07SEP2007
Continental Micronesia CMI957
Boeing 737-800W - N26232
Depart HNL: 655am
Arrive GUM: 520pm +1
via MAJ, KWA, KSA, PNI, & TKK

HNL-MAJ – 4 hours 35 minutes

The taxi ride to the airport was fairly quick yet amazingly expensive ($32). I arrived at the airport early so I could have a look around and relax in the Presidents Club for a few minutes. I was told not to check my bag because there is potential for it to be lost due to all the stops.

I checked in at the kiosk at around 445am. Security does not open until 500am, so I stood outside security for awhile. Once it opened I walked down to the gate to see the airplane we would be using for the flight



I checked out the President's Club. It was okay, nothing spectacular. The woman at the front desk tried to put me on the First Class standby list but as unsuccessful since I was on a reward ticket. I knew CO does not upgrade reward tickets but the flight was oversold on one of the legs so I thought I might have a shot. So I turned on my laptop, surfed the net and waited for the flight.

We pushed out of Gate 14 on time and taxied to the runway. I was seated in 7C (aisle) so I did not get much of a look out the window. As we climbed out the crew briefed us on the flight to Majuro and the inflight movie, Talladega Nights, which was played on my PHX-EWR flight.

Breakfast service was provided. Their was a choice of eggs, hash browns and chorizo or pancakes. I had eggs. The food was okay. Not as salty as the breakfast on my PHX-EWR flight a few days before.

After breakfast, I slept through the flight and awoke as we began to approach Majuro. I deplaned in Majuro 4 and a half hours, and 1 day later. Everyone in seats ABC, rows 5-28 must deplane here for security sweeps. We were on ground for about 45 minutes.





MAJ-KWA – 58 minutes

We took off from Majuro bound for Kwajalein. Lots of scattered CB clouds on the way. Oreo cookies and drinks were passed out.

Kwajalein is military base where much of the activity includes ICBM testing. Transit passengers are not allowed to deplane or take photographs while on ground. My seatmate just accepted a job on the island and deplaned so I took over 7A.

I grabbed some shots while we were taxiing out.




KWA-KSA - 51 minutes

Departure out of KWA was brisk as the B738 was now fairly empty. Lunch was served, turkey breast sandwich, chocolate chip cookies, and fruit were on the tray. 51 minutes with a meal service makes the flight fly by (no pun intended).



Right after cleanup we began descending.


The airport here is very small. Seats DEF, rows 5-28 required to deplane in Kosare. I deplaned too and went for a walk around the “terminal.” There was no electricity in the bathroom, however they have a very nice EliteAccess sign and carpet.




We were on the ground for only 30 minutes or so which was good because it was very humid. Unfortunately we had an “ATC” delay of about 25 minutes. Apparently the airspace over Kosare is busy, I'm presuming with military activity. As we taxied to the end of the runway, I noticed the fire engines follow us out to the runway. I guess because there really is not chance to abort with such short runways. The main gear lifted off just before the 1000 foot markers.

KSA-PNI – 51 minutes

Nothing major to report about the flight to Phonpei (pronounced Pawn-A-Pay) since it was so short. I deplaned here since again, seats ABC, rows 5-28 had to deplane for another security sweep.





We picked up quite a few people here. Mostly Japanese tourists but a few Australians as well. Some of whom would be on my flight to CNS.

PNI-TKK – 58 minutes

After reboard we flew onto Chukk all the while deviating around clouds.




While airborne a flight attendant came and grabbed the maintenance guy saying the captain had a writeup for Chukk. The view flying in to TKK was goregous.


We landed and I chose not to deplane here as I was getting tired. Though I could see into the terminal that there were a ton of people getting ready to board. We were completely full out of Chukk.



Once we were done boarding the captain came over the PA and let us know that we had a cabin pressurization issue and Guam dispatch gave us a 30 minute advise on what were were going to do. I was a little nervous because I didn't know what would happen if the canceled the flight. Especially after seeing the airport hotel:



After sitting on the 100% full aircraft for over an hour in 90 degree heat the captain advised we could only climb to 15,000 feet. Which I knew was not going to cool us off very fast. Luckily I had to move back to my original seat, 7C, since the flight was so full. So at least I had the aisle.

TKK-GUM – 1 hours 35 minutes

A snack service was passed out. We arrived a little over an hour late. Customs was a quick process but they would not stamp my passport. I called the hotel shuttle, (which turned out to be a new Lincoln Town Car   ) for a pickup and headed off to get some grub. I ended up at McDonalds since it was late and I did not want to have a sit down meal.

Hotel:
Westin Resort Guam

I wanted to check out Guam since the idea of flying for an airline on an island excites me, I wanted to see what it might be like to live there.

I initially had trouble with the Internet connection in the first room and had to be switched over to another room. Overall the hotel was really nice and on a beautiful stretch of beach. It was located on a busy street with lots of shopping and hoards of Japanese tourists. The room had the signature Westin Heavenly bed, which was, well, heavenly. Especially after spending 19 hours in a Continental 737 coach seat.