KTM turnaround
Sep 27, 2016, 4:23 pm
#16
Join Date: May 2009
Location: World citizen
Programs: Etihad Platinum, Alitalia FRECCIA ALATA
Posts: 266
Oct 9, 2016, 8:04 am
#17
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2014
Programs: Etihad Platinum. Bonvoy Ambassador Elite
Posts: 333
Oct 11, 2016, 5:42 am
#18
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: London & Cape Town
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 46
Oct 11, 2016, 6:05 am
#19
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2014
Programs: Etihad Platinum. Bonvoy Ambassador Elite
Posts: 333
Oct 16, 2016, 1:09 pm
#20
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: London & Cape Town
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 46
Hello again,
Firstly this report of mine is not for Etihad and was for Malaysia Airlines 1 hour back to back on (mh114 &mh115). Once again I apologise but hope posting this here will help people in the future.
Secondly, I was successful though I doubt many would be as lucky as I was so the short answer is DONT DO IT.
Finally; if I was not business class there is no way I would have been successful.
-----------
Notes for newbies - Kathmandu uses bus service from the plane to immigration and from boarding to plane - thus you cannot do a perfect back to back like you can do in some ex-eu flights.
You cannot board the plane unless youir boarding pass has been stamped
I was repeatedly advised not to try this throughtout the weeks leading up to my trip. When i arrived in Kuala Lumpur, I asked the ticket counter what my options were. Bar spending a night in Kathmandu I wasnt given muh options. I asked if any lounge staff at KTM could escort me from the aeroplane through immigration ( YOU HAVE TO DO THIS DUE TO SECURITY), they really did try to obtain anyone to assist me but unfortuanly after a couple of hours, a senior person came down and told me that they cannot help and that they couldn't even get me a boarding pass (something to do with rules). I told them that was nonsense as I could just print out a boarding pass.
So I went to the golden lounge and tried to use their business centre. Unfortunately all their laptops had been stolen by passengers. So after hastily checking in over the phone, I then e-mailed it to one of the staff behind the table; who then printed it.
Flight was delayed boarding , Once on the plane (mh114 KUL-KTM) I spoke to the hostess and told her my scenario ( I did not want to lie [e.g. courier work] nor did I want to go to the technicality of explaining tier runs, therefor I said that it was a mistake through booking and if I did not board these planes; my subsequent flights (to London,etc) would then all be cancelled automatically. They accepted this). She said she was unable to help me as only ground staff can help at the airport - but she would leave a message to the new staff of the return flight that I will be running late.
One we landed, there were no spots for the plane so we waited around 15 mintues which grew my anxiety and frustration. Finally we started moving and we parked. As I stepped out - the hostess was speaking to a member of Malaysia airline ground staff. He escorted me down the stairs and told me to wait. The shuttle bus was filling up with people and I knew I had to get a move on but the man was speaking on his radio. From what I gather he was disuccsing was there any point in me even going through immigration. He then got another Malaysian airline worker to escort me drectly to the boarding gate for my return flight. Excited at this good fortune I couldnt help but smile as we walked to it.
However once we arrived there, another more senior airline staff came and spoke to me (I believe I heard his name as Peshmar Daved), he asked me a few questions on why I am flying straight back (why did you not stay?) and I explained the fact that if you miss one sector the remaining sectors of your flight booking gets cancelled. He nodded his head and agreed with me; he left for a few mins and came back and instructed me to follow him. He told me that I had to explain my situation to the captain and he escorted me to another waiting area where the captain and his crew were waiting. He spoke to me for a few minutes asked to look at my boarding pass and was satisfied of my explanations and even said I could board the plane with him. I could not believe my luck, as another bus came to pick them up I started to follow.
Immediately a police officer shouted at me and told me not to get on. I obviously listened, now you may not believe this but straight away more officers came out (one had one of the longest rifles I have ever seen down his side and another brought out handcuffs). The senior airline member who helped me earlier rushed to the scene calmed them down and we all walked in to the normal boarding room for the flight (while the airline staff bus proceeded to the plane). The room was filling up very quickly. I was instructed to sit and the man told me everything will be ok - you can board the bus with everyone else. The police officers however were not happy. They were not happy I didnt have a stamp on my boarding pass and it was getting them very anxious. Few minutes later a senior (i assume by some large stars on his shoulders) came up to me and the staff member helping me and I had to explain (translated) the situation again. They took my passport and left me sitting in the corner. As I waited I saw the people all boarding the bus and the room was emptying.
My 'friend' Peshmar returned saying unfortunately they want you to go and fill out transit information and go through xray. I totally understand this and this was what I was intending to do before ground staff started assisting me. They took me to a room that had VIP immigration arrival room (or something to that effect) written on it and more security staff came and filled out forms and took my passport away for a few minutes.
Peshmar (who is smiling at everyone, telling them thank you ,being an absolute gem) gets notified (via a mobile phone not a radio- ???) that the plane has been boarded. As you can imagine I am a nervous wreck at this moment. Finally with my transit document finalised I was told to take a photo of it as I may be asked for proof later. We now run to the xray gates where there is no one in sight. Peshmar calls out and some security officers come out and they are not happy ( they are assuming I am late and being given favourable treatment). They are not happy with me as they look through my bags and frisk me, I can work out Peshmar telling them that I am business class or something on those lines - it does not impress them
After this we run (I am sweating buckets now) back to lounge - a bus is waiting for me. Peshmar still has to get final permission from the senior cop but cant find him anywhere. He tells me to get on the bus and as the doors close I ask his name. The doors close and in my gratitude and nerves I couldnt think of anything else to show my affection so I blew him a kiss. Without him I most certainly would not have made it-constant optimism and smile while everyone else is hating my nuisance really kept me calm. He is an asset to Malaysian Airline - I hope I have his name right as I am going to send them a note.
Bus finally stops outside the plane and I run up the stairs to a very irritable "welcome back". I crash into my seat amongst angry eyes but wow I did it.
Personally- I think it may be doable if you get the transit visa online and there aren't much queues, however any delays screw you and remember as soon as the flight has landed, the 2nd crew and people are all ready to board again. So you have the time it takes to refuel, unload baggage, etc. You need to have everything going for you and taking my experiences I do not think that will happen.
So in short if you are thinking of doing it - DON'T or if you are in my scenario where you already booked - then YOU try everything you can to change your flights or spend a day in KTM and take next days flight.
I hope this helps someone
Firstly this report of mine is not for Etihad and was for Malaysia Airlines 1 hour back to back on (mh114 &mh115). Once again I apologise but hope posting this here will help people in the future.
Secondly, I was successful though I doubt many would be as lucky as I was so the short answer is DONT DO IT.
Finally; if I was not business class there is no way I would have been successful.
-----------
Notes for newbies - Kathmandu uses bus service from the plane to immigration and from boarding to plane - thus you cannot do a perfect back to back like you can do in some ex-eu flights.
You cannot board the plane unless youir boarding pass has been stamped
I was repeatedly advised not to try this throughtout the weeks leading up to my trip. When i arrived in Kuala Lumpur, I asked the ticket counter what my options were. Bar spending a night in Kathmandu I wasnt given muh options. I asked if any lounge staff at KTM could escort me from the aeroplane through immigration ( YOU HAVE TO DO THIS DUE TO SECURITY), they really did try to obtain anyone to assist me but unfortuanly after a couple of hours, a senior person came down and told me that they cannot help and that they couldn't even get me a boarding pass (something to do with rules). I told them that was nonsense as I could just print out a boarding pass.
So I went to the golden lounge and tried to use their business centre. Unfortunately all their laptops had been stolen by passengers. So after hastily checking in over the phone, I then e-mailed it to one of the staff behind the table; who then printed it.
Flight was delayed boarding , Once on the plane (mh114 KUL-KTM) I spoke to the hostess and told her my scenario ( I did not want to lie [e.g. courier work] nor did I want to go to the technicality of explaining tier runs, therefor I said that it was a mistake through booking and if I did not board these planes; my subsequent flights (to London,etc) would then all be cancelled automatically. They accepted this). She said she was unable to help me as only ground staff can help at the airport - but she would leave a message to the new staff of the return flight that I will be running late.
One we landed, there were no spots for the plane so we waited around 15 mintues which grew my anxiety and frustration. Finally we started moving and we parked. As I stepped out - the hostess was speaking to a member of Malaysia airline ground staff. He escorted me down the stairs and told me to wait. The shuttle bus was filling up with people and I knew I had to get a move on but the man was speaking on his radio. From what I gather he was disuccsing was there any point in me even going through immigration. He then got another Malaysian airline worker to escort me drectly to the boarding gate for my return flight. Excited at this good fortune I couldnt help but smile as we walked to it.
However once we arrived there, another more senior airline staff came and spoke to me (I believe I heard his name as Peshmar Daved), he asked me a few questions on why I am flying straight back (why did you not stay?) and I explained the fact that if you miss one sector the remaining sectors of your flight booking gets cancelled. He nodded his head and agreed with me; he left for a few mins and came back and instructed me to follow him. He told me that I had to explain my situation to the captain and he escorted me to another waiting area where the captain and his crew were waiting. He spoke to me for a few minutes asked to look at my boarding pass and was satisfied of my explanations and even said I could board the plane with him. I could not believe my luck, as another bus came to pick them up I started to follow.
Immediately a police officer shouted at me and told me not to get on. I obviously listened, now you may not believe this but straight away more officers came out (one had one of the longest rifles I have ever seen down his side and another brought out handcuffs). The senior airline member who helped me earlier rushed to the scene calmed them down and we all walked in to the normal boarding room for the flight (while the airline staff bus proceeded to the plane). The room was filling up very quickly. I was instructed to sit and the man told me everything will be ok - you can board the bus with everyone else. The police officers however were not happy. They were not happy I didnt have a stamp on my boarding pass and it was getting them very anxious. Few minutes later a senior (i assume by some large stars on his shoulders) came up to me and the staff member helping me and I had to explain (translated) the situation again. They took my passport and left me sitting in the corner. As I waited I saw the people all boarding the bus and the room was emptying.
My 'friend' Peshmar returned saying unfortunately they want you to go and fill out transit information and go through xray. I totally understand this and this was what I was intending to do before ground staff started assisting me. They took me to a room that had VIP immigration arrival room (or something to that effect) written on it and more security staff came and filled out forms and took my passport away for a few minutes.
Peshmar (who is smiling at everyone, telling them thank you ,being an absolute gem) gets notified (via a mobile phone not a radio- ???) that the plane has been boarded. As you can imagine I am a nervous wreck at this moment. Finally with my transit document finalised I was told to take a photo of it as I may be asked for proof later. We now run to the xray gates where there is no one in sight. Peshmar calls out and some security officers come out and they are not happy ( they are assuming I am late and being given favourable treatment). They are not happy with me as they look through my bags and frisk me, I can work out Peshmar telling them that I am business class or something on those lines - it does not impress them
After this we run (I am sweating buckets now) back to lounge - a bus is waiting for me. Peshmar still has to get final permission from the senior cop but cant find him anywhere. He tells me to get on the bus and as the doors close I ask his name. The doors close and in my gratitude and nerves I couldnt think of anything else to show my affection so I blew him a kiss. Without him I most certainly would not have made it-constant optimism and smile while everyone else is hating my nuisance really kept me calm. He is an asset to Malaysian Airline - I hope I have his name right as I am going to send them a note.
Bus finally stops outside the plane and I run up the stairs to a very irritable "welcome back". I crash into my seat amongst angry eyes but wow I did it.
Personally- I think it may be doable if you get the transit visa online and there aren't much queues, however any delays screw you and remember as soon as the flight has landed, the 2nd crew and people are all ready to board again. So you have the time it takes to refuel, unload baggage, etc. You need to have everything going for you and taking my experiences I do not think that will happen.
So in short if you are thinking of doing it - DON'T or if you are in my scenario where you already booked - then YOU try everything you can to change your flights or spend a day in KTM and take next days flight.
I hope this helps someone
Oct 16, 2016, 11:13 pm
#21
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2014
Programs: Etihad Platinum. Bonvoy Ambassador Elite
Posts: 333
Wow! That sounds like a completely nerve wracking experience. I'm glad it all worked out ok in the end. Thanks for sharing it.
If I recall correctly, there is a sign that says 'transit' just before you get in the main immigration area. There is a large wooden desk, but i haven't seen anyone manning it. So, it sounds like you still need a transit visa for a 'connecting' flight and then need to clear immigration with your passport stamped like everyone else even though technically you only need to stay airside?
The last time I was there, our Etihad flight landed just after a Qatar Airways flight. Queueing for my visa took a full twenty minutes whereas the previous time it took only a minute as there were no pax from a previous flight in the immigration area. On both flights I was in J.
If I recall correctly, there is a sign that says 'transit' just before you get in the main immigration area. There is a large wooden desk, but i haven't seen anyone manning it. So, it sounds like you still need a transit visa for a 'connecting' flight and then need to clear immigration with your passport stamped like everyone else even though technically you only need to stay airside?
The last time I was there, our Etihad flight landed just after a Qatar Airways flight. Queueing for my visa took a full twenty minutes whereas the previous time it took only a minute as there were no pax from a previous flight in the immigration area. On both flights I was in J.
