Domestic airfare
Aug 30, 2023, 9:45 am
#31
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: FRA/SXB
Programs: FB Gold
Posts: 1,999
Reviving this thread for another question : how about cross-straight flights from mainland to Taiwan ? Specifically looking from PEK - TPE non-stop (no service to Taiwan region from PKX). Also wait until closer in ? Because this politically sensitive route is pricing around 3400 CNY for the 3 carriers that serve it, which is on the high side given the duration of flight.
Aug 30, 2023, 2:21 pm
#32
Join Date: Aug 2021
Programs: UA 1MM
Posts: 349
Reviving this thread for another question : how about cross-straight flights from mainland to Taiwan ? Specifically looking from PEK - TPE non-stop (no service to Taiwan region from PKX). Also wait until closer in ? Because this politically sensitive route is pricing around 3400 CNY for the 3 carriers that serve it, which is on the high side given the duration of flight.
Aug 31, 2023, 7:16 pm
#33
Join Date: Jan 2005
Programs: SQ, QF, UA, CO, DL
Posts: 2,887
Reviving this thread for another question : how about cross-straight flights from mainland to Taiwan ? Specifically looking from PEK - TPE non-stop (no service to Taiwan region from PKX). Also wait until closer in ? Because this politically sensitive route is pricing around 3400 CNY for the 3 carriers that serve it, which is on the high side given the duration of flight.
Sep 1, 2023, 12:18 am
#34
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,043
If you have UA miles PVG-TPE and SHA-TSA are both 7-8k miles one way. You have to get to Shanghai but it may be a cheaper option. Domestic-international transfer at PVG is relatively easy (nothing like the nightmare that domestic-international is at PEK). For SHA whether you have a domestic flight or take the train you will have to take the subway one stop to SHA's international terminal, it is not connected to the domestic terminal. Easy but you need to plan enough time for it.
This pricing seems to be based on distance, at least in part, and PEK-SHA was only 7.5k miles the last time I checked.
Delta charges 17.5K miles for all one way flights within Asia (I didn't check India, but I did check SE Asia). Connections don't factor into this price structure. As such, PEK-CGK is a decent redemption (you will be connecting in Korea, Taiwan, or Vietnam).
BA charges 10K-12K per segment. This means that PEK-HKG costs half as much as PEK-HKG-SGN.
Sep 1, 2023, 1:04 am
#35
Join Date: Jul 2018
Programs: Aeroplan, Amex points, Hilton Honors, Avis,
Posts: 28
Yep, China domestic is different from the rest of the world for flight pricing - I'd say never book more than 2 weeks in advance, I'd usually book about 7-5 days out. I once booked 10 days out but the price dropped so much that it was worth paying the cancellation fee and rebooking at the lower fare.
Also, book through Trip.com. A lot of the other western search engines never find the cheapest fares, even the international versions of the airlines' own websites. Trip.com service is generally very good.
Also, book through Trip.com. A lot of the other western search engines never find the cheapest fares, even the international versions of the airlines' own websites. Trip.com service is generally very good.
Seat selection is also pretty good.
Sep 1, 2023, 2:21 am
#36
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: FRA/SXB
Programs: FB Gold
Posts: 1,999
I guess based on the feedback, I'll wait it out until perhaps november timeframe. I'm not based in the US and thus would only have Flying Blue miles for a prime ticket on CI, which is dynamic pricing and currently at 15k each way + taxes. So using my miles could be a last resort, though IMO, not a great value at 30k for a domestic flight that's only 3h in duration.
As it would be a quick 3 day visit, I don't want to re-position to Shanghai (half the price) or take a flight with correspondances.
As it would be a quick 3 day visit, I don't want to re-position to Shanghai (half the price) or take a flight with correspondances.
Sep 1, 2023, 5:40 pm
#37
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 10,228
Reviving this thread for another question : how about cross-straight flights from mainland to Taiwan ? Specifically looking from PEK - TPE non-stop (no service to Taiwan region from PKX). Also wait until closer in ? Because this politically sensitive route is pricing around 3400 CNY for the 3 carriers that serve it, which is on the high side given the duration of flight.
Anyhow don’t pay any attention to the fares until a week before your flight. As an example, tickets for tomorrow PEK-TPE are selling for $286 and $299 on CI and BR respectively. Certainly don’t spend miles on those tickets if they are at these prices.
Sep 3, 2023, 8:46 pm
#39
Join Date: Jul 2018
Programs: Aeroplan, Amex points, Hilton Honors, Avis,
Posts: 28
I would say the same, keep checking on the prices a few days from now (just to compare), then check a few weeks out and see if the prices are pretty much the same.
We have found booking last minute saves a bit and have never had issues with no room, or sold out flights.
We have found booking last minute saves a bit and have never had issues with no room, or sold out flights.
Sep 4, 2023, 5:33 am
#40
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,043
HK, BKK, KUL, SIN, even USM (a premium airport) have all been crazy cheap recently, and there is tons of capacity, I used to use miles for my SE Asia vacations because it was a pretty good value and I don't hoard miles for aspirational trips much anymore, but when PVG-BKK is only $150, I can't justify even burning DL miles (my least favorite currency). Another issue is that DL has absolutely no award inventory on MU, so I'd be flying through ICN,, TPE, ,SGN, etc.
Sep 4, 2023, 10:31 am
#41
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum
Posts: 3,721
I need TFU to KUL and SIN next year. Current prices for next yr are not low, and award tickets are scarce. Will wait till close-in based on the info here. Wonder if non-Mainland airlines like SQ and CX price this way too.
Sep 4, 2023, 11:06 am
#42
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,043
Oct 28, 2023, 2:27 pm
#43
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: FRA/SXB
Programs: FB Gold
Posts: 1,999
Just a couple thoughts : I've been playing around with Trip.com, doing dummy searches within a week's timeframe to/from Taiwan and Mainland. I'm unfortunately not seeing any decrease in prices for these "close-in" flights between the Mainland and Taiwan, except for those that involve very long/unnecessary correspondances. I'm not going to lose a day of my vacations, sitting with a 6h transfer time, triple my total travel time just to save 100 EUR.
Example of a dummy search for 01 Nov.
I ended up using my Flying Blue miles to reserve the outbound PEK -> TPE on CI at the end of December.
Will probably also soon reserve the return from Taiwan to Mainland (up to HRB) paying cash.
Example of a dummy search for 01 Nov.
I ended up using my Flying Blue miles to reserve the outbound PEK -> TPE on CI at the end of December.
Will probably also soon reserve the return from Taiwan to Mainland (up to HRB) paying cash.
Oct 28, 2023, 4:15 pm
#44
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,043
I would also burn miles instead of paying $300 for PEK-TPE, but we're talking about a flight that used to cost $800+, so let's keep things in perspective.
TPE-HRB seems to entail a connection somewhere (.e.g. CAN, XMN, SZX, PVG; pick your poison), but $142 for a 1500 mile international flight seems like a good deal to me.
TPE-HRB seems to entail a connection somewhere (.e.g. CAN, XMN, SZX, PVG; pick your poison), but $142 for a 1500 mile international flight seems like a good deal to me.
Oct 28, 2023, 5:08 pm
#45
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: FRA/SXB
Programs: FB Gold
Posts: 1,999
I would also burn miles instead of paying $300 for PEK-TPE, but we're talking about a flight that used to cost $800+, so let's keep things in perspective.
TPE-HRB seems to entail a connection somewhere (.e.g. CAN, XMN, SZX, PVG; pick your poison), but $142 for a 1500 mile international flight seems like a good deal to me.
TPE-HRB seems to entail a connection somewhere (.e.g. CAN, XMN, SZX, PVG; pick your poison), but $142 for a 1500 mile international flight seems like a good deal to me.