[FARE GONE] TK: IST-MGQ (Mogadishu, Somalia) $263/199 ai; 5750miles; 4,6cpm
Mar 8, 2012, 12:13 pm
#91
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don't bash lahore
Someone pointed to "FARE GONE) AA/GULF : HOUSTON-LAHORE (LHE) Rt. from $497 a.i." as a more dangerous run.
This is fallacious. Western Pakistan is no paradise; a fair chunk of it is no-go; but Islamabad and Lahore are relatively secure, and life goes on. Yes, westerners have gotten kidnapped in Lahore, and there is sporadic violence, but compared to the rest of the country, it is lovely... and not in the same league as Mogadishu... we're talking high school baseball v. major leagues. And it has attractions and cultural interest to rival anything in India (of which it was once a part).
In fact, I did this run - Lahore plus India. It was fabulous; I never felt insecure.
This is fallacious. Western Pakistan is no paradise; a fair chunk of it is no-go; but Islamabad and Lahore are relatively secure, and life goes on. Yes, westerners have gotten kidnapped in Lahore, and there is sporadic violence, but compared to the rest of the country, it is lovely... and not in the same league as Mogadishu... we're talking high school baseball v. major leagues. And it has attractions and cultural interest to rival anything in India (of which it was once a part).
In fact, I did this run - Lahore plus India. It was fabulous; I never felt insecure.
Last edited by nschloss123; Mar 8, 2012 at 12:28 pm
Mar 8, 2012, 2:50 pm
#92
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Depart Thu, Mar 29 KBL to MGQ 2 stops 20h 30m
This flight leaves on Thursday and arrives on Friday.
Turkish Airlines Flight 707 5h 45m
Take-off Thu 12:00p KBL Kabul, Afghanistan
Landing Thu 4:15p IST Istanbul, Turkey
Coach | Airbus A320-100/200 (Narrow-body Jet) | 5h 45m
Connection IST Istanbul, Turkey
7h 00m
Turkish Airlines Flight 686 4h 05m
Take-off Thu 11:15p IST Istanbul, Turkey
Landing Fri 3:20a KRT Khartoum, Sudan
Coach | Boeing 737-800 (Narrow-body Jet) | 4h 05m
Connection KRT Khartoum, Sudan
0h 50m
Turkish Airlines Flight 686 2h 50m
Take-off Fri 4:10a KRT Khartoum, Sudan
Landing Fri 7:00a MGQ Muqdisho, Somalia
Coach | Boeing 737-800 (Narrow-body Jet) | 2h 50m
*
economy $1061
Turkish Airlines - we go to all the places you want to be!
This flight leaves on Thursday and arrives on Friday.
Turkish Airlines Flight 707 5h 45m
Take-off Thu 12:00p KBL Kabul, Afghanistan
Landing Thu 4:15p IST Istanbul, Turkey
Coach | Airbus A320-100/200 (Narrow-body Jet) | 5h 45m
Connection IST Istanbul, Turkey
7h 00m
Turkish Airlines Flight 686 4h 05m
Take-off Thu 11:15p IST Istanbul, Turkey
Landing Fri 3:20a KRT Khartoum, Sudan
Coach | Boeing 737-800 (Narrow-body Jet) | 4h 05m
Connection KRT Khartoum, Sudan
0h 50m
Turkish Airlines Flight 686 2h 50m
Take-off Fri 4:10a KRT Khartoum, Sudan
Landing Fri 7:00a MGQ Muqdisho, Somalia
Coach | Boeing 737-800 (Narrow-body Jet) | 2h 50m
*
economy $1061
Turkish Airlines - we go to all the places you want to be!
There are lots of Somalis in MSP. Most of the catering folks and cab drivers, it seems. Might be a good option for them.
Mar 8, 2012, 4:08 pm
#93
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keeping an open mind as FlyerTalkers
I'm sure on the other side of the world, they are seeing IST - LAX and going "wow...anyone wanna go the most dangerous MR?" ......Im sure Mogadishu has its good and bad....like anywhere else in the world...
Mar 8, 2012, 4:20 pm
#95
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Originally Posted by US Dept. of State
Demonstrations occur periodically, mostly in Khartoum. You should keep a low profile, vary your time and routes of travel, exercise care while driving, and ensure that your passport and Sudanese visa are always valid and up to date.
We recommend that all U.S. citizens visiting or residing in Sudan maintain safe haven plans, as well as plans to evacuate the country on short notice should the situation warrant.
We recommend that all U.S. citizens visiting or residing in Sudan maintain safe haven plans, as well as plans to evacuate the country on short notice should the situation warrant.
It was more the juxtaposition of all three of these pleasant places on one PNR that made me chuckle.
Mar 8, 2012, 4:49 pm
#97
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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
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
I cannot find any chain hotel there? No Hilton, no Starwood, no Hyatt... That is suspect
Mar 8, 2012, 5:08 pm
#98
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Mar 8, 2012, 5:16 pm
#99
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My employer gives me this ranting paranoid security briefing every time I go to Paris; For KRT pretty much said "do wherever you want (except take photos), no one ever has problems here."
YMMV.
Mar 8, 2012, 5:18 pm
#100
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This begs the question...is there any place in the world now that would otherwise be a logical destination for a global-alliance carrier but is not due to instability/unrest/political barriers, etc. It seems like MGQ was one of the last.
Kabul? Check
Baghdad? Check
Tehran? Check
Pyongyang? Check (albeit barely)
Havana? Check
Tripoli? Check
Damascus? Check (for now, at least)
Mogadishu? Check
Obviously not every national capital and/or country is served by a global-alliance carrier, but in virtually every case it's because the route would not be economically feasible, not because politics/war/unrest etc. is keeping them at bay.
Kabul? Check
Baghdad? Check
Tehran? Check
Pyongyang? Check (albeit barely)
Havana? Check
Tripoli? Check
Damascus? Check (for now, at least)
Mogadishu? Check
Obviously not every national capital and/or country is served by a global-alliance carrier, but in virtually every case it's because the route would not be economically feasible, not because politics/war/unrest etc. is keeping them at bay.
Mar 8, 2012, 6:45 pm
#101
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We must have different employers. I've never been to KRT, but imagine as long as you're smart it's relatively safe. That said, we have a million restrictions when there for work when and where we can go. DC? Nope, if we wanna go to Barry Farms it's all good.
Mar 8, 2012, 6:49 pm
#102
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(And I agree completely about DC safety.)
Mar 8, 2012, 9:44 pm
#104
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Mar 8, 2012, 10:20 pm
#105
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