I am planning a flight to Nepal in late January, for about two weeks. (1/31 to 2/14,15,16)

Cheapest flights are on Qatar and 9W, but those flights aren't *A (I'm CO Plat soon, and hence *G). They also only earn miles on United and other *A partners, not CO.

So I'm looking at possibly EWR-DEL (CO) and then Indian to KTM. But transiting Delhi is not fun (visa + 9 hours stay), and I am concerned about luggage (I'll check three very heavy bags - DEL-KTM might be okay, but KTM-DEL will be a fortune).

Singapore from JFK-(FRA)-SIN-KTM then seems to be my best option. Longer flight, but no major layovers (9 hour layover in DEL with the other plan). It is $400 more ($1600 A/I) but could be worth it.

Any ideas/thoughts/options?

LX/LH whatever you want to BKK, TG BKK-KTM.

SIN-KTM is operated by SilkAir the regional SQ branch.

I should have put in that the TG flights bring pricing up to 3K. I don't mind if SilkAir flies the last route - it will be on one SingaporeAir ticket.

No *A miles or *G benefits on Silkair flights. However the convenience of dealing with single airline (& its subsidiary) on the itinerary may offset.

If you have a kris flyer account then the Silkair flights can be credited to it.

Pricing a ticket on THAI out of LA, and buying a separate domestic ticket may be the best bet for a full *A benefit. OR a combination of UA/TG may work too. You can try to break the ticket in places like NRT/KIX/ICN/HKG/TPE etc.

As for SQ, do make sure that your booking class gets mileage in your program. A lot of SQ fares don't. I agree, 9 hrs in DEL is no good idea.

Cheers!!

No krisflyer account, but perhaps not a bad idea to open one.

Do you think luggage will be an issue SIN-KTM? Or since it's all one airline, it's interlined? On the way home, I don't imagine needing as much luggage, so less of an issue.

Thanks for the advice. I am strongly leaning to Singapore. If only I could find better deals.

try booking BOM/DEL-KTM in 9W J (with CO to BOM/DEL). Extra bag allowance, and there are some reasonable J fares for the short trip.

overnight layover in DEL is not ideal, but it's not bad in this case (IMO).

It looks like CO flight arrives in DEL 9:20 PM or BOM at 9:40 PM and the 9W flight is at 7:30 AM (from DEL) or 8:05 AM (from BOM).

That's plenty of time to get some rest after a long flight. You'll be able to arrive in KTM more refreshed, IMO (apart from getting used to the jet lag).

As long as not spending more than 24 hours in SIN you can through check bags in both directions.

have met many people who've had problems with bag delays transiting through DEL to KTM.

I'd pick Singapore or Gulf. Etihad flys that route as well but no miles