Best options for inter-Asia booking and/or redemption?
Aug 28, 2018, 8:51 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 24
Best options for inter-Asia booking and/or redemption?
Early next year I'm going to be doing two weeks traveling inter-Asia. Routing would be TYO-HKG-PEK-PVG-TYO, with 3-4 days in each location.
What're the best options for redemptions and/or booking?
I'm open to splitting it into several awards (or paying cash) and can get points into pretty much any program via transfer. Considering J for TYO-HKG, as it is a reasonably long flight. Going to be 3 travelers (which makes J availability harder), but its far enough in advance I can keep an eye out for availability.
Any help (or even just pointers to certain metal / programs / strategies) would be greatly appreciated!
What're the best options for redemptions and/or booking?
I'm open to splitting it into several awards (or paying cash) and can get points into pretty much any program via transfer. Considering J for TYO-HKG, as it is a reasonably long flight. Going to be 3 travelers (which makes J availability harder), but its far enough in advance I can keep an eye out for availability.
Any help (or even just pointers to certain metal / programs / strategies) would be greatly appreciated!
Aug 28, 2018, 9:24 am
#2
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: New York, NY
Programs: AA Gold. UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt (Lifetime Diamond downgraded to Explorist)
Posts: 6,776
Does this include flying from the US, since your handle has BOS in it? or Just to that?
BA awards can be great value for short hops like this and since it allows for 1-way awards increases flexibility. UA's program also falls a bit in this category.
High speed trains between Shanghai & Beijing can be an added experience and takes about the same amount of time as a flight when time at the airport is included. There is also an overnight train between HK & Shanghai but that may be too much time on a train.
BA awards can be great value for short hops like this and since it allows for 1-way awards increases flexibility. UA's program also falls a bit in this category.
High speed trains between Shanghai & Beijing can be an added experience and takes about the same amount of time as a flight when time at the airport is included. There is also an overnight train between HK & Shanghai but that may be too much time on a train.
Aug 28, 2018, 9:59 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 24
Does this include flying from the US, since your handle has BOS in it? or Just to that?
BA awards can be great value for short hops like this and since it allows for 1-way awards increases flexibility. UA's program also falls a bit in this category.
High speed trains between Shanghai & Beijing can be an added experience and takes about the same amount of time as a flight when time at the airport is included. There is also an overnight train between HK & Shanghai but that may be too much time on a train.
BA awards can be great value for short hops like this and since it allows for 1-way awards increases flexibility. UA's program also falls a bit in this category.
High speed trains between Shanghai & Beijing can be an added experience and takes about the same amount of time as a flight when time at the airport is included. There is also an overnight train between HK & Shanghai but that may be too much time on a train.
I had been looking @ BA to fly CX or JL, but availability isn't great. 15k for JL PY (TYO-HKG) seems like a decent deal though, if I can't find J availability. I have some United miles hanging around from the $600 ANA J deal last year...maybe I'll see if I can use those.
Had not even though about taking the PVG-PEK train. Looks like a very different / interesting option.
Aug 28, 2018, 10:45 am
#4
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,009
The train is certainly worth trying once for the experience, though I fly most of the time these days because I've found door-to-door times are about an hour faster, even when taking into account flight delays, which are quite common. There isn't a train station at PVG though. Most G trains go to Hongqiao, and they have recently started G service to Shanghai Stn. Btw, if you reverse the order to BJ and SH, 7.5 BA points from HK to SH is a pretty good deal, or you could just use cash. HKG-PEK @10k BA points is an okay deal, and cash tickets are a lot more expensive on that route because there isn't as much competition.
Aug 28, 2018, 12:55 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 24
Also, CX inter-Asia availability seems non-existent? Given its 200+ days out, I'm pretty surprised... Maybe they haven't opened it up, yet? BA shows nothing for two weeks on either side...
Aug 28, 2018, 1:32 pm
#7
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: WAS
Programs: Free Agent
Posts: 1,757
Was looking at this. Unfortunately, it appears that AS only allows CX stopovers on NA originating flights, not inter-Asia (according to this wiki, if I'm reading it correctly: Cathay Pacific (CX) Award Redemption, Booking and Availability – 2017 and Later)
Also, CX inter-Asia availability seems non-existent? Given its 200+ days out, I'm pretty surprised... Maybe they haven't opened it up, yet? BA shows nothing for two weeks on either side...
Also, CX inter-Asia availability seems non-existent? Given its 200+ days out, I'm pretty surprised... Maybe they haven't opened it up, yet? BA shows nothing for two weeks on either side...