FAQs
MEL-MLE (Q2-957) is 11 hours 35 minutes & MLE-MEL (Q2-956) is 10 hours 50 minutes.
Flights depart weekly at 11:20pm Monday from Melbourne International Airport (MEL) T2 and arrive at Velana International Airport (MLE) at 6:55am Tuesday. This allows easy onward connections to your resort accommodations (see package fine print for details on resort connections as they are provided by the resort). Return flights depart Velana International Airport (MLE) at 8:40pm Sunday and arrives Melbourne International Airport (MEL) at 12:30pm Monday.
First flight from Melbourne will take off Monday 18 May 2026, with the last flight leaving Malé 1 November 2026. A total of 24 round-trip flights will operate over the charter period.
The flights are packages with curated accommodation offers designed align with the flight schedule. If the accommodation and flights packages do not suit your needs please visit https://luxuryescapes.com/au/flights for standalone flight options and https://luxuryescapes.com/au/destination/maldives for standalone accommodation options.
Yes, individual flight segments can be booked when purchasing at https://luxuryescapes.com/au/campaign/maldives-direct, through our iOS or Android Apps or through the Luxury Escapes Customer Service Team by calling 1300 676 418; 100% based in Australia and open 24 hours, 7 days a week. Outside Australia call +61 3 7032 3381. Flights purchased via Luxury Escapes with Melbourne to Male and Male to Melbourne flights are bound by the respective carriers’ terms & conditions, baggage allowance, change/cancellation fees and contract of carriage. Luxury Escapes does not guarantee connections from or to any domestic flight purchased through Luxury Escapes. Passengers must arrive no later than 8pm (20:00) on the day of departure. Passengers must collect their bags and check in with Maldivian at Melbourne International Airport Terminal T2 60 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time or as otherwise advised.
Tourist visa is granted for all nationalities on arrival to the Maldives. As such, a foreigner traveling to Maldives as a tourist does not require pre-approval for the visa. However, the person must satisfy the basic entry requirements to get immigration clearance upon arrival. Contact the Department of Immigration and Emigration of the Republic of Maldives for more details. Please be aware fake tourist visa websites exist; there is no charge for a tourist visa. All travelers must complete a Traveller Declaration within 96 hours before arriving in Maldives. Visit https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/asia/maldives for more information. Note: Effective from 15 April 2025, entry to the Maldives will not be granted on Israeli passports.
No, all packages include round-trip flights. You must purchase the same travel class and seating type for both the outbound and inbound flight.
Yes, it is a full-service airline inclusive of two meal services, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages throughout the flight, blankets, pillows, amenities, streaming entertainment to your own device (device provided in Business) and baggage allowance.
17 Business in 2:2:2 layout and 246 Economy in mostly 2:4:2 layout including 32 Economy Plus Extra Leg Room seats.
The Business cabin features fully lie flat seating in a 2:2:2 configuration with 2 dedicated bathrooms. The seat manufacturer for Business Class is B/E Aerospace Diamond
Business passengers will enjoy priority boarding and lounge access in Melbourne (lounge location to be confirmed) and Malé (Leeli Lounge) before their departing flight. In addition to premium dining and beverages, Business passengers receive sleepwear, a premium amenity kit, blanket, pillow & generous baggage allowance.
Economy seating is mostly in 2:4:2 layout with options for couples and families. Seats have an above average seat pitch of 31-32in (Similar to Qantas Domestic A330s) and customers will also receive pillow, blanket and inflight amenity kit.
The Maldivian A330-200 features streaming entertainment to your own device. Business Class customers receive handheld viewing devices. A mini version of Luxury Escapes DREAM magazine will also be placed in all seat pockets.
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Seat selection will be available online and via the Luxury Escapes Customer Service Team free of charge. Additional seating options are available for a fee including: • Economy Comfort (window & aisle seats on the sides with no middle seat) – from $50 extra per person round-trip. • Economy Plus has a 35inch seat pitch and increased recline –from $250 extra per person round-trip. • Economy Lux; 4 seats in the middle of the aircraft for 2 people – that’s two seats per person. No one sitting next to you with easy aisle access plus lounge access in Melbourne and Malé. Starting from $600 per person round-trip.
Business Class and Economy Lux passengers will have lounge access included. Lounge access for other passengers may be available for purchase, subject to availability.
Two meals will be served with alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages available throughout the flight. Special Meals can be requested at the time of booking via Luxury Escapes Customer Service Team. Special Meal requests available: • BBML - Baby Meal / CHML - Child Meal • DBML - Diabetic Meal / GFML - Gluten Intolerant Meal / NLML - Non-Lactose Meal • HNML - Hindu Meal / KSML - Kosher Meal / MOML – Muslim/Halal Meal • VVML - Vegan Meal / VGML - Vegetarian Meal
Economy passengers can bring 1 piece up to 23kg and Business passengers 2 pieces up to 46kg (no one piece can weigh more than 32kg). Economy passengers can bring 1 item onboard up to 7kgs and Business passengers can bring 2 pieces up to 14kg (no on piece can weigh more than 10kgs). Necessary onboard infant items may be carried at no charge. Excess Baggage Fees to be announced.
All passengers may check in one oversized item at no charge. All infant items such as strollers, cribs, car seats etc are carried at no charge. Mobility items can be carried at no charge (subject to acceptance by the carrier)
Children 2-11.99 years old will be charged at 80% of the adult fare. Accommodation options are available for passengers with children. Infants aged 0-1.99 years old are carried free of charge. Children and infants receive the same luggage allowance as adults. Infant seat belts (30) are available.
Requesting mobility assistance will be available soon. Please note that disembarkation and boarding at Velana International Airport may be via stairs with a short bus ride to the terminal. Mobility request options to be available: WCHR: Wheelchair - for Ramp (passenger can walk short distances, up/down stairs). WCHS: Wheelchair - for Steps (passenger cannot handle stairs but can walk short distances on the plane/ramp). WCHC: Wheelchair - Complete (passenger is fully immobile, requires assistance from check-in to the aircraft seat). WCOB: On-Board Wheelchair requested. WCMP/WCBD/WCBW: Passenger traveling with a Manual / Battery Dry cell / Battery Wet cell wheelchair.
Yes, you will be able to earn Luxury Escapes Société points on these packages. This program is free to join and allows you to earn points and status credits on all bookings through Luxury Escapes for use on future vacations or via the Luxury Escapes online shop. Learn more here https://luxuryescapes.com/au/societe
Hard Rock Hotel Maldives Experience the ultimate Maldives getaway with Australia’s exclusive Luxury Escapes private charter flight. Skip long layovers and land at Hard Rock Hotel Maldives, your gateway to paradise. Located in the CROSSROADS Maldives complex, this private island resort offers a variety of dining options, including the iconic Hard Rock Cafe® and 14 dining venues. Families can participate in martial arts classes, aerial aerobics, dance, and water sports, while parents can unwind with Rock Om® yoga and treatments at the ROCK SPA.
Direct round-trip flights from Melbourne to Malé & Roundtrip shared speedboat transfers to and from Malé Early check-in & late checkout to maximize your time in paradise (subject to availability) Daily buffet breakfast at Sessions & Nightly dinner across 14 dining venues Daily US$40 dinner credit per adult to use at Ministry of Crab, Nihonbashi Blue, Carne Diem & Kahlu Odi Complimentary use of snorkeling gear, kayaks and pedal boats Silver Sky Studio 5 Nights from $2,599 per person. Valued up to $9,138 - Save up to 43%! T&Cs Apply. Platinum Overwater Villa 5 Nights from $3,749 per person. Valued up to $12,753- Save up to 41%! T&Cs Apply. https://luxuryescapes.com/au/offer/hard-rock-hotel-maldives-charter/006RF00000OjiFCYAZ
Luxury Escapes’ 7-day change of mind guarantee applies. Packages may be canceled with a full refund provided that cancellation occurs strictly within 7 days from the date of purchase and provided that the cancellation is made no less than 14 days prior to the check-in date. Fees apply to packages canceled after 7 days from purchase. See offer Fine Print for details.
Yes, all packages allow one change up to 21 days prior to departure. Fees may apply. See offer Fine Print for details
Contact the Luxury Escapes Customer Service Team by calling 1300 676 418; 100% based in Australia and open 24 hours, 7 days a week. Outside Australia call +61 3 7032 3381.
The Luxury Escapes Customer Service Team will provide regular and timely updates to all passengers
Check in occurs at the airport. No online check is available. Luxury Escapes recommends arriving at the airport 3 hours prior to flight departure.
Luxury Escapes recommends that you arrive at the airport 3 hours before the scheduled departure time. If flying in from other airports we recommend you land in Melbourne, no later than 3 hours before the scheduled departure time. Check in will close 60 minutes prior the scheduled departure time.
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Melbourne to Malé flight number is Q2-957 and Malé to Melbourne flight number is Q2-956
Maldivian is the national airline of the Maldives, operated by Island Aviation Services Ltd — a government-owned company established in 2000. The airline provides both domestic and international flights, with its main hub at Velana International Airport near Malé. Maldivian launched its first international service in 2008 and officially adopted its current brand name the same year.
Scheduled flights Cochin, Trivandrum, Shanghai, Beijing, Chengdu. Seasonal flights to Shenzhen and Xi’an.
Recurrent training for pilots are conducted by in-house instructors using simulator at Acron Aviation facilities in Bangkok, Thailand. Cabin crew initial type training and recurrent trainings are conducted in-house.
3 Pilots, 9 Cabin crew, and 1 Engineer.
To be announced
To be announced
Formerly part of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines of The Netherlands registration PH-AOM/
(ETOPS is Extended-range Twin- Engine Operations approval that is a set of safety standards allowing twin engine aircraft to fly routes that are more than 60 mins from the nearest suitable diversion airport in the event of engine failure -eg long flights over a body of water. To be approved, airlines must meet strict requirements around aircraft airworthiness, maintenance, operational procedures and training standards for ETOPS certification to be approved by aviation authorities like CASA)
Pending CASA approval
Maldivian have won the Airline Reliability Performance Award from Bombardier Aerospace in 2016 for outstanding dispatch reliability in the Oceania region. It has also been nominated multiple times for the World Travel Awards — including categories like “Indian Ocean’s Leading Airline”, Business Class, Economy Class, Airline Brand and Cabin Crew.