MLE to BOM--Flight advice
 

We're spending some time in the Maldives. On the way back home, we plan to spend a few days in Mumbai.

Flying from MLE to BOM, we have some options. The prices are relatively the same.

We can fly

1. Air India to BLR then Kingfisher to BOM
2. Air India to BLR then Jet to BOM
3. Air India to BLR then Air India to BOM (this layover is about 2 hours longer than the other two).

We're going to have a lot of checked luggage with us that we will want to check through from MLE to BOM.

Any advice from the experts?

Also look at UL on a thru ticket MLE-CMB-BOM...

There is also the AI from MLE-TRV option with TRV-BOM on multiple carriers...

since you are making a domestic connection (BLR - BOM) - you cannot check in your baggage from MLE to BOM

you need to clear customs at the point of entry in India since in the domestic flight you will arrive at a domestic terminal which has no custom's facility

you may want to consider Sri Lankan Airlines from MLE to BOM as this will be two international flights and should check your luggage through to BOM (connection at Colombo) - i am sure experts can provide some information on this connection)

Considering there's a lot of luggage to be checked in right thru to BOM, looks like UL or AI would be the best options

i did a similar route a couple of years ago....del-trv on 9w & trv-mle on ai....then mle-blr on ai & blr-del on 9w....

it doesn't matter what airline you will be connecting on in blr, you will have to clear customs & immigration so ai will not give you any advantage over the other carriers....since they are all priced similarly, just stick to whatever works best for you in terms of the least amount of waiting time in blr....

I know about the UL flight, but that gets in at 0240 with a loooong transit in CMB.

I thought we would be better off clearing customs, etc. in BLR than BOM--is that correct?

Also, if we switch carriers in BLR, is there an easy way to re-check the luggage after customs or do you have to go back to check-in?

Thanks.

If you fly the same carrier you could ask them to assist. Or find a flight that departs from the international terminal itself (there are some domestic flights like that).

forget the ul flight....its not worth it....

blr would be slightly easier....

the international & domestic terminals are in the same airport so you will basically have to clear customs & then take the bags back in to the domestic terminal to check in again....

DEL-MLE??
 

Similar question. What's the best way to get to MLE from DEL. I could use my Jet vouchers to upgrade via CMB but then that flights gets into CMB early evening so night stay in CMB or on arrival in MLE which I don't want.

Ideally want to be in CMB by early afternoon and leave by late afternoon.

I faced the same issue a few months ago!

I ended up booking DEL-CMB-DEL on 9W J and nested a CMB-MLE-CMB on UL within it.

Left DEL around lunch, reached CMB around 5pm, had an onward connection leaving CMB on UL at 7pm. The UL lounge at CMB was quite decent too.

Return however, to avoid overnighting in CMB, I took the 2am departure from MLE, landed CMB at 4am, left at 6am on 9W.

Quite comfortable all around.

For MLE-BOM, you could go via CMB using EK/9W. Fare may not be great (probably have to do a full IATA or 2 seperate tickets and get EK to tag bags through at MLE).
MLE-CMB is 1615 dep 1815 ARR and CMB-BOM on 9W is 2045 dep 2320 arr (this helps avoid that god awful timing on UL which is the middle of the night for a 2 hour flight) and also gives you a decent connection without the hassle of needing to clear customs.

For DEL-MLE you could take an early am DEL-BLR on IT or AI and connect the AI flight to BLR. This gives you 2and a half hours at BLR (Safe transit outside fog season) and a 1pm arrival into MLE.

For MLE-DEL there is a UL connection which departs MLE at 9:15 and arrive DEL at 1810 with a 3 hr 20 min layover at CMB (not ideal but beats flying shorthaul overnight) or also the better option of flying back via BLR.
MLE-BLR on AI is 1350/arr 1630 which gives you plenty of time to connect any carrier's last evening departure to DELHI (9W at 1920, AI at 2010 and IT at 2030).

How reliable is AI to MLE!?

I was horrified at the thought of AI cock-ups reducing my previous (and super-expensive costing!) time in the Maldives, that I decided to avoid AI completely.

You may have the usual AI 20-30 min delay, but usually on MLE they are quite reliable on the few times I've taken and had colleagues / friends take their flight.

The AI options seems the best. Anyone on here got any AI points? Please PM me.

If I book via cleartrip there seems to be a option that gives IT and AI on one ticket. What happens if my flight is delayed by IT will they get me there still via CMB or ask me to wait in BLR overnight?

Wait in BLR overnight! This is not the EU. ;)

Infact they might even ask you to go and deal with AI yourself for the next day rebooking!

Haha! :D

very reliable....i've used ai on this route a bunch of times....

It's about time that Kingfisher or Jet introduce a BOM-MLE route. It's gotta be worth it especially as the new upper middle class and the uber rich would easily fill up the aircraft.

Keyser the J fare is a little silly for DEL-MLE on AI. Any ideas if they offer paid upgrades on the day or how many miles it will take to get a redemption ticket so can see what I can dig up in CC.

it will be 46k miles for a business redemption ticket....not worth it in my opinion....but they do offer paid upgrades at the airport....i think from del to either blr or trv will be inr 6k & from blr or trv to mle will be $75....

Any interesting redemption options for this route? I don't have miles in any Indian programs but do have Amex MR and SPG that I can transfer.

I think the best option is IT or 9W down to BLR and then AI onto MLE.

Thanks ^

Where are you staying in MLE? Is it a speedboat or a seaplane on arrival?

I really enjoyed my time there in Nov!

Agree. Went to MLE a few months ago and would have liked a few more options.

Staying at Conrad, FS or Hyatt not decided yet. Either way its gonna be a seaplane once I land so that's why it needs to be before 3pm as the last flight can't be after 5.

HAve you looked into spending the first night on Male Island. There is a Holiday Inn there, fine for an overnight.

The other option is the (quite nice, albeit significantly more expensive) Sheraton which is a a 15 minute speedboat ride away. But a very nice property for your first day or two...

Only have 3-4 nights spare and I would rather spend them all in once place. What do you think would be decent 3 or 4?

i like the sheraton....pretty good property....have been there twice....i've posted a trip report in the property master thread....

Sorry for the slightly o/t post... I will be in the Maldives this spring, and my plan is to fly to Colombo, spend a few days there, then onwards to BOM on a 9W paid ticket with a 4 hour layover, connecting to mileage redemption on SA (on a separate reservation). I will most likely have luggage, and I believe 9W and SA have an interline agreement.

I am not planning on getting a visa for India. Does anyone see any issues with this plan?

Thanks!

3 or 4 nights?

i spent 3 nights the first time & 4 the next....the more the better....

I spent 3 night a couple of years back at the Taj Exotica and loved it. But when ever I spend 4 days at one place I get bored but have never spent 4 nights there..... Confused! :confused:

there are enough excursions to keep you busy for 4 days....if you prefer to do nothing & just relax at the resort then i think 3 days would be sufficient....

Yeah that's what I had thought.

Check the master thread in the SPG forum. I spent 4 nights in an ocean villa at the Sheraton. It was incredible. Private pool, great ocean views, very nice spacious private space.

Good food choices across the resort and nice bars etc. plus no seaplane hassle!

this was one of my main reasons for choosing the sheraton the first time....

Thanks. Will look into this one. Is this the full moon resort one? How much did you pay per night average?

9W gets into BLR at 1010 and AI leaves for MLE at 1130.

Is that enough time if on two tickets? Is it classed as a International check in so 2hrs before or is 1hr enough?

I stayed there for a week in Nov. Look at the master thread for some rate info for upgrades at least that I put in there.

^