Originally Posted by Happy

Dont know. The guy I talked to is in his late 20's. He certainly did not leave HKG to US before 1996 for good. He just went here to study and then stay. His parents are still in HKG hence he returns home at least 2 times sometimes 3 times a year. The beauty of having the permit (not even sure it is the same permit we talk about) enable him to route through China in case he could not find award seat on more direct route. Both his just finished Aug trip and his upcoming Dec trip would require flying into PEK on Air China - the Aug one he stopovered for 3 days, the Dec one he would just transit. He has to have itinerary nailed down as soon as he knows his vacation time as it is very fixed. Otherwise he could take the chance and wait for CX to open up its business / first class award inventory about 1 to 2 weeks before departure then book. But he could not afford that luxury as in case CX stops that practice he would be left without a business class award, and either wasted his vacation time or had to endure the coach flight home. The ability to enter China without getting a Visa first, is a BIG Plus for him that enables him to take convoluted routing with multiple connections but all in business or first instead of suffering in coach.