Star Alliance - Best business/first class from JFK to Maldives: Qatar vs. Turkish vs. Austrian?

Looking to check out Maldives this winter, but deciding the best way to get there in business/first class using UR points.

It seems following airlines have good availability:

1. Qatar business via DOH
2. Turkish via IST
3. Tyrolean Arrows/Austrain via VIE

I was thinking flying Qatar in one direction since they will no longer be UA partner, and another airline in other direction.

Not sure if this has changed but in the past the VIE-MLE could not be booked as reward flight since it was designated as charter flight.

I just did QR IAH DOH and I am very impressed with the products: the seats in Biz, food, FAs and the Premium Terminal at DOH. It is going to be difficult to fly USA based airlines after QR. Grab a seat while you can..

Not sure if this has changed but in the past the VIE-MLE could not be booked as reward flight since it was designated as charter flight.

I see plenty of availability for the dates I'm interested, but for whatever reason I thought that Tyrolean/Austrian was low cost carrier, a-la Air Berlin. Please, tell me I'm wrong! :D

Tyrolean is what Austrian is referred to officially I guess. My Austrian flights coming up this month now appear as 'Austrian (operated by Tyrolean for Lufthansa)' or something like that. It is proper Austrian flight though. They only have two classes, business and economy (so no First). Does TK fly to the Maldives? I think only SQ, OS, LH (Condor), LX (Edelweiss) for *A. Qatar (sorta *A partnership).

SQ is my first choice most days 2x flights but if you're trying to use UA miles good luck. Their C service to mle from Sin is regional C so the others may be a better option. Also you may want to look into flying into cmb and then buy a ticket to mle. On certain days EK has service and an f or c ticket can be quite cheap.

OS C has a very good soft product (catering, on-board chef, freshly brewed coffee, starters from the tray)mwhich is not much shy of other's first class.
Hard product is not on-par: angled lie flat, no AVOD - but looping videos.

Vienna is easy to transfer and depnding on connecting time, you could even squeeze in a afternoon in vienna downtown.
David

I just did QR IAH DOH and I am very impressed with the products: the seats in Biz, food, FAs and the Premium Terminal at DOH. It is going to be difficult to fly USA based airlines after QR. Grab a seat while you can..

How do you look up availability for QR via UA?

Tyrolean is what Austrian is referred to officially I guess. My Austrian flights coming up this month now appear as 'Austrian (operated by Tyrolean for Lufthansa)' or something like that. It is proper Austrian flight though. They only have two classes, business and economy (so no First). Does TK fly to the Maldives? I think only SQ, OS, LH (Condor), LX (Edelweiss) for *A. Qatar (sorta *A partnership).

According to Wikipedia TK starts flying to Maldives on Nov. 24, 2012.

I took the long way via SIN in SQ F/C, didn't really mind the longer flight. :D

Tyrolean is what Austrian is referred to officially I guess. My Austrian flights coming up this month now appear as 'Austrian (operated by Tyrolean for Lufthansa)' or something like that.

A few months ago, Austrian was trying to negotiate cost-cutting with their unions. When that failed, they wrapped up the old Austrian Airlines, and transferred all aircraft and routes to Tyrolean, which used to be their regional subsidiary. So all flights are now "Austrian, operated by Tyrolean".

According to Wikipedia TK starts flying to Maldives on Nov. 24, 2012.

Great info. You are correct. I did not know this. Looks like its loaded in United's system and their is award availability. I have flown TK long haul (from CPT/JNB to IST). Two class plane. I liked the service. Slanted/flat business seat was ok, but a bit hard. Same catering as Austrian and its very good. Remodeled lounge in IST is fantastic too. Overall, I would fly TK business again.

Qatar award flights through UA can be viewed through the website. Its bookable online, but you may have some issues, because the agreement with QR ends soon (Fall sometime?). You may end up needed to call UA once you find the flights you like.

Timing flying on OS, TK, or QR looks like it gets you into MLE all around the same time (+/- a few hours), but QR would mean a long late night/early morning layover in Doha. Flying through VIE or IST may be better in this respect.

Good luck!

I just did QR IAH DOH and I am very impressed with the products: the seats in Biz, food, FAs and the Premium Terminal at DOH. It is going to be difficult to fly USA based airlines after QR. Grab a seat while you can..


AGREED>

I flew OS J recently, and while the hard product was old, the soft product blew me away. The food tasted amazing (I didn't realize I was in a plane), the service was outstanding, the chef actually took pride in his work asking everyone if it was ok, I'd take Austrian J anyday.

Sounds to me itinerary shapes up like this:

JFK-VIE OS
VIE-IST OS
IST-MLE TK
MLE-DOH QR
DOH-JFK QR

Sounds to me itinerary shapes up like this:

JFK-VIE OS
VIE-IST OS
IST-MLE TK
MLE-DOH QR
DOH-JFK QR

Looks good. If I were you, I'd make one small change: try to fly JFK-IST direct on TK instead of through VIE on OS.

Looks good. If I were you, I'd make one small change: try to fly JFK-IST direct on TK instead of through VIE on OS.

I would agree simplify it. Do...

JFK-IST-MLE
or
JFK-VIE-MLE

on the outbound and save yourself an additional connection. I enjoy checking out other airlines, but not at the time expense of getting to my destination quickly.

Just my 2 cents. Can't wait to hear about your experience.

Cheers.

I agree to that. Austrian has a great soft product. By Spring 2013 they will also have a brand new cabin and seats in C and Y for the long haul. So they also will have a good hard product with avod.

I would agree simplify it. Do...

JFK-IST-MLE
or
JFK-VIE-MLE

on the outbound and save yourself an additional connection. I enjoy checking out other airlines, but not at the time expense of getting to my destination quickly.

Just my 2 cents. Can't wait to hear about your experience.

Cheers.

Can't seem to find any availability on VIE-MLE leg.

But will keep everyone posted.

Can't seem to find any availability on VIE-MLE leg.
In that case, JFK-IST-MLE is preferable to JFK-VIE-IST-MLE.