I'm planning a trip to the Maldives including a stopover in Taipei on the way home. I've put together a routing that makes sense but I'm wondering if it's permissible under the SkyMiles rules? I know the chances of finding award availability on such a route will be hard, but I'm looking for 1 business seat only, so I'm holding out hope. The routing is:
CVG-JFK on DL
JFK-SVO on either DL or SU
SVO-MLE on SU
Stopover for 6 night in Maldives
MLE-CAN on CZ
CAN-TPE on CZ
Destination - 4 Nights in Taipei
TPE-CAN on CZ
CAN-LAX on CZ
LAX-CVG on DL
As far as I can tell, it's legal and would cost 120,000 SkyMiles + taxes/fees. Anyone know how SU & CZ fees are?
As you propose to cross both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans on this itinerary, this looks like Round The World to me, which would be 180,000 Economy class / 280,000 in Business class.
I will be surprised too, if this would be allowed for 120K (i.e. mixing TATL with TPAC routings). Also, aren't you supposed to have a maximum of 4 legs to get to your destination?
SU usually has pretty bad availability for SVO-MLE in Business and fairly high taxes. CZ taxes should be lower.
KE is flying ICN-MLE starting in March. Wonder if they'll add award availability, and/or when.
It goes through CMB, though is marketed as a direct flight. Good luck getting an agent to "find" this flight. I tried with 3 agents already and none of them was able to see the flight even after telling them the number and date.
So if I were to shift my origin city to ORD it sounds like I could do
ORD-ICN on KE
ICN-MLE on KE
Destination
MLE-CAN on CZ
CAN-TPE on CZ
Stopover
TPE-CAN on CZ
CAN-LAX on CZ
LAX-CVG on DL
Seems to me it meets rules - it's less than 8 total segments, it's open jaw, has one stopover and only 4 legs to destination. Again, ignoring the aspect of getting space/convincing DL agents that the ICN-MLE flight exists.
I'm trying to keep a routing getting there that doesn't have me spending massive amounts of time sitting in airports because the layovers are ridiculous. Also, trying to prevent getting into MLE super late because I will have to make a connecting flight there to get to the Hyatt.
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Having stayed at the wonderful Hyatt earlier this year, I intentionally booked a night at the nearby Sheraton Full Moon as it did take about 5 hours door to door transfer from the Sheraton to the Park Hyatt (taking into account the domestic Maldivian flights).
If I was arriving to MLE after 3 PM, this might not be such a pleasant experience.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mnbp
As you propose to cross both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans on this itinerary, this looks like Round The World to me, which would be 180,000 Economy class / 280,000 in Business class.
I am not 100% sure about this, but I think the rule is 4 segments max both to and from your destination. If this is the case, I would suggest doing TPE-JFK on CI (it goes via KIX, but it's one flight) followed by JFK-CVG. This will close the open-jaw, keep the return routing under 4 segments, and make the stopover in TPE possible.
Correct. Routing issue for the OP will be the open jaw.
Thanks for the info. What about the routing I proposed in the first post? Since that starts/ends in CVG would that be legal for 120,000 SkyMiles? Only has one stopover then.
I am not 100% sure about this, but I think the rule is 4 segments max both to and from your destination. If this is the case, I would suggest doing TPE-JFK on CI (it goes via KIX, but it's one flight) followed by JFK-CVG. This will close the open-jaw, keep the return routing under 4 segments, and make the stopover in TPE possible.
Interesting suggestion - is this flight only certain days? Can't seem to find TPE-JFK via KIX on CI with ITA Matrix
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PhateX1337
Thanks for the info. What about the routing I proposed in the first post? Since that starts/ends in CVG would that be legal for 120,000 SkyMiles? Only has one stopover then.
#1 - Destination must be MLE for the both oceans routings to work. If TPE is, you must follow the routing rules for Asia.
If you stopped in CAN and then buy the CAN-TPE round trip this would work.
CVG-JFK on DL
JFK-SVO on either DL or SU
SVO-MLE on SU
