24 HOURS on a BOEING 737! Crossing the Pacific on the Island Hopper 

I’ve seen Jeb Brooks and Sam Chui take this route in business class. But you, the absolute mad lad, chose to fly this route in economy!! I tip my hat to you good sir!

Love the British response to someone collapsing. “Poor sod” (disclaimer - I hope they’re okay just made me chuckle)

Fun fact, Kwajalein Atoll, where you landed (top secret military base), used to have a launch site for rockets. If you have ever heard of SpaceX before, this is the location where they launched their first rockets before moving on to bigger stuff.

I was hoping the Island Hopper would be the surprise you teased in your previous video! I was fortunate to fly it in the late 90s on a Continental Micronesia 727, complete with a stop on Johnston Island. It was pre-9/11, and we were able to deplane at most stops (not Johnston or Kwaj, of course) and buy drinks and snacks and local souvenirs (including some amazing dried tuna made with local pepper at Pohnpei) at the airport. Glad you finally got to do it!

Wow, I can't wait to grow up and travel the world as a pilot. The international date line is very high in my bucket list, thanks for all you do Noel, sharing your adventures really does aspire people like me to aim high.

Noel. Thanks for the flashback. I lived/worked on Kwaj for 2 years. It was an amazing time. If you get time, I'd highly suggest spending some time on the islands. They are amazing beautiful and the locals are great folks.

I have a former student from Micronesia. His Mom is Japanese, his dad an American of Polish heritage, and his paternal grandmother was Spanish. His name is Japanese, Spanish, Polish, and Polynesian. It was like teaching the United Nations. :-) (And he is bright, interesting, and funny. I miss teaching!)

Love it! Keep it up! Been watching you for over a few years and love each of your videos!

Amazing journey and in peasant class as well, would be nice to see the takeoff at normal speed, best part of the journey on a plane. Look forward to the next one.

I’ve been binge watching your videos these past few days. I work from home for a hospital and these videos have helped my work day go by so fast! Found you about a month or so ago and never thought that anything like this would interest me as I’ve never even flown lol but you’re very entertaining!

Wow, @Noel Philips! This was absolutely unreal. If there was ever a debate about who's the most interesting guy in this business, I think this video puts you well above everybody else. You gotta love the fact that you chose to fly in Economy, even if the Business class ticket price was less than 50% more expensive (if I looked it up right). In my opinion, losing the connection from Guam to Manila was a good thing, that would've been on another level of exhausting. Your content is absolutely amazing and apparently it's getting even better. Personally, I would love to see some videos about South America and their airlines and also some parts of Africa that I am not sure you have visited, especially Reunion or Mauritius. I honestly can't wait to cash in my salary check so I can finally become a patreon. Keep on doing what you're doing!

Cheers Noel! I do hope this summer you get to complete that greyhound bus trip across America.

Nice video as always Noel! I'm 5'8, and I'd have struggled to sit so long in that tiny little seat... Literally didn't know this route was a thing. Bravo mate!

Nice video, sorry that you encountered a delay... When I first flew the Island Hopper in 2015, we were stuck overnight (and put up in hotels) on Majuro due to technical issues (APU broke, United had to fly a second 737 with parts and mechanics 2000 miles from Guam to fix our 737). Then the next night we were stuck on Chuuk for 10 hours due to pilots timing out on hours (no hotel for passengers). Landed in Guam 36 hours late, but it was the greatest travel adventure of my life. Got to see much more of both the Marshall Islands and Micronesia than I bargained for! Flew the route again in 2016 and the flight was perfectly on time, and got to spend four nights at a beachfront resort in Guam (as planned)...which was the best resort I ever stayed in ever. Absolutely wonderful part of the world, and the United staff on those islands and on the flight are amazing!

Glad United took good care of you! Side questions - Have you ever totaled up how many miles/hours you have flown?

Hello, I lived in the Military base on Kwajalein Island in Kwajalein Atoll. I saw this flight all the time. Was a cool experience and reminds me of my time there in 2016-2018

Added to want to do flight list. Hope the comments spread a little more love, the ending felt so sad. Keep up the excellent work, the videos starting in US are opening up a whole new area of the world to explore.

I'm glad that you DO AND STILL HAVE Patience and fly still while the unexpected delays from this trip

Thanks for sharing this journey with us Noel.

I always enjoy your "milk run" type flights!

Noel mate youre a man of the people

This flight is on my bucket list, but I'd want to do it in stages and stop off for a day or two at each of the islands. I've heard Kosrae is beautiful, Pohnpei has a UNESCO heritage site of ancient ruins that's worth checking out, and Chuuk has several sunken WW2 era ships that make for some of the best scuba diving in the world.

Very interesting! My bones couldn’t take that trip! Glad they put you up. Sorry the lounge was closed. You have a lot more stamina than I do!

Love the dateline comment. Ppl never notice how wild it is. Be safe good travels

Noel, you do the journeys many other nav channels don't. Good on ya

been in your shoes noel! unforeseen delay on my flight from CHC to AKL meant i missed my connection there. luckily Air NZ found me a seat on another flight back home. Always give yourself as much connection time as possible.

Excellent video as always... I would love to visit The Philippines and Guam some day!

The fun part is flying back when you jump BACK a day and arrive before you left I think (at least that's how it is flying from say Tokyo back to the US).

The most interesting of the vloggers - I can’t stand the others who only travel luxury and think we are interested in seeing themselves just stuff themselves

Stayed in that exact hotel a couple years ago!

People used to do this every day. Airlines were still operating 707’s in the 70’s from The west Coast to Pacific destinations.

Thank you for this video - been hoping you'd do the Island Hopper.

Also, you could look back in time if you looked backward crossing the Date Line.

Very interesting exotic way to cross the Pacific

Hi Noel! I originally thought about flying MNL-GUM-HNL-LAX on United but realized it was too expensive, so I opted for MNL-NRT on AirAsia and then NRT-LAX on United for almost half the fare. Maybe next time. Cheers! - Red

I was born on Kwaj we flew either the Mac flight, or Continental when traveling to Hawaii.

6’4”…didn’t know you were that tall from watching all your videos. Now it puts the legroom situation in perspective

yeah an hour layover is NEVER enough time with all the crap that can happen (as you found out), good on united for stepping up to take care of you though! Wasn't expecting that! lol

While I know of course that you know America quite well, I’m excited to see your journey into all things American. Like when I’m overseas and I see a United plane I’m like, “ah home!” You’re definitely right about our buttery bread tho, sometimes it can be a little much.

Never knew this was a thing. I’d love to retrace those early aviation routes. Thanks

Best part of staying at that Sheraton: the TOTO Bidet Toilet Seats !

ive turned a plane in 25 minutes. from pulling into the gate to ready to push in 25 minutes, all bags off, on, deplaned, cleaned, and boarded

Noel did it in Economy! Brave man!

Don't think I'd do a flight this but glad you made it. Good on ya.

I like how the ground crew line up to wave goodbye….

3:13 my guy spawned on the best seat in an aircraft

Another great video! Thanks. Loved the international date line countdown.

Your videos are addicting, keep them coming "Lord Phillips"😄👍

I took the island hopper flight in March of 1999 on a Continental Micronesia B727-200 and loved it. Still my favorite trip Ive ever taken. I really want to do it again but my wif would kill me.

Wow! imagine if you were in a middle seat!!! nice job toughing it out!

Nice one Noel long winded trip that was but you stuck at it cheers have a Top week 🙂🇬🇧✌️

Really good. I enjoyed looking at all the islands on Google Maps, took a while to find Chuuk as first look I just looked at the outer atoll. On a binge of your vids, done Africa and Asia, and all are most enjoyable. Top class. Thanks, from a guy now too old to travel.

Damn I felt airsick just watching , that’s some serious leg , must be exhausting, big balls to you doing these long haul flights 👍

I really hope to travel like you one day

I flew that route from HNL to GUM on Continental Micronesia just one year before it became United. I loved getting a taste of each island. The Majuro atoll and Micronesian islands were lovely to see on approach. In Majuro and Kosrae, we could even get off the plane and go to the mini terminal where locals were selling local products. Amazing handicraft in Majuro and various local things from Kosrae, including the local coconut oil reputed for skin care. Unfortunately, it was impossible to do the same and even just get off the plane in Pohnpei and Chuuk, let alone Kwajalein. I loved that experience even though it was then known as the longest scheduled commercial flight.

The problem with airline food in US is that most catering is done by Lufthansa's Sky Chefs service and people don't realize how bad the service can be compared to most Asian-based airlines that contract other companies for their catering.

Golly... That long flight in a coach seat. I don't think I could have done it! Kudos to you for sticking it out.

I don't know if the flight still exit with a stop in Wake Island to Manila. The landing on Wake was a thrill.

Hi Noel. What app are you using to track your flight during the flight? My apps never are able to track my progress.

I'm surprised they're not using the MAX on this route yet.

Another top Video Noel :)

You're probably going to need to start wearing DVT stockings and take blood thinners if you keep doing these long milk train rides. Seriously, it's hard to stay crammed in a seat that long.

So you do fly economy on occasion, saving a little bit of coin. Nice

Great flight(s). Nice to see you flying economy like us commoners!! It’s a shame you don’t ever seem to enjoy any of your destinations before you’re off again.

I'd love to live on an island in the middle of the Pacific

You can do the tour of William Howard Tafts house in Cincinnati - highly recommend. Very impressive tour.

13:10 - Interesting... I've heard of passengers on this route being forced to keep the window shades shut, in addition to the "no photos/video" warning.

I'm surprised they let you on with so many "bags" (like from SB) although I guess it seems like maybe you gate-checked the big case? This is a pretty wild itinerary - I'm glad the flight attendants were surprised at your craziness too.

Thank you for reviewing such interesting flights. Particularly in coach class with difficult itineraries.

No bog review?

Used to be able to get out at most stops, stretch your legs, and get a souvenir passport stamp before re-boarding. The exceptions are: Majuro's rude immigration guy won't give a stamp and, as you said, can't get out at Kwajalein.

Great video. Impressed by your phlegmatic attitude towards the possibility of a missed connecting flight. I was more anxious than you.

I just missed ya leaving Honolulu, I just got back from there

Haven’t mentioned any food on these flights Noel .

That is about the same legroom as I had for 25 hours on a Royal Brunei flight from UK to New Zealand.

It’s a bit unfortunate that you didn’t show us (or didn’t had the time) a little bit of Guam. Would be interested to see what’s going on there.

7 or 8 take offs and landings! I 'd love that, but it sure is a long day!

With all that flying you have done, what would you say to someone who wants to get over their fear of flying? You make these long hauls look effortless.

Great video Noel. I need to add this to my bucket list. What a trip. Travel safe!! Much love from Pennsylvania!

Noel Philips meet and greet in Australia plz

Just watching this video gives me cloister phobia

Regarding the bread, Noel. Americans use sugar to add flavour whereas us Brits use salt. That’s why stuff tastes weird to us and vice versa!

Fab treck Noel, What with all its peculiar quirks. It does look absolutely exhausting. Nice work.

I'm flying out with virgin upper class and delta first class on my way out to Hawaii in October for a month

Interesting that’s a top secret air base that happens to have United service!

Done the same trip about 20y ago on CS or Continental Micronesia. Back then it would stop at Yap and Palau between Guam and Manila. On Kwajalein you should visit Ebeye, called the Manhattan of the Pacific. Quite the eyeopener. In Kosrae buy some Tangerines, delicious. Kwajalein is a missile test site and also the largest atoll in the world. ICBMs would be fired from mainland US into that lagoon. Speaking to some who work at the base you could see how the individual warheads separate above it. You can disembark if you transfer directly to Ebeye. From Majuro you used to be able to fly to Bikini when the dive operation was still active there. Highlight the USS Saratoga. They called it the US nuclear fleet as it was sunk in/after a atomic bomb test. There is an interesting story about the South Park Hotel on Pohnpei and Kenny who works (worked?) there. That mountain is called Sokeh's Rock and you can climb on top of it by holding on to the metal pipe that leads the electricity for the navigation lights on top of it. Stunning views of the airport and approaching plane. Chuuk has an entire Japanese fleet sunk in it's lagoon, over 100 vessels.

Thoroughly enjoyable as usual. keep living the dream

Noel, where is the on board foodies??? No food flight???

Very interesting flight. I might just like to try this out to Manila from the US in one direction to check out the islands and to get a feel for how vast the Pacific really is.

7:36 This is something as an American I’ve never noticed but you’re the second RU-vidr from the UK that I’ve heard say this so it must be true🤣. I’ve been to 54 countries so far but have yet to visit the UK but when I do I’ll be comparing bread to see how legit this complaint is👍🏽👍🏽

I assume I'm not the only one stuck Kwajalein Atoll into Google Maps and flipped on satellite view then? :D

when i saw you were on a united 737 i thought yikes xero leg room on that plane.

Better you than me, my man. I'd go nuts being trapped on a plane for that long. I just wish we had seen more of the islands you stopped at. It's always a good day when you drop a new video. Thanks!

I did this flight in the 90s when it was operated by A Continental Micronesia 727-200. All the way to Guam. My first stop was an island called Kwalajien, an old Army base. It was a great day. I nearly got bumped off in Honolulu though due to it being overbooked. They offered me lots of perks to go on the direct flight to Guam. I had to explain to them I had travelled all the way from Australia to do this special flight. They let me on. I returned to Honolulu on the direct Continental DC-10 service after a week exploring Guam and Palau.

Noel absolutely fantastic video. Now this is flying. Man I would love to do something like this, but my final destination would have to be my vacation stop. Only the 1 meal you received on 1st portion of the flight 5 hrs. Luckily you bought Starbucks to take with you. I am surprised flight was booked full all the way to Guam. It is great United took care of you for the delay. Okay mate catch you next video cheers

Good to see you are flying economy again, more people can relate/ appreciate your flight👍 Can you do the flight from Honolulu to Pago Pago ( American Samoa)? I would love to see your review on this flight

I think Alaska does something similar called a milk runner!

I guess the upside of the delay is you got to see Guam by daylight. I had a short visit to Guam when I visited a friend in the Northern Mariana Islands. I really liked the place and still have fond memories of my 24 hours plus in Guam.

I thought u did the island Hopper a few years ago?!

On the positive side, you got a day in Guam to see the sights.