My “Around the World Trip” with Star Alliance got off to a rocky start.

The entire trip was planned around a thrice-weekly flight called the “Pacific Island Hopper,” operated by United Airlines. It departs Honolulu and stops at various islands en route to Guam.

Not 45 minutes before my 10hr flight to Honolulu was to begin boarding in Toronto, I was notified that the next day’s Pacific Island Hopper, the one I was booked on, had been cancelled, and that I had been automatically rebooked on a nonstop flight to Guam.

I know a few tricks of the aviation industry and decided to do a little investigating. Sure enough I found that there was still a flight operating the Island Hopper route, but it was operating a modified schedule with a different number. I realized that since my ticket was all the way to Guam, the airline’s rebooking brains just figured they’d put me on the nonstop flight instead of the modified Island Hopper service. This would probably have been ideal for 9/10 people. The challenge was now to get on the modified flight.

The wifi on board my flight from Toronto to Honolulu allowed me to rebook by collaborating with a United Airlines agent via text message. Disaster was averted thanks to the advances of onboard technology.

I speculate that the original flight I was booked on was cancelled and replaced by a new one because of a delay involving the aircraft on an earlier flight. Because of its unusual nature, the Island Hopper route is flown specially trained crews and a small fleet of 737-800s specifically modified for purpose. I don’t believe they would have many spare crews and aircraft should problems arise.

The inbound flight seems to have experienced some delays. The new flight is also delayed from 7:30am until 11:45am. The airline has said that the delay is so the crew can meet minimum legal rest requirements. Presumably to make up time, it is cutting the stop on Pohnpei – one of the prettiest islands on the route.

For the avgeeks, my original flight was UA132, the Island Hopper flight that doesn’t stop in Kwajalein or Kosrae. So having Pohnpei axed is disappointing.

The real adventure begins today. Good morning from Honolulu.