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 Contact link at the top, or leave a comment.

Kiribati

The country of Kiribati straddles the Equator and also the 180th degree of longitude – literally in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. It is difficult to get to. At the time of writing, 3 airlines fly to Tarawa in Kiribati – Air Pacific and Air Kiribati from Nadi Fiji, and Our Airline has resumed flying from Nauru.  There are also infrequent supply ships from Fiji.

TIP In the past several years air services have been interrupted for extended periods, so do not book too far in advance of travel.  Air Pacific used to fly to Kiritimati (Christmas Island) en route between Nadi and Honolulu but this was discontinued in 2008 due to runway safety concerns.

TIP Air Pacific partners with some airlines (eg American and Qantas) and thus their flights are available for awards and can be included in Oneworld Global Explorer around the world fare.

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 Contact link at the top, or leave a comment.

Syria

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Buses connect Syria with Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey. Airlines flying to Syria (Damascus only unless specified) include:

• Star Alliance – Austrian, bmi, EgyptAir (also Aleppo), Turkish (also Aleppo)
• Oneworld – Iberia, Malev, Royal Jordanian (also Aleppo)
• Sky Team – Aeroflot, Air France, Alitalia, Czech, TAROM
• Other selected – most Middle Eastern airlines

TIP Longhaul fares to Syria are not particularly cheap. Try flying to Turkey or Egypt instead with a connecting flight on a separate ticket.

TIP Syria is considered part of Europe for special fares and awards and thus can be good value.  This applies on around the world fares, certain longhaul fares to Europe (where intra-Europe flights are charged a per sector cost) and awards. Routing options, however, are more limited than most other neighbouring countries due to less airlines flying to Syria.

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.

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 Contact link at the top, or leave a comment.

Thailand

Source: Wikimedia Commons

While many visitors arrive by land (bus or train) from neighbouring countries, most arrive by air.  Many airlines fly to Thailand (mostly using Bangkok Suvarnabhumi airport), including:

• Star Alliance – Air China, ANA, Asiana, Austrian, EgyptAir, Lufthansa, SAS, Singapore, Swiss, Thai, Turkish, United
• Oneworld – British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Japan, Qantas, Royal Jordanian
• Sky Team – Aeroflot, Air France, China Southern, Delta, Kenya, KLM, Korean, Vietnam
• Other selected – most Asian and Middle Eastern major airlines, many Asian low cost airlines

TIP Thailand is probably the easiest place in Asia to reach cheaply from Europe, North America and Australasia. With lots of competition fares are not excessive and awards readily available.  Bangkok is also conveniently located with plentiful service for around the world tickets. 

TIP Longhaul fares from Bangkok are usually cheaper, sometimes substantially cheaper, than fares to Bangkok.

TIP There are cheap flights to & from Bangkok from all nearby hubs (Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Singapore, Hong Kong).  Bangkok is a good base from which to explore south-east Asia.

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.

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 Contact link at the top, or leave a comment.

Tuvalu

Tuvalu is not easy to get to.  Ferries run intermittently from Fiji (and take a few days each way).  The only flights to Tuvalu are by Air Pacific.

TIP Some airlines, such as American and Qantas, partner with Air Pacific and thus award redemptions are possible. Air Pacific is also allowed to be used on the Global Explorer around the world product.

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 Contact link at the top, or leave a comment.

Tibet

Source: Library of Congress

There are 3 ways to travel to Tibet – by bus from Nepal, by train from Xining, or by flying. Airlines flying to Tibet include (all to Lhasa unless otherwise mentioned):

• Star Alliance – Air China (Lhasa, Nyingchi and Qamdo)
• Oneworld – none
• Sky Team – China Southern
• Other selected – China Eastern, Sichuan

TIP Air and rail fares are expensive. If you can find award seats on Air China’s flight from Beijing (or from Kathmandu) to Lhasa that is a good value redemption, particularly if part of a longhaul award to China.  An around the world fare is not quite as good value due to being distance based and the need for lengthy backtracking. A China air pass on Star Alliance is another lower cost option.

TIP All the airports are prone to poor weather, although Lhasa is not as bad as the others. Land travel can also be disrupted by weather. Allow a buffer of few days for travel to and from Tibet.

TIP The cheapest and easiest way to Tibet is by bus from Nepal.

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.

Palau

Source: Peter R Binter

Options to get to the Palau island state are very limited. Continental flies to Koror from Guam and Manila. There are sometimes charter flights from Taiwan and South Korea.

TIP – air fares are high. Star Alliance awards and around the world fares provide affordable alternatives to regular fares, but have limited availability – book as far ahead as possible.

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.

Peru

Source: Allard Schmidt

A number of airlines fly to Lima, Peru, including:

• Star Alliance – Air Canada, Continental, TAM
• Oneworld – American, Iberia, LAN
• Sky Team – Aeromexico, Air Europa, Delta, KLM
• Selected other – most Central and South American airlines

TIP With relatively high fares, Peru is a good option for including on an award, round the world ticket or Oneworld South America pass.

TIP Check connections via Central America and Colombia for cheaper fares.

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.

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.

Comoros

Source: Sascha Grabow

Other than catching a ride on a supply ship from Madagascar (in itself difficult to travel around), the only way to visit Comoros is by air. A few airlines fly to the capital of Moroni, including:

• Star Alliance – none
• Oneworld – none
• Sky Team – Kenya Airways
• Other selected – Comores, African Express, Air Austral, Air Madagascar

TIP An award or around the world ticket on Sky Team (Kenya Airways) is a good option for travellers from central and northern Africa, Europe or beyond.

TIP Otherwise, if not starting from Kenya or Tanzania it is difficult and expensive to reach Comoros. Allow plenty of time for connections across separate tickets and infrequent flight schedules.

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.

Sri Lanka

Source: Bernard Gagnon

The main way to reach Sri Lanka is by air. Airlines flying to Colombo include:

• Star Alliance – Singapore, Thai
• Oneworld – Cathay Pacific (from Hong Kong, Bangkok and Singapore), Royal Jordanian
• Sky Team – none
• Other selected – most Indian airlines, many Persian-Gulf and Malaysian airlines

TIP There is plenty of competition from Chennai, Bangkok and Singapore. If you cannot get a reasonable fare to Colombo from elsewhere in Asia or further afield check the option of separate tickets via one of these 3 places. Don’t forget to allow plenty of time to connect (eg a day).

TIP There are not many low cost airlines flying to Colombo. Air Asia from Kuala Lumpur, a couple of European airlines during northern winter season and several Indian airlines.

TIP Around the world or longhaul award tickets to Colombo on Star Alliance or Oneworld are fairly easily obtained via Bangkok or Singapore, as long as the booking is made early enough. This may change as Sri Lanka returns to being a popular tourist destination now the Tamil-related violence is gone.

TIP Several airlines operate a triangle flight with short hop between Male and Colombo in either or both directions connecting to a longhaul destination in Europe, Middle East or Asia. If fares to/from Colombo are high check them to/from Male instead with a separate ticket for the extra flight.

TIP In the past Colombo has had very low longhaul premium (ie first and business class) fares (to North America, Europe or around the world). So low that many people travelled to Sri Lanka to get these cheap tickets. The best bargains are long gone due to fare increases and currency movements, however from time to time there are some cheap longhaul fares that are worthwhile as long as you can get to Sri Lanka cheaply or easily.

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.

Samoa

Source: Robyn Gallagher

Some cruise ships and freighters visit Samoa from other South Pacific islands and also Australia and New Zealand. However, most visitors to Samoa arrive by air at Apia. Airline options are limited to regional carriers.

• Star Alliance – Air New Zealand from Auckland, Tonga and Los Angeles)
• Oneworld – none
• Sky Team – none
• Other selected – local airlines to Pago Pago (American Samoa), Air Pacific from Fiji, Virgin Blue subsidiaries from Sydney Brisbane and Auckland

TIP Fares from Auckland, Fiji and Australia are relatively cheap, except in school holidays or if there is a major event on in Samoa.

TIP Air New Zealand has through-fares from UK and USA to New Zealand and Australia that allow an en-route stopover at Cook Islands, Samoa or Tonga for little or no extra $.

TIP Awards in business class between USA and New Zealand are easier to get via the islands than on non-stop flights.

TIP On a Star Alliance round the world fare, which is distance based, it is much more efficient to fly Auckland to Apia to Los Angeles or vice versa than doubling back via Auckland (Los Angeles to Auckland to Apia to Auckland).

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