Non-rev to Palau: possible?
 

Skywest guy here, thinking of trying to non-rev to Palau from SFO (SFO-HNL-GUM-Palau) in February. I'm guessing that island-hopper 737 is usually completely full, right? Should I even attempt it? Any advice would be most welcome...

It's also a 757 to/from NRT a couple of days a week on Delta as well. Great place to non-rev as RELATIVELY inexpensive (comparable to Hawaii), uses US greenbacks as currency, diveshops friendly to aircrew. Use sams dive shop or necomarine for free rental gear if you tell them your aircrew (or at least thats the way it used to be). Stay at the PPR if your bringing your romantic partner, if budget is more important you can stay much cheaper off beach.

Don't forget the SFO-NRT-GUM option also.... actually might be easier. Pretty sure daily service with alternating prop and 737 flying the route... maybe someone from GUM can pipe in... definitely sounds like a doable plan.

Ah, very cool to know. Yup, bringing wifey and planning on a lot of diving. After 6 straight trips to Thailand and diving the Surins/Similans, it's time for something new...

Just kind of petrified of getting stuck there. Last-minute airfares ain't cheap to buy...

Koror is pretty well served. I believe Delta serves it out of Narita so that could be an option. Several other carriers fly there at various times, mostly Asian as I recall, so ID90's are probably an option too. United serves it direct from Guam and also via Yap and Manila.

As cool as the island hopper is to experience, you can end up in non rev hades. At every stop, you will be asked to leave the plane as a non rev for a new seat assignment. The last leg from Chuuk to Guam is frequently jammed full and often weight restricted. Since there is not daily service from Chuuk to Guam, you can get stuck in Weno which is basically Newark after dark.

If you want to holiday in Palau, go the lesser risk route. Delta NRT is 4X/week and United is daily via GUM (2Xweek routes with MNL/1day YAP). Palau is amazing place although the Chinese tourist blow up has not been kind.

Island Hopper is not the only way to get HNL -GUM. There's also a non-stop.

If everything runs on time you could go straight through from SFO with minimal connect time.

I'd suggest buying a roundtrip from GUM-ROR though, especially if you're bringing dive gear. It's often weight restricted and I think that'll be the most tricky part of your journey - it's not a destination that's served everyday and you could get stuck.

I priced it out for January and you're looking at around $550 round trip from Guam. If you can non-rev the other segments it would still be a very cheap Palau vacation, air travel wise. You could always price it out the day of travel and if you don't make it out to GUM just cancel, as it'll be within 24 hours.

Non-rev to Palau: possible?
 

From SFO...HNL-GUM-ROR (direct) is recommended, usually open out of HNL. As mentioned previously the island hop and get pretty dicey and you could get stuck along the way. Although Chuuk wouldn't be a bad place to get stuck, they have some great WWII ship wreck dives. Palau diving however is choice. PPR great place to stay , they have over water bungalows and a good Buffett option. Palau Royal resort is also a nice hotel with a great bar near by called The Drop off. Recommend Taj for great Indian food. Budget hotel recommendation...Penthouse, they also have decent restaurant serving Local,American, Japanese food.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

If you do go about buying a confirmed ticket for a portion or all of the flights, don't forget to check the "Fly Confirmed for less" option with UA. As a Skywester you'll be able to use that benefit as well.

Sorry to nitpick, but I have never heard or seen a weight restriction out of ROR. And it is served daily, but only as sole nonstop 4 days/week. What can happen is a last minute equipment sub from 800 to 700. That has banged non revs before.