Previous Trip Notes:
A Delayed Honeymoon: Part 5 – Park Hyatt, Maldives
A Delayed Honeymoon: Part 4 – Getting to the Park Hyatt Maldives
A Delayed Honeymoon: Part 3 – Hyatt Capital Gate, Abu Dhabi
A Delayed Honeymoon: Part 2 – EY130 First Class
A Delayed Honeymoon: Part 1 – Baltimore > IAD & Etihad Lounge
Our speedboat ride in the late afternoon, while light outside, was a much different experience than the drug-smuggling-esque ride getting to the Maldives. The water was beautiful, and the scenery spectacular (imagine remote islands flying by). We shared the ride with another couple who was heading back to Seattle. On the boat, we struck up a conversation on flights…and sure enough, the two Business Class award space tickets on Etihad from Maldives to Abu Dhabi were not available because this couple had booked them; although I didn’t feel to bad. They had booked them 11 months in advance, and I had just started planning the trip about 6-7 weeks prior.
- Speedboat Ride to the Airport
We Could Actually See the Islands Passing By This Time
Arriving at Kooddoo Airport
We arrived at the large Kooddoo airport via buggy:
Airport Transportation from Speedboat
Security at Kooddoo Airport
The Entire Airport Gate Area
Our Plane
The airstrip was probably the shortest I’ve ever seen:
Airstrip – Kooddoo Airport, Maldives
Airstrip – Kooddoo Airport, Maldives
Kooddoo Airport, Maldives
Going back, we had a touch-down in Kadhdhoo airport. That added about 45 minutes to the trip. When we made it back to Male, we were greeted by a Hyatt representative who helped us with our bags and took us to the international terminal. We made it through security and customs rather quickly, and then made our way to the Leeli Lounge. Having an AMEX Business Platinum card – and thus Priority Pass access, American Airlines Executive Lounge card, and a dozen lounge passes for a myriad of programs, we never worry about lounge access. Unfortunately, in Male, unless our AMEX was an Asian-issued card, you couldn’t get into this lounge, and thus we were out of luck. The couple that we were on the speedboat with asked if they could bring us in, but guests were not allowed! So we were roughing it. To make matters worse, you had to receive a code via SMS text to gain internet access. Uggg, this was going to be a long hour wait.
We grabbed a bite to eat at one of the only two restaurants, and I ran to the bathroom. On my way, I noticed a free internet terminal. Bingo. With that, you can visit a number of sites to receive text messages. I used: Receives SMS Online. BAM. Internet access on my phone.
The gate area was packed with people flying back to Abu Dhabi:
Gate Area – Male Airport, Maldives
Our Bird Home – Male Airport, Maldives
Air Traffic Control Tower – Male Airport, Maldives
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While I had to break the news to NSPwife during the lounge fiasco that we weren’t flying in Business Class to Abu Dhabi, I knew she would be pleasantly surprised with the Economy Product, given my adventures just a few days earlier. Sure enough, we ate, enjoyed entertainment, slept, and 4.5 hours later found our way to a taxi in Abu Dhabi. While we landed at 10:55pm, and had just over an hour ride to Dubai, I was wide awake pulling into the Park Hyatt Dubai.
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