Trip June to Dubai and Maldives

[chuchem]

I was planing on taking a trip to the Maldives in June. I have 8-9 days time. I wanted to try Emirates business class with co miles before their divorce from CO

I was able to get the following

Wed.
Zrh-Dxb Emirates 22:15-06:20   Business
Thursday Dubai
Friday
Dxb-Mle 03:20-08:30                 Economy (will hopefully get business closer to date)
Thursday
MLE-DXB 09:55-12:55              Economy (will hopefully get business closer to date)
Friday
DXB-IST Turkish Business 02:35-06:30
IST-ZRH Turkish Business 07:45-09:45

I came up with a new idea, it might be to much, wanted to know what you guys think

Wed. Zrh-Dxb 22:15-06:20 Business EK
thu    Dxb-Mle 09:45-15:05 Economy EK
5 nights in Maldives
Tue   Mle-DXB 09:55-12:55 Economy EK
1 night in Dubai (less then 24 hours)
Wed Dxb-CPT 08:50-16:25 Business EK
1 night in CPT  (STOPOVER)
Thursday
CPT-JNB                  SA BUSINESS
JNB-IST 19:25-06:15 TK BUSINESS
IST-ZRH 07:45-09:45 TK BUSINESS

Is it worth being a day less in the maldives to see Capetown? Its winter and I will only have 24 hours. But then again, I dont know when I will get my next chance
I dont know if CO will allow this routing anyhow

[damaxer91]

Considering the fact that this forum is full of people who frequent those locales, its the perfect place to ask!

Seriously, try FT.

[SuperFlyer]

Try austrian, there are times in the year, when no one booked a single seat to MLE.

[Dan]

I can't imagine that it's worth cutting MLE short for such a short time in CPT.  I would enjoy every second of an Overwater Bungalow in MLE that I could.

Try austrian, there are times in the year, when no one booked a single seat to MLE.

Austrian flies to MLE? 
I know BA does from LGW and SQ does from SIN.  Who else flies?

[aussiebochur]

I can't imagine that it's worth cutting MLE short for such a short time in CPT.  I would enjoy every second of an Overwater Bungalow in MLE that I could.
Austrian flies to MLE? 
I know BA does from LGW and SQ does from SIN.  Who else flies?

I think Austrian is seasonal.

That you can redeem miles on, Aeroflot, China Southern, Qatar, Malaysian.
Could be more.
If you are buying a ticket, there are a bunch of the little airlines.

[chuchem]

Wed. Zrh-Dxb 22:15-06:20 Business EK
thu    Dxb-Mle 09:45-15:05 Economy EK
5 nights in Maldives
Tue   Mle-DXB 09:55-12:55 Economy EK
1 night in Dubai (less then 24 hours)
Wed Dxb-CPT 08:50-16:25 Business EK
1 night in CPT
Thursday
CPT-JNB                  SA BUSINESS
JNB-IST 19:25-06:15 TK BUSINESS
IST-ZRH 07:45-09:45 TK BUSINESS


I have this on hold with CO, tried to ticket it and they said, it will not work, as they cant route me through africa on the way back. Is there a rule that says that? I have a person, that I call sometimes and she is very nice. Have to try tomorrow morning. Will a second agent be able to ticket this, if the first agent was not able to? Or will the computer block it? Can they manually override it, if I drive them crazy and say its not fair, reservation went through.....

[Dan]

Makes sense to me that Africa isn't a valid transit regios for that itin.  If the computer won't price it very few agents will be willing to manually price it.

[chuchem]

Ok, I will try tomorrow. Maybe she will do it. If not, I will just leave it to

Zrh-Dxb business
dxb-mle economy

mle-dxb economy
dxb-zrh  direct in y or via ist in c

On the way back, I can take a flight leaving dubai with EK in economy at 16:00 pm or wait until 02:00 and fly with turkish in business via ist. I dont know if its worth the shlep via Ist just to get business. Its a extra 20k miles p.p, maybe I will just save it. If Swiss opens up then I will take it, but via Ist, I dont know

[chuchem]

They dont want to price it, tried everything. Oh well... CPT see you another time

[Dan]

They dont want to price it, tried everything. Oh well... CPT see you another time

Yup, near impossible to get CO to price something that the computer won't allow.
So where are you staying in DXB and MLE?

[aussiebochur]

Yup, near impossible to get CO to price something that the computer won't allow.
So where are you staying in DXB and MLE?

In DXB, definitely can't pass up the Burj Al Arab

[chuchem]

Emirates didnt give me avail. on a direct flight back in Economy as well, so I am going with Turkish in business via Ist. They are using the new A330-300, so the seats will be nice and at 5 hours flight time, sleep should be possible. Hopefully Swiss will open up seats on the direct flight, maybe even in F, for extra 10000 miles worth it.

So right now I am booked

Wed Zrh-Dxb Business 22:12-06:20
Thu Dxb-Mle  Economy 09:45-15:05

Wed Mle-Dxb Economy 09:55-12:55
Friday Dxb-Ist Business 02:35-06:30
Friday Ist-Zrh Business 07:45-09:45

The day flights are in Economy (if business clears closer to date, I will get business) and the night flights are in Business. I have 6 nights in Mle and one night in dxb.

 

[damaxer91]

In DXB, definitely can't pass up the Burj Al Arab

My sources tell me that its a total waste of time and space.... Lot's of glitz but no character

[Mikeoracle]

Friday Ist-Dxb Business 07:45-09:45

I assume you meant IST-ZRH....

[aussiebochur]

My sources tell me that its a total waste of time and space.... Lot's of glitz but no character

Heard similar.
Not shayech for us but many recommend going there for a meal (not cheap either) and you get to check out the place.

On a more serious note, the Conrad Maldives looks stunning...

@Damaxer, where did you stay while there?

[chuchem]

In DXB, definitely can't pass up the Burj Al Arab

I agree, but if you see the prices u might reconsider ;-) I would pay 500 for a night, but more then 1000 is to much
Might try the Atlantis resort, if not a spg or hyatt, I would get a upgrade to a nice suite

In the maldives I got this hotel for 400 a night http://www.halaveli.com/index.php?sel_lang=         
or i can get   http://www1.hilton.com/en_US/hi/hotel/MLEIRHI-Hilton-Maldives-Iru-Fushi-Resort-Spa/index.do
for 187 a beach villa and 340 a jacuzzi villa over water. The other one is nicer and has a own pool, but its 400 every night. The hilton only has a jacuzzi on the water villa, but there I can split my stay 3 days beach 3 da over water ad save some money. Still looking for a good deal

[chuchem]

I assume you meant IST-ZRH....

corrected

[Dan]

Go for on overwater while in MLE the whole time.
I mean how many places in the world can you get that?

The Hyatts in DXB look great.  But doubting that they get you a kosher breakfast

[aussiebochur]

Go for on overwater while in MLE the whole time.
I mean how many places in the world can you get that?

Bora Bora

[Dan]

Bora Bora

If you can't get there with miles it doesn't exist