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Old Mar 14, 2023 | 6:43 am
  #2731  
j223
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Cathay is still doing polar routes over Russia but yeah otherwise it seems like us east coasters will have to wait for the Chinese airlines to ramp up if we want direct flights.

I see China Eastern has started from Toronto-Shanghai direct, but the fares are mind boggling right now. Lots of demand.

If you are a non-Chinese citizen going through Taipei seems like an economical route for the time being since really only foreigners can roundtrip through it (citizens can one way to China, but its a hassle going back).
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Old Mar 14, 2023 | 11:20 pm
  #2732  
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Can report we used our old Q2 visa and entered PVG this morning rather smoothly.
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Old Mar 15, 2023 | 12:04 am
  #2733  
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Originally Posted by mlin32
MF (Xiamen) seems to have reasonable prices from AMS and regular schedules even from current times, but MU is not quite there yet. For sure, Europe - Asia schedule recovery has been slower than North America - Asia.
I actually like flying MU. If the price is right, Y or J, I'm going to PVG!
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Old Mar 15, 2023 | 12:05 am
  #2734  
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Originally Posted by mlin32
Chinese airlines continue to utilise normal routing over Russia (except CX and Taiwan-based airlines) so travel times aren't significantly affected. Actually that's a major draw for me, not spending an extra 2-3h on a plane.

I think also business travel has been slow to resume to Asia, so the normally-strong premium demand just isn't back yet.
Only if it's in J!
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Old Mar 15, 2023 | 2:58 am
  #2735  
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Originally Posted by lsquare
I actually like flying MU. If the price is right, Y or J, I'm going to PVG!
I would agree, but the MU schedules to western Europe (AMS, FRA, CDG) are still at really low frequencies, literally once a week to those big hubs.

Also the timetable for MF is preferable for me, i prefer an evening ex-EU departure versus the midday departures.

Haven't visited the mainland in 15 years......hoping to get there this year.
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Old Mar 15, 2023 | 3:06 am
  #2736  
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Originally Posted by mlin32
I would agree, but the MU schedules to western Europe (AMS, FRA, CDG) are still at really low frequencies, literally once a week to those big hubs.

Also the timetable for MF is preferable for me, i prefer an evening ex-EU departure versus the midday departures.

Haven't visited the mainland in 15 years......hoping to get there this year.
I prefer flying the Chinese airlines including CX to Asia because they have red eyes. I prefer those flights to save time especially if I'm connecting. I really don't like midday departures, but sometimes I don't have a choice.
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Old Mar 15, 2023 | 3:30 am
  #2737  
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Originally Posted by lsquare
I prefer flying the Chinese airlines including CX to Asia because they have red eyes. I prefer those flights to save time especially if I'm connecting. I really don't like midday departures, but sometimes I don't have a choice.
I think that's also the problem in the current situation- CX, CI, BR and MU all have midday departures ex-EU. And then the return from China departs sometimes well after midnight, yuck. Only MF has that evening dpart from AMS and a morning return from XMN.

I don't get the feeling that the big 3 chinese carriers will ramp up operations much this summer, a little pessimistic on that.
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Old Mar 15, 2023 | 4:52 am
  #2738  
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Originally Posted by Dandyman
I feel like the luckiest guy in the world right now. I have an appointment in the visa application center in Hong kong this afternoon and just saw the news. Guess I'll be saving my 1100 HKD and going to the mainland tomorrow. Will post an update of my experience afterwards.
My old M visa on my old passport worked going through west kowloon to enter China. Though arrival card appears to have gotten somewhat more detailed. They also asked for my invitation letter at the immigration counter which fortunately I had one as I was going to apply for a new visa. She didn't even look at it beyond the fact I had it but I have never been asked for it before. Not sure if this is standard practice now or if they will do this at the airport but keep it handy if you are entering on an M visa. They didn't ask for the covid test, just had to scan the health declaration.
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Old Mar 16, 2023 | 1:15 pm
  #2739  
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If you are able to get Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, roundtrips into mainland are attractive points wise from North America plus you can over-fly Russia.

Booked economy for 82k Asia Miles from Toronto to Beijing.

Cash for the same flights was like $4.5k CAD ....
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Old Mar 16, 2023 | 4:05 pm
  #2740  
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Originally Posted by j223
If you are able to get Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, roundtrips into mainland are attractive points wise from North America plus you can over-fly Russia.

Booked economy for 82k Asia Miles from Toronto to Beijing.

Cash for the same flights was like $4.5k CAD ....
Both Canada and the US are attempting to nix Russia overflight on those routes. But, even if that comes to fruition, I doubt CX or MU would stop flying them.
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Old Mar 16, 2023 | 4:23 pm
  #2741  
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Originally Posted by moondog
Both Canada and the US are attempting to nix Russia overflight on those routes. But, even if that comes to fruition, I doubt CX or MU would stop flying them.
Maybe they'll have to fly the long way?
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Old Mar 16, 2023 | 5:05 pm
  #2742  
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Originally Posted by j223
If you are able to get Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, roundtrips into mainland are attractive points wise from North America plus you can over-fly Russia.

Booked economy for 82k Asia Miles from Toronto to Beijing.

Cash for the same flights was like $4.5k CAD ....
Agreed. Roundtrip for SFO <-> HKG are $2k USD in Y and $5k USD for W. I couldn't find any availability for flying SFO -> HKG until mid-May, but good availability in May/June HKG -> SFO in Y and W.
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Old Mar 16, 2023 | 5:59 pm
  #2743  
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Originally Posted by lsquare
Maybe they'll have to fly the long way?
If by "long way", you mean eastbound, I highly doubt it.
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Old Mar 16, 2023 | 6:01 pm
  #2744  
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Originally Posted by EmpressRouge
Agreed. Roundtrip for SFO <-> HKG are $2k USD in Y and $5k USD for W. I couldn't find any availability for flying SFO -> HKG until mid-May, but good availability in May/June HKG -> SFO in Y and W.
Did you check BR and/or CI? Their prices are quite a bit lower than your numbers.
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Old Mar 16, 2023 | 7:27 pm
  #2745  
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Originally Posted by moondog
If by "long way", you mean eastbound, I highly doubt it.
Poor way of me just trying to say that they'll just fly outside of Russian air space en route to China? Is that possible? Might add a few hours to the trip?
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