Mileage Run Deals - UA: WAS-SGN from $920 ai

UA: WAS-SGN about $940 ai, KLX0QMM9, Fare class K
out and back possible

PERMITTED 01JAN THROUGH 23MAY OR 27AUG THROUGH 20NOV ON
THE OUTBOUND TRANSPACIFIC SECTOR.

Minimum Stay
TRAVEL FROM INBOUND TRANSPACIFIC SECTOR MUST COMMENCE NO
EARLIER THAN THE FIRST SUN AFTER DEPARTURE OF THE OUTBOUND
TRANSPACIFIC SECTOR.

ex. depart IAD Sat Oct 20 0929 - arrive IAD Mon Oct 22 1851
$958 / 20726
IAD-LAX-NRT-SGN-NRT-SFO-IAD

ex. depart DCA Sat Nov 24 1100 - arrive DCA Mon Nov 26 1714
$920 / 18772
DCA-EWR-SGN-EWR-DCA

Fare code?

Don't you need a visa?

Looks like K, only a Sunday stay required. Normal labyrinthe UA routing rules. Don't forget to account for the Vietnam visa costs (required for Americans to the best of my knowledge), etc.

I need a good deal for ORD-SGN. It's a trip I actually take twice a year. So I checked out the IAD-SGN deal you mentioned. One routing on UA involves a long connection at ORD (IAD-ORD-NRT-SGN). The price is not bad but if I start my trip from ORD instead of IAD, the price goes up by $150. Is that what people call a "hub penalty"? That sucks.

UA: WAS-SGN about $940 ai, MFW0ZUMB, Fare class K
out and back possible



looks like SEP-NOV

ex. depart IAD Sat Oct 20 0929 - arrive IAD Mon Oct 22 1851
$958 / 20726
IAD-LAX-NRT-SGN-NRT-SFO-IAD

ex. depart DCA Sat Nov 24 1100 - arrive DCA Mon Nov 26 1714
$920 / 18772
DCA-EWR-SQN-EWR-DCA

Don't you need a visa?

visa on arrival is easy if you plan ahead. there are several services available where you pay a small fee before leaving and a small fee when you land.

or if you live in the DC area you can just go to the Embassy consular affairs office for the visa. I dropped my paperwork off and went back to pick it up a week or two later. No need to pay a service.

I need a good deal for ORD-SGN. It's a trip I actually take twice a year. So I checked out the IAD-SGN deal you mentioned. One routing on UA involves a long connection at ORD (IAD-ORD-NRT-SGN). The price is not bad but if I start my trip from ORD instead of IAD, the price goes up by $150. Is that what people call a "hub penalty"? That sucks.

IAD also a hub. But yes it is that.
EmailKid

It's so great to see that nh(Ana) match this deal as well

Thank you! just booked 3 r/ts for 2013, 58,500m and killed a ton of vouchers I had

Works out of BOI too for 5.6cpm I'm sure some of the pros can get better cpm :)

or if you live in the DC area you can just go to the Embassy consular affairs office for the visa. I dropped my paperwork off and went back to pick it up a week or two later. No need to pay a service.

Absolutely...assuming you are getting in on this deal from WAS, hop down to the embassy and apply for your visa in person (form on the Internet).

I've done it twice (for my wife and myself) and each time, the visa was ready in two days...much cheaper and comfortable (instead of a VoA) than using a service or waiting until you land in Vietnam.

Nice deal there, and a good entry point for folks continuing onto Cambodia as well.

-jeremy

Not a bad deal, for those looking it's $1650 for W fare, lots of NC (R, RN) available on SFO-HKG and ORD-HKG.

UA IAD-SGN 899USD RT in K Booking Class...

Routing: IAD-SF0-HKG-SGN RT 10,257 MILES per OW...

Travel 22 NOV 2012 @ 09.20 and Arrive SGN 24 NOV 2012 @ 00.40 (almost 1am)

RTN is 26 NOV 2012 @ 05.55 and Arrive IAD 26 NOC 2012 @ 18.30

Will try a 1 day stay over.

What are the odds DL(KE) matches this?

I used to go every year and just mailed in my application with fee, photos and passport. Took less than a week to get it back, no service required. YMMV, but I found DC to be faster than the SF consulate and weirdly a few bucks cheaper.

Not a bad deal, for those looking it's $1650 for W fare, lots of NC (R, RN) available on SFO-HKG and ORD-HKG.

And IAD-NRT and EWR-HKG... Total price, at the moment, for IAD-HKG in W is $1560 +/- $20 depending on route.

And The K fares are also below $900 ($899 :p )

visa on arrival is easy if you plan ahead. there are several services available where you pay a small fee before leaving and a small fee when you land.

My partner was just in Vietnam last week. He showed up with a copy of his passport, two passport photos, paid $25 and was in and out in about 10 minutes.

I'm going in Sept, and was considering the "hotels of Vietnam" website visa service, which is ~$20 for the "letter" and then $25 when you arrive. however, my partner's experience suggests that you don't really need to use these online services, if you come prepared, nor spend $90 at the consulate in DC.

My partner was just in Vietnam last week. He showed up with a copy of his passport, two passport photos, paid $25 and was in and out in about 10 minutes.

I'm going in Sept, and was considering the "hotels of Vietnam" website visa service, which is ~$20 for the "letter" and then $25 when you arrive. however, my partner's experience suggests that you don't really need to use these online services, if you come prepared, nor spend $90 at the consulate in DC.

+1

The website for the Vietnam embassy is lacking. I see the application form for a visa, but absolutely no mention of price. Am I missing something?

It's also possible to get one of these.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kXOEHt0wTVA/UCFwwCUJOBI/AAAAAAAABEI/LoaGujWNcH0/w497-h373/2012%2B-%2B1

My partner was just in Vietnam last week. He showed up with a copy of his passport, two passport photos, paid $25 and was in and out in about 10 minutes.

I'm going in Sept, and was considering the "hotels of Vietnam" website visa service, which is ~$20 for the "letter" and then $25 when you arrive. however, my partner's experience suggests that you don't really need to use these online services, if you come prepared, nor spend $90 at the consulate in DC.


Timatic says Holders of an approval letter stamped and issued by the Vietnamese Immigration Department can obtain a single-entry visa on arrival

I wouldn't risk it with the airlines - they always go by the Timatic.

Or you could try vietnamvisapro.com. I've used them twice without any hassle. And they're cheap as dirt to boot. Just pay $10 here through PP and $25 once you arrive at the airport. Donesky. If you call the consulate they'll give you some bogus $90 price or whatever they feel like charging for the day. (At least that was my case.)

All I get when searching all through Oct is $1,300+ and W fare is the lowest discounted Y.

:confused:

All I get when searching all through Oct is $1,300+ and W fare is the lowest discounted Y.

:confused:

All the TPAC UA fares just got booted in the last couple days for some reasons!

Did you mean that your parents did NOT even have to waste $20/each to get the "letter" before they left for VN? Just show up with $25 and 2-photo to get the visa on arrival?

Probably better not to rely on a single, second-hand piece of anecdotal evidence. Better pay the princely sum of $10 and get peace of mind.

The visa on arrival system is easy to use, well understood, well used and cheap. It costs $10 -$20, takes very little of your time to arrange, and is delivered within a few days of submitting the form.

Probably better not to rely on a single, second-hand piece of anecdotal evidence. Better pay the princely sum of $10 and get peace of mind.

The visa on arrival system is easy to use, well understood, well used and cheap. It costs $10 -$20, takes very little of your time to arrange, and is delivered within a few days of submitting the form.

What IAN-UK said! Applying for Visa on arrival seems risky, since you're paying some unknown person online, but I've never had a problem with it. And I wouldn't even attempt to fly in to HCMC without that approval letter. You may be able to get in in the long run, but I'd wager to guess you'll end up paying a lot more than the $10-$15 an approval letter would cost.


All the TPAC UA fares just got booted in the last couple days for some reasons!


As of this morning, I'm still seeing WAS-SGN $899 traveling Jan1-May23. Won't help if you need to MR before the end of the year, but maybe you can get a head start on next year!

If one wanted to go the paper visa route, from the consulate, does anyone know roughly what it would cost? The website is vague, and says to e-mail, which I have not yet done.

Will the airline even let you board if you do not have a valid visa ?

seems risky to get to your airport and being denied boarding !

Soarer

Will the airline even let you board if you do not have a valid visa ?

seems risky to get to your airport and being denied boarding !

Soarer

UA at least doesn't care when going to SGN, nor did TG going to HAN.

On the other hand, UA did care going to PEK and GRU...so it's interesting, but I believe part of the reason they don't really care when going to SGN is because the flight first goes to HKG and most americans don't have to worry about a visa there, so the least that could happen is that they'd send you back to HKG in the morning from Vietnam.

-jeremy

UA at least doesn't care when going to SGN, nor did TG going to HAN.

On the other hand, UA did care going to PEK and GRU...

Visa on arrival in Vietnam.

China and Brazil, not so much ....

Haven't been to Vietnam myself, but plenty of my friends living in / passing through Thailand have, and it can be a bit of a pain, but it can be done.

First hand knowlege of Brazil and China. UA agents (imagine other agents as well) scour the passport for visa, or in case of China TWOV and onward int'l connection. And the Chinese like to see where you're staying, or at least they wanted to know where I was staying before issuing abovemneitoned TWOV (see China forum for details).

EmailKid

It's also possible to get one of these.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kXOEHt0wTVA/UCFwwCUJOBI/AAAAAAAABEI/LoaGujWNcH0/w497-h373/2012%2B-%2B1

Nice one...but pray tell...how? Is this available as an option on the Vietnam embassy/consulate web site?

Nice one...but pray tell...how? Is this available as an option on the Vietnam embassy/consulate web site?

Yes, the form is available online.

As several of you pointed out already, the total price for WAS-SGN is $899 in K. I just booked adding a stopover in HKG in 01/2013 and the total price was $956. Since the flight arrives the day after departure, < one day stopover in SGN is possible. i am arriving (1am) and leaving SGN (6am) on the same day.

As several of you pointed out already, the total price for WAS-SGN is $899 in K. I just booked adding a stopover in HKG in 01/2013 and the total price was $956. Since the flight arrives the day after departure, < one day stopover in SGN is possible. i am arriving (1am) and leaving SGN (6am) on the same day.

I believe you will still need a visa, no? You will be forced through immigration in order to reboard 5 hours later..

I believe you will still need a visa, no? You will be forced through immigration in order to reboard 5 hours later..

There is a transfer desk right before passport control. Give one of the ladies your passport and itinerary, she'll go upstairs and get your tickets. Go through random security check next to the washrooms and you're back in departures.

There is a transfer desk right before passport control. Give one of the ladies your passport and itinerary, she'll go upstairs and get your tickets. Go through random security check next to the washrooms and you're back in departures.

Thanks hsk! I did not know that there is a transfer desk before passport control. Which means visa is not required.

There is a transfer desk right before passport control. Give one of the ladies your passport and itinerary, she'll go upstairs and get your tickets. Go through random security check next to the washrooms and you're back in departures.

Wow! Learn something new today :-)! Won't need it but I will be sure to pay attention and check it out next month.

Waiting for a good fare from LAX to SGN, even though this flight shops at LAX :)

I was happy not to go in the early 70s and would like to finally get there on my dime and not the military !

Soarer

Yes, the form is available online.

The application has a generic place to request a multi-entry, but the image you posted I infer to mean that it is for a 4-year multi-entry. I was somehow led to believe that this is only available for ppl married to Vietnamese citizens. Is there a website link that I am missing? I've had a handful of Vietnamese Visa, but nothing like what was posted. Sorry for so many questions, but to be able to get one of these would be the holy grail.

The application has a generic place to request a multi-entry, but the image you posted I infer to mean that it is for a 4-year multi-entry. I was somehow led to believe that this is only available for ppl married to Vietnamese citizens. Is there a website link that I am missing? I've had a handful of Vietnamese Visa, but nothing like what was posted. Sorry for so many questions, but to be able to get one of these would be the holy grail.

I did not post it but I think it is the 5-year visa-exemption certificate.

Here is the link for the online application:
http://mienthithucvk.mofa.gov.vn/Registration/Onlineregistration/tabid/132/Default.aspx

I did not post it but I think it is the 5-year visa-exemption certificate.

Here is the link for the online application:
http://mienthithucvk.mofa.gov.vn/Registration/Onlineregistration/tabid/132/Default.aspx

"visa exemption for Vietnamese residents overseas certificate"

I am confused , is this for Vietnamese people only or anyone ?

thanks Soarer

"visa exemption for Vietnamese residents overseas certificate"

I am confused , is this for Vietnamese people only or anyone ?

thanks Soarer

It is for Vietnameses expats and/or their (foreign) family (spouse, children, etc.).

Was able to get this deal to pull up in Kayak for 945, but when I attempted to book on United it went up to 1300. Anyone know what i'm doing wrong? Just trying to get any 20K mileage run down.

Just an update on the transfer situation. If you arrive late the transfer desk will be closed, and does not reopen until about 6:30 am. I arrived last night at midnight on United out of Hong Kong and had to sleep on the arrival side of airport. If you make it to the departure side the Rose lounge is open all night for sleeping, and is very comfortable.

That means one cannot arrive after midnight and depart 5 am on UA without going through the immigration?

Just an update on the transfer situation. If you arrive late the transfer desk will be closed, and does not reopen until about 6:30 am. I arrived last night at midnight on United out of Hong Kong and had to sleep on the arrival side of airport. If you make it to the departure side the Rose lounge is open all night for sleeping, and is very comfortable.

That means one cannot arrive after midnight and depart 5 am on UA without going through the immigration?

Immigrations would have to be working otherwise the whole plane load of people would be stranded until the next day (and likely stranded on the plane). I'd be surprised if Immigrations just upped and closed with planes coming in. I'd assume if anything closes (Immigrations vs xfer desk), then I'd put all my chips on the xfer desk which could obviously still present problems as far as lack of visas go...