Cabotage
Overview
Guam Impact
Cabotage rules prevent foreign airlines from flying passengers from Guam to the mainland US, even if they stop in another country on the way. Sometimes people book two separate tickets to try and get a better deal, but I personally know people who have booked two separate foreign carrier tickets from the mainland to Guam via Korea who were denied boarding on the second flight bound to Guam. The law is unclear about how long one must stay in another country to avoid cabotage rules, but in Korea the local authorities seem to be playing it safe with a 96 hour rule, as mentioned in the article below. I also have heard of people booking two separate tickets via the Philippines without any trouble, but I think the safest options, from lowest to highest risk are as follows:
- Book your trip on a single ticket
- If time permits, plan a few days in the layover country (at least 96 hours)
- Book at least one leg on a US carrier if booking two separate tickets
- Travel through Manila with a shorter layover. You still should allow at least 3 hours, ideally more for Manila transit, especially if changing airlines as the connections between terminals are difficult. More info on changing terminals here: Manila Airport Transfer Guide
More info about cabotage issues via Korea:
