NEPAL TRAVEL BOOK, KATHMANDU: Since 2007, Nepali passport no longer need a transit visa to fly on Cathay Pacific (CX) via Hong Kong as long as they are connecting via Cathay or Dragon. Cathay uses its sister concern Dragon to reach Kathmandu, and has started daily flights to Kathmandu.

Cathay’s prices from the west coast have always been attractive, but due to prior transit visa regulations, it was a hassle to fly using this airline. Unlike the previous year’s, Cathay’s prices have increased from most cities around the US, and a lesser number of Nepal bound passengers used this airline in 2011.

Skytrax Magazine gives the airline a five-star rating, which makes it among the best airlines overall.

Cathay has among the best in-flight services in the world, has one of the youngest fleets of aircraft in the world, and one of the best safety records. The in-flight service includes complimentary beverages, movies and amenity kits. Cathay is a member of Asia Miles and people can register at Asia Miles.com to get frequent flyer miles that can be transferred into one of over 30 partner programs.

Prices from the western states are excellent all year round and they are very competitive for the middle and eastern states during peak seasons. Cathay has interlined agreements with many US carriers and you can take a Cathay flight from almost any city in the US.

The best prices for Cathay are between Jan-May and Sep-Nov. In December the fares are at their highest, while being in the middle from June to August.

Connections from New York are excellent. However, the transit from SFO & LAX is nine to thirteen hours on the outbound. On the return, the transit times are more manageable.

Cathay's flights originate from LAX, SFO, and NYC.

For economy class passengers Cathay does not provide free meals or hotels during transit in Hong Kong. You can make arrangements directly with the airport lounge on arrival. For passengers with long layovers, you can take advantage of the Plaza Airport Lounge which is open to all. For a nominal fee, you can refresh & relax in comfort before boarding your departing flight or during transit. Enjoy unlimited facilities inclusive of hot showers, all day food & beverage buffet, internet and Email, CNN area, magazines and newspaper, and massage chairs and seated massage. The Plaza Pay-in Lounge has three facilities located at the Departures West Hall, level 6 & 7 and the Departures East Hall, level 6.

You can have a free stopover in Hong Kong, but please note, Nepali passport holders will need a tourist visa to get outside prior to arrival.

We have received a number of random complaints because some airline partners still think that a transit visa is required and may deny boarding. In that case, have the airline staff contact Cathay immediately or you can ask that they check you up to the transit city (SFO/LAX/NYC), and Cathay will arrange for your onward journey.

Note, passengers with American and Canadian passports still do not need transit or tourist visas to fly via Hong Kong.

Cathay flights from Kathmandu:

For family members who are on a visitor’s visa to the US, we strongly advise you to consider this airline because the prices are very competitive, and they allow date changes (assuming the same class tickets are available). Besides, the tickets issued by the airline are valid for a period of one year and this gives you the flexibility in case your family decides to stay a bit longer. The customer service staff is excellent and ticket changes can be made quite easily through the call center.

NEPAL TRAVEL BOOK, KATHMANDU: This is the first time after Visit Nepal Year (VNY) 1998 when a number of international airlines have begun operating here in a row,said Keshav Khanal, deputy director general at the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal.

According to him, a couple of airlines had started their operations simultaneously in Nepal in the run-up to the VNY.

Thanks to the on-going efforts for the restoration of peace and prospects of a sound political climate, international airlines have once again begun taking Nepal as a promising market, he said.

According to him, the increase in the number of international airlines has given a boost to the aviation and tourism sectors.

On Friday, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) had given the Korean Air the green light to begin its operations.

"For now, the airline's Boeing 777 will fly once a week on the Seoul-Kathmandu sector," Khanal said.

Earlier, the airline was planning to begin a chartered flight on the sector, he said.

"The increase in the number of air operations here means increase in the number of tourists. The aviation boom will give a boost to the tourism sector and the economy," said Yagya Gautam, joint-secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation.

The government has also given a green light to the Orient Thai and Etihad Airways to fly to Nepal, he said.

The government is reviewing China Southern Airlines' application to fly on the Guangzhou-Kathmandu sector. Air Arabia from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been operating on the Sharjah-Kathmandu line since November 7, while the GMG Airlines from Bangladesh has been operating on the Dhaka-Kathmandu line since October 23.

Around 13 international airlines have been operating in Nepal. Nepal Airlines Corporation, the country's flag carrier, has been operating on the international sector.

"Nepal has signed Air Service Agreements (ASAs ) with 35 countries," he added.

NEPAL TRAVEL BOOK, KATHMANDU: Turkish Airlines announced direct flights via Istanbul to Kathmandu from September 1, 2013. This will allow another one-stop flight from five major US cities (Washington DC, New York, Chicago, Houston, and Los Angeles). From May 16, 2014, Turkish will also add a direct flight, making it the second airline to have a one-stop flight from Boston to Kathmandu.

It is the only European airline flying to Nepal and it has increased its offerings to Nepal.

With TK’s strong relationship with American Airlines, most other cities can be connected with one more stop through one of its hubs.

When the airline began flights to Kathmandu, the airline was offering a special promotional fare from most US cities and the fare was as low as USD 900. Fares at regular prices are between USD 1400 – 1900.

The Istanbul airport can be quite busy and confusing to navigate. The in-flight service is very good, although the customer service at the airport is not as impressive as that of many other airlines.

In many cases, there is a long layover in Istanbul when returning from Kathmandu. TK will provide a complimentary hotel if the layover is over 10 hours. The hotel is outside the airport, so Nepali passport holders will need a Turkish visa to use these complimentary facilities. For more information on getting a Turkish visa, please contact the Link Turkish Embassy website in Washington DC. American passport holders can get an e-visa quite easily and details are available at: https://www.evisa.gov.tr/en/

TK flies four times a week to Kathmandu. The flight from Istanbul is scheduled to land at 6:15 AM each morning. Due to the cloudy conditions in Kathmandu in the winter months, the flight landing time has been late and has resulted in severe delays on the flights originating in Kathmandu.

NEPAL TRAVEL BOOK, KATHMANDU: Emirates is a dominant Middle-East airline and although it does not have a flight of its own between its Dubai hub and Kathmandu, it has partnered with low cost carrier Fly Dubai (FZ) for the final connection. This has allowed passengers in the United States to connect conveniently from five major hubs in the United States to Kathmandu, with only one stop. Beginning March 10, Emirates will be flying non-stop to Boston, making it the first airline connecting Kathmandu in just one stop.

In 2013, Emirates was named the ‘World’s Best Airline’ by Skytrax, and also won the award for the ‘World’s Best Inflight Entertainment’.

If you are an Emirates Skywards Platinum or Gold member, you can take advantage of its world-class lounge facilities in Dubai, complete with a business center, and complimentary bar service and buffet.

We have received a lot of excellent feedback for the Emirates flight. However, one of the major criticisms of Emirates is its interline partner Fly Dubai. Since Fly Dubai is a low cost carrier, it does not provide meals or beverages that passengers expect on a long haul flight. Food can be purchased on board.

Fly Dubai has eleven flights to Kathmandu each week, and this provides an alternative, cheaper option during the peak seasons of travel when tickets are expensive to purchase and hard to find.

Between the gateways, Emirates normally allows two pieces of luggage.

In the US, Emirates has partnered with Virgin America, so you can connect from its gateway cities to all major destinations in the US. Moreover, you can earn Skywards Miles every time you fly and redeem them for reward flights to 23 destinations across North America.
www.nepaltravelbook.com

NEPAL TRAVEL BOOK, KATHMANDU: Qatar Airways has become a major global airline and a dominant player for flights between the US and Nepal. It currently has direct flights from New York (JFK), Washington (IAD), Houston (HOU), and Chicago (ORD) to Doha, and will be adding flights from Philadelphia (PHL) (April 2, 2014), Miami (MIA) (June 2, 2014) and Dallas (DFW) (July 1, 2014). It is expected to add more flights in 2014 and 2015.

With three flights daily between Doha and Kathmandu, Qatar Airways carries the most passengers between the US and Nepal. The fleet is modern and the average aircraft is less than three years old. Qatar Airways provides a wide variety of in-flight entertainment in many languages. With its well trained, multilingual staff, it has become the bench mark for quality, not just in Nepal, but in the entire airline industry.

With the exception of the flights between Philadelphia and Kathmandu, all flights from the US have a long layover in Doha in both directions. If the layover in Doha is more than eight hours, the airline may provide complimentary hotel and transfer (known as STPC) for tickets that are purchased at regular prices. Tickets bought at sales or lower yields normally do not come with a complimentary layover. During ticket purchase, please ask your travel agency if Qatar Airways will provide a STPC for your flight..

Please be sure to ask your travel agency about transit hours and find out if any complimentary or paid services are available during your transit. A variety of layover options are available for purchase from the airline. Normally, prior arrangements are needed to use these services.

Travelers who do not wish to leave the airport during a longer layover can take advantage of the Oryx Lounge. The cost is USD 40 per person for a stay of up to six hours and it includes meals, lounges for rest, and a shower area. Alternatively, the Silver Lounge is available by invitation, or for travelers who have accumulated higher miles from Qatar Airways. One can also avail of Silver Lounge services by paying USD 20.

Most flights from the eastern metropolitan cities in the US to Kathmandu take about twenty hours of flight time, make one stop in Europe and another one in Doha, and take about four to eight hours of transit time depending upon your flight selections.

Another advantage of flying Qatar Airways is the language skills of the staff. For Nepalese parents who may not have the luxury of traveling with their English speaking children, it is likely the staff can communicate in Nepali or Hindi.

Like any major airline, it has also interline agreements with a number of airlines in the US and provides connectivity to many cities. Qatar Airways joined the One World Alliance in October 2013, allowing itto reach more destinations worldwide.

Qatar Airways has special promotions throughout the year. We encourage you to create a Qatar Airways frequent flyer account with the airline as the likelihood of repeat flying in this airline is very high.
www.nepaltravelbook.com