Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Miles&Points > Mileage Run Deals > Mileage Run Discussion
Reload this Page >

[FARE GONE] TK: IST-MGQ (Mogadishu, Somalia) $263/€199 ai; 5750miles; 4,6cpm

Community
Wiki Posts
Search

[FARE GONE] TK: IST-MGQ (Mogadishu, Somalia) $263/€199 ai; 5750miles; 4,6cpm

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 7, 2012, 4:06 pm
  #16  
Moderator: Coupon Connection & S.P.A.M
 
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Louisville, KY
Programs: Destination Unknown, TSA Disparager Diamond (LTDD)
Posts: 57,953
Originally Posted by AA_EXP09
BTW YQ is over 90% of the fare.
If you could dump this, then.....
...You'd have more money for ransom!

(I'll be here all week, folks!)
Spiff is online now  
Old Mar 7, 2012, 4:06 pm
  #17  
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SFO / JFK
Programs: Variety of rectangular cards with my name on it
Posts: 665
Spring break 2012 Mogadishu!
KissFlyGoodbye is offline  
Old Mar 7, 2012, 4:12 pm
  #18  
Moderator: Coupon Connection & S.P.A.M
 
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Louisville, KY
Programs: Destination Unknown, TSA Disparager Diamond (LTDD)
Posts: 57,953
Originally Posted by KissFlyGoodbye
Spring break 2012 Mogadishu!
Loads of beach-front property! Literally there for the taking...
Spiff is online now  
Old Mar 7, 2012, 4:16 pm
  #19  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Programs: UA Platinum MM; DL Silver; IHG Diamond Ambassador; Hilton Gold; Marriott Gold
Posts: 24,249
Originally Posted by nschloss123
"WARNING: Mogadishu is regarded as the most lawless and dangerous city on Earth and is currently experiencing a major food and refugee crisis. It is highly dangerous for leisure or tourism."

http://wikitravel.org/en/Mogadishu#b
Now, now . . . let's be fair: it's been almost a year-and-a-half since the last suicide attack on the Mogadishu International Airport, which killed at least nine people. And, with any luck, the security efforts that coincided with TK's inaugural flight, "with the main roads in neighborhoods around the airport blocked by gangs of heavily armed policemen," will continue as a regular occurrence.

Of course, if you want to leave the relative "safety" and "serenity" of the airport, Wikitravel sounds ominous:
The safest way through Mogadishu is escorted by Ethiopian and official Somalian troops, or African Union peacekeeping forces; however, uniformed soldiers are a target for the militias and may come under attack. Independent travel is suicidal. Unpredictable armed conflicts among rival militias are prevalent in and around Mogadishu and can flare up with little or no warning. Lines of control in Mogadishu are unclear and frequently shift, making movement within the city extremely hazardous. When being escorted by armed security, it is best to be in an armored car. Infantry are highly likely to get engaged in street battles, and an armored vehicle can provide far better protection against most threats. A bullet proof vest is a must-have in Mogadishu.

[. . .]

Some reports say that to get through intersections near markets crowded with people, those wealthy enough to have vehicles fire machine guns into the air to clear a path. Safe travel through Mogadishu is only possible by convoy with heavily armed guides and guards, which actually can be hired quite easily. Even with guards, the likelihood of being injured, kidnapped, and/or killed is still very high, including potentially by said hirable guards.
I'm in for three of these; hey, miles are miles! I contacted Hertz, and they said an armored car may be available on the "Gold Choice" aisle. Not so sure where I'll pick up the machine gun to make it quickly through the intersections, however. As for the bulletproof vest? Those are for wussies.
SAT Lawyer is offline  
Old Mar 7, 2012, 4:19 pm
  #20  
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: BOS-TLV
Programs: Lots of them, no status
Posts: 1,318
Originally Posted by Spiff
...You'd have more money for ransom!

(I'll be here all week, folks!)
^
vicarious_MR'er is offline  
Old Mar 7, 2012, 4:19 pm
  #21  
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: DFW
Programs: AA EXP, mid-tier with pretty much everyone else
Posts: 873
You don't need a gun, you can hire militias right outside the airport. Not kidding.
bthotugigem05 is offline  
Old Mar 7, 2012, 4:21 pm
  #22  
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: NRT / HND
Programs: AA EXP, NH Plat, Former UA 1K
Posts: 5,665
I saw this one on the TK website with the promo. I was pretty surprised actually that they actually see a benefit of flying there. I know there are several places in the world that others can more safely go that American's can not, but I was under the impression that Mogadishu was pretty much dangerous for anyone.

It is quite interesting to see these types of mileage runs posted to the oddball cities around the world. Wish I was still US based to take advantage of some of the other ones I've seen here.
dvs7310 is offline  
Old Mar 7, 2012, 4:30 pm
  #23  
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: The Castro, San Francisco, California
Programs: UA, DL, AA, Aegean Air, Cal Alumni (go Bears!)
Posts: 594
Will TK award your return trip miles posthumously? Or for your casket?
x1achilles is offline  
Old Mar 7, 2012, 4:30 pm
  #24  
Moderator, Delta Skymiles and Mileage Run
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Seat 2A
Programs: DL Diamond/MM, Hyatt Diamond, former AS MVPG 75K, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,940
From wiki travel:

"Some reports say that to get through intersections near markets crowded with people, those wealthy enough to have vehicles fire machine guns into the air to clear a path."
ryandc99 is offline  
Old Mar 7, 2012, 4:31 pm
  #25  
Moderator: Coupon Connection & S.P.A.M
 
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Louisville, KY
Programs: Destination Unknown, TSA Disparager Diamond (LTDD)
Posts: 57,953
Originally Posted by ryandc99
From wiki travel:

"Some reports say that to get through intersections near markets crowded with people, those wealthy enough to have vehicles fire machine guns into the air to clear a path."
What does Hertz charge for that feature?
Spiff is online now  
Old Mar 7, 2012, 4:39 pm
  #26  
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Programs: US CP, MR Plat, SPG Plat, HHonors Gold, National X
Posts: 917
Originally Posted by greendx
There are safer ways to visit Somalia.
Yes, you can watch Black Hawk Down for example..

Originally Posted by AA_EXP09
BTW YQ is over 90% of the fare.
If you could dump this, then.....
It's even cheaper if you book it one-way!! You never know..
Nikolaos is offline  
Old Mar 7, 2012, 4:41 pm
  #27  
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: BKK
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,088
So which brave soul is going to go to Somalia and help us capture some pictures?
blackmamba is offline  
Old Mar 7, 2012, 4:46 pm
  #28  
Moderator: Coupon Connection & S.P.A.M
 
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Louisville, KY
Programs: Destination Unknown, TSA Disparager Diamond (LTDD)
Posts: 57,953
Originally Posted by blackmamba
So which brave soul is going to go to Somalia and help us capture some pictures?
Did you say pictures or pirates?
Spiff is online now  
Old Mar 7, 2012, 4:57 pm
  #29  
Suspended
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
Originally Posted by nschloss123
Mogadishu is one of the VERY FEW travel opportunities I would reject outright. I'd class it with... Baghdad, Kandahar, FATA (Pakistan) levels of silliness.

On the other hand, Somaliland is supposed to be quite nice ... but the way in is via Addis or Djibouti.

"WARNING: Mogadishu is regarded as the most lawless and dangerous city on Earth and is currently experiencing a major food and refugee crisis. It is highly dangerous for leisure or tourism."

http://wikitravel.org/en/Mogadishu#b
Mogadishu is far more problematic for non-VFR traffic than Baghdad, Kandahar or Pakistan's FATA.
GUWonder is offline  
Old Mar 7, 2012, 4:59 pm
  #30  
Suspended
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
Originally Posted by blackmamba
So which brave soul is going to go to Somalia and help us capture some pictures?
Ethnic Somalis in the US, Europe and the Middle East who are members of FT do sometimes have family members to visit there.
GUWonder is offline  


Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.