Where to book NRT-HKG-PEK-PVG-NRT?
Nov 30, 2005, 3:50 pm
#1
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Where to book NRT-HKG-PEK-PVG-NRT?
The title says it all. I get $1400+ at Travelocity. Is there a cheaper local option (perhaps with an English website)? Any advice appreciated -- Thank you!
Nov 30, 2005, 6:39 pm
#2
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Originally Posted by jpdx
The title says it all. I get $1400+ at Travelocity. Is there a cheaper local option (perhaps with an English website)? Any advice appreciated -- Thank you!
Sticking with your parameters, I would use nw miles for nrt-hkg<open>pvg-nrt and pay cash for hkg-pek ($300) and pek-sha ($60).
That having been said, if you're coming from the US (or even Europe), I suggest buying a ticket to China via Japan. Doing so should spare you the need of having to redeem an award for the Japan-China segments (or worse yet, actually pay for them). NH and JL each offer one free stopover in Japan on almost all of their fares and charge a nominal amount for a second.
Also, that $300 for hkg-pek turns into around $120 if you do the Shenzhen Shuffle.
Dec 1, 2005, 10:21 am
#3
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Thank you, moondog. Very useful information, as usual. I already booked PDX-NRT for $304+ during Spring Break, so award tix from the US are not an option. I'll probably just end up flying NRT-HKG return ($349+) and then HKG-PEK return. Have you used elong.net before?
Dec 1, 2005, 10:46 am
#4
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Originally Posted by jpdx
Thank you, moondog. Very useful information, as usual. I already booked PDX-NRT for $304+ during Spring Break, so award tix from the US are not an option. I'll probably just end up flying NRT-HKG return ($349+) and then HKG-PEK return. Have you used elong.net before?
What you proposed above seems ok if you don't mind skipping out on SHA, but even then, I think you'd be better off using miles ($400 is my break-point for 25k miles and you only need 20k).
Regarding elong, I'm assuming you referred to it because they will let you lock in pek-pvg in advance. If that's the case, I advise you to hold off because you should be able to beat those guys, even on the day of departure.
Dec 1, 2005, 2:44 pm
#5
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Originally Posted by moondog
I think you might not have caught suggestion #1; I advised you to redeem an intra-Asia award.
) Was very surprised by availability.
Dec 1, 2005, 5:27 pm
#6
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Do what you can to get elite treatment on NW before boarding these flights if you plan to carry on bags. NW sells most all its intra-Asia flights out of Japan through consolidators.
I used my once-in-a-lifetime comp to get that and, IMO, it was worth it. I believe DL or CO elite also works.
I used my once-in-a-lifetime comp to get that and, IMO, it was worth it. I believe DL or CO elite also works.
Dec 1, 2005, 5:33 pm
#7
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Originally Posted by moondog
Also, that $300 for hkg-pek turns into around $120 if you do the Shenzhen Shuffle.
Dec 1, 2005, 8:17 pm
#8
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Originally Posted by 2andFro
Moondog, I have heard of the "shenzhen shuffle" before but am not quite sure what it is. Seeking enlightenment...
Dec 2, 2005, 1:06 am
#9
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Originally Posted by jpdx
Great idea, thanks, moondog. Booked nrt-hkg/pvg-nrt on NW with DL miles (25k ) Was very surprised by availability.
) Was very surprised by availability.Now that you've got that out of the way, I suggest that you put a fair amount of effort into acquiring and rebooking with NW miles, assuming you can land business class on nrt-hkg, if not both segments (I don't think I'd bother if only pvg-nrt was available).