United Airlines Managing Director for Global Government and Regulatory Affairs Dan Weiss wrote to CNMI Senate President Edith Deleon Guerrero and House Speaker Edmund Villagomez responding to concerns recently raised by lawmakers about the cost of travel.

“Having seen the media reports about your discussion and no mentioning of United resident fares I felt compelled to write to your attention,” Weiss said.

Weiss confirmed that an economy cabin, round-trip ticket price to Guam from Saipan is $580, which includes taxes and fees. He explained that this fair is fully refundable, with the flexibility to cancel, and it also allows one checked bag, one carry-on bag, and rescheduling without additional fees.

He added, “Indeed, United provides higher priced fares than what appears to have been discussed by the Legislature but which come with additional amenities such as booking into United's Economy Plus seating (additional Economy Cabin leg- room) and/or United's Business Class cabin.”

Weiss also explained that United provides a lower fare for residents of the CNMI and Guam.

He said, “United offers residents of the CNMI and Guam access to a "resident" fare of$302 round-trip for Basic Economy and $402 round-trip for Standard Economy, both fares excluding taxes and fees. These fares are made available only to local residents and require the traveler to input their island location in the United website or app prior to starting a flight search.”

He added, “While these fares have some restrictions on checked bags, advanced seat assingment and could only be cancelled for future travel credits (i.e., non-redundable), these fares offer residents in the islands a fare that is $254 below what the CNMI Legislature appears to have discussed. With these lower fares if the traveler does not want/need to check a bag, there is no charge. If the traveler is not concerned about specific seating in the aircraft, there is no charge.”

Recently, Guam and CNMI leaders have called for solutions to the relatively high cost of inter-island travel. In a recent meeting, Guam and NMI lawmakers discussed potentially pushing for the U.S. Congress to exempt the Marianas from federal cabotage laws, allowing foreign airlines to provide low-cost travel in the Marianas.