Question about chinese flight fare
 

Hello!

I came across this site because I was searching some flights in China.

First of all I'll be in China in January and I'd like to fly Guangzhou-Urumqi-Kashi-Urumqi-Xian-Shanghai. I just found a cheap fare at the chinese China Southern website but it's impossible to book this fare, because they don't accept credit card. At others websites I find the same flights but they are more expensive because they only book Y (full economy fare).

How can I book the same fares that I find at the chinese China Southern website?

Do they have a representation in Sao Paulo (Brazil)?

If I wait and book the flights in China or (Hong Kong) will I get a cheaper fare? Or it will be too late that I either must have to pay Y or won't find any flight?

I'd like to fly China Southern because they have the best connections and are a Sky Team member.

Thanks for the answers! =)

Yes, you should plan on waiting (there isn't a lot of demand for tickets to Kashgar in January). Alternatively, consider booking an award ticket because Chinese air fares are based on distance (not entirely, but there is a strong correlation) and Kashgar is about as far away as you can get from CAN or SHA.

What sites did you check? Does that include large Chinese-based sites like ctrip.com?

Thanks for the answers.

@rkkwan
I checked on expedia and opodo. They are three times more expensive than the China Southern website (China Southern about 150 dolars and others 450 for the Guangzhou-Urumqi flight).

Another question: Is it worth to go to Urumqi? I did some research and I found the place very nice (even in winter) or do you have other suggestion? I only have been to Shanghai and Beijing and for my next trip to China I have already reserved hotels in Hong Kong, Guangzhou and Xian.

Thanks for the answers!

You must be going to Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in January for a reason, right? Not just because you read it's "nice"?

Average high temperature for Urumqi in January is -8C; average low is -18C.

You should look carefully at CZ mile earnings on other airline partners. For example, if you are crediting to Onepass (Continental/Copa), you earn 40% miles and 50% elite miles in fares G and M, while other discount fares earn nothing. There are only a handful of full and slightly discounted Y classes that earn 100% to Onepass.

ps, I hear Sao Paulo is pretty cool, wish I could visit there. I have (300+) family members in San Carlos.

It's not just because it's "nice". I am very fascinated by the silk road but the problem ist the temperature in January. That's why I asked if you have other suggestion to visit in China.

I know that even if I fly China Southern I may not credit the miles on Air France/KLM but they have the best price and the best connections as well.

Ctrip is a great site. I didn't know it. I found a good fare there (a little bit more expensive than the one on China Southern website).

Thanks for the replies!

@crnk
Sao Paulo ist a great city. But the coast of Sao Paulo is even more beautiful if you do like beaches =)

China's domestic airfares are highly regulated and are correlated with each segment's distance--a round trip simply costs double and you pay for A to B plus B to C if you have to connect.

With Y (or "Y100") fares regulated, then there are the various discount levels in the multiples of 5% or 10%. My recent 30% discount segment on CZ was displayed as "Y70" on the ticket and "G" on international systems. Anything less expensive would earn me no miles on NW.

Every discount level provides different refundability and rules etc. On Ctrip's Chinese display, Y70 is listed as "7折" and Y45 as "45折". (Chinese count how much you pay, not how large the discount is.) The English listing is more simple, but more friendly to booking from abroad. In addition to the discounted fares are fuel surcharge and airport tax.

If you have Skyteam elite status, you can still reap benefits--even if you buy non-earning discount classes--such as priority check in and seat assignment.

and don't forget those charming 1st class lounges........bag of nuts, a can of coke and that's about it

nickyboy

Thanks for the replies!

Unfortunately I don't have any Sky Team elite status =( But what matters for me is the price of the ticket. I just found some nice fares on ctrip.com =)

That's why I suggested that the OP looking into booking with miles. Even assuming 50% discounts (very likely during January), I'd be surprised if he could manage the itin in question for less than $400 (the vaunted 2c/mile threshold).

On the other hand, during my travels out that way, I found schedule/itinerary flexibility to be a great asset. The train ride from Kashgar to Turpan (with a stop in Kuche) is really cool; it's difficult to experience the magic of the silk road from an airplane. Also, if you can make it all the way to Lanzhou over land (like I did), the ticket back to Shanghai should be quite cheap.

Moving onto the subject of weather, add me to the list of posters that questions the wisdom of going there in January. Much of Turpan's beauty and charm, for example, is seasonal; were it not for the tree-lined streets or the bike ride through vineyards to the ruins, or the spring wedding we crashed, I wouldn't have come away with such a favorable opinion.

I'm considering going to somewhere else in China like Chengdu or Kunming because of the weather. It won't be a good choice to go there in January...

Having lived (and currently do live) in China, as well as having been to quite a few places, including the ones on your list, I would say don't go to Urumqi in January. Just too cold to be enjoyable as a vacation. However, you mentioned Kunming, in Yunnan. Yunnan is absolutely beautiful, and I myself am looking forward ot going back there someday. Besides Kunming (which is the capital, kinda cool but like any other large generic Chinese city), try to go to Lijiang and Dali, just absolutely stunning.

In terms of booking airfares and other travel stuff, also try taking a look at elong.net. They're expedia's china domestic partner, and you can get the fares there for approx. the same as you will on the airline website. I've had success with them.

Have fun!!

Don't let Peter_N-H catch you saying that....nuclear war (by this forum's standards) last time over the merits of online, hotels, local TAs ;)

nickyboy

I'm just saying, when it comes to booking travel in china from abroad, there are few options other than paying int'l prices (which are a rip-off compared to what it costs to purchase the exact same thing domestically), or through a chinese company (which unless you have a relationship with them somehow also won't hesitate to rip you off). If you want to do nothing more than some independent recearch on costs, elong, along with ctrip, and (very few) others aren't too bad to use, and I've heard stories of success with purchasing as well.

I personally haven't purchased anything online for travel in China, (living in china I can just walk down the street to a travel office and give them cash and have a receipt, the Chinese are fond of paperwork) but I can use those sites to get an idea of what I want and how much its going to cost me (or should cost me).