Originally Posted by
benzemalyonnais
Avios are so stressful to use in China and aren't a great value except in certain situations.
Basically the only time I ever use them is when I need a last minute PEK-HKG or PVG-HKG. Revenue tickets to Shenzhen and GZ are Always affordable, so really the only use is when one NEEDS to be in HK.
Also, there's the 50$ or so fuel surcharge that makes them even less valuable when a revenue ticket is $100
Using CTrip should be about $100 for Changsha-Chengdu, and another $100 for Chengdu-Guangzhou. The through-train to HK is about 30$ if I remember correctly
I've been using mine to go to HK even in cases when I end up spending more time in Shenzhen. KA is at least twice as nice as Spring, and those lounges in HK are simply awesome (HKG is the only airport I've ever been to do that warrants me actually making time for a lounge visit).