In response to concerns posted:
Originally Posted by
chornedsnorkack
1 overnight Z train, Z19, takes 11:15, from 20:43 to 7:58. 7 T trains, of which the fastest is not quite overnight, arriving at 2:00 (destination is Lanzhou). The other 6 take between 12:44 and 14:29, leaving Beijing from 14:33 till 21:15.
Z soft sleepers cost 398 yuan 5 jiao (upper) and 415 yuan 5 jiao (lower).
With your own quote:
With 2 different compartments, they might split each child with a different parent of the split is 2:2, and leave one parent alone with strangers if the split is 1:3. With more than 2 compartments, there will certainly be unaccompanied children of 8 or less.
Are the ID assignments of individual berths within a group also enforced?
Also, what is the minimum length for the children to occupy a separate berth, and is it enforced against too short children trying to occupy a berth?
Is there any specific reason to return by G and arrive by Z, rather than vice versa?
Specifically, 7 of them are 5:27 to 5:58, and G87 is 4:40, leaving Xian at 13:10. Second class seats are 515 yuan 5 jiao, first class 824 yuan 5 jiao, VIP seat 981 yuan 5 jiao.
1)
Same compartment-berths: Usually not a problem to get together in one compartment if the booking is made at the 18-day mark or shortly thereafter (when window sales start). With window sales, berths in one compartment can be specifically requested. If one is not in China, then use of an agent is adviseable when dealing with a group of 4--the trick being to find one with as little markup as possible. One's Beijing hotel might be willing to get the tickets, for surcharge of course, and if funds are fronted. Note that with online sales (20 days in advance) the berths are assigned sequentially with no opportunity to request same-compartment....meaning that the berths could split across compartments.
Backup plan: The earlier in the booking time period the tickets are reserved, the better the chance of getting in one compartment right off the bat. However, in the event of a split, trade around with other passengers as soon as everyone is on board. Usually nobody will have a problem getting kids back with parents. And while people don't like to trade a lower for an upper berth, most will do an upper-for-upper no problem.
In short: you are making mountain out of molehill on this issue.
2)
Berth-to-ID matchup: If switching around needs to be done so one is in a berth (per one's ticket) different than one is assigned, it's just explained to the conductor that comes around. Not a problem. As long as you're supposed to be in that car somewhere, and they know where you're supposed to get off, is mostly what matters. In fact, train staff will prefer that kids are switched to be with parents so the group is together, especially with foreigners.
In short: not a big deal.
3) Child tickets: A separate berth can be purchased for any child regardless of how young, the only issue is price. In China goes by size not by age. Children under 1.2 m tall ride free but only if sharing a sleeper berth. If small children need a berth of their own, then 1/2 adult price as with older children. Most Chinese tend to be thrifty and will put a small child in with a (short) female relative rather than pay extra. But no restriction on buying. For 1.2 to 1.5 m tall--1/2 price for a berth. Over 1.5 m tall--regular fare.
In this situation, four berths are needed, so if the 11 year old is not over 1.5 m (I assume the 5-year old is not), then ticket fare excluding agent surcharges would be 2 adult fares + 2 half-fares. If I've got this wrong, somebody please jump in and correct me. The same pricing-by-height logic goes for seat fares as well.
In short: Even if one bought regular berths for all 4 family members, will still be cheaper than discounted flights. Full fare (adult) second class seats on bullet train also cheaper than discounted flights.
4) Directionality: In theory, no difference going either direction by sleeper and the other by bullet train. In practice, seems like slightly easier to get sleepers out of BJ than Xi'an...even under the new system. However, it probably comes down to how the day-to-day itinerary lays out for this OP, and also how the departure flight is scheduled.
OP should also look at the timetables and consider splitting Beijing time up, doing a couple of days on the front end, putting Xi'an in next, then returning to Beijing for the duration until departure. Unless doing so would be at odds with some specific hotel promotion he wants to take advantage of.
Remember that for proper comparison with flights, the entire time sequence should be compared including getting to airport, checking-in, security, wating at gate, boarding, deplaning, bag claim, etc. etc. For PEK-XIY or reverse, this sequence is likely to take 5 hours and that doesn't include risk of delays. In other words, taking a daytime flight eats up the same amount of time as a bullet train. If there is a need to save precious daylight hours, then a night flight could be considered. If the OP does not wish to take 2nd class seats on a bullet train but insists on 1st class, then cost vs discounted flight tickets starts to converge.
Just don't underestimate the potential for delays esp in/out of PEK. On this distance and with the alternatives available, I'd tend to stick to the train system for a trip this short--more predictable.