How Much Time Elapses B4 Flash Forwards?

There are a few things that I've noticed with regards to time:

Episode 1, Season 4: Roughly 91 days have passed since the crash took place, which puts island time at late December, 2004.

In the "Jack With Beard" flash forward, Jack is flying Oceanic Air regularly on his Golden Ticket. But all Oceanic flights had been suspended after the crash, and were not reinstated until December, 2007 (see "press release" on flyoceanicair.com).

I don't recall if Oceanic was flying in the "Jack Without Beard" flashback... anyone know? This would shed some light on how long it takes before the Losties (or the Oceanic Six) actually get off the island.

Either way, we can safely assume the Jack suicide attempt, the funeral and the meeting with Kate takes place post December, 2007.

how long does it take to grow a beard?

Jack told Hurley while they were playing basketball that he was thinking about growing a beard. I don't know how long it takes to grow one as massive as his was in that flash forward from last season, but I'm guessing at least 6 months. So we could be talking a matter of 9-12 months between when they first get home and the flash forward. Does that mean it's going to take them a couple years to get off the island? Or does it mean that the creators of the show are going to do a little tricky work with time and hope no one notices?

does everyone agree that in terms of chronology, the events of hurleys FF occur prior to the events of jack's FF?

Quote:

Originally Posted by pchee

does everyone agree that in terms of chronology, the events of hurleys FF occur prior to the events of jack's FF?

certainly.

ok, i thought i read a post somewhere where someone didn't think so...

anyway, i read a spoiler a while back that said the losties are going to celebrate their first christmas on the island...this should be coming up soon then, no? according to stylerthedeuce's calculation! yay, mistletoe for jack and kate...

Quote:

Originally Posted by pchee

does everyone agree that in terms of chronology, the events of hurleys FF occur prior to the events of jack's FF?

Pretty sure, b/c Jack tells Hurley he's going to grow a beard in the Hurley flash forwards. Plus Jack seems like he's in good mental shape vs. what seem to be the later Jack flash forwards.

It would be a good Twist if Jack Shaved his beard and Kate straightened him up. Maybe Hurley's is after Jacks? And maybe Jack is lieing about growing a beard. Or maybe hes growing one again.

Well, remember in the special features of the first season, Jimmy Kimmel visits Oahu and talks to Matthew about the fact that the powers of the island influence the beard growth of Jack. So maybe the powers still work after Jack left the island and his beard grows very fast^^

No, seriously; I think there is a quite big amount of time that passes from the first FF to the ones where Jack is completely messed up. He seemed like he was getting on pretty well with his life back in the normal world in the first FF.