aa61hvy From United States of America, joined Nov 1999, 13975 posts, RR: 59 Posted (2 years 6 months 1 week 16 hours ago) and read 1955 times:
Hey guys,
So as some of you know I'm planning my honeymoon. I am interested in heading over to the Maldives. Now since it's literally on the other side of the world it requires multiple stops. I want to find the best route there.
A few conditions:
-I need to be on AA for as many flights as possible-especially the long segments
-We want to minimize our layover times (no 8hrs in DXB etc)
-Traveling on a fixed schedule leaving on 9/18
So here is what I am thinking may be the easiest:
DFW-LHR AA
LHR-DOH QR
(connection time is 1hr 20 mins-enough time in DOH)?
DOH-MLE QR
MLE-DOH QR
DOH-LHR QR
LHR-DFW AA
The arrival times of AA work well with QR's afternoon departure and on the return I get into LHR around 9am, which allows me to make a connection for lunch time.
Other options I thought of:
DFW-LHR AA
LHR-DXB EK
DXB-MLE EK
MLE-DXB EK
DXB-LHR EK
LHR-DFW EK
Times look good too
DFW-LHR
LHR-MLE on UL
MLE-LHR
LHR-DFW
The problem is, this requires a long lay over in LHR and on the return we get into LHR late, causing us to miss the early connections back to the US.
DFW-ORD AA
ORD-DEL AA
DEL-CMB UL
CMB-MLE UL
and reverse
This requires an overnight stay in DEL and the flight from hell on the DEL-ORD return (tough departure and arrival times)
What does everyone think? Is there a routing utilizing AA that I am missing (looked via NRT/PVG, won't work). I may end up using a travel agent, but I think this is more fun
TurkishWings From Turkey, joined May 2006, 1407 posts, RR: 9 Reply 3, posted (2 years 6 months 1 week 2 hours ago) and read 1870 times:
Why bother going all the way to MLE to start with anyway? As nice as it may be, in my opinion, it is not much different than a small Caribbean island with a luxury resort. I spent 5 days there doing absolutely nothing and swimming in the swimming pool as they would not allow us to swim to deep areas in the sea due to strong currents. I would say go to a Pacific island or to a really nice hotel in the less spoiled parts of the Caribbean and save time and money...
aa61hvy From United States of America, joined Nov 1999, 13975 posts, RR: 59 Reply 4, posted (2 years 6 months 1 week 1 hour ago) and read 1868 times:
Quoting TurkishWings (Reply 3): I would say go to a Pacific island or to a really nice hotel in the less spoiled parts of the Caribbean and save time and money...
Been there and done that. We travel pretty extensively throughout the world including the Caribbean, plus it will be hurricane season that time.
Never been to MLE.
Quoting tk747 (Reply 2): AA to LHR and UL to MLE, I think that they have a non stop flight from London so you won't need to stop in CMB
This requires a 11hr layover in LHR and the return flight gets into LHR late, which requires an overnight stay in LHR.
mickster From Austria, joined Feb 2009, 165 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (2 years 6 months 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 1823 times:
I think a good way would be if you do it DFW NRT CMB MLE - DFW NRT you can fly on AA and NRT CMB MLE on UL. The only drawback is that UL flights out of NRT are only 3 times per week and not very well timed with your potential AA arrival.
It seems AA has two daily arrivals into NRT - @ 1.05pm and @ 3.05pm. On the other hand UL departs NRT @ 1.20pm on Mon / Thu / Sat. So, on the way there your option is to O/N in NRT on 18 Sep, if that is fine with you.
On the way back UL arrives in NRT @ 11.50am on Mon / Thu / Sat (departing from CMB a day earlier). AA flies out of NRT @ 11.30am or @ 6.05pm - so you can have a same day connection or decide once again to overnight.
Other than that you'll find it more difficult to get there through the other available options. Still, here's a list of the airlines serving MLE with direct flights (some already mentioned): SQ from SIN, MH from KUL, PG from BKK, CZ from CAN, FM from PVG, IC from BLR, UN from DME, WY from MCT, EK from DXB, BA from LGW, QR from DOH - getting to these on AA/OW metal though seems more challenging.
aa61hvy From United States of America, joined Nov 1999, 13975 posts, RR: 59 Reply 7, posted (2 years 6 months 6 days 13 hours ago) and read 1782 times:
Quoting mickster (Reply 6):
It seems AA has two daily arrivals into NRT - @ 1.05pm and @ 3.05pm. On the other hand UL departs NRT @ 1.20pm on Mon / Thu / Sat. So, on the way there your option is to O/N in NRT on 18 Sep, if that is fine with you.
That's an interesting idea.
Quoting 330lover (Reply 5): Or maybe return with CX and AA or so to create a round the world ticket?
I like the idea of a RTW trip. I've done one, my lady hasn't.
330lover From Belgium, joined Jul 2008, 504 posts, RR: 1 Reply 8, posted (2 years 6 months 6 days 9 hours ago) and read 1760 times:
About the round-the-world, unfortunately, I don't see a Oneworld connection eastwards from MLE. Suggest you take the short hop to CMB on UL, and then CX/AA
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