I arrived at the Guam International Airport around 5:45 a.m. for my 7:40 a.m. United Airlines flight to Honolulu, but I began preparing for my journey the night before.
That first flight was about eight hours long, and I’d learned from previous trips that United’s in-flight entertainment sometimes doesn’t work for hours at a time. So I downloaded books, movies, and entire seasons of TV shows on my iPad to make it feel like time was going by faster.
Although the airport was small, long-haul journeys make me anxious, so arriving early eased some of my stress. It also allowed me to spend a final few minutes with some of my Guam-resident family members who met me at the airport to say goodbye.
I dropped an additional $20 for Premier Access for the first leg of the trip, which gives United passengers access to a shorter check-in line and, in some airports, a shorter security line and priority boarding as well, according to the airline.
There was hardly a line for United’s Premier Access travelers on this particular January morning.
About an hour into my flight to Hawaii, I decided it was time for a bathroom break and to stretch my legs. I reluctantly bugged the sleepers to my right so I could get up and found an ample open space by the bathrooms to stretch.
During the next flight, I was in a window seat with two sleeping passengers beside me, so I did some seated yoga poses in my chair.
When I returned to my seat, I watched television on my iPad until I noticed the sun was setting. At around the same time, Hawaii’s islands came into view. I just sat and enjoyed the view.
It got darker as we approached the airport, and I was glad I was in the air for the entire sunset.
So I recommend booking a window seat if you know your flight will have stunning views.
When I got to Hawaii, I had to go through customs and then back through security, which took less than an hour.
My entire layover was almost three hours, so I had some time to kill. I decided to spend it on my feet since I was about to sit for hours.
I spent some time admiring the Cultural Gardens, which merge Chinese, Japanese, and Hawaiian cultures, according to the Official State of Hawaii.
Next, I browsed some of the airport stores and found a huge selection of souvenirs and fresh leis made from Hawaiian flowers.
I let most passengers board before me since I was in no rush to get on the plane I was about to spend seven and a half hours on.
While I was waiting, I stretched my legs one last time.
I had a two-hour layover in Houston. After taking a long walk around the airport to get my blood flowing, I realized how absolutely exhausted I was from a whole day of traveling. I’d always dreamed of sleeping all the way through a flight so it feels like you arrived in the blink of an eye.
After boarding, I got cozy, closed my eyes, and hoped for the best. I woke up in New York three hours later, though it felt like just a few minutes. What a perfect way to end my trip.
So next time I’m dreading the 24-hour journey to Guam, I’ll remember that sleep gets easier by the last leg.