Originally Posted by percysmith

I'm looking at the images of a Maldives "visa":



I would say a PRC, Vietnam or Indonesian visa will seriously require blank page. A Maldives "visa" will not.

Timatic http://www.klm.com/travel/hk_en/prep...c/visaform.htm is silent on blank pages (but they are silent on PRC/Vietnam/Indonesia too)

Bring a printout of the stamp. I seriously think the GA will be seriously harsh to deny you boarding cos you don't have a blank page for Maldives.

Originally Posted by percysmith

Why would he get a passport back from FMCOPRC with no blank pages in it if he's a PRC national? I assume he is a non-PRC national whose last blank page was used by FMCOPRC for a PRC Visa. OP can correct me if my assumption is wrong.

Originally Posted by CuiDawei

You're absolutely correct and not that I think it matters but for what it is worth I have a UK Passport.

Thanks PS - the visa stamp is reassuring. I am just scared that because it's called a 'visa' - CX's system will prompt GA to check to make sure I have a blank page.

Originally Posted by CuiDawei

What are your thoughts on me booking a ticket to say the UK within 24 hours of arrival into the Maldives (obviously a totally refundable one) which I could use as a transit and as such would not require a 'visa' stamp. If I was questioned, I would show this to CX GA in the hopes of me getting on the plane. Naturally, I would cancel this ticket as soon as I got on the plane to the Maldives.

There are two of us on separate tickets so could get my partner to check in all the bags under their name.

Originally Posted by eightblack

Ung1 and I were still unclear as to what we were going to do on the ground all day in MLE. You see, our original return flight to DXB was scheduled to depart around 11pm that night. Meaning we had to occupy ourselves for around 12 or more hours. All I needed was a bar stool and wi-fi and I would be happy. But then I thought, no point in spending a day there. So I decided to try and get on the return flight.

Even Ung1 started to question my intelligence.

We bid farewell to our crew, with most of them saying to themselves, thank god we never have to see those 2 again. Head down the portable stairs, across the tarmac and into the quaint little arrivals area of the MLE airport. I see an EK staff member, holding a clip board and 2-way radio, looking quite serious. I was about to tip her over the edge.

"Hi there, I just got off the flight from DXB"
"Yes"
"I'd like to see if there are seats on the return flight. The flight which leaves in an hour. In F."
"Are you serious?"
"Yes"
"Did you fall down the stairs and bang your head?"
"No"
"Have you been drinking?"
"Well, yes, as a matter of fact. But hardly anything you would deem excessive"

Ung1 was in the immigration queue while this was going on. He hadn't decided at this point to join me - and besides, he had to collect a bag and the romantic fool wanted a MLE stamp in his passport. We sort of agreed to reconnect back in DXB if it all went pear shaped from this point on.

The small EK staff member started barking at the walkie talkie. The man on the other end was in a stupor. He too was fit to be tied. I was told to go and "sit over there" like a naughty school kid. There was a lot of arm waving. And a lot of staring. There was but 1 seat left in F I was told during my verbal intercourse with the EK person. And it was allegedly very difficult to change at the last minute.

Now, to the uneducated, this may have been an act of insanity. Flying all that way, to one of the most beautiful places in the world. To an island which is a part of twenty-six atolls, which comprises a total of just under 1200 islands. With crystal clear waters. And some of the best diving our fragile planet has to offer.

But this wasn't a holiday. This was a mileage run of sorts. And only a true mileage runner would understand.

Eventually, and rather reluctantly, the little Maldivian woman returned with 2 boarding passes. One for the MLE to DXB flight, and the second was for my DXB to CMB flight. She continued to shake her head in disbelief and then passed me off onto some sort of security person who escorted me to security.

Security was a bit of a shambles. But no tears were to be had and I proceeded upstairs to the common premium lounge that EK customers could use. Logged on and caught up on some work briefly and then went to grab a drink. Except for the fact that no alcohol is allowed in the airport. At all. In fact, drinking is not really the done thing in the Maldives. Which if you ask me, is a good enough reason to catch the very next flight home. I was outraged. Apparently, the consumption of alcoholic beverages is confined to resorts only. And even then, it is obscenely expensive. The importation of alcohol is illegal. As is homosexuality. I'm not sure though how you do one without the other. But I digress.

Boarding commences. As I hoof it back up the mobile staircase, I can see Herman looking down at me in bewilderment.

"Mr Eightback, what are you doing here?"
"Did you forget something?"
"No"
"What are you doing then?"
"Going back to Dubai"
"Are you serious?"
"Yes, deadly"
"What on earth for?"

No later than 2-minutes pass and Ung1's ugly face appears in the cabin. He decides to join me on the quick turn. By this stage, Herman and the rest of the crew are apoplectic. They are convinced we work for EK as some sort of undercover researchers. Ung1 patiently tries to explain to Herman what FT is all about and what a Mileage Run is. He is unmoved. And definitely unconvinced.

Push back is a simple process of removing the portable stairs, a lot of people on the ground running off into the nearby trees and the EK Captain giving the 2 massive GE engines a boot-full of Jet-A and letting just under 130,000 pounds of thrust do the work of turning the wide-body. We're airborne in seconds.

The seat belt light goes off and I hear that soothing sound of the Dom cork popping and champagne flutes clinking. Herman appears. With glass and bottle in hand.

He seems more relaxed now. Maybe he's had a glass himself. Still doesn't buy our story but nevertheless - happy to chat about our insane adventure. Which is now 3 quarters complete.

Originally Posted by brithk

i would just call MPC and ask them. Cathay will follow the rules in their system regardless of the size of the stamp. I know people who have been denied at check in for not having a blank page when travelling to Indonesia.

Originally Posted by percysmith

Well Indonesia's is a whole page:

Originally Posted by percysmith

Well Indonesia's is a whole page:

Originally Posted by correctioncx

Not anymore.

But to the OP, you do need a page for entry to MLE.

Originally Posted by percysmith

I trust you but how do you know?

Timatic isn't so detailed about these things...and a whole page for a stamp does seem excessive.

Originally Posted by brithk

Its only a full page if you need a visa. HK Passports and APEC cardholders just need a stamp. The rule is the same however...

Originally Posted by percysmith

I use my HKSAR passport for Bintan/Bali but my HKSAR passport is nowhere near full so this is not an issue (but I'm getting to it!).

Too bad you can't add pages for a UK passport http://answers.yahoo.com/question/in...7012056AAxVG4E , You can for a a US passport http://thepointsguy.com/2011/03/how-...es-in-a-hurry/ .

And grrr despite having a mammoth-sized building the UK consulate doesn't have counter service anymore http://hongkong.geoexpat.com/forum/54/thread252566.html . Expedite doesn't appear to be available, only Emergency Travel Document https://www.gov.uk/emergency-travel-document which is dodgy at best...