I'm looking to spend the 1st part of my honeymoon in Hong Kong and then fly down to Bali for the remainder however I'm struggling to find any reasonably price flights in July10
Cathay - currently around £550 pp
Garuda - currently around £375 pp
Air malaysia - Approx £280 pp routed via KL 10hrs flight
Singapore Air - Crazy amounts
Air Asia - Doesn't fly direct to Bali, you can fly via KL, but the timing of connections don't make this possible.
Have I missed any options available to me for flights?
I'm thinking it may be easier to change the itinary and head straight to Bali Via SIN.
Programs: QF Plat, LH, Icarus Silver (yup - that's Olympic - only until 30 Sept 09 then OA in liquidation!!)
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As you have discovered Bali is a very popular destination - and this applies to leaving frmo just about anywhere in Asia. The cathay flight is regularly serviced with a 747-400 and my mates that fly there say it is frequently full in all classes.
I was in Bangkok recently and even from there, with lots of low cost carriers, it was in the region of GPB280 to Bali. Although Singaopre Airlines was matching Air Asia.
The issue with Air Asia is going to be your baggage allowance and any other extras you might want to purchase (such as food). These can add a bit to the published fares. Also I don't think you have the protection of a through ticket. Although i believe Air Asia is fairly on time. (see this FT thread: Have you flown Air Asia.)
Hong Kong Express also flies the HKG-DPS route. You can check them on line.
Depending on the Hong Kong Express price i would either go with them, or take the Garuda flight.
I would look into using miles for that itinerary. Several US airlines come to mind that have very reasonable redemption schedules for HKG-Bali (e.g., UA 30k pp in Business for the round trip -- fly SQ or TG).
If you are looking to purchase a ticket on a low cost carrier, it may just be too early to get good deals for July 2010. Sign up for their sale emails. With Malaysian, make sure to price individual segments rather than the entire trip (for instance, HKG-KUL + KUL-DPS may cost $80 + $80, while HKG-KUL-DPS costs $300).
Programs: UA 1K, DL SM, MR Gold, SPG Plat, Hyatt Diamond, Hertz PC
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Just trying to get myself straight on this - are the only options for non-stop flights between DPS and HKG the following three: CX, GA or OU (Hong Kong Express)?
Or are there any other non-stop options (connections with TG add too much time, SQ just seems too pricey)?
If those are the three, I assume CX is probably superior, regardless of class of service. What's GA like on that route, and also, is it worth it paying for business class (looking at a particular one-way, price diff approx $330 vs. $600)?
Yes - that's the choice, and I wouldn't touch HK Express - low cost charter services that are horribly unreliable. I don't know about Garuda - their safety record has always deterred me, so the only choice for me is CX.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by christep
Yes - that's the choice, and I wouldn't touch HK Express - low cost charter services that are horribly unreliable. I don't know about Garuda - their safety record has always deterred me, so the only choice for me is CX.
I started with looking at CX, but for my particular date, the fare difference is more than significant ($350 vs $850 for Y, and even "worse" for C, and GA C is cheaper than CX Y), so it makes the choice a bit harder.
If you're also looking for a hotel you might want to have a look at the CX Holidays packages. They're not loaded yet beyond April, but currently you can get business class on CX plus 3 nights hotel for less than HK$10,000 per person twin share (plus taxes).
Alternatively, a USA-Bali flight all the way on CX with a stopover in HKG might be somewhat cheaper than booking the transpac and Bali flights separately.
Yes - that's the choice, and I wouldn't touch HK Express - low cost charter services that are horribly unreliable. I don't know about Garuda - their safety record has always deterred me, so the only choice for me is CX.
I've flown with Hong Kong Express a few times now and generally they have been fine, not many issues at all (BTW not to Bali, but to other destinations).
When I went to Bali, I ended up going via Singapore.
Basically lots more options booking a flight from Singapore or KL to Bali.
If you want LCC there are several carriers that fly from SIN and KUL to DPS. I went with Lion Air from SIN.
However if you want to do it in style, probably best to go with CX.
Programs: QF Plat, LH, Icarus Silver (yup - that's Olympic - only until 30 Sept 09 then OA in liquidation!!)
Posts: 1,846
Quote:
Originally Posted by bbelovic
I started with looking at CX, but for my particular date, the fare difference is more than significant ($350 vs $850 for Y, and even "worse" for C, and GA C is cheaper than CX Y), so it makes the choice a bit harder.
When I was at HKG about a month ago I noticed GA had their brand new A330-200 there. Not sure if that was going to Jakarta or Denpasar though - I think it was DPS.
That flies with flat beds in J and AVOD in all classes.
Not sure if the plane is regularly sheduled or if it is just flying that route pending introduction of Europe services (which I think is June 2010).
Programs: UA 1K, DL SM, MR Gold, SPG Plat, Hyatt Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 132
Quote:
Originally Posted by LHR/MEL/Europe FF
When I was at HKG about a month ago I noticed GA had their brand new A330-200 there. Not sure if that was going to Jakarta or Denpasar though - I think it was DPS.
I believe the flight in question (DPS-HKG, early March) is currently scheduled as 737-800. Even a possibility of a new A330 makes me happier. But, given that it's likely just transitioning, I'm guessing it will be a 738. That said, I think their 737-800 are mostly (all?) new, with AVOD, at least in C. Probably worth the money.
I'm looking to spend the 1st part of my honeymoon in Hong Kong and then fly down to Bali for the remainder however I'm struggling to find any reasonably price flights in July10
Cathay - currently around £550 pp
Garuda - currently around £375 pp
Air malaysia - Approx £280 pp routed via KL 10hrs flight
Singapore Air - Crazy amounts
Air Asia - Doesn't fly direct to Bali, you can fly via KL, but the timing of connections don't make this possible.
Have I missed any options available to me for flights?
I'm thinking it may be easier to change the itinary and head straight to Bali Via SIN.
Hi,
I followed your thread on the BA forum and was going to suggest the easiest route was via SIN.It's a pity QF don't fly that route anymore as your miles would have been handy.however Qatar do that route and biz class for under £300 r/t seems a good deal(only a 2.5 hour flight)
btw they do economy for £175 ish.
Hi, I do the HKG-DPS, CGK-HKG run each month on Garuda, the planes are brand new, the Hong Kong lounge is a bit ordinary, but I have alternatives so it doesn't bother me. Denpasar and jakarta lounges are good. The flight is a dream, the cabin crew have an enlightened crisp approach to their work, the food is average, good but not out of this world, they serve an icecream before the landing sequence which I love, the flight arrives in DPS at an ideal time just after a rush. Every second flight, there abouts, we are bussed in which is a bummer if you are travelling C, all in all, very good value, regards bkkrop
