I have not done it with checked bags. But let me add some thoughts, having passed through the Maldives many times now, sometimes stopping, sometimes not.

If you need to get your bag in the Maldives, obviously, you need to clear customs and two security screenings, so that wont work.

If you don't check your bag, you still need to clear security. They do an x-ray of your bag. So I don't think that wont work.

If you can check your bag through to your final destination (outside the Maldives) I would think you would be okay.

If you do it, please report back to our little thread here. It may not be that active, but it is great for info on Maldives customs and security.

I'm sorry but just to be clear, you mean they x-ray your bag for security (like everywhere else) or do they x-ray your bag for religious contrabands as well when you clear security?

They x-ray like every where else when transiting. Seems very casual.

The last time I was leaving the Maldive's we went through two bag screenings. The first one was more casual, the second one was very in-depth.

I could not say for sure what exactly they search for when they x-ray as I did not have anything in my bags that might cause a problem.

Another data point for those interested
 

A few weeks ago, leaving BKK on Bangkok air, I was able to get the CX agent at BKK to print my boarding card and lounge card for MLE so I could spend my long layover in the lounge as opposed to waiting in the non-air conditioned outside terminal. (See earlier post.) CX counter is only open a few hours a day, in the evening.

My friend this week tried to do the same thing, but was told no at BKK. So he did have to wait outside with no wifi.

Yesterday I had no problems at BKK getting all my boarding cards from CX... BKK-HKG, HKG-MLE, MLE-HKG, HKG-ORD. In this case it was all CX flying.

So the point is, don't count on it 100% unless you are flying all CX.

Also - 3 of us last night were doing the same day turn. Great guys, father and son on an adventure.

Since the new arrival and departure time is around 1.5 hours at MLE, has anyone tried turnaround at MLE recently? What's your experience?

Yes. I did it last year and this year. It is simply not a problem.

Even if you do not have your ticket back to Hong Kong, it is not an issue. You just give your passport to the rep. He or she will run it upstairs and grab your ticket and lounge pass (if applicable) and you will be on your way. With your connecting bp, 5 minutes from the door to being through security. Without it, maybe 15 minutes.

I have another one scheduled for May with Mrs. 110pgl. (Her first time.) I have zero worry about making the connection.

Checked Bags Multiple Itineraries and the quick turn...
 

More data for interested parties....

Mrs. 110pgl and I wound up with extra stuff heading back to the USA so we needed to check bags.

As mentioned up thread, you need to wait until 24 hours of the departure of the USA segment.

At the Airport Express - Kowloon station, 24:30 minutes before USA departure, no go. (No problem, I was prepared for rejection like a school boy on prom night. :) )

At the desk at the airport, 23:55 minutes before USA departure, no problem... 6 lounge passes (3 each) and 8 boarding cards (4 each)... 5-10 minutes and we were on our way to the lounge.

FWIW - We are doing this on 3 separate tickets...

HKG-MLE, one way ticket
MLE-HKG, second ticket
HKG-ORD, second ticket
ORD-XXX, third ticket

Bags checked to our final destination. (Of course we need to grab them in ORD)

It would be great if this fare continued, but, I think we are seeing the end.

Have u asked the ISM on flight to arrange staff to guide u through the turnaround procedure ? The turnaround time is now limited !:confused:

Turn time has always been about the same... enough time to deboard and clean the plane +/- a little bit.

There is no need to ask the ISM to arrange. The MLE folks have (almost) always had our passes ready. In the rare case they did not, they went upstairs and grabbed the tickets and then always walked us through.

The one time I did a noon non-stop, I needed the bp's ahead of time, but besides that and a little verification time, we were escorted through connecting security. (About 8-9 hours in the lounge, but beats hanging outside.)

So in short, zero issues with the turn.

are you talking about HK-MLE?? it thought they only have 1 flight, no?

You are correct - there is only one flight from HKG-MLE, 4 times a week, on Cathay Pacific only.

Sorry for the confusion. Let me explain. I was in BKK - a fact I (stupidly) left out of the post... and flew Bangkok Air non-stop from BKK to MLE.

In BKK, before my Bangkok Air flight (which is in the morning), I walked over to the Cathay Pacific Desk in Bangkok and got my boarding passes for MLE-HKG (that night) and HKG-ORD (next day), as well as the lounge passes for Male (that night) and Hong Kong (next day).

In MLE, I went to the transfer area. They were very confused, but, in the end (after 15 minutes), they walked me to the lounge.

Bumping this thread...need to do a turnaround within Asia and 100 CP is too attractive compared to the other routes...Any recent anecdotes? Is it also like CMB where you won't be able to get a mobile BP for the return? Will you ever need to bribe like CGK? In my case it's gonna be the same PNR and I checked it's within MCT (1.00...)

:)

Not sure the answer to your question, but I have one in return: how much are you paying for a J ticket out of Maldives? A quick look online shows about 5k USD, is that correct or am I missing something?

I've got a holiday there later this year. Would be a coup if I could go to Maldives and also get a decent priced J ticket to the US on the back of it, provided they're not those heavily restricted I or D tickets.

Big oops- I linked back to the very same thread!

[MENTION=155338]QRC3288[/MENTION]
A quick search showed a fare ~4K ($) and another ~8k to JFK.
Not sure what lies in between.

The 4K fare was I class, $80 rebooking/cancellation and $100 no-show. It did not allow a stopover in HKG on the outbound (but did allow in YVR) $100 for one on the return.
Interesting snippet on the fare rules: 2 Free stopovers allowed in CMB! Though the flight restrictions preclude any routing via CMB.

Haha, no it's essentially free of charge as part of a DONE RTW i'm on. ex-MLE deals used to be nice but they're now all gone...even ex CMB had a considerable price hike for US/EU this year.. :(

for ex CMB I class no outbound stopover is allowed. Have to upfare to D to do outbound stopover in HKG. Guess its one way to clamp down ex-XXX activity. Same for most ex China fares (which are just so so so so cheap nowadays.)

4k is not good enough :D I see ~3.1k for exCMB, and ~3.7k for exJNB. And ex china to lax as low as ~2.5k. Oh dear...feel so bad for trashing their yields

Getting OT but speaking about this, my friend actually managed to do ex-USA for around 4.3k, not too bad for ex US.

Recent same day turn ?
 

has anyone done a recent same day turnaround? Most of these are a little bit older.

I have the same question. I want to do a same day turn HKG - MLE on CX arriving at 9:40PM and MLE - SIN on SQ departing at 11:25PM (1h 45m connection), on two separate PNRs. CX is a paid flight and SQ is an award flight. MCT at MLE for Intl-Intl offline (different airlines) connections is 1h. Traveling with a toddler and infant, so will appreciate any tips on whether we can make the quick connection.

Does anyone know if:
- SQ will give me a boarding pass in their HKG check in desk for the MLE - SIN leg?
- will CX interline the bags to SQ on a separate PNR (award flight)? They have an interline agreement with SQ, but not sure if they still interline the bags
- Is the quick turn still possible through the transit desk/entrance at MLE?

You are planning a 1h45m "connection" with checked bags, a toddler and an infant and on separate tickets to boot? Yikes.
What would possess you to think that this might even remotely be a good idea?

So what happens if/when your CX flight arrives MLE 2 hours late?

Two adults, 1 toddler and 1 infant. Looking to book this new flight to SIN due to some reasons outside my control rather than changing the existing flight from HKG to MLE. The flight to SIN seems to be the best option right now. If the inbound is delayed, I hope that I can rebook on the next flight to SIN, and hopefully my credit card trip delay coverage reimburses me.

Wanted to report back on the trip. Did not do the short INTL-INTL layover because I didn't want to do the 1h45m "connection" on two different airlines. Just changed my CX flights at the CX ticketing desk in HKG after flying the first leg, which was easy to do. Arrived in MLE 5 days later than originally planned, without having to do the quick HKG-MLE-SIN turnaround.

I want to add that the INTL transfer lane in MLE was clearly visible as soon as we walk into the INTL terminal before the immigration desks. There were clearly posted transfer signs, and the lane was staffed, if anyone wants to use that option.