Passengers on a United Airlines flight from Guam to Honolulu experienced the thrill of celebrating New Year’s Day twice, thanks to a fascinating quirk of geography.
The flight departed Guam, a US territory, on January 1, 2025, at 7:25 AM and crossed the International Date Line, landing in Honolulu on December 31, 2024, at 6:40 PM.
The International Date Line (IDL), an imaginary boundary in the Pacific Ocean, separates calendar days. When planes travel eastward across the IDL, they “gain” a day, creating the surreal experience of stepping back in time. Travellers on this route became unofficial time travellers, ringing in the New Year twice during the seven-hour flight.
United Airlines previously promoted this unique journey, telling customers: “You only live once, but you can celebrate New Year’s Eve twice!” While the phenomenon isn’t exclusive to New Year’s Day, it adds a magical twist to holiday celebrations.
Similar flights from cities like Tokyo and Sydney also provide this once-a-year time travel experience for those heading eastward across the IDL.
