hockeyinsider

Most people in Guam seem to hate United. Continental was much better, they say.

Guam's attorney general has went after United because they don't (or didn't) serve complimentary meals in economy-class on the flight, which is about 8 hours, between Honolulu and Guam.

CALMSP

there were periods of time where flight 73 would operate IAH-HNL-GUM, in addition to flight 1, roughly 2-3x per week during the summer peak season. The demand has always been there. however, now that you see the likes of HNL-MNL flights, it does take a bit away from the UA flight.

mr8

GUM-HNL is such a weird flight.
IIRC, I believe they feed you on GUM-MNL which is less than half the GUM-HNL flight distance.
Really baffles me why GUM-HNL is a GPU flight while GUM-Japan is CPU and HNL-EWR is RPU.

JVPhoto

Yuuup. Even if there was a SFO-GUM flight I would think....is it still worth it? It's basically 100 miles longer than SFO-FRA. Why do I need to spend 11-12h flying to GUM when I can do 5 to get to Hawaii or 8 (I think) to Tahiti? I pretty much steer my folks into where we go for family vacation each year and I would have a hard time convincing my Mom to fly to HNL to then take an even longer flight after that to go to GUM when in her eyes it would be "why don't we just get off and stay in Hawaii?" We love Half Moon / Rose Hall Jamaica and have gone twice (when I was living on the East Coast) but now we hem and haw over going back when the shortest, but still safe, connection makes it a 9.5h trip.

hockeyinsider

Apparently, there's debate over whether Guam-Honolulu is an "international flight" or a "domestic flight." Hence why United has treated Guam weirdly. Guam controls its own customs. However, Guam and Hawaii are both in the United States, which means there is no immigration check when flying between GUM and HNL.

amtrakusa

how is that possible? it is pretty much the same people, same agent, same management in Guam, same flight attendant, even the same physical airplane as before, same seat, same entertainment, same engine, same gate, same airport, etc. practically nothing has been changed as far as guam is concerned.

HkCaGu

HNL-GUM: No immigration check.
GUM-HNL: USCBP checks ID before boarding to confirm admissibility to Stateside. Guam/CNMI has a separate VWP.

GUM-SPN: No immigration check.
SPN-GUM: USCBP checks ID to confirm admissibility to Guam. CNMI has separate DHS parole program and labor visa.

hockeyinsider

No meals, the baggage fees, and ridiculously high airfares because United has no competition.

Yes, but for US citizens or US nationals it's not an immigration check like flying from a foreign country.

HkCaGu

Before merger: CO 764 (newer), GUM crew (Chamorro announcements too), AVOD IFE, free meals, lie-flat BF.
After (before upgrade): UA 772 (older), HNL crew, no screens at all (before PDE and wifi), food for sale, barely extra recline B/F seat.

EWR764

Actually, most of that is incorrect. Ground employees are the same, as are the facilities, but the HNL-GUM and 777 GUM-NRT flights are staffed with sUA crews (not passing any judgment). The original batch of 737-800s have mostly been swapped out for newer ships with slimline seats, PTV entertainment (looped video, no DTV, no wifi). Most of the GUM management has changed since the merger, too.

A lot of the public criticism was levied at the HNL-GUM flight, which went from a near-international service with BF recliners on the 767-400, PTVs and meals to a domestic 777, initially with regular 38" pitch domestic F seats, mainscreen entertainment and, around the same time, the market transitioned to BOB. The F service was slightly upgraded, but still a big cut from the CO era, when it was essentially a BusinessFirst service. Now, the flight has 3-4-3 Y seats, but the premium product is better than ever with flat-bed IPTE.

mh3265a

Part of the issue is that HA didn't have the right aircraft to make the business case back in 2012 timeframe. Not clear that if HA has the aircraft that makes sense for the market.

hockeyinsider

Hawaiian makes oodles of money on a twice-weekly flight between Honolulu and Pago Pago, American Samoa. American Samoa has almost zero tourism. It's hard to believe they couldn't make money on weekly or twice-weekly flights between Honolulu and Saipan, Palau and Guam on the 767.

I think Guam and Saipan might, might just be reachable from Honolulu with the A321neo.

They could probably fill half of economy-class once a week with just veterans going to Honolulu for medical care.

CALMSP

I always had hoped there'd be a 2-3x per week 752 from CO for HNL-GUM. I'd say the 321neo could work for HA.

But, then again, I really wish GUM could have become a SE Asia hub being linked with SFO/LAX connecting to a number of SE Asia destinations.

HkCaGu

Last time I heard Air Mike is the largest private sector employer on Guam, over 1000. So that’s many thousands on an island of 140,000 civilians that aren’t revenue passengers. Then there’s the military space available flights eg from Andersen to Hickam. Guam has a high rate of enlistment, so that’s another segment of the civilian population.

Early 2000s on the radio I heard Air Mike executive saying the 200+ seats on the 764 daily, there are only 60 people flying GUM-HNL. So you have to rely on Asian connecting traffic to fill the flight. So I’m not sure there’s still a market for HA, except that DL has left.

belfordrocks

Plus, by all reports, Star Marianas Air is absolute opposite of a quality, reliable operation.