I am browsing for some YYZ - HKG fare and find the upgradable fares are outrageously high if I were to buy direct from AC. So I began to look for alternate routing.. and choose the furtest point from YVR in the US that AC flies to and it was MIA...
I punched in some departures from the USA and was sort of surprise.. I knew it was lower but it was much lower.
YYZ - HKG on AC in H class is $2045 CDN
JFK - HKG on AC in V class is $1267 CDN
MIA - HKG on AC in V class is $1469 CDN ($1550 with taxes)
I am particularly interested in the MIA - HKG one... think of this.. MIA-YYZ-YVR-HKG-YVR-YYZ-MIA, Q miles from this will be (1234*2)+(2085*2)+(6382*2) + 125% COS bonus + upgrade at time of booking = 24253 Q miles! at about $0.06/mile!
Best of all, AC website said the ticket is refundable probably for a charge.
My question is what is the best way to get down to MIA and my biggest concern is those US customs... I am sure they won't be as easy as the MEX customs!
The cost/Q mile in this case is way better than the MHD! and upgradable at time of booking too!
It seems like that this is only good for HKG, if you punch in MIA - SIN/BKK..., the fares goes way up.
Any comments?
[This message has been edited by Empress (edited 12-13-2000).]
I punched in some departures from the USA and was sort of surprise.. I knew it was lower but it was much lower.
YYZ - HKG on AC in H class is $2045 CDN
JFK - HKG on AC in V class is $1267 CDN
MIA - HKG on AC in V class is $1469 CDN ($1550 with taxes)
I am particularly interested in the MIA - HKG one... think of this.. MIA-YYZ-YVR-HKG-YVR-YYZ-MIA, Q miles from this will be (1234*2)+(2085*2)+(6382*2) + 125% COS bonus + upgrade at time of booking = 24253 Q miles! at about $0.06/mile!
Best of all, AC website said the ticket is refundable probably for a charge.
My question is what is the best way to get down to MIA and my biggest concern is those US customs... I am sure they won't be as easy as the MEX customs!
The cost/Q mile in this case is way better than the MHD! and upgradable at time of booking too!
It seems like that this is only good for HKG, if you punch in MIA - SIN/BKK..., the fares goes way up.
Any comments?
[This message has been edited by Empress (edited 12-13-2000).]
Empress, I do YYZ-MIA-YYZ all the time and I haven't found any cheap way of doing this trip. I'm typically paying about $1500. The fare for this route is ridiculously high. With the exception of the occasional websaver I always buy unrestricted fares. Even the 7 day advance booking discounted fares are quite high. I'd be interested in hearing from you if you find a cheap solution. Good luck!
US customs might be interesting. They could regard this either with suspicion or amusement. (Although INS officers aren't known for their sense of humour.) You might get a grilling but I'm sure they won't deny you entry.
US customs might be interesting. They could regard this either with suspicion or amusement. (Although INS officers aren't known for their sense of humour.) You might get a grilling but I'm sure they won't deny you entry.
Another thought. Could you start your trip in LHR?
LHR-YYZ-MIA-YYZ-YVR-HKG-YVR-YYZ-MIA-YYZ-LHR
The LHR-YYZ-MIA-YYZ-LHR fare is as low as $887. That would add another 12,000 Q miles. A total of 36,000 Q miles.
Ok, now I'm getting really ridiculous
[This message has been edited by After Burner (edited 12-14-2000).]
LHR-YYZ-MIA-YYZ-YVR-HKG-YVR-YYZ-MIA-YYZ-LHR
The LHR-YYZ-MIA-YYZ-LHR fare is as low as $887. That would add another 12,000 Q miles. A total of 36,000 Q miles.
Ok, now I'm getting really ridiculous
[This message has been edited by After Burner (edited 12-14-2000).]
Empress, I also do this run (YYZ - MIA - YYZ) about every 5 weeks. Except for my last trip (MHD) I usually fly on AC, but get my ticket through Air Canada Vacations. The cost of the ticket, including taxes is usually around $550.
The only downfall is the ticket is not upgradable
The only downfall is the ticket is not upgradable
I could do a BUF-MIA for about $330CDN on UA and then credit the points to my AC account... it seems like the cheapest upgradable fare from YYZ is around $520CDN.
I am working hard to find a way to work this out, this is a very good price for such a large amount of Q miles.
AB... I tried pricing LHR-HKG on AC, there's a price of around $1800CDN but it won't work out as it specifically states that travel must be in the Eastern Hemisphere. Otherwise if it allows us to do so through YYZ, a routing like YYZ-LHR-YYZ-YVR-HKG-YVR-YYZ-LHR-YYZ would give us 39000 Q miles!
I know I am getting crazy!
I am working hard to find a way to work this out, this is a very good price for such a large amount of Q miles.
AB... I tried pricing LHR-HKG on AC, there's a price of around $1800CDN but it won't work out as it specifically states that travel must be in the Eastern Hemisphere. Otherwise if it allows us to do so through YYZ, a routing like YYZ-LHR-YYZ-YVR-HKG-YVR-YYZ-LHR-YYZ would give us 39000 Q miles!
I know I am getting crazy!
Empress the fares you quoted were cheaper out of JFK. Why do you want to go to MIA?
One day I hope we have an open border with the U.S. it is rediculous that we Canadians have to worry if we can visit our neighbours.
I wonder if the Argentines have this problem going to Chile or Brazil? I think we all know that answer!
I just checked into a J class fare to HKG, and have found the best option for this is confirmed J Class on a AC/SQ round the world it allows a free stop over in Bangkok! Also allows a few side trips for a nominal price out of Singapore!
One day I hope we have an open border with the U.S. it is rediculous that we Canadians have to worry if we can visit our neighbours.
I wonder if the Argentines have this problem going to Chile or Brazil? I think we all know that answer!
I just checked into a J class fare to HKG, and have found the best option for this is confirmed J Class on a AC/SQ round the world it allows a free stop over in Bangkok! Also allows a few side trips for a nominal price out of Singapore!
I know Canadian... JFK-HKG is $1267CDN. I just figure that if I start in the US anyways, why not just spend a bit more for way more Q miles and since I am used to paying around $2000 for a YYZ-HKG, it is still very cheap.
However, #1 concern are still customs, they are not the best one to play these miles game with...
However, #1 concern are still customs, they are not the best one to play these miles game with...
Just another question.. let say I am doing JFK-YVR-HKG-YVR-JFK, is it true that I do not have to go through Canada customs at YVR?
Are the cheaper fares from USA to Hong Kong compared to Canada to Hong Kong on AC available to anyone, or only a US resident?
What I am asking is whether there are specific fares based on the country of residence, irrespective of the origin points of a trip, but with the same final destination?
What I am asking is whether there are specific fares based on the country of residence, irrespective of the origin points of a trip, but with the same final destination?
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Empress: Though I haven't done this before, I know that YVR has a sterile US-international transit area, so you won't need to clear Canadian immigration/customs when travelling JFK-YVR-HKG if you've got your boarding pass.
FewMiles..
FewMiles..
Have you tried a Chinese travel agency, like one in Chinatown, Markam, or Scarborough? As mentioned previously in my other posts, flights to HKG, TPE and China are sold to these agency at a discount. These agency need to sell a minumum number of tickets (usually thousands) to get a discount contract from an airline.
The tickets are usually then sold to consumers at a discount. Some examples from my previous travels to TPE: Canadian Airline from YYZ-YVR-TPE, free stopover, B fare, regularly around Cad$2000 direct from airline. This is available at $1050 in Chinatown. Being B fare, this is eligible for upgrade using stickers.
Another example from my last travel in November, YYZ-SFO-TPE via United Airlines, M fare (MLXPX1), regularly priced at Cad $2209. It was available at $990, all taxes included.
This is like a consolidator price but rules follow the original undiscounted fare rules. So they are changeable, reroutable, and allow open jaw / returns. Give them a call, you might be surprised.
The tickets are usually then sold to consumers at a discount. Some examples from my previous travels to TPE: Canadian Airline from YYZ-YVR-TPE, free stopover, B fare, regularly around Cad$2000 direct from airline. This is available at $1050 in Chinatown. Being B fare, this is eligible for upgrade using stickers.
Another example from my last travel in November, YYZ-SFO-TPE via United Airlines, M fare (MLXPX1), regularly priced at Cad $2209. It was available at $990, all taxes included.
This is like a consolidator price but rules follow the original undiscounted fare rules. So they are changeable, reroutable, and allow open jaw / returns. Give them a call, you might be surprised.
Fares are based on competitive factors from market to market. Those ex-U.S. points are lower than ones originating in Canada because CX, NW and UA [and others] offer lower fares from their major gateways and have very small add ons from other points. AC must compete, knowing it can generate some additional traffic out of the U.S. market, but won't otherwise distort their own Canada-based traffic. [How many people would spend the extra money and time to get into a U.S. point to take advantage of these discounts?] There is no citizenship requirement for such fares, that would be against the law in both counrties [discrimination].
And let's get terms correct. It is really Immigration authorities you are worried about, not customs. You are unlikely to be transporting anything but personal belongings with you when entering/leaving the U.S. or Canada. It is rather the right these officials have to refuse entry into their respective countries to persons they have suspiscions about. Having an immediate return ticket to Canada [and onward to HKG, or MEX if this were a MHD] would probably suggest to even the most picky of such officials that your intent is not to remain in the U.S. for more than a few hours. And in any case, if they refused you entry you would have to be returned to Canada on the next available flight that the carrier that brought you could find. As you would be holding tickets and reservations on a flight back into Canada already...
As for removing border controls, I remind you that we are a sovereign country -- as is the U.S. -- and as such must patrol our borders and entry into/out of our respective countries in such a manner. I would personally not want to see the day we never have to pass through Immigration -- nor for that matter use the US dollar -- just for the reason Canada is Canada and the United States is the United States. This means more to me than convenience for mileage runs and cheaper air fares.
And let's get terms correct. It is really Immigration authorities you are worried about, not customs. You are unlikely to be transporting anything but personal belongings with you when entering/leaving the U.S. or Canada. It is rather the right these officials have to refuse entry into their respective countries to persons they have suspiscions about. Having an immediate return ticket to Canada [and onward to HKG, or MEX if this were a MHD] would probably suggest to even the most picky of such officials that your intent is not to remain in the U.S. for more than a few hours. And in any case, if they refused you entry you would have to be returned to Canada on the next available flight that the carrier that brought you could find. As you would be holding tickets and reservations on a flight back into Canada already...
As for removing border controls, I remind you that we are a sovereign country -- as is the U.S. -- and as such must patrol our borders and entry into/out of our respective countries in such a manner. I would personally not want to see the day we never have to pass through Immigration -- nor for that matter use the US dollar -- just for the reason Canada is Canada and the United States is the United States. This means more to me than convenience for mileage runs and cheaper air fares.
Don't worry S/H.
While I was with Immigration, common border policy was a frequent subject of discussion. We routinely refused between 8 and 10 percent of visitor visa applicants at New York--all of whom had status in the USA (we didn't even talk to people applying for visitor visas who weren't legally in the US).
The reality is that there are zero prospects of a common border policy in the near future.
We are much more stringent that americans in our visa issuance practices--largely because we pay much more out of the public purse for every refugee claimant, whereas the US allows them to move into the underground economy, where they really don't cost the Treasury anything.
Further, our visa exempt lists are too divergent. The biggest anomolies are Argentina (visa free access to the US, and one of our largest group of refugee seekers at the US border), and Korea (visa free access to Canada, big enforcement problem for the americans).
Until these issues can be resolved, a common border policy is decades away.
While I was with Immigration, common border policy was a frequent subject of discussion. We routinely refused between 8 and 10 percent of visitor visa applicants at New York--all of whom had status in the USA (we didn't even talk to people applying for visitor visas who weren't legally in the US).
The reality is that there are zero prospects of a common border policy in the near future.
We are much more stringent that americans in our visa issuance practices--largely because we pay much more out of the public purse for every refugee claimant, whereas the US allows them to move into the underground economy, where they really don't cost the Treasury anything.
Further, our visa exempt lists are too divergent. The biggest anomolies are Argentina (visa free access to the US, and one of our largest group of refugee seekers at the US border), and Korea (visa free access to Canada, big enforcement problem for the americans).
Until these issues can be resolved, a common border policy is decades away.