Asia - How to buy a ticket on Hainan Airlines (HU)?

HU is the only airline that operates flights between the cities I'm interested in (XIY-NKG) but I can't figure out how to use their web site. ctrip.com says no seats are available on the flight I want, but expertflyer.com shows Y9. Does HU load accurate availability information into GDSes? How can I buy a ticket on this airline -- or at least find out if the flight is already sold out?

Thanks!

Not a direct answer to your question, but HU is not the only airline operating XIY-NKG:

$297.40 in US Dollars
1 adult @ $297.40
Hide booking details




Airport legend:
XIY: Xi An Xianyang
NKG: Nanjing
Xi An, China to Nanjing, China: 604 miles 1 hr 45 min

China Eastern Airlines Flight MU2770 on an Airbus A320 (jet) in coach class
Departs Xi An, China (XIY) Fri, May 26 8:55p 1 hr 45 min
Arrives Nanjing, China (NKG) 10:40p
1 adult in booking code Y, covered by fare (A1) below


Nanjing, China to Xi An, China: 604 miles 1 hr 40 min

China Eastern Airlines Flight MU2769 on an Airbus A320 (jet) in coach class
Departs Nanjing, China (NKG) Fri, June 2 10:20a 1 hr 40 min
Arrives Xi An, China (XIY) noon
1 adult in booking code Y, covered by fare (A2) below



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Booking details
If you want to buy this ticket, contact the airline (China Eastern Airlines: 1-800-200-5118) or a travel agent. If you use a travel agent to buy this ticket:
If your travel agent is online and has an e-mail address, e-mail this itinerary to them
If your travel agent is not online, print out this page and fax/give it to them
It is very important to use exactly the same booking codes and fare codes that we've used on this page in order to match the price we've found.


Fare (A1): MU SIANKG Y fare (rules) CNY 1080
Fare (A2): MU NKGSIA Y fare (rules) CNY 1080
Tax: People's Republic of China Airport Fee CNY 100
Tax: MU YQ surcharge $15.00

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Total for 1 adult passenger: $297.40
(as of Friday, May 5, 2006 4:31am)

You might try one of the Chinese online agencies that have English-language portals -- www.wacts.com or www.elong.net

Another option that I believe takes credit cards online:

http://ticket.9588.com/

eLong charges a 2% CC surcharge--at least they do here in China.