It took me 24 hours to fly from Guam to New York, but I figured out how to make the 3-leg trip more bearable

Jan 10, 2020, 23:16 IST

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Three flights, 24 hours, and 9,000 miles - here's how I endured it.

Long-distance flights can feel endless sometimes, especially after a vacation or when you're crammed in coach and traveling solo.
I traveled with United Airlines from Guam to New York with stops in Honolulu and Houston. Including layovers, my total travel time was about 24 hours.
I figured out how to make this trek more bearable by not relying on the airline to feed me, entertain me, or make me feel comfortable. I brought my own food, entertainment, and a comfy neck pillow.
I also used the extra time during my layovers to walk around, making sitting still on a long flight much easier.
Here's how I endured 24 hours of travel.
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It took me 24 hours to fly from Guam to New York, but I figured out how to make the 3-leg trip more bearable

I arrived at the Guam International Airport at around 5:45 a.m. for my 7:40 a.m. flight to Honolulu. But I began preparing for my journey the night before.

On my way to Guam, United's in-flight entertainment sometimes didn't work for hours at a time. So I prepared for my flight by downloading movies and entire seasons of TV shows on my iPad's Netflix app ...

... and Amazon Prime. I downloaded a mixture of comedy and drama to ensure I could satisfy my entertainment cravings for the whole trip.

I arrived at the airport on Guam two hours before my flight. I don't usually arrive at airports this early, but my uncle who travels to the states from Guam often insisted that I give myself some extra time.

And I may have needed the additional time if not for my Premier Access ticket.

I dropped an additional $20 for Premier Access on this 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.

As you can see here, there was hardly a line for United's Premier Access travelers on this particular January morning.

I was still glad I got to the airport early because there's a lot to see at the Guam airport, like this marine life mural painted by Robert Wyland.

Exhibits throughout the airport showcase elements of Chamoru culture.

Having a Premier Access ticket also gave me a chance to spend a final few minutes with some of my Guam-resident family members that met me at the airport to say goodbye.

There was no Premier Access line at security, but the line was pretty short anyway.

Once I got to my gate, people were already lined up to board.

We had to go through customs as we entered the plane.

The sun was rising as I took one last look at Guam and boarded the plane.

The first leg of my trip was an eight-hour flight from Guam to Honolulu.

Although it's a pretty long flight, traveling from Guam to Hawaii isn't technically flying internationally, so United Airlines flights won't provide a free meal. That's why my auntie brought me Kings — a local favorite on Guam.

I began my trip by eating breakfast and watching a dramatic TV series. I hoped a heavy meal would put me right to sleep.

And I was successful! I turned off the show I was watching and instead put on a familiar favorite to fall asleep to.

I woke up to Ferris Bueller singing Twist and Shout about an hour later.

At this point, 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.

First I went to the bathroom, where lotion and face mist were available.

I left the bathroom feeling refreshed from these products. This was the only leg of my trip that offered these amenities, but I suggest always checking when you're on a long flight.

Next, I went to the large open space by the bathrooms to stretch.

I used this cushioned pad to help me stay balanced as I stretched.

When I got back to my seat, I continued to watch 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 got to be in the air for the entire sunset.

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 — three heritages that influence life in Hawaii.

Next, I browsed some of the stores at the airport. A store called From Hawaii with Love has a huge selection of souvenirs that don't look like generic airport gifts ...

... like this small bag collection, which features a pug that looks just like mine.

This flower shop sells fresh leis made from Hawaiian flowers.

While I was walking around the airport, I began to notice how sweaty I was getting.

I always get sweaty when I'm traveling through Hawaii ...

... since parts of the terminals are outdoor covered spaces.

During the day, you can see the Ko'olau volcanic range from this view.

Since I planned to get sweaty, I brought a fresh T-shirt and undergarments to change into in Hawaii.

So when I was done walking around outside, I headed to the women's bathroom ...

... and left feeling fresh.

My last stop before my gate was this market to pick up a water bottle.

At less than $4, this was the cheapest brand of water in stock.

When I got to my gate, I took a seat by the window.

When I saw people were already lining up to board the aircraft, I knew I had succeeded in killing time in Hawaii.

In no rush to get on the plane I was about to spend seven and a half hours on, I let most of the other passengers board before me.

While I was waiting, I stretched my legs one last time.

Since we flew through the night, the plane was pitch black for most of the trip. Most people seemed to fall asleep, but I couldn't.

The lights were only turned on as flight attendants handed out drinks and free snacks, which were Stroopwaffles, Biscoff cookies, or tiny pretzels.

During this flight, I really wanted to get up stretch, but I mistakenly booked another window seat for this viewless flight, and the people sitting next to me seemed to be in deep slumber. So I did some seated yoga poses in my chair.

I knew it would take me less than 24 hours to get bored of watching TV, so I also downloaded issues of the New Yorker on my iPad.

While I was reading, I noticed the sun began to rise.

I continued to read fiction after fiction in 2019 issues of the New Yorker while I watched the sunrise.

When we landed, the sun was up ...

... and I was in Houston for the final leg of my trip. I had a two-hour layover in Houston.

After taking a long walk around the airport to get my blood flowing, I grabbed a taco and some chips and queso near my gate.

Then I headed to my gate.

I snagged a seat by the window to take a look at the plane I was about to board.

At this point, I realized how absolutely exhausted I was from a whole day of traveling. I've 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 in what felt like just a few minutes. What a perfect way to end my trip.