I am putting together a ticket for my niece, NYC-DEL-KBL-DBX-NYC, but no site accepts the Kabul connection or it's very expensive. So to save money I was going to book an open jaw NYC-DEL-DBX-NYC. She's returning with a friend from Kabul who wants to fly via Dubai. So basically I will have her buy the open jaw and then buy a separate ticket DEL-KBL-DBX. She asked if we should just go through a travel agent to get it on one ticket instead of buying two. Again, the price doubles ($4000+) if I book the whole thing on one ticket (NYC-DEL-KBL-DBX-NYC). Advice? I've traveled a lot but never in India or the Middle East.
If you leave enough of a buffer for the DEL-KBL-DXB flight, I think you would be fine, it's just a matter of picking up and checking bags again for the trip in/out of KBL. Also, which airline are you looking into for the KBL flight? I'm thinking Safi, but I know there are other carriers that fly to/from KBL. On a side note, if she's not an Afghanistan passport holder, be sure to work visas out in advance. Upon departing KBL, be sure to have a copy of the itinerary handy, as the police check this upon seeking entry into the airport terminal. BTW, Afghanistan is not part of India or the Middle East.
Afghanistan not part of the Middle East. Check. Would it be South Asia? Or something else? Thanks for all of the advice. She's not an Afghanistan passport holder (USA passport) so I'll def tell her about the visas and printed itinerary. What I looked at online (Hipmunk) it showed "4Q" which in the details was Safi, as you noted. Another note, she said she would try to do this trip with a small backpack to get out of checking bags. That Dubai connection worries me a bit. She will have about 3.5 hrs between connections. I would think she should really try and not have checked luggage into Dubai. Leaving the airport, then getting back in. Who knows what kind of controls are involved? And advice there? Thanks so much.
Yes, Afghanistan is in South Asia. As a US passport holder, she needs to have a visa - it will make the process much easier. Not taking checked baggage will make a transfer in DXB relatively easy - 3.5 hours is more than enough. The only thing challenging in DXB is finding the right transfer desk, but she would just need to ask where to go. That said, I really do not recommend a female US passport holder travel in/out of KBL on their own unless it is for business or family with native language skills with local connections if they're unfamiliar with the environment. This comes from having taken numerous trips in/out of the civilian airport in KBL. Any non-native Westerner could likely face problems on such a trip, especially without a visa in advance of arrival - I am not even sure they'd let someone without a visa into the country upon arrival. Refer to the US Department of State Afghan page - LINK
Thanks. Also, any comments on Dubai? I could have her (and her friend living in Kabul) fly out on an early flight to Dubai and then have a long (13 hr?) layover. She mentioned she would love to see Dubai. I also realize there are complications with luggage if the layover is longer than X hours. I'll have to look into that. There's a morning flight out of Kabul on Safi. Originally I was thinking have her go out on the late (~6pm) flight.
I've only transferred through DXB, not remained there. I know that the Big Bus Tours has an offer of a bus tour of the city for transferring pax, you may want to look into it.
A visa-free transit is possible, but whether it would be advisable is another issue altogether... dildooba44: How long is your proposed connection time in KBL? [KVS Availability Tool 6.7.0/Diamond - TIMATIC: Visa/Entry Requirements] Code: 16NOV11 / 1931 UTC National USA (US) /Embarkation India (IN) Transit Afghanistan (AF) Destination United Arab Emirates (AE) ALSO CHECK DESTINATION INFORMATION BELOW [Visa Information - Transit] Afghanistan (AF) [Information For Normal Passports] TWOV (Transit Without Visa): Visa required, except for Holders of confirmed onward tickets for a max. transit [[TIRULES/R32]] time of 2 hours. Additional Information: - Visa not required for those, irrespective of nationality, who are born: - in Afghanistan; - to parents who are nationals of Afghanistan; - to parents who are born in Afghanistan but are not nationals of Afghanistan. Afghanistan (AF) Vaccination against Yellow Fever required, if arriving within 6 days after leaving or transiting countries with infected areas. Exempt from Yellow Fever vaccination: - Those not leaving the airport in the Yellow Fever infected countries. - Transit passengers not leaving the airport in Afghanistan. [Visa Information - Destination] United Arab Emirates (AE) [Information For Normal Passports] Passport required. - Passport or passport replacing documents of visitors must be valid for: - at least 3 months from the date of entry, for visits of up to 3 months; or - at least 6 months from the date of entry, for visits exceeding 3 months. Visa Issuance: Visa required, except for Holders of normal passports issued to nationals of USA can obtain a visa on arrival for a max. stay of 30 days. Free of charge. Minors: - Passport is not required if the minor is named in a parent's passport. - If named in a parent's passport and being of a visa required nationality, [[TIDFT/AE/VI/MI/ID14031]] Additional Information: - Nationals of USA can extend their stay for another 30 days, against a fee of AED 600.-, if applied for at least 2 days prior to the expiry date of the visa issued on arrival. - A visa: - included in an expired passport, combined with a valid passport, can be accepted for travel; - can be applied for (and issued through internet (e-Visa)), prior to arrival, if arriving at Abu Dhabi (AUH) and Dubai Airport (DXB). United Arab Emirates (AE) No vaccinations are required to enter the United Arab Emirates from any country. CHECK [[TINEWS/N1]] - SOUTH AFRICA: COP17/CMP7, DURBAN, 28 NOVEMBER TO 9 DECEMBER 2011
Thanks, KVS Tool! Another good thing from your screen shot is the vaccination bit...malaria meds are also recommended in AFG.
Layover in Kabul is almost a week. The visa info helps. Thanks KVS Tool. And, I didn't realize they had malaria. She'll then need to see about that. Looks like a doctor visit. It's the Dubai transit that we are wondering about. 13 hrs or 3.5 hrs. They will each have one bag. She thought there might be lockers in the airport but I wouldn't think so. Does any airport have lockers any more?
She will need both malaria meds and documentation of a yellow fever vaccine. Some airports have left luggage - based on this FT thread, there is left luggage at DXB.
Then she will definitely need to obtain a visa: [KVS Availability Tool 6.8.0/Diamond - TIMATIC: Visa/Entry Requirements] Code: 18NOV11 / 2013 UTC National USA (US) /Embarkation India (IN) Destination Afghanistan (AF) [Visa Information - Destination] Afghanistan (AF) [Information For Normal Passports] Passport required. - Passport and/or passport replacing documents must be valid at least 6 months on arrival. Visa required. Additional Information: - Visa not required for those, irrespective of nationality, who are born: - in Afghanistan; - to parents who are nationals of Afghanistan; - to parents who are born in Afghanistan but are not nationals of Afghanistan. - Visitors are required to hold proof of sufficient funds to cover their stay and documents required for their next destination. - Women of all nationalities [[TIDFT/AF/VI/AI/ID35]] - Extension of stay is possible.[[TIDFT/AF/VI/AI/ID34746]] Warning: - Visitors not holding return/onward tickets could be refused entry. Afghanistan (AF) Vaccination against Yellow Fever required, if arriving within 6 days after leaving or transiting countries with infected areas. Exempt from Yellow Fever vaccination: - Those not leaving the airport in the Yellow Fever infected countries. - Transit passengers not leaving the airport in Afghanistan. Recommended: - Malaria prophylaxis. Malaria risk - P. vivax and P. falciparum - exists from May through November below 2000 meters. P. falciparum resistant to chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine reported. Recommended prevention: IV. CHECK [[TINEWS/N1]] - SOUTH AFRICA: COP17/CMP7, DURBAN, 28 NOVEMBER TO 9 DECEMBER 2011 [KVS Availability Tool 6.8.0/Diamond - TIMATIC: Expert Mode: TIDFT/AF/VI/AI/ID35] Code: 18NOV11 / 2010 UTC Afghanistan (AF) Additional Information: - Women of all nationalities should cover their body with clothing, except for the face, hands and feet. CHECK [[TINEWS/N1]] - SOUTH AFRICA: COP17/CMP7, DURBAN, 28 NOVEMBER TO 9 DECEMBER 2011
