Continental Flights to Yap Change

[Sorrows]

So we were all set for our Yap/Palau trip in December and now Continental has made some significant changes in their flights--the most significant being an added 5 hour layover in Guam so that we now arrive in Yap at 1:35 a.m. instead of 9:30 p.m.

So now we would miss the morning diving on an already short dive trip to Yap. I was really looking forward to Yap, had made the reservations and hotel deposits way back in March, but now I think we'll have to skip Yap altogether and just spend the extra days in Palau--if possible.

If I'm not mistaken, it looks like Continental has gone from 3 to 2 flights a week from Guam to Yap (Saturdays and Tuesdays) and Yap to Palau (Sundays and Wednesdays at 12:55 a.m. instead of 10:20 p.m.)

I'm not sure why they have made these changes or if there will be additional changes in the future.

 

[deepstops]

Continental is in the middle of their merger with United (the new airline will be called United using the Continental logo and colors I'm told). These mergers usually involve a review of the financial picture of all flight ops. They may have reduced flights to Yap but increased the size of the plane or something along those lines.

Honestly, I'm not sure where Continental Micronesia fits into the merger scheme but I'm guessing they'll be rebranded as well.

 

[bbarada]

The change in flights was made before the merger.

I don't know where you are staying, but we are going to Yap in March and we're staying at Traders Ridge. They are accommodating us by doing two dives in the afternoon.

 

[Sorrows]

Bbarada, that may be a possibility with Manta Ray--I would imagine all the dive resorts are making accomodation. Not crazy about the 5 hour layover in Guam, though, nor arriving in Palau at 1 a.m.

 

[diverken374]

Bbarada, that may be a possibility with Manta Ray--I would imagine all the dive resorts are making accomodation. Not crazy about the 5 hour layover in Guam, though, nor arriving in Palau at 1 a.m.

I don't know where you are flying from however I am doing a similar Guam, Yap, Palau trip in February. I have a Continental flight from Houston to Kyoto Japan then to Guam arriving at 9:50 p.m and catch the flight to Yap at 10:35 p.m. No long layovers. I am going to see if Manta Bay will accomodate their dive schedule. Not thrilled about the return trip from Yap to Palau at 1:00 a.m either.

 

[Sorrows]

Yes, I saw that flight back in March when I was booking. At the time, total travel time was longer--not I guess it's shorter? Also, perhaps more comfortable? I don't remember if it was more expensive or not.

When you get back, could you let us all know how it was? Perhaps it is the way to go, rather than through Hawaii.

 

[bbarada]

I can't find a Continental flight from Guam to Yap at 10:35 PM.

 

[lilylily]

I am traveling Toronto direct to Narita (12 hours)Air Canada and then onto Guam (4 1/2 hours). Will overnight before I can catch the next morning flight into Palau (1 hour).

 

[diverken374]

I am traveling Toronto direct to Narita (12 hours)Air Canada and then onto Guam (4 1/2 hours). Will overnight before I can catch the next morning flight into Palau (1 hour).

I tried to book a direct flight from Toronto to Narita however by the time I finished working out the flights it cost me more to go one way to Yap then the entire roundtrip price that Live Aboard Vacations gave me. It is just under 14 hours from Houston to Narita even though it is a four hour flight into Houston. The biggest downside is having to go through U.S. Customs in Toronto.