Trip Reports

Introduction: A Mezze of Gulf Carriers

Posted on 8 Comments

My next trip report shows that I am either mentally deranged or truly love flying for the sake of flying.

Before the last American Airlines AAdvantage devaluation, I could not help myself, booking a deliberately complex routing from Mumbai to Paris. Instead of flying JET nonstop, Etihad via Abu Dhabi, or Qatar Airways via Doha, I booked something far more convoluted.

a map of the middle east

That’s right: why fly nonstop when you can make five stops?

The cost of the itinerary? 40K miles and $88 in taxes. The same ticket is no longer possible on a single award (only three segments are permitted) and the cost is now 62.5K miles.

  • Grand Hyatt Mumbai
  • GVK Premium Class Lounge Mumbai (BOM)
  • Etihad Airways A380 First Class Mumbai to Abu Dhabi
  • Etihad Airways A319 Business Class Abu Dhabi to Bahrain
  • Gulf Air Business Class Lounge Bahrain (BAH)
  • Gulf Air A320 Business Class Bahrain to Amman
  • Royal Jordanian Business Class Lounge Amman (AMM)
  • Royal Jordanian E-195 Business Class Amman to Kuwait
  • Al-Maha (Qatar) A320 First Class Kuwait to Doha
  • Qatar Airways Al Safwa Lounge Doha (DOH)
  • Qatar Airways A380 First Class Doha to Paris

I’ve held off writing about this for awhile, but now that routing rules have changed and only three segments are permitted on a one-way trip, I think it is safe.

Stay tuned: it was a fun trip. In case you are wondering, I flew United Airlines to Mumbai and home from Beijing (after taking Finnair to Beijing via Helsinki).

About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

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8 Comments

  1. Robel Reply

    HAHA! Love this!

  2. Roger Reply

    Which three segments are still permitted?

    • Matthew Reply

      All segments are still permitted and you could technically still book the identical award. But it would now be billed as two awards, not a single award since AA only allows two connections on a one-way award.

  3. Robel Reply

    How is all of this doable on a one-way award? And only 40k in miles?

    • Matthew Reply

      It was 40K miles, the old Middle East/India to Europe first class award price on AA. Now it is 62.5K between these regions in first class plus only two connections are permitted.

  4. Ormond Reply

    Which routes are still permissible?
    Europe to India is still my favorite points redemption, but I thought you could not book such complex (or less complex now) itinerary anymore.

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