UA drops GUM-HKG
Jun 28, 2019, 9:10 am
#31
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: United Premier 1K 1MM; AA Plat Pro; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott Platinum; Avis President's Club
Posts: 2,529
Too bad to see the GUM-HKG flight being cut. I thought the flight did well enough but maybe things have shifted. Glad they are keeping the 737 on GUM to fly additional Japan routes. I think the Japan tourist economy is going up again for GUM.
Jun 28, 2019, 9:14 am
#32
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,413
The GUM-HKG flight was four times a week. I'm not sure how much additional capacity this really frees up. Is there going to be a lot of interest in weekly flights to four different Japanese cities? Or twice-weekly flights to two?
Jun 28, 2019, 9:22 am
#34
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: New York, NY
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Hertz, Avis, National, Hyatt, Hilton, SPG, Marriott
Posts: 9,453
Jun 28, 2019, 9:25 am
#35
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,469
The past decade has seen the loss of 15 destinations: Beijing, Cairns, Denpasar, Hiroshima, Hong Kong, Nadi, Naha, Niigata, Okayama, Rota, Sapporo, Sendai, Seoul, Shanghai, and Taipei. Where exactly have these shifted to 
Remaining are 10 destinations, including zero additions in the past decade: Chuuk, Fukuoka, Honolulu, Koror, Manila, Nagoya, Osaka, Saipan, Tokyo, and Yap.
Sure seems like GUM is being slowly killed off.
Remaining are 10 destinations, including zero additions in the past decade: Chuuk, Fukuoka, Honolulu, Koror, Manila, Nagoya, Osaka, Saipan, Tokyo, and Yap.
Sure seems like GUM is being slowly killed off.
It prompts me to wonder how have economics and/or US govt activity changed over the past twenty years, so that those routes became irrelevant. I guess maybe that is a big question.
Jun 28, 2019, 9:40 am
#36
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: New York, NY
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Hertz, Avis, National, Hyatt, Hilton, SPG, Marriott
Posts: 9,453
It’s also worth noting that most markets had less-than-daily service, some even 1-2x/week. The markets which remain, especially in Japan, have more frequent service.
Jun 28, 2019, 9:53 am
#37
Join Date: May 2012
Programs: UA
Posts: 1,098
Jun 28, 2019, 9:55 am
#38
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,469
GUM has always been about two things: the Japan leisure market and connecting GUM/Micronesia to the USA. As the Japanese vacation market shrank, and has now changed considerably, the GUM operation has changed commensurately.
It’s also worth noting that most markets had less-than-daily service, some even 1-2x/week. The markets which remain, especially in Japan, have more frequent service.
Seems like there is a marked withdrawal from China, too, though. I think Chinese tourism is still on the rise, but maybe that is outdated, and/or maybe the political tensions are at play.
Jun 28, 2019, 11:01 am
#39
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: HH Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 10,458
Flight was only 75% full with GREAT pricing...that definitely means that UA was making a lot of profit...NOT!
Jun 28, 2019, 12:01 pm
#40
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IAH, YYC
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 753
So we had this flight booked on Jan 3rd. Our full itinerary was:
YYC-SFO-HKG on Jan 1st - Paid with cash
HKG-GUM-TKK-MAJ on Jan 3rd - Paid with miles
MAJ-HNL-YYC on Jan 8th - Paid with miles
Obviously the cancellation of the HKG-GUM flight royally screwed us in this situation, and there was no other way they could get us to MAJ from HKG on that date, or any time around that date. I made the point very politely that although these were separate reservations, it is the cancellation of HKG-GUM which put us in this position, and asked if they would be kind enough to refund the YYC-SFO-HKG flight in addition to the two others. Luckily they agreed to do so.
People on this board talk a lot about the benefits of status being devalued, but in this situation United treated us extremely well, and probably bent the rules to do the right thing. I've emailed 1K voice with the agent's name to compliment her. While we're quite disappointed to not be visiting Micronesia and the Marshall Islands, the damage was limited because we haven't made any hotel commitments yet.
YYC-SFO-HKG on Jan 1st - Paid with cash
HKG-GUM-TKK-MAJ on Jan 3rd - Paid with miles
MAJ-HNL-YYC on Jan 8th - Paid with miles
Obviously the cancellation of the HKG-GUM flight royally screwed us in this situation, and there was no other way they could get us to MAJ from HKG on that date, or any time around that date. I made the point very politely that although these were separate reservations, it is the cancellation of HKG-GUM which put us in this position, and asked if they would be kind enough to refund the YYC-SFO-HKG flight in addition to the two others. Luckily they agreed to do so.
People on this board talk a lot about the benefits of status being devalued, but in this situation United treated us extremely well, and probably bent the rules to do the right thing. I've emailed 1K voice with the agent's name to compliment her. While we're quite disappointed to not be visiting Micronesia and the Marshall Islands, the damage was limited because we haven't made any hotel commitments yet.
Jun 28, 2019, 12:30 pm
#41
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: United Premier 1K 1MM; AA Plat Pro; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott Platinum; Avis President's Club
Posts: 2,529
Guam had high hopes to include China in the Guam-CNMI VWP program BUT the Federal Government would not allow it. It's part security and part resources needed on Guam to monitor the program if they included China. If you're Chinese and need to apply for a visa to come to the US you're probably not wanting to go to Guam rather you wanna go to the mainland or Hawaii. I also think GVB has to pump some more targeted money into attracting a broader Chinese market but it's just hard right now. Think China will remain a charter market for Guam for some time to come.
Jun 28, 2019, 12:32 pm
#42
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Shared Troll
Programs: The Marina. Comic Relief. UA 1K and 1MM. MacBook Pro.
Posts: 1,913
Too bad, a one-way SFO - HKG - GUM in P or Z was always around $1700, and a good way to guarantee a seat in Business instead of playing the GPU game. Best part was that you could schedule the HKG - GUM a few days after and still make it with checked bags 
Jun 28, 2019, 3:48 pm
#44
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Ventura
Programs: Gov't Travel Aficionado, UA Plat
Posts: 288
Everybody talking about how UA is cutting this to focus more on Japan tourist market. Lest you forget, UA used to fly a 772 between GUM and NRT a few months ago but does not anymore.
Jun 28, 2019, 4:34 pm
#45
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: CLE
Programs: UA GS+LT UC, AA EXP+LT PLT, Fairmont LT PLT, Marriott PLT, Hilton DIA, Hyatt Glob, Avis CHM
Posts: 4,671
