It is primarily because they have a full BF service up front, just like on IAD-LHR, SFO-NRT, etc.

Huh? I just got off UA 200, and while I was in Y, I could not identify anything about the product that would make it remotely close to BF. It's a domestic first class product. Nothing more.

Is the fare still there (at least I can't find it)?

Tried pre Thanksgiving week and its still available on NH from SEA, mostly 1 stop at NRT, for $769. Not MR material but a decent fare to MNL with possible UA codeshare flights thru SFO. We enjoyed flying NH, great overall product.