Flights BNE-KBL?

[PineappleSkip]

Hi all

Just mulling over flight possibilities BNE-KBL, aiming to find a reasonable J return fare, although I need to book in Y (they stretch to Y+) and upgrade with my own $$$. Flying in around 02/07, out 06/09 evening or 07/09.

Yes I know there we great fares in J last week, but couldn't book last week and they appear all to have disappeared.

Would like to earn towards requalifying WP on QF (so CX BNE-HKG-DXB a possibility) or VA (so BNE-SYD-AUH another possible goer) However through fares on either not a goer so looks like I need to book two tickets with a generous layover in DXB or AUH. VA to AUH would be nice but very limited possibilities due to limited flights to AUH and limited direct connections AUH-KBL.

Other options appear to be EY, which seem to have through flight numbers (albeit codeshares on 4Q metal AUH-KBL) and the obvious EK, although the latter is not a good look for reasonably priced J tickets.

Very pleased to hear any and all ideas in this regard, a quick look at velocity website indicates I get status credits on EY flights, presumably only on EY metal. Also if anyone ahs experienced the various carriers into KBL which they reckon is the go. 4Q looked relatively OK.

Cheers skip

 

[PineappleSkip]

No responses? Have I stumped the board? :shock: Has anyone at least flown J on EY? Cheers skip

 

[Major]

I have flown EY from BNE-SIN-AUH a few times in J and found the service, food, wine etc to be excellent.

Not sure why you would then want to spend 2 months in Afghanistan though

 

[serfty]

Not sure Afghanistan is a popular waypoint, let alone a destination. :shock:

Do oneworld actually fly there?

 

[docjames]

I think the easiest willbe to pick a connection point to fly into KBL from, then work out the best way to/from the connection point.

Connection points to KBL would be
DXB - KBL (EK)
DEL - KBL (Air India)

China Southern have J for $4612 ret BNE-CAN-DEL-KBL (15 hr layover in DEL on way there, 14h layover in CAN on return)

Other (probably far less convenient) options connecting onto Ariana Air include Frankfurt, Istanbul, Ankara, Tehran, Jeddah, SVO (Moscow),

https://www.flyariana.ca/subpage.php?id=15

 

[docjames]

I thought of one other that may have a decent J fare (without looking).

Fly to MEL then MEL-DOH-BAH-KBL (booing through Qatar).


I think you'll find you're looking into a OW black hole and will need to use someone else unless you fly to FRA or IST for example (via LHR in the case of IST).

Why are you headed to KBL out of interest?

 

[ozmille]

When I read KBL the first time I was a bit stumped and then forgot to look around for prices

Cheapest J I can see now is a CZ then 4Q but this doesn't help with status. On the one ticket it's 6877 if you do CZ to DXB for 4603 and separate J ticket to KBL on W2 for 1013 brings it down a bit or the last bit can be done in Y for 352

work or pleasure in KBL?

 

[PineappleSkip]

separate J ticket to KBL

That seems the logical option. When I went to fright centre they couldn't find a through fare at all. expert flyer does show code share flights AUH-KBL with EY numbers, but doesn't list KBL on its website, hence my interest in them. Fright centre also suggested EY which was the highest BNE-DXB J fare I found by a long mile.:shock: Something like 9500 including an economy connection on Flydubai.

I found MH fare BNE-KUL-DEL for about 5600, but connections limited ex DEL, and this just misses the AI connection.

Also found SQ BNE-DXB for just over 7000, which was better than others I've hunted up.

... work or pleasure in KBL?

work. Not sure I'd recommend it as a pleasure destination.

Cheers skip

 

[docjames]

All return prices:
China Southern BNE-DEL via CAN @ $3969 dep 30/6 ret 6/9 or 8/9
Thai $4807 BNE-DEL via BKK dep 1/7 ret 5/6/7/8 Sept

Again DXB China Southern $4646 via CAN


These seem to be the cheapest J, then it's a step up to the ~$7k mark for other options.

Otherwise AI @ SIN$1577 for SIN-DEL or Jet @ SIN$2071 leaving you to get to SIN on QF or other and the connection from DEL?

 

[PineappleSkip]

AI @ SIN$1577 for SIN-DEL or Jet @ SIN$2071

docjames, thanks

AI's website, when I tried it, claimed no seat availability from SIN, HKG or BKK to KBL

However their schedule did offer me this strange routing ex HKG. A perverse way of selling up perhaps...

AI 315 18:05 Hong Kong (HKG) - 21:10 Delhi (DEL)
AI 315 22:50 Delhi (DEL) - 00:55 (+1) Mumbai (BOM)
AI 601 06:00 (+1) Mumbai (BOM) 08:00 (+1) Delhi (DEL)
AI 243 12:35 (+1) Delhi (DEL) 13:35 (+1) Kabul (KBL)

 

[docjames]

Weird - who would want to subject themselves to two more AI flights than absolutely required.

You can earn QF FF points (but not SCs) on jet btw.

 

[PineappleSkip]

Thanks for your advice all. By way of postscript, I'm now installed in Kabul, you'll find a blog post of my outbound trip here
Descent into Kabul - pineappleskip's posterous

Descent into Kabul? More like a descent into the maelstrom :shock:

As you can see, I found a satisfactory fare (both flexible Y and J) on SQ to DXB, and entrusted myself to 4Q (Safi Airways) for DXB-KBL. They claim to be the only IATA certified afghan airline, but EU won't let them in - or any airline from KBL!

Cheers skip

 

[docjames]

Wow, interesting blog / trip report. Will add blog to view list if you plan on updating it with afghan adventures.

Are you at liberty to say what sort of work you do - fascinating to see who goes to places like Kabul and why.

Safe travels.

 

[PineappleSkip]

Are you at liberty to say what sort of work you do - fascinating to see who goes to places like Kabul and why.

Aid work. Someone has to do it. And a great opportunity to get jetted into the most godforsaken places on Earth!

Cheers skip

 

[Simo]

KBL is not a very commercial route.

I have heard there is a lot of activity for 2 seater aeroplanes and also there is one airline that supports but I can not work out who they are but there planes are all painted a funny green colour

 

[Simo]

Stay safe over there Skip,

Sounds like you are doing good work

 

[PineappleSkip]

Thanks for your thoughts simo

Did another post in which I mentioned the air traffic round our way. Choppers predominate over my part of the city as we are not far from the airport but more or less perpendicular to the runway, as is much of the city. They don't appear to restrict themselves in terms of how low they fly, I guess a defensive stratgy, which means any sightings are often momentary. Am told that a couple are circling the airport all day to ward off any attack:shock: but there are many apocryphal stories among expat in places like these.

Cheers skip