Tricks for getting to CMB?
 

I'd like to help my daughter get from the East Coast, U.S. to Columbo in May without having to mortgage my home and second-born.

Anyone out there know particularly good (aka, cheap) routings?

I don't think there are ever super cheap ways to get to CMB, but I would try either Emirates or Etihad from JFK.

You can also try buying two tickets and breaking up the journey in Europe. I think for CMB, breaking the trip up in MUC or FRA is usually cheaper than LHR.

CMB isn't well served by LCCs, but if your daughter can get a cheap ticket to Dubai, she could transfer to Sharjah and take Air Arabia to CMB. That might be a bit of an effort, though, and would depend on how comfortable she (and you) are with arranging transportation from DXB to SHJ.

Using frequent flyer miles to get there can be a great deal, particularly as some programs don't classify CMB as being in South Asia and instead place it in the same zone as SE Asia for mileage redemption purposes.

A cheap paid ticket to say Japan or elsewhere in East Asia + an award ticket to CMB can help keep costs under control. (The downside is that it may require re-checking luggage and re-checking in at say NRT, BKK or SIN.)

Pay for a ticket to Singapore, then use UA miles to get an award ticket on SQ to CMB.

There are some cheap one-ways from SIN (in the $200 range). I suppose the return ticket could be bought from CMB :D .

The return tickets bought from CMB is very good, especially if CMB is going to be a repeat destination. Certainly a great way to collect miles given how cheap even premium cabin fares from CMB are. :D

Do you have recommendations on airlines that fly this route and offer Y class tickets in this price range? Are SQ tickets in this range for one-way flights?

Thanks

EK and MH list cheap OW fares. I've always flown Sri Lankan for that route, but they don't list a one-way; the return costs $280+. Travelsexpert.com have reasonable HKG-CMB OW fares as well ($350+).