MPM transit
#31


Join Date: Apr 2007
Programs: QF, AC, Hyatt, Hilton
Posts: 4,236
I landed in MPM from JNB yesterday.
The visa on arrival process is completely disorganised and seemingly void of any method.
Walking into the Immigration hall there's a more or less non-descript desk where two Immigration staff were working. Passengers simply approached in any fashion; there was no line much less directions on what to do. The landing (or actually an A5 photocopied piece of paper) wasn't available anywhere but from an Immigration staffer. So you had to first get someone's attention to get that. I filled it out and leaned on the desk facing a staffer for 25 minutes while she processed other passengers. Then out of the blue she looks at me and says "Where is your form?" As mentioned, there are no instructions about this form which, so helpfully, is only obtained from the desk draw of the Immigration desk!
All in all it took me 60 minutes. Unless you've got a lot of time and patience, I would recommend trying to get a visa in advance.
And here are the latest tourist visa fees:
The visa on arrival process is completely disorganised and seemingly void of any method.
Walking into the Immigration hall there's a more or less non-descript desk where two Immigration staff were working. Passengers simply approached in any fashion; there was no line much less directions on what to do. The landing (or actually an A5 photocopied piece of paper) wasn't available anywhere but from an Immigration staffer. So you had to first get someone's attention to get that. I filled it out and leaned on the desk facing a staffer for 25 minutes while she processed other passengers. Then out of the blue she looks at me and says "Where is your form?" As mentioned, there are no instructions about this form which, so helpfully, is only obtained from the desk draw of the Immigration desk!
All in all it took me 60 minutes. Unless you've got a lot of time and patience, I would recommend trying to get a visa in advance.
And here are the latest tourist visa fees:
#32




Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SORT OF HOMELESS
Programs: 14 years AA exp, but no more; & 1MM+, QR-PLT (ow EMD) MR-LTT, HH Gold
Posts: 8,104
I landed in MPM from JNB yesterday.
The visa on arrival process is completely disorganised and seemingly void of any method.
Walking into the Immigration hall there's a more or less non-descript desk where two Immigration staff were working. Passengers simply approached in any fashion; there was no line much less directions on what to do. The landing (or actually an A5 photocopied piece of paper) wasn't available anywhere but from an Immigration staffer. So you had to first get someone's attention to get that. I filled it out and leaned on the desk facing a staffer for 25 minutes while she processed other passengers. Then out of the blue she looks at me and says "Where is your form?" As mentioned, there are no instructions about this form which, so helpfully, is only obtained from the desk draw of the Immigration desk!
All in all it took me 60 minutes. Unless you've got a lot of time and patience, I would recommend trying to get a visa in advance.
And here are the latest tourist visa fees:
The visa on arrival process is completely disorganised and seemingly void of any method.
Walking into the Immigration hall there's a more or less non-descript desk where two Immigration staff were working. Passengers simply approached in any fashion; there was no line much less directions on what to do. The landing (or actually an A5 photocopied piece of paper) wasn't available anywhere but from an Immigration staffer. So you had to first get someone's attention to get that. I filled it out and leaned on the desk facing a staffer for 25 minutes while she processed other passengers. Then out of the blue she looks at me and says "Where is your form?" As mentioned, there are no instructions about this form which, so helpfully, is only obtained from the desk draw of the Immigration desk!
All in all it took me 60 minutes. Unless you've got a lot of time and patience, I would recommend trying to get a visa in advance.
And here are the latest tourist visa fees:
What form of payment do they accept for VOA? Cash or credit card? If cash, which currency? I assume they accept all currencies shown on the photo copy you posted?
#33


Join Date: Apr 2007
Programs: QF, AC, Hyatt, Hilton
Posts: 4,236
Cash only, in any of the listed currencies. Change can be hard to come by so exact money would help.
#34




Join Date: May 2006
Location: SAN
Programs: Lots of faux metal
Posts: 7,015
I landed in MPM from JNB yesterday.
The visa on arrival process is completely disorganised and seemingly void of any method.
Walking into the Immigration hall there's a more or less non-descript desk where two Immigration staff were working. Passengers simply approached in any fashion; there was no line much less directions on what to do. The landing (or actually an A5 photocopied piece of paper) wasn't available anywhere but from an Immigration staffer. So you had to first get someone's attention to get that. I filled it out and leaned on the desk facing a staffer for 25 minutes while she processed other passengers. Then out of the blue she looks at me and says "Where is your form?" As mentioned, there are no instructions about this form which, so helpfully, is only obtained from the desk draw of the Immigration desk!
All in all it took me 60 minutes. Unless you've got a lot of time and patience, I would recommend trying to get a visa in advance.
And here are the latest tourist visa fees:
The visa on arrival process is completely disorganised and seemingly void of any method.
Walking into the Immigration hall there's a more or less non-descript desk where two Immigration staff were working. Passengers simply approached in any fashion; there was no line much less directions on what to do. The landing (or actually an A5 photocopied piece of paper) wasn't available anywhere but from an Immigration staffer. So you had to first get someone's attention to get that. I filled it out and leaned on the desk facing a staffer for 25 minutes while she processed other passengers. Then out of the blue she looks at me and says "Where is your form?" As mentioned, there are no instructions about this form which, so helpfully, is only obtained from the desk draw of the Immigration desk!
All in all it took me 60 minutes. Unless you've got a lot of time and patience, I would recommend trying to get a visa in advance.
And here are the latest tourist visa fees:
#35


Join Date: Sep 2008
Programs: A3 *G, AA exePlat, AS MVP 75k Gold, JL sapphire, UA silver
Posts: 4,786
flew into mpm on the last SA flight. overnight at the immigration area. went to transit area in the morning, get an actual boarding pass at t-3. only paid some tea money whatevwe u call it.
i will miss the deal... i just arrive doh
i will miss the deal... i just arrive doh
#36




Join Date: May 2006
Location: SAN
Programs: Lots of faux metal
Posts: 7,015
You spent the night in the immigration area??? Were there even seats?
#38




Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: AA (EP), Hilton (Diamond), Marriott Bonvoy (Titanium)
Posts: 9,121
What is this "tea money?" Is that a small bribe to facilitate getting your boarding pass? Whom did you pay? Is that necessary or expected?
#40


Join Date: Sep 2008
Programs: A3 *G, AA exePlat, AS MVP 75k Gold, JL sapphire, UA silver
Posts: 4,786
sleeping on a bench is no different than sleeping in a j class seat to me.
i dont like my chance of catching the mpm flight dependa on one particular flight to mpm. i prefer to fly in one day early to.handle potential disruption
i dont like my chance of catching the mpm flight dependa on one particular flight to mpm. i prefer to fly in one day early to.handle potential disruption
#41


Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Stuck on this planet - mainly in STR and LAX
Posts: 5,032
Lots of things to see/do, good food, hotel was ok.
Instead of sleeping on a bench I would spend an extra day or two there.
#42



Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: used to be PER, now it's nowhere/eveywhere
Programs: QFF NB, AA GLD
Posts: 3,687
#43


Join Date: Sep 2008
Programs: A3 *G, AA exePlat, AS MVP 75k Gold, JL sapphire, UA silver
Posts: 4,786
if i have time, i would have spent time in mpm but 1) i spent 2 nights in mpm in jan already when i started my last done5
i did the following in 32 days
http://www.gcmap.com/mapui?P=Hkg-nrt-lhr-lca-ath-jkh-ath-fco%2C+flr-cdg-icn-ror-icn-fco-dus%2Cbru-doh-hnd-doh-bru%2Cams-lgw-mru-jnb-cpt-add-lfw-coo-abj-oua-add-ebb-jnb-mpm-doh-hkg
i did the following in 32 days
http://www.gcmap.com/mapui?P=Hkg-nrt-lhr-lca-ath-jkh-ath-fco%2C+flr-cdg-icn-ror-icn-fco-dus%2Cbru-doh-hnd-doh-bru%2Cams-lgw-mru-jnb-cpt-add-lfw-coo-abj-oua-add-ebb-jnb-mpm-doh-hkg
#44
FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: London
Posts: 17,013
if i have time, i would have spent time in mpm but 1) i spent 2 nights in mpm in jan already when i started my last done5
i did the following in 32 days
http://www.gcmap.com/mapui?P=Hkg-nrt...nb-mpm-doh-hkg
i did the following in 32 days
http://www.gcmap.com/mapui?P=Hkg-nrt...nb-mpm-doh-hkg

Work or pleasure ...?
#45


Join Date: Sep 2008
Programs: A3 *G, AA exePlat, AS MVP 75k Gold, JL sapphire, UA silver
Posts: 4,786
Pleaasure. Requalify aa exec plat, alaska mvp75k gold and a3 star gold.
first part is the end of done5 ex mpm. Then 4 a3 segments. Then flr dus via palau in j for 680gbp. Then bru tyo bru in j for 620 euro, pick up done5 to mru. Ua excursionist perk to lfw in j mru jnb cpt add lfw in widebodies. Then paid tocket on hf, then aeroplan in y to mpm.
my personal goal is to visit all countries, and i pickup 7new one this trip and over 120 now.
i earned over 200k miles on my first mpm done5
first part is the end of done5 ex mpm. Then 4 a3 segments. Then flr dus via palau in j for 680gbp. Then bru tyo bru in j for 620 euro, pick up done5 to mru. Ua excursionist perk to lfw in j mru jnb cpt add lfw in widebodies. Then paid tocket on hf, then aeroplan in y to mpm.
my personal goal is to visit all countries, and i pickup 7new one this trip and over 120 now.
i earned over 200k miles on my first mpm done5

