Looking to book a couple of back-to-back MLE-LAX MR trips. Is there a transit option at MLE? My recollection from last month was no... that everyone walks from the tarmac to C&I. My only concern would be check-in deadlines. Any reason I can't OLCI for MLE departures or check-in and get my BP in HKG earlier in the day?

Even if you can't or haven't OLCI'd for your ex-MLE departure (I'm not sure MLE is a port from where OLCI is possible), the lovely ladies at The Wing F lounge should be able to set you up with your ex-MLE Boarding Pass(es).

I've done this often enough for CMB turnarounds. If the first person you ask at the service desk says "no"; get them to ask someone who can do it.

All I know is that if you did it on EK, you'd be able to get into the lounge after arrival and sit out the wait there. Not sure what the case would be with CX though..

Yeah, I figured the Wing ladies should be able to do check-in. Too bad MLE is not like CMB where you don't have to clear C&I to wander the terminal, visit lounges and board another flight.

At MLE? The only lounge I saw last month was the Priority Lounge.

I just arrived in MLE today and because I will be doing a quick turnaround here later in the year, I checked my options.

There IS a "transit passenger" exit before immigration. Once you enter the building from the tarmac, just turn left immediately.

Even if that wouldn't work, immigration was quick, even when arriving after a seemimgly full UL flight today. 15 min tops from leaving the bus to arrivals hall. You could then turn left and go straight to departures again.

goliath, thanks for checking and reporting on the "transit" exit.

I am booked on two tickets on Cathay... both... MLE-HKG-ORD and return.

(I have layovers in HKG and fly separate tickets to do business in Asia.)

To keep the fare down, I am flying HKG-MLE (to end the first ticket) and connecting to MLE-HKG-ORD to get back to the USA.

The turn in MLE is less than two hours. Customs on the first ticket took about 30 minutes. I guess I will then go upstairs and check-in and go back through customs, also took about 30 minutes.

Overall, I think it will be do-able, but tight.

So the question remains - anyone try this yet?

Correct. I am sure I can add a note to the second PNR that gives the inbound flight. Also, I can try and print boarding passes ahead of time so in theory if they walk away from the counter (late inbound) I would still have a shot at making it.

The MLE-HKG flight is now bookable all the way through Feb 2015. Looks like this flight will remain in place, 4 days a week, which is exciting.

Unfortunately, the excellent ex-MLE I/D fares have not been extended beyond October 2014

I will continue to hold out hope that they extend the fare through the end of the year, solely for my own personal benefit.

I did a MLE turnaround earlier last month. You don't have to clear immigration. On the arrival card there was a transit option, so I checked that and when asked which flight I indicated that I'll be on th return flight to HKG (you can imagine the look I got). So her supervisor went upstairs (or the back) to and got by boarding pass.

I wouldn't say they're used to people transiting in MLE but its certainly doable. You could also checkin in HKG and print out your return bp. For the record, I didn't have any checkin luggage



p.s. 1 year on FT

Correct me if I'm wrong but it seems like they did away the ex-MLE I fare and only D fares are available (which is still a great deal)

Thanks! I am going to be doing this a few times, so I am hoping it is painless.

So when you hit the customs building, you went to the left? (I saw the transit area, but, it looked closed.)

Any line?

Were you able to get into the club?

I can't remember the detail but there was no line, in fact MLE isn't a usual place where people transit but I would say the staff knows how to deal with transiting pax

There use to be a couple of flights that transit MLE... EK to CMB and there use to be a China Eastern flight that transited MLE to JNB... So I don't think transiting passengers is too much of a novelty for them

I did this run earlier this month at MLE.
Make a left turn when entering the terminal building and one will see a metal detector, the security guard manning this detector just waved me through. Then I passed through a short corridor which lead me to the departure hall, at the end of the corridor was another metal detector and an x-ray machine manned by a security guard who checked for my boarding pass. I was the only person that went this route from the CX flight and the security guard asked me 3 times if I am sure I am going back to HKG even after I showed him my connecting boarding pass. He wasn't rude or impolite but just a little surprised that I'm getting back on the same plane. He even wished me a pleasant flight. ^
After passing this very quick (20 seconds max) security check, one will find himself at the ground floor of the departure hall (Gate 1-3). Go up one floor on the stair and one will find the Duty-free shopping area and the Plaza Premium Lounge that CX uses. The airport itself is pretty run-down and there wasn't much to see. Lounge was very basic and crowded with very slow wi-fi and only a small selection of food. I believe the lounge was also shared with TK, MH and other airlines.
I had no problem obtaining the MLE-HKG boarding pass in HKG. Bag was also checked-in at the same time for the HKG-US flight the next day, CX accepts US bound check-in bags up to 24 hours prior to departure.
Maldives immigration card was not needed at all but I guess it would be helpful if one has it ready in case the transit exit is closed for whatever reason.