ryane946

I have never heard of Continental Micronesia. I know Continental has a Guam "hub", but I didn't look into where they fly and with what kind of aircraft. Can you tell me about Continental Micronesia; is it owned by Continental, an airline within an airline, or just a codeshare?

Also, I was intrigued that Continental only flew to Guam domestically from Honolulu. If Guam is like United or Northwest's hub in Tokyo, why don't they fly there from their mainland hubs?
Thanks

Chris

I've flown on miconesia many times. They do island hopping from GUM (to saipan, yap, etc), GUM to NRT, MNL. Guam is 8 hours or something away from HNL. I believe it's a 76 HNL-GUM and a 73 from NRT-GUM (I think) and GUM-MNL.

I don't know why they don't fly from mainland, they would be killer flights though. Maybe there's just not that much demand.

Chris

calcapt

Continental Micronesia is simply Continental' s operation in Guam. It is a separate entity as far as certificates and companies are concerned but it is essentially an extention of Continental. CO pilots are free to bid to Guam and employment and contractural issues are the same. CO used to operate DC-10's and 727's out of Guam but now only operate the 737-800. All are ETOPS birds and it is some of the most beautiful and challenging flying in the world. I think the question of non-stop flights to Guam are simply a matter of demand. Many going to/from Guam are not going to the states so a stop in Honolulu makes sense. I had the opportunity to spend a year in Guam flying for AIR MIC and have never regretted it. Historically, Guam has been the junior base for CO so many new hire pilots have been forced to go there right out of training. It is a 7 hour flight from Honolulu and it is very difficult to commute. I recently looked at the staffing in Guam and new hires are no longer being required to go there - most go to Newark and a few end up in Houston. I would recommend to any new hire CO pilot who is looking for a little adventure to pack up and try it for a year or two. I guarantee you will remember it for the rest of your career.

Kill Bill

having been there myself (two tours in GUM plus another one in MNL on the old freighter deal we had with DHL) i would be careful about GUM. virtually EVERYTHING there is substandard from schools to medical facilities to utilities to govt services. on the other hand, if you're excited by not knowing if the lights will work when you flip the switch and enjoy driving on pot-holed roads, not to mention that most of the locals will treat you with disdain at best, then give it a shot.

i've found over the years that people either love it or hate it, no in between. personally, if i never see the place again it will be way too soon.

it is a great place to travel from if you like asia. a friend of mine commutes from brisbane, australia. getting to/from the mainland can be a nightmare and you will find that all kinds of friends of the gate agents get upgraded ahead of you illegally and there's nothing you can do about it; your complaints will be "investigated" and you'll never hear from them again.

LAX-GUM has been talked about for years but nothing has ever come of it. i assume that's because there's little demand.

Chris

i'm already scarred for life from not being able to get off the island for days i was almost on a first name basis with the entire marriott staff. oh yeah, if you're staying there and flying the GUM-MNL leg you won't even need to chance your currency, b/c the coin machine downstairs that's supposed to change your dollars-quarters changes it to filipino pisos instead sometimes.

KB is right about the substandard living conditions. keep your wallet in your front pocket too.

on another note, i loved the beaches and the mall wasn't too bad. guam felt like home after spending a month in asia.

Chris

calcapt

Let me be more specific. I didn't say you would remember it fondly for the rest of your career, just that you "would remember it". I had some bad with the good in Guam but all who have been there must admit that the flying in Air Mic is quite different than anything you will experience in Newark or Cleveland or anywhere else for that matter. I remember sitting around the pool at the hotel mi-ana (probably spelled wrong) with my crash pad roomies drinking beer talking about life, women and when we were going to play golf at Anderson AFB the next day. I recall playing for 36 holes for under 10 bucks with a million dollar view of the pacific. Sure there were the cha-morons and all the sub-standard schools, health care and on and on and on...But, for a time I just enjoyed the friendship of my peers and tried to make the best of being in a place that most of us would probably rather not be. I suppose Guam is what you make of it and I chose the good rather than focus on the bad. There is plenty of both at Air Mic!!

lowrydr

Wow. When was the last time you visited Guam? Immediately following a Typhoon (which Guam gets a fair share of) the conditions may be 'substandard' but the rest of the time things are OK. Public schools aren't nearly as good as those on the mainland, but there are numerous private schools which are excellent. There was a lot of corrpution surrounding the last governor which helped contribute to the many problems with public infrastructure, however things are significantly improving. Telephones work, the water flows now, and power doesn't go out anymore (except in rare cases).

Unfortunately this has not changed. This has been happening for a long time, and to my knowledge there has never been any action taken. I've seen families and buddy passes 'secretly' getting first class before pilots with 25 years seniority. GUM gate agents always write your seat assignment on your boarding pass instead of printing a new one. Next time you think someone got upgraded who shouldn't have, see "Check Boarding" under "Travel Tools" to find out what seats were really assigned.

I'm in Newark, and I'd much rather be in Guam. The weather is better, a nice homes is significantly less expensive there, and the beaches are much nicer than those in New Jersey.

lowrydr

Healthcare in Guam isn't so good, however I know several people who go to the Philippines for anything beyond a normal checkup. You'll often get better medical care there than you'd get in many places throughout the US mainland.

Kill Bill

i flew the 767-400 on the 8 day trips for about 2 years until going back to the left seat on the 737 about 10 months ago.

guam is a pit. i was first sentenced to gum in 1988 on the 88-01R bid. it was bad then, it's bad now, it just has a lot more hotels.

Boneman

If I were twenty-something and single, no attachments, I'd be there in a heart beat. If I were fourty-something and recently divorced I'd go just for the hell of it and for the flying. Otherwise I think not.