If SriLankan accepted your booking with these connecting times it should be OK. Colombo Airport is rather small so distances are quite short.

Hans

I have not booked my flights yet but these are the flight combinations which are on websites like Expedia etc.

I have noticed that the Sri Lankan website does not allow you to do multi-leg bookings. Very annoying as I can't see if they are ok with these connecting times.

You can try and use the one-way option on SriLankan website.

I did for BOM-MLE and it comes up with connection you posted.

I can't find flights leaving MLE at 14.10, so maybe it's sometime in the far future.

Hans

Hi there...

I checked (using a random date of August 1st), and yes the flights do seem a little close togther, but you should be ok assuming Sri Lankan Airlines don't live up to thier UL flight codes, and UL means? yep you guessed it Usually Late !

But having said that i would think that a plane change would not be done in this case, they would only be on ground long enough to drop off and pick up passengers, similar to what Sri Lankan's London - Male- Colombo flights do!

Regards

Dave

Don't count on that a plane change will not be done.

The flight from BOM is always A320. The flight to MLE could be either A320 or A330.

I just checked SriLankan's webpage and on 3, 4 and 5 July it was/is not the same plane arriving from BOM that is going to MLE.

Hans

Interesting posts guys! I reckon I will have to change planes. The flight from Mumbai last stop is Colombo. I reckon I will have to get off and run to the next plane to Male!

Regarding the times...I am looking to fly on 5th Dec...so you are right...further down the line.

Bit worried that UL stands for usually late!!

If they issue your boarding passes for your flight to MLE at BOM (which I think they will do as you are connecting to a flight with the same airline), you can just go to the gate. Monitors showing departing flights can be found on the pier.

Alternatively SriLankan transfer desk is at the start of the pier.

There is only one pier at CMB with arrivals and departures at the same level, so distances are quite short.So I don't think that you will need to run to the next plane to MLE.

Regarding your return leg. I am curious which date you found a flight leaving MLE for CMB at 14.10.

Don't be worried. UL = Usually Late originates more than 10 years ago. Other airlines have similar, i.e. Thai (TG) = Tomorrow Go.

Hans

Hi again....

Yes, there would be a flight leaving Male at 14.10, it is actually the same flight that comes from London Heathrow 3 or 4 times a week, depending on time of year, ie UL 502 !, or similar number.

As for the UL codes, Hans, practically EVERY flight i have taken with Sri Lankan in the last ten years or more has NEVER left it's departure airport on time, hence the Usually Late tag, yes it still stands, and before that with Air Lanka, well it was Always Late !, yes i still remember flying with them too, some say a better airline then and i would have agree with them.

Regards

Dave

OK, it seems that SriLankan webpage timetables are not up-to-date. Friday's departure is 14.10, other days 13.35. It looks to be 5 times a week in the winter schedule (daily except Wed & Thur) - UL 502/504/510.

Dave, what is your definition for "left it's departure airport on time"? Is it the time for push-back from the gate or time when the plane is airborne? Airline's definition of departure is when brakes are released at the gate, and flight schedules leave time for taxiing etc. - actual flying time is less than what you see in timetables.

What is important to me is not the departure time, but the arrival time - especially if you got an onward connection to catch.

Hans

Hans

Yes i did know that departure time is the push back from gate,and at Heathrow that could mean another 20 to 30 minutes or so before airbourne time,depending on what runway they are using.

What worries me more than anything here for the original poster is that these flights never leave on time, therefore his/her chances of getting thier connection are a little doubtful to be honest, maybe he/she should change that particular part of there itineray.

Regards

Dave