How domestic flights are booked
When an internal
flight is booked in Nepal it is booked for a particular day, not for a
particular timed flight. The airlines run shuttle planes many times daily, with
the number of planned flights reflecting booked volumes. There are also no
allocated seats on a plane so you will not be given a specific seat
number. On the Lukla flight there is a
rush to get seats on the left-hand side outward bound and to get seats on the
right on the return as these offer the best view of the Himalaya.
When a booking
is made, we are allocated to the airline’s passenger departure list for that
day and then allocated a flight based on when we booked. The further down the
list of bookings we are, the later our flight will be.
If there is bad
weather at Lukla, all flights will be delayed. This might be for an hour, or it
may be all day and at any point until late in the afternoon nobody will know if
any flights are going. If we are booked on a later flight there is a much
higher risk, if there are any delays, that the flight will not go at all.
Inevitably this process is time-consuming and frustrating as we need to be at
the airport early and then may have to wait all day before being told the
flight is not leaving that day.
Please accept
that delays at Lukla - and what appears to Westerners as total chaos - is
beyond our control and is the same for all tour operators and travelers.
Flight changes to Ramechhap airport
Due to the increasing number of flights
scheduled for Kathmandu airport, the Nepalese Government have decided to ease
the pressure by re-routing all flights to and from Lukla during the busiest
trekking periods to Ramechhap airport. As priority at Kathmandu
airport is given to international flights, it is difficult for the domestic
flights to depart on time, especially when poor weather causes flight delays at
Lukla. Breaks in the weather at Lukla cannot be taken advantage of if the
flight pattern at Kathmandu airport is already busy with international flights.
The decision to only operate from Ramechhap airport will allow more
domestic flights to operate and schedules can be adapted at short notice to fit
in with good weather conditions.
Ramechhap airport is a 4-6 hour drive from
Kathmandu. The longer journey time tends to be later in the day when there is
more traffic in the Kathmandu Valley. The transfer to Ramechhap will
be in small (14 seater) minibuses which are provided by the airline companies.
The transfers will be shared with other operators and will depart from
Kathmandu between 2:00 – 3:00am.
Your guide will confirm at your pre-trek
briefing if you are flying out of Ramechhap airport. At certain times of year,
you may fly out of Kathmandu but come back via Ramechhap.
Flight delays policy
All of our trips to the Everest region, including
trips to climb Island Peak or Mera Peak, start and end with a short internal
flight to Lukla Airport from Kathmandu. Lukla is situated at 2800m and the
airport can be shut down by adverse weather conditions.
All our trips via Lukla are designed to
allow great acclimatisation to ensure the very best chance of success and
include a day back in Kathmandu as a contingency in case flights to or from
Lukla are delayed. In recent years more and more flights to and from Lukla are
subject to delays because of bad weather.
We therefore recommend that you consider
one of these options. Please note that if flights are delayed for several days,
you may still need to pay for a helicopter, even if you have already allowed
for extra time in Kathmandu
·
Book an international flight with a flexible
ticket so that you can change the flight at no cost without incurring
additional expense.
·
Book further days in Kathmandu as contingency
days so that if your flight is delayed you will not miss your flight. We can
arrange extra nights for you at the post-trek hotel
·
Be prepared to pay for the cost of a helicopter
flight to or from Lukla. Helicopters can fly in bad weather and so are not
subject to as many delays, although they still cannot operate in severe weather.
Depending on the number of people in the helicopter, this may cost from $300 to
$500 pp.
Kandoo Adventures will not be held responsible
for additional costs incurred that result from a flight delay and no refunds
will be payable.
Procedure for outward bound flight delays
In the event of a delay to your flight and the
beginning of your trek this is the procedure we follow.
Outward bound delays: day one
If your flight is delayed, we will arrange transport
back to your hotel and will cover the hotel cost and the cost of the transfers. (NB.
Hotel costs are not covered for trekkers who have booked a trek-only option)
Outward bound delays: day two
If you can fly on the second day your trek will
proceed as normal. We have time built into our itineraries to cope with this
eventuality.
If it becomes clear that you will not be able to fly
on a fixed-wing aircraft on day 2, our Guide will arrange to charter a
helicopter. The cost of the helicopter is your responsibility.
We will use all of the monies paid for the flight to
cover part of the helicopter cost. Depending on the number in the group, the
net extra cost payable by each passenger will generally be between $300-$500pp
depending on availability and demand. Your guide will ascertain the best price
and let you know as soon as practicable.
If helicopters are not able to fly, we
will again arrange transfers back to a hotel and we will cover this cost. (NB. Hotel costs are not covered
for trekkers who have booked a trek-only option)
At this stage we will offer the group an
alternative trek that can be completed safely in the time available. This will
be to the Annapurna Sanctuary as flights to and from Pokhara are more reliable.
This trek will begin on day 3. If you decline this alternative, then
effectively our service ends apart from the return airport transfer at the end
of your trip. You are responsible for all additional costs incurred while you
are in Nepal.
Procedure for inbound flight delays
Should
there be a significant delay at the end of your trek, we will endeavour to get
you on the first fixed-wing flights available to Kathmandu. Should helicopters
be able to fly, we will discuss with the group the possibility of booking
helicopter flights. On the inbound flight we can make separate arrangements for
different members of the group, based on their onward travel plans. Again, all
helicopter costs are your responsibility.
If
you have to stay in Lukla for an additional night, Kandoo Adventures will cover
the cost of your lodge for one night. If you choose to stay in Lukla for
additional nights to wait for a fixed-wing flight, you will be responsible for
all further costs.
Please
note that helicopter prices are not fixed. If poor weather persists for several
days, there will be a backlog of travellers in Lukla trying to get out, and
this will drive up the price. If you wait in Lukla for a fixed-wing flight, the
accommodation will become over-crowded and you may still end up requiring a
helicopter which could cost more than if you had left by helicopter earlier.
In
the event of a delay that affects your onward international flight, you will be
responsible for re-booking and for any associated costs.
Helicopter payment
All
costs associated with taking helicopters to and from Lukla are your responsibility
so you need to ensure that you have the means to pay for the service. The
helicopter companies can accept payment by cash or card. The worst-case
scenario is that you need to take helicopters both ways and could be looking at
a total expenditure of US$1000.
You
may be able to recover these costs from your insurer. Please make sure to
request receipts for any additional costs you incur as a result of flight
delays, as you may need to submit them to your insurer. We cannot request
receipts for you at a later date.
Hotel availability and flight delays
Please be aware that whenever you are checking into a hotel, whether on your normal itinerary or because of a cancelled flight, the hotel’s policy on check-in times will apply. If you arrive before the check-in time the hotel will endeavour to get a room ready as soon as possible and you are free to use the hotel’s facilities while you wait for your room.