Island Hoppers: Nauru Airlines & United

[FlyingKangaroo]

For years I've daydreamed about doing the United Island Hopper from Hawaii to Guam, including three failed attempts that fell through due to family issues and then Covid. With Nauru Airlines also restarting their own hopper from Brisbane every fortnight and a 20% discount code, I've gone and done the ridiculous after double and triple checking various Covid entry/transit rules and pulled the trigger as a early holiday gift to myself, lining it up with all but one of the stops on the United Hopper.

Curious if anyone else has done any of these and any tips, advice, etc.?

Each stop along the way will be brief except for Pohnpei, Kosrae and Guam, where I'll be spending a night on each.

If anyone else is so inclined, the more the merrier.

 

[p--and--t]

What a novel idea. Interested to see how it goes for you. (Trip report?)

If I was going to do it, would probably like at least a night in each place to get a feel for each and could honestly say "been there" - the other side of passport/customs barrier.

(A relative spent a couple weeks on Pohnepei and loved it. Fun fact: There is an permanent Aussie naval presence there)

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

What a novel idea. Interested to see how it goes for you. (Trip report?)

If I was going to do it, would probably like at least a night in each place to get a feel for each and could honestly say "been there" - the other side of passport/customs barrier.

Perhaps it's indeed time to do a proper trip report and finally pay back all those who've made them for me to enjoy over the years.

I'd love to stop and enjoy each place more, but in this case, the routing from Brisbane all the way through to Pohnpei only operates every two weeks, so it's either a one-hour or two-week stay at Nauru/Tarawa/Majuro along the way, which I can't make work. I'm glad I'll have a night in three of the remaining four islands, though I am disappointed I wasn't able to make Chuuk (Weno) work.

I've also read threads were people have tried to get a passport stamp along the way during the brief stops, with varying success. Given the various Covid requirements at the moment, however, I think that's more hassle than it's worth. If I touch your ground, breathe your air and could be arrested under your laws, I'm counting it.

 

[Stevo.1702]

I've spent a bit of time in Majuro but nowhere else on your list of destinations. If you have scope for a trip report, I'd bet many here would read it.

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

I've spent a bit of time in Majuro but nowhere else on your list of destinations. If you hace scope for a trip report, I'd bet many here would read it.

I can't promise it'll live up to the likes of @Mattg but I'll give it a go.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

As some one the forums probably know, the Island Hoppers remains one of the top travel bucket items I've got. However, seeing this routing you put together makes me wonder if maybe I should revise the routing as there seems to be more stops in more unique destinations. In addition, I would be curious if you could share the itinerary (i.e. flights involved, aircraft) and how you were able to get all of this to work.

-RooFlyer88

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

As some one the forums probably know, the Island Hoppers remains one of the top travel bucket items I've got. However, seeing this routing you put together makes me wonder if maybe I should revise the routing as there seems to be more stops in more unique destinations. In addition, I would be curious if you could share the itinerary (i.e. flights involved, aircraft) and how you were able to get all of this to work.

-RooFlyer88

Happy to share, with the starting caveat that the "best" way to hit all of these without having a few weeks to set up separate stops (plus Kwajalein, which I'll miss and am consoling myself by saying you're not allowed to take photos of anyway as the airport is on a US army base) would have been to fly Nauru Airlines from Brisbane --> Majuro rather than all the way to Pohnpei, spend two nights in Majuro, and then take the United Hopper straight through to Guam.

To enter the Marshall Islands, however, you need both measles and the most recent "bivalent" Covid jab. I was vaccinated for measles as a child but was overseas and have no record of it, and while I've had three Covid jabs, not the latest. I wasn't keen on two more jabs I don't need right now.

So instead, I did it this way:

Sat: Qantas, SYD - BNE; overnight there (booked with QF points, cash fares in Dec are nuts)

Sun: Nauru Airlines, Brisbane --> Nauru --> Tarawa, Kiribati --> Majuro, Marshall Islands --> Pohnpei, Micronesia (737-7 in their new livery) (I paid $1,087 AUD via their website, including the ~$200 promo discount. I was able to select a seat I was happy with when I booked, though it can't be changed online. Seat map the entire way was very empty.) Overnight in Pohnpei and explore there the next morning.

Mon: United, Pohnpei --> Kosrae, Micronesia (738) (8,000 United miles, and I note it's a slight backtrack, but I've read Kosrae is especially beautiful to fly into and I couldn't stomach missing it if I'm finally going to do this. This flight will also position me in Kosrae to catch the usual United Hopper the rest of the way to Guam the next day). Overnight in Kosrae and can explore there the evening and next morning.

Tue: United, Kosrae --> Pohnpei --> Chuuk, Micronesia --> Guam, US (738) (17,500 United miles including the following morning's sectors to Seoul, which is exceptionally good value given cash fares. Like with Nauru Airlines, I had to choose a seat for the entire routing and not by sector. Conveniently, from what I've read about the full United Hopper, the "better" side of the plane to sit on switches midway at Kosrae anyway, so I was fine choosing the one seat the whole way. This flight -- or at least when all three sectors are being presented on one seat map -- is looking pretty full, especially on the "preferred" side.) Overnight in Guam and explore a bit.

Wed: United, Guam --> Osaka, Japan (738) --> [Asiana] Seoul, South Korea (A321) --> [Korean] Sydney (773) (As noted, to Seoul is covered by previous ticket which originated in Kosrae. Still can't get over the value of just 25,500 United miles for all of that. I then paid $1,400 ICN-SYD on Korean. I was delighted to see a Delta award for 40,000 points on that flight as I have 41,000, but multiple errors and a call to a Delta rep who definitely knew what she was doing confirmed it was phantom space, so I had to dig the wallet back out. Jetstar also had a direct flight as well but it was $1,000 for the starter fare and left Seoul several hours later, so I went with KE as I've always been impressed by their Y class on the 777 --- 33-34 in pitch and maintained the original 3-3-3. I'd have loved a night in Japan or Korea but need to be home for Christmas as family is coming.)

And that'll do it!

 

[Inlander]

I did it pre covid, its a must do for the Aviation spotter. There is a lot of WW2 history on those islands and they are very beautiful. The fares at present are way to high however. I would look at rewards only with United if that's an option. Its usually a standard United 737-800. They rotate the aircraft on the route every two months. I just did the standard route ex Honolulu, through to Guam, then direct back to Honolulu then onto Sydney. The food offering onboard is bugger all, i would go Economy plus for the comfort (Its a long day in one trip!) , so take some supplies. The longest leg is the first, Honolulu to Majuro we did it with tail wind in about 4.25 hrs. The reality is that,s its best for the enthusiast . The destos are tiny little pin cough in the Pacific that you only view for a short duration and that most of the time your above the cloud layer in cruise.

I highly recommend Anchorage to Seattle on Alaskans milk run (theres some good you tube videos on it ) . I would split it over two days.

 

[drron]

On a cruise in 2019 one of the other pax was the CEO of Nauru airlines and he would have given me a good deal for 2020. Well that turned out nicely didn't it.
However one day I hope to revisit that plan.
We have done the Anchorage to Seattle milk run in 3 stages. First to Junea to wait for some friends to join us to then fly to Petersburg to take a cruise. Then post cruise on to Seattle. The cabin was half passenger,half freight.

 

[Inlander]

Happy to share, with the starting caveat that the "best" way to hit all of these without having a few weeks to set up separate stops (plus Kwajalein, which I'll miss and am consoling myself by saying you're not allowed to take photos of anyway as the airport is on a US army base) would have been to fly Nauru Airlines from Brisbane --> Majuro rather than all the way to Pohnpei, spend two nights in Majuro, and then take the United Hopper straight through to Guam.

To enter the Marshall Islands, however, you need both measles and the most recent "bivalent" Covid jab. I was vaccinated for measles as a child but was overseas and have no record of it, and while I've had three Covid jabs, not the latest. I wasn't keen on two more jabs I don't need right now.

So instead, I did it this way:

Sat: Qantas, SYD - BNE; overnight there (booked with QF points, cash fares in Dec are nuts)

Sun: Nauru Airlines, Brisbane --> Nauru --> Tarawa, Kiribati --> Majuro, Marshall Islands --> Pohnpei, Micronesia (737-7 in their new livery) (I paid $1,087 AUD via their website, including the ~$200 promo discount. I was able to select a seat I was happy with when I booked, though it can't be changed online. Seat map the entire way was very empty.) Overnight in Pohnpei and explore there the next morning.

Mon: United, Pohnpei --> Kosrae, Micronesia (738) (8,000 United miles, and I note it's a slight backtrack, but I've read Kosrae is especially beautiful to fly into and I couldn't stomach missing it if I'm finally going to do this. This flight will also position me in Kosrae to catch the usual United Hopper the rest of the way to Guam the next day). Overnight in Kosrae and can explore there the evening and next morning.

Tue: United, Kosrae --> Pohnpei --> Chuuk, Micronesia --> Guam, US (738) (17,500 United miles including the following morning's sectors to Seoul, which is exceptionally good value given cash fares. Like with Nauru Airlines, I had to choose a seat for the entire routing and not by sector. Conveniently, from what I've read about the full United Hopper, the "better" side of the plane to sit on switches midway at Kosrae anyway, so I was fine choosing the one seat the whole way. This flight -- or at least when all three sectors are being presented on one seat map -- is looking pretty full, especially on the "preferred" side.) Overnight in Guam and explore a bit.

Wed: United, Guam --> Osaka, Japan (738) --> [Asiana] Seoul, South Korea (A321) --> [Korean] Sydney (773) (As noted, to Seoul is covered by previous ticket which originated in Kosrae. Still can't get over the value of just 25,500 United miles for all of that. I then paid $1,400 ICN-SYD on Korean. I was delighted to see a Delta award for 40,000 points on that flight as I have 41,000, but multiple errors and a call to a Delta rep who definitely knew what she was doing confirmed it was phantom space, so I had to dig the wallet back out. Jetstar also had a direct flight as well but it was $1,000 for the starter fare and left Seoul several hours later, so I went with KE as I've always been impressed by their Y class on the 777 --- 33-34 in pitch and maintained the original 3-3-3. I'd have loved a night in Japan or Korea but need to be home for Christmas as family is coming.)

And that'll do it!

That's great planning there mate. Air Naru only started back to Phonpei in October 2022. The trouble with doing the full island Hopper ex Honolulu is the 14 hrs it takes

 

[Scarlett]

@FlyingKangaroo that is a brilliant itinerary and I am very jealous. Congrats on getting all the pieces together and I hope it goes off without a hitch.