UNITED'S MICRONESIA MILK RUN: Hopping across the Pacific in United Economy

[@cnncenter]

This is so much better than a 34-minute video of someone’s face close-up.

[@theaviationloverroams1545]

Noel Phillips

[@Jamie-Fox]

Love the tarmac crew lined up and waved farewell

[@PatrickSheaAviation]

It was an oddly wholesome experience indeed

[@nonstops_aviation]

Best Island Hopper video i've seen yet!

[@PatrickSheaAviation]

Thanks man!

[@gabrielvarig]

This entire itinerary is definitely on my bucket list.

[@craigjackson2428]

You have done a great job documenting your island hopper journey. Former avgeek globetrekker, made this journey when it was Continental Micronesia flight 957. Robert Six of Continental left a legacy winning this contract from the US Department of the Interior. Provided vital air service, jobs and economic benefits to Micronesia. The 727s first served this market well. Followed up with retirements to the 737-800. My journey was when the 737-800 first came on line, so the experience was still memorable.

[@YASTravelsEatsWell]

Patrick: Now that was an off-the-beaten-track journey from Hawaii to Guam on United. In the summer of 1989 I did this itinerary on Continental's Air Micronesia stopping at all the same islands. My experience was that in almost all the stops we were able to enter the terminal, buy a t-shirt or two, some small souvenirs & maybe get your passport stamped! Everyone was very pleasant & most people were not concerned if the flight was late, very laid-back. I was staying in Guam for a few days so I wasn't concerned about a connecting flight! I made another interesting flight in the summer of 1989 in the Pacific Islands. I went from Faa'a International Airport in Tahiti, French Polynesia to Wallis & Futuna Islands then on to New Caledonia on Air France!

[@PatrickSheaAviation]

That sounds like a great experience! If I do it again, I’m planning to spend a few days in Guam instead of a short connecting flight. Having little souvenirs and passport stamps at each stop sounds like fun! It’s all business now with this route it seems

[@robm3074]

I had the opportunity of flying this itinerary many years ago on a Continental Micronesia flight from Honolulu to Guam with an additional stop at Johnson island. We could not get off the aircraft there as it was a military installation. The wonderful aircraft we had on that trip was a Continental Micronesia Boeing 727- 100 with the black meatball on the tail. No overhead bins only racks and quite an interesting group of passengers throughout the whole journey.

[@_autom]

who knew shiny objects could serve as a healthy distraction on a milk run flight without wifi or IFE - nice shot of Pohnpei on approach

[@PatrickSheaAviation]

Ha! Exactly!

[@perryugalde639]

I am glad that you were able to cross another travel route off your bucket list. I experienced the Island Hopper in the 1990's on a B727 serviced by Continental Micronesia. The journey was all things positive. Everyone watched the same movie on the first segment and short documentaries on remaining segments. So, no offense, but I laughed at your comments regarding IFE first world problems. Thank you for documenting your journeys. Much appreciated.

[@PatrickSheaAviation]

The OG way to do it, awesome! Air travel sure has changed since the 90s. Now are the days that if you don’t have endless movie and tv options, people will end up frustrated in the end

[@perryugalde639]

@@PatrickSheaAviation Your latter sentence is both true AND sad. It is sad because pre-IFE, passengers brought reading material or activity books for children. I always read and do work on international business trips.

[@eddy67]

Scrambled eggs AND hard boiled? D*mn this guy goes hard in the paint

[@PatrickSheaAviation]

Out here tryna get that protein 💪

[@rollsroycepower9335]

First came across your channel a few months ago, & subscribed a few weeks back. You do an absolutely fantastic job with your trip reports. Your commentary is always insightful & entertaining. Thankfully the music you have throughout your videos isn't too intrusive. Keep up the amazing content!! Looking forward to where you head & report on throughout the year!!!! PS: I personally think that this report on the United Milkrun was better than Noel Phillips 😉

[@PatrickSheaAviation]

Appreciate the kind words! Safe travels bro!

[@user-cc7vx7sw4z]

I did it a few years back and spent a few days each in Majuro and Chuuk. Definitely a bucket list worthy experience.

[@PatrickSheaAviation]

Awesome! I do wish I could have spent more time in these places

[@kaikoa4295]

Marshall Islands and Guam is also Micronesian too.And yes Guam is a U.S territory.Kosrae,Pohnpei and Chuuk are the FSM(Federated State Of Micronesia).All these island people are also Pacific islander people but Micronesian..Great video by the way❤🌺🌴

[@franciscamacho2491]

Glad you made it to my birth place of Guam!

[@davecrook8355]

HI Patrick, Good video. Took this flight in 1993 on Air Mic (Cont. Micronesia). Wonderful experience. Thanks for the memories.

[@PatrickSheaAviation]

Ah yes! I miss the old Micronesian airlines!

[@belauan]

funny how this video makes it look like a comfortable and pleasant journey. I've made this run hundreds of times, both ways, and it's the worst. About 50% of the time, your delays will make you miss the connecting in Guam or Honolulu and you even get stuck in Pohnpei or Majuro. I avoid this route as much as possible choosing to go straight from Guam to Honolulu then to Majuro if I need to.

[@joekiely7782]

Great video- thanks for including full takeoffs

[@PatrickSheaAviation]

Glad you liked it!

[@avioncamper]

Jeb Brooks also has done this trip. Looks like fun.

[@edward88881]

Great video. I did this about 6 years ago. Most stops along the way (not Majuro) you could get a passport stamp inside the terminals. Makes a nice avgeek souvenir.

[@dannyong4843]

This route was operated by Continental Micronesia before the merger with UA. I enjoyed this report very much and hope to experience it this year 2024. Most of the videos I watched, the passengers were sitting on the right side of aircraft, any videos showing the scenery on the left?

[@thomasmooreCQ]

If I did this, it would be in business and I believe United now uses 777-300ers on the Guam to hnl nonstop, which I'd fly on the return

[@PatrickSheaAviation]

Yep United has the 777s nonstop as well, but what’s the fun in that?! Business class I’m sure would be a more comfortable experience at least. Even on this journey

[@AviationFin]

Nice 👍 Thanks for sharing Greetings from Helsinki ❄️ Finland

[@PatrickSheaAviation]

Welcome! Thank you!

[@brentriegel5358]

two years ago we did a bunch paving on kwaj.

[@delibakerytravel]

This Was Fantastic Video. I really enjoy your work. Thank You.

[@PatrickSheaAviation]

Thank you!

[@brian402]

Awesome flight review there Patrick,pity'bout that IFE technical issues.,incl you there has been several people in YT who have flown the island hopper-all of them incl you have made a amazing flight report.Not sure if i'd ever want to spend 15 hours on a 737 but i'm sure that island hopper would make it my worth while if i should include this on my bucket list. BTW: Also want to add that i really love that background music,it get's me in that island hopper tropical mood✈

[@PatrickSheaAviation]

Thanks man! Yea it’s definitely worth it, but I’m not sure I’d do it again. It was definitely a marathon

[@EpicThe112]

Loved it Patrick and regarding the island Hopper you will have some passengers from Manila Philippines going to Newark Houston Boston Chicago O'Hare Denver and Washington Dulles on B737s. That includes San Francisco. I wonder what will replace these Island Hopper planes. If A321neo one can actually do East Coast to Manila on the island Hopper on the return trip the immigration is carried out in HNL

[@gabrielhoolans7127]

I'm working for UA and planning to do it in October.

[@dannyong4843]

Hi Patrick Thank you for sharing, your flight report was always detailed and informative which I enjoyed throughly. I want to experience this route too, the price of tickets from Singapore is expensive. Will find a way to be there in future.

[@PatrickSheaAviation]

Good luck man! It’s a heck of a journey. I’ve found that if you book it as HNL-MNL, with the stops along the way, it’s a bit cheaper

[@dannyong4843]

@@PatrickSheaAviation Oh, book through Multi City ticket : Honolulu to Guam to Manila?

[@LiamWalsheliamskitchen]

As for those old seats up front, while I haven't tried the newest UA F seats, I will say that those old ones are mighty comfortable compared to the ones on most of UAs 737-900s - In fact better than pretty well any other domestic F seat I've tried.

[@PatrickSheaAviation]

I do like the seat itself, it’s like an old comfy couch!

[@kikopoo1]

They need to have sandwiches for all you passengers. Long flight with little food

[@PatrickSheaAviation]

Agreed, I did get hungry at some points. Sounds like business class was fed far better. But that does make a bit more sense I guess…

[@avioncamper]

The plane stops on this island I believe. A series of extreme waves that wreaked havoc on a U.S. military base in the Marshall Islands could be indicative of more dangerous coastal behavior in the future, according to experts. Flooding from the waves inundated one-third of the island of Roi-Namor, located in the Kwajalein Atoll in the northern Marshall Islands, according to the U.S. Army. The U.S. Army Garrison-Kwajalein Atoll base serves as a space and missile defense test range for the U.S. Department of Defense and contains some of the Army's most sophisticated tracking equipment. ABC news.

[@PatrickSheaAviation]

It does stop there. It’s the second stop on the journey. I wonder how it will affect the ops

[@jamesmoninger1982]

Still looking for an EASTBOUND island hopper video, I don't think I will live long enough.

[@devonsanchez8292]

Great video! Sadly, United has not done anything to take care of the 737 aircrafts servicing the Guam routes. This aircraft is premerger w Continental with those terrible Satellite TV entertainment system that was early 2000's. I wish United realizes that it is the only lifeline for residents of these islands, so invest in their aircrafts and upgrade the interior and services. I wish Continental ate up United, their service and understanding toward the people of the South Pacific Islands/Territories was superior and demonstrated the spirit and cultures of the islands. Now, United only sees these routes as leftovers from the merger, it care less in upgrading the aircrafts on these routes. Sad.

[@jcbaily5559]

Yes, I do remember Continental Airlines before UA destroyed the service they had built up. Your meals certainly were typical UA crummy meals which they just can't figure out a way to make them enjoyable. And that poor flight attendant that made those horrible announcements sounded like he was on death's door....I hope he made it to Guam. And to think UA could not hold a plane for 80 passengers show how ignorant their management was and unfortunately, still is!!!! I will say that your flight crew made some of the best landings considering their long day! Thanks for your review!

[@PatrickSheaAviation]

That Continental Micronesia was a league of its own

[@hanj31]

All international flights and transcon flights get access to united club when flying first/ business. For the polaris lounges you need to be flying to a destination that is long haul so Asia Europe Africa, Oceania and South America to any country south of the equator including Brazil

[@Fairview104]

Interesting journey. I'm glad you made a video of it. I think United is really offering a substandard product though. I wonder if there are any government subsidies they get for flying that route. Seems like UA could do better.

[@PatrickSheaAviation]

I’d assume the local governments are helping to keep the route operating but I don’t know. I’m not sure why they used their most outdated product still on these routes

[@petermuller5800]

Amazing footage of this remote part of the world! Too bad this flight only goes once a week. Otherwise I would stay 1-2 days on each island (except Kwajalein) and explore their beautiful nature.

[@PatrickSheaAviation]

There is more than one flight per week, it just doesn’t stop at every island. You may not be able to see EVERY island, but you could definitely spend some time on a good bunch of them

[@gregh7457]

i used to work at an airport in hawaii and all of the marshall island passports i saw were hand written with a laminate over the top.

[@PatrickSheaAviation]

Super interesting. Although they aren’t exactly the largest country

[@o.c.g.m9426]

"No internet or contact with the outside world" for 15 hrs....welcome to what it was like being born & having your childhood from 1983 to 2000 😂😂

[@PatrickSheaAviation]

Lol… I know 😂 but with the luxuries we’ve become accustomed to, it just feels weird now!

[@JUVI9596]

Always. Always bring a book. Always. Never rely on IFE

[@S.Sheezy]

HNL airport should make the Wiki Wiki shuttle an EV to cut their CO2 emissions into the air and start being climate conscious. The Pacific Island stops would appreciate it and HNL would also appreciate it. Hawaii and HNL can get tax incentives for making all airport vehicles electric, maybe? Just a thought. It would also reduce the risk of fires on the big island.

[@danalamborn4464]

That's a really long milkrun that you and Noel Phillips posted. I think I'll just stick to the Alaska milkrun...just a little shorter...LOL.

[@PatrickSheaAviation]

The Alaska milk run hasn’t been running in its entirety in a while. I’m trying to see if I can get on the full thing at some point for sure

[@perryugalde639]

@@PatrickSheaAviation A co-worker recently did the Alaska Airlines Milk Run, and informed me (after making his reservations) that there are three variations of the route. I was fortunate to experience the full Milk Run with the overnight stay in Juneau. Nevertheless, I hope you have the opportunity to experience the Milk Run. [TIP: Should you do the Milk Run from SEA to ANC, sit on the right side of the aircraft. Should you travel from ANC to SEA, sit on the left side.]

[@PatrickSheaAviation]

@@perryugalde639 good to know! Thanks!

[@perryugalde639]

@@PatrickSheaAviation You're welcome.

[@tjegan1417]

Nobody playing golf in Kwajalewen

[@charlesmichael8470]

Were you allowed to get off the plane at TKK?

[@PatrickSheaAviation]

Yes. The plan was to get off at every stop, but because we were so late, they kept us onboard at most of them. It sounds like that happens more often than not

[@sk-bt1gg]

the crew making the PAs sounds exhuasted. 😅

[@PatrickSheaAviation]

Lol… aren’t we all after 15 hours in a 737?

[@davidcorbett62]

A very interesting vid and well done for posting it But that placement of the inflight entertainment controller must be one of the stupidest placements of all time. Even if they had of sunken the controller and put a plastic cover over it should have made it workable. Really really dumb

[@jefuryo]

I’m from Guam

[@PatrickSheaAviation]

Hello to Guam!

[@JUVI9596]

No….I’M from Guam

[@belauan]

Ha! sounds like you gut a true united experience at the end there... They are the worst.

[@rudolfpunt3286]

Read a book, at least take one with you when you fly. 15 hours of no connectivity is no problem

[@PatrickSheaAviation]

There are a million ways to get through 15 hours, but if I get an email a few days prior explaining my entertainment options, I’m expecting those entertainment options. And by today’s standards these screens and options are a bit ancient

[@SKS8080]

The outcome was completely predictable. U should have anticipated it.