This is part of a series of blog entries on how to get to countries and places. Here is a link to the index. I plan to eventually cover every country and some other places. If you have a request for a particular country or place please use the email me link at top right, or leave a comment.

Qatar

Source: Shahin Olakara

The only land border is with Saudi Arabia and a visa or transit visa is required to use the bus or taxi services. Airlines flying to Doha include:

• Star Alliance – EgyptAir, Lufthansa, Turkish
• Oneworld – British Airways, Royal Jordanian
• Sky Team – KLM
• Other Selected – Qatar Airways, most Middle Eastern airlines, some Indian airlines

TIP Several airlines operate fifth freedom flights between Doha and other Middle East hubs (notably excluding Saudi Arabian airports). These can be relatively inexpensive.

TIP If visiting somewhere else in Middle East and flying on Qatar Airways it is usually worthwhile on paid tickets to make the other place the destination with a stopover in Doha. The cost is the same or very little extra compared with Doha as destination. The opposite applies if flying other gulf airlines (ie if flying Emirates Gulf make Dubai the stopover and Qatar the destination).

TIP If including Bahrain in a Star Alliance or Sky Team around the world ticket (which have a mileage limit) take a surface sector from one of the other Middle East hubs to avoid the need for lengthy backtracking due to lack of Asian connection.

TIP On a One World explorer around the world ticket (which is not mileage-based) you can back-track via London on British Airways or Amman on Royal Jordanian, or fly on to Bahrain on British Airways to connect with Cathay Pacific.

Musings of the Global Traveller
Thoughts, advice and travel news from around the world by a seasoned frequent flyer.

This is part of a series of blog entries on how to get to countries and places. Here is a link to the index. I plan to eventually cover every country and some other places. If you have a request for a particular country or place please use the email me link at top right, or leave a comment.

Bhutan

Source: Douglas J McLaughlin

There are few ways to visit Bhutan. There are 2 roads into the country, one airport and no trains. The only airline flying to Paro is the national airline Druk Air with flights from Bangladesh, India (Delhi & Kolkata), Nepal and Thailand.

A visit to Bhutan does not come cheaply. All visitors must either enter or leave by air, you cannot both arrive and depart by land. Air fares are very high and Druk Air is not a partner of any airline or alliance (thus no discounted flights or awards). To obtain a visa you must prebook accommodation & guide at US$200 per day.

TIP Bangkok and Delhi are cheaper transit points for a visit to Bhutan than the other options.

TIP The flight between Kathmandu and Paro is one of the most scenic in the world as the route hugs the mountain passes and valleys of the Himalayas. This flight originates in Delhi, so to be sure of getting a window seat book from Delhi.

Musings of the Global Traveller
Thoughts, advice and travel news from around the world by a seasoned frequent flyer.

Yesterday British Airways announced new charges for some customers to make seat selections in advance.

The new policy, which takes effect from 7 October 2009, can be summarised as follows.

• First Class, BA Gold and Oneworld Emerald – can make seat selections any time after booking (no change).
• Fully flexible fare, BA Silver and Oneworld Sapphire – can make seat selections any time after booking except for exit row seats in World Traveller class (longhaul economy) and World Traveller Plus class (longhaul premium economy). These exit row seats require a fee and only available between 4 & 10 days prior to departure.
• Everyone else – can pay a fee to select seats (bigger fee for better seats & longer flights, up to £60 per person per flight!) in advance or wait until check in opens and select for free.

There is a lot of detail in the fine print – see BA’s pages attempting to justify the new seating policy and attempting to summarise the new seating policy. The terms and conditions on that last page run to 23 bullet points. This detail means operational complexity and some terms seem particularly harsh – a paid for seat allocation can be changed by BA with no recourse, it is difficult to get a refund (and surprisingly any refund is not automatic in the event BA is unable to provide the better seat paid for).

I’m not convinced the new BA seating policy will work any better than the current one, which was only brought in less than 3 years ago (and also generated public complaints).

Mark Ashley of Upgrade : Travel Better opens his blog post about the changes with a quote from reader Hamish “The last bastion of decent airline customer service begins its inexorable slide towards Ryan-ism.”

While I personally think that criticism is a bit over the top, I do see it as highly relevant. By introducing a seat selection charge, British Airways is moving more into the smorgasbord pricing approach adopted by some airlines. Currently these are predominantly used by low cost airlines such as Ryanair, however there are other full service airlines with a similar approach such as Air Canada.

If the fuss over these charges dies down then I think we will see more components being charged separately from the base fare, and not just by British Airways. It will be interesting to see what effect it has on the kangaroo route in particular where BA and Qantas co-operate so closely.

Musings of the Global Traveller
Thoughts, advice and travel news from around the world by a seasoned frequent flyer.

This is part of a series of blog entries on how to get to countries and places. Here is a link to the index. I plan to eventually cover every country and some other places. If you have a request for a particular country or place please use the email me link at top right, or leave a comment.

Granada

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Grenada can be reached by cruise ship, boat from Saint Vincent, or by air. Airlines flying to Grenada include:

• Star Alliance – Air Canada
• Oneworld – American, British Airways
• Sky Team – Delta
• Other Selected – local Caribbean airlines such as LIAT & SVG Air & Air Jamaica, Virgin Atlantic, some low cost airlines (European and North American)

TIP On the Caribbean airlines the cheapest fares tend to be only available booking directly (on website if airline has one).

TIP Grenada is a useful stop on a Oneworld RTW or award ticket. The prohibition on mileage earning and redemption for American AAdvantage on British Airways trans-Atlantic flights and BA Executive Club on American trans-Atlantic flights does not apply for flights via the Caribbean.

Musings of the Global Traveller
Thoughts, advice and travel news from around the world by a seasoned frequent flyer.

This is part of a series of blog entries on how to get to countries and places. Here is a link to the index. I plan to eventually cover every country and some other places. If you have a request for a particular country or place please use the email me link at top right, or leave a comment.

Scotland

Source: Klaus Hermsen

There are lots of ways to reach Scotland. Buses are much cheaper than trains. Ferries operate from Northern Ireland, continental Europe and Scandanavia. Many airlines fly to Scotland, mostly shorthaul flights, including:

• Star Alliance – bmi (domestic only), Continental (Edinburgh & Glasgow), Lufthansa, SAS, US Airways (Glasgow)
• Oneworld – British Airways (domestic only)
• Sky Team – Air France, KLM
• Other Selected – Emirates (Glasgow), Pakistan International Airlines (Glasgow), many European low cost carriers

TIP Flights within United Kingdom on the main airlines (British Airways and bmi) are relatively expensive). Try low cost alternatives (but note these may use alternate airports eg Ryanair uses Preswick rather than the main Glasgow airport).

TIP If travelling to UK from outside Europe it is usually much cheaper to include the domestic flight to & from Scotland on British Airways or bmi on the longhaul ticket than buying a separate domestic ticket. If you don’t need to visit London then the continental European major airlines also have competitive fares (Air France, KLM, Lufthansa).

UPDATED November 2009 – Continental switch from Sky Team to Star Alliance. No change to advice.

Musings of the Global Traveller
Thoughts, advice and travel news from around the world by a seasoned frequent flyer.

The date which Mexicana is joining Oneworld has been confirmed as 10 November.

Unfortunately for me, this is just after the end of the 10th birthday 10% discount on selected Oneworld alliance products. Back to the drawing board to find an itinerary which doesn’t rely on Mexicana.

Musings of the Global Traveller
Thoughts, advice and travel news from around the world by a seasoned frequent flyer.

This is part of a series of blog entries on how to get to countries and places. Here is a link to the index. I plan to eventually cover every country and some other places. If you have a request for a particular country or place please use the email me link at top right, or leave a comment.

Tunisia

Source: Wikimedia Commons

There are bus services to Tunisia from Libya, and sometimes from Algeria (when the border is open). Cruise ships travel between Tunis and Spain, Italy and Egypt. There are no longhaul flights to Tunisia, but lots of shorthaul options. Airlines flying to Tunisia (Tunis unless otherwise stated) include:

• Star Alliance – EgyptAir, Lufthansa, SAS (Monastir only), Swiss (Monastir only), Turkish
• Oneworld – British Airways, Royal Jordanian
• Sky Team – Air Europa, Air France, Alitalia, TAROM (seasonal only to Djerba, Tunis & Monastir)
• Other Selected – Tunisair, some European low cost airlines (both Tunis & Monastir), most North African airlines, some Middle Eastern airlines

TIP On a Oneworld Explorer around the world fare, Tunisia is included in Europe.

TIP Fares to Tunisia from Europe hubs are generally low.

TIP Longhaul fares from Tunisia are markedly lower than from Western Europe, particularly in business and first class.

UPDATED August 2010 – Updated for TAM and Aegean joining Star Alliance, Shanghai leaving Star Alliance, Vietnam Airlines and TAROM joining Sky Team. No change to advice.

Musings of the Global Traveller
Thoughts, advice and travel news from around the world by a seasoned frequent flyer.

Celebrating Friday with a short interview with a frequent flyer.

Darren – Travel Rants

Darren loves travelling and enjoys helping out travel consumers. His Travel Rants blog has been attracting attention for years and he recently started My Life in Leeds (a good excuse for socialising in the name of research!).

First, some questions to see what kind of frequent flyer Darren is.

What is your home airport?
Darren – Leeds & Bradford International Airport.

What is the airline you usually fly?
Darren – Primarily European low cost airlines, i.e. EasyJet, Jet2.

Which of the following best describes your flying pattern?
× infrequent (eg annual) leisure trip
- jetsetting for pleasure
- frequent (eg monthly) business travel
- road warrior
- mileage runner
- I live on planes
Darren – Infrequent, usually 2 or 3 times a year.

How do you mostly earn your frequent flyer miles?
- promos
- credit card spend
- business and leisure travel
- taking extra flights on trips I need to take
- mileage running
Darren – I don’t generate frequent flyer miles because I fly on low-cost airlines.

Please describe how you travel in 4 words
Darren – Low cost, on budget.

Now for some travel advice from Darren.

What is inside your carry-on bag right now?
Darren – Guide book, iPod, mobile phone. Cannot travel without these items.

Please give a tip on travel.
Darren – Check and double check the passenger details before purchasing your flight ticket online. So many passengers enter the incorrect details and are they stung with name change admin charges.

What is your least preferred airline, and why?
Darren – Ryanair, simply because of how they treat their customers.

Are there any other airlines you try to avoid flying? Why?
Darren – Onur Air, a Turkish airline. Unhelpful flight crew and awful food and lack of in-flight entertainment.

What is your preferred airline for regular travel, and why?
Darren – EasyJet, low cost, have always been on time, and polite/helpful staff.

What is your preferred airline for a special trip, and why?
Darren – I loved flying with Malaysian airlines; great in-flight entertainment, nice food, and incredibly friendly air-crew.

Thanks Darren for your advice and information about flying on European low cost airlines. Have a great weekend.

For other frequent flyer friday posts please check out the index. If you have any questions you’d like answered, or wish to nominate someone for an interview, please drop me a line using the please use the contact me link. For all sorts of reasons I can’t make any guarantees, but if you’re interested chances are others are too and so we’ll get some good interviews.

Musings of the Global Traveller
Thoughts, advice and travel news from around the world by a seasoned frequent flyer.

This is part of a series of blog entries on how to get to countries and places. Here is a link to the index. I plan to eventually cover every country and some other places. If you have a request for a particular country or place please use the email me link at top right, or leave a comment.

Abu Dhabi

Source: Ian Anderson

Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) can be reached by land from the other UAE Emirates and from Oman at Al Ain. Airlines flying to Abu Dhabi (the city) include:

• Star Alliance – EgyptAir, Lufthansa, Singapore, Thai, Turkish
• Oneworld – British Airways, Royal Jordanian
• Sky Team – KLM
• Other Selected – Etihad, most Persian Gulf and Indian subcontinent airlines

TIP There are some fifth freedom flights between Abu Dhabi and other places in the Middle East, eg British Airways between Abu Dhabi and Muscat. These can be relatively inexpensive.

TIP It may be relatively cheaper to fly via Abu Dhabi with a stopover than to fly a simple round trip, whether on a paid ticket or an award ticket. For example Australia to Abu Dhabi is often not much less than Australia to Europe via Abu Dhabi.

TIP If visiting somewhere else in Middle East and flying on Etihad it is usually worthwhile on paid tickets to make the other place the destination with a stopover in Abu Dhabi. The cost is the same or very little extra compared with Abu Dhabi as destination. The opposite applies if flying other gulf airlines (ie if flying Gulf make Bahrain the stopover and Abu Dhabi the destination).

TIP On Star Alliance round the world tickets (which are mileage based) use a combination of Asian (eg Singapore) and European (eg Lufthansa) to visit Abu Dhabi and avoid high mileage wastage of back-tracking. On Oneworld round the world (continent based) tickets you can backtrack with British Airways (limit one visit to Middle East though). In both cases backtracking to Asia is not allowed because Middle East is in IATA TC area 2 and Asia is IATA TC area 3.

Musings of the Global Traveller
Thoughts, advice and travel news from around the world by a seasoned frequent flyer.

This is part of a series of blog entries on how to get to countries and places. Here is a link to the index. I plan to eventually cover every country and some other places. If you have a request for a particular country or place please use the email me link at top right, or leave a comment.

Mongolia

Source: Wikimedia Commons

The Trans-Mongolian train runs between Beijing & Moscow via Ulan Batar, and there are also local trains from Beijing, Hohot and Irkutsk. Buses run from Ulan Ude in Russia to Ulan Batar. Airlines flying to Mongolia (all to Ulan Batar) include:

• Star Alliance – Air China
• Oneworld – Japan Airlines (charters)
• Sky Team – Aeroflot, Korean
• Other Selected – MIAT

TIP Land travel is slow, not only because of the great distances involved but also due to slow border crossings.

TIP The Japan Airlines charter flights are not available for use on frequent flyer awards or Oneworld alliance fares.

TIP For round the world travel, Sky Team is the easiest option with flights to both Europe and elsewhere in Asia.

TIP If visiting in summer, book flights well in advance. Especially for awards and discounted business class fares.

Musings of the Global Traveller
Thoughts, advice and travel news from around the world by a seasoned frequent flyer.