Other Asian, Australian and South Pacific Frequent Flyer Programs - Guam to HKG; PR vs others?

If given a choice, would anyone take PR from GUM-MNL-HKG which is about 6 hours vs transfer in NRT which takes about 9 hours?
Assuming traveling in C and price are similar.
The thing I am worry is transfer in MNL and the safety of my luggage (without someone stealing from it)
The good thing about the PR flight is it gets me in HKG around noon vs the NRT option around 7pm the earliest.

Too bad CI is not flying on this particular date.

Opinion?

Well depends who are you flying GUM-NRT-HKG?

MNL transfer is pretty harmless especially if you do not have to transfer terminals (which you don't if you fly PR). I've never had anything stolen from my bags either. I'd route via MNL especially if the price is good. PR is usually the cheapest in C anyway.

You'll be lucky to board a refurbished 747 if you play your connection cards right. GUM-MNL arrives in Manila around 7:50 am. The 10:00 am flight for MNL-HKG is on an A320, while the 2:45 pm flight is on a 747. These are system-generated connections by the way. This presumes you leave on November 22.

Minimum fare on this route is $522.86 inclusive of taxes.

If I go with PR, I'll have to take the A320 both segments which give me the best schedule. That's the advantage of PR in my case.
How are the A320 C class? What about lounge in MNL? Not much I can find from the PR site.
I have read here that people have stuff stealing from their baggages. I'll have quite a lot of infant formula with me in the checked bags since I am traveling with my infant son. I'm sure I don't want those to be stolen since they are only available in the States and this is only the beginning of my trip.

Regarding transfer at NRT, it will be CO to NRT then I have a choice of carriers (CX, JL, NH, NW) from NRT to HKG.

I wish the CO nonstop will come back before my trip.

Thanks!

Ehh...to wit:

* You can take the 747 going back to GUM, as the 6:00 pm HKG-MNL flight is on a 747.
* No, PAL does not steal luggage, and I've never had anything stolen from my luggage on any airline (PR included) I've flown out of MNL.
* If you board a newer A320 (RP-C86xx onward, though this range is for the A319 and the A320), the C seats have PTVs. These seats are Recaro seats. Not sure about service though: as a general rule, if Y service is great, C service should be better.
* The Mabuhay Lounge in MNL, from what I've heard, is okay, though don't expect too much, like the presence of showers. The food though should be great: do try PAL's famous arroz caldo (chicken porridge).

I have read here that people have stuff stealing from their baggages. I'll have quite a lot of infant formula with me in the checked bags since I am traveling with my infant son. I'm sure I don't want those to be stolen since they are only available in the States and this is only the beginning of my trip.

Thanks!

Funny you should mention infant formula as this was exactly what was stolen from our luggage in Manila. We had 3 cans of Formula taken from the checked in luggage.

This said, you can buy infant formula at Kmart in Guam - hehehe! Welcome to mini USA.

Wait until CO starts GUM-HKG again.;) Actually, I have a feeling that they will. The 777-200ER in Hong Kong is left for 15 hrs before the morning EWR flight, could be better used on this route (although likely to be overcapacity, at least they could make a small profit while extending the reach of CO).

If you want a cheaper price for MNL-HKG, it's quite short anyways, try Cebu Pacific.

Wait until CO starts GUM-HKG again.;)

I guess they will, but might not be soon enough for me or on the day I want:rolleyes:

How about on CI via TPE?

If you want a cheaper price for MNL-HKG, it's quite short anyways, try Cebu Pacific.

Transferring from Terminal 2 to Terminal 3 can be hell unless you take a cab. Too bad the new bus route doesn't connect Terminals 1 and 2 to Terminal 3; it connects the city to Terminal 3 and the Domestic Terminal.

How about on CI via TPE?

OP has mentioned that CI is not flying on this particular day.

Wait until CO starts GUM-HKG again.;) Actually, I have a feeling that they will. The 777-200ER in Hong Kong is left for 15 hrs before the morning EWR flight, could be better used on this route (although likely to be overcapacity, at least they could make a small profit while extending the reach of CO).

If you want a cheaper price for MNL-HKG, it's quite short anyways, try Cebu Pacific.

For a few years, CO flew GUM-HKG four times a week. When Chinese garment workers became more predominantly Northerners and US banned transit-without-visa (SPN-GUM-HKG), the 4x became permanently 2x. Then it was just all gone.

Good news is HKSAR passport holders will be eligible for visa waiver for GUM starting 2009-11-28. Too many HKers had not bothered to renew their BNO passports thus became ineligible for GUM without a US visa.