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UA, USA to China OJ from $303 ai

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Old Jul 5, 2017, 8:33 am
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: wolfpacktrojan
Transportation options from HGH to Hangzhou city center or PVG. Please add your name and your itinerary if you are interested in meeting other fellow FTers.
1) Taxi to Hangzhou city center, about 100 RMB ($15) for the entire party, not per person, walking from international terminal to domestic terminal (i.e., right turn after you get outside of the international terminal building), you will see taxi queue.
2) Shuttle bus, 20 RMB ($3), to Wulinmen CAAC Ticket Office or East Railway Station Line (two most popular options). The waiting hall for the shuttle bus is at Gate 10 (you can purchase ticket at Gate 14, too) Arrival Hall, on the first floor of the terminal building. Further details, see https://www.travelchinaguide.com/cit...ation.htm#hang
3) Shuttle from Hangzhou city center to PVG, 110 RMB, 3.5 hours: a) Wulinmen Ticket Office Central Hangzhou to PVG: (5:30, 6:10, 7:00, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, 17:00)
b) Hangzhou Dragon Sports Center to PVG, 110 RMB, (7:00, 8:30, 10:30, 12:30, 14:30, 16:00
). Further details, see https://traveladept.com/bus-pudong-hangzhou/
4) Train from Hangzhou East station to Shanghai Hongqiao; less than 100 RMB (~1 hr); then you can take Subway Line #2 to PVG, ~10 RMB and 2 hrs; or shuttle bus (Airport Line #1), about 1 hr, 30 RMB ($4.5), every 15 - 25 minutes. The Hangzhou East ticketing windows are located on 1st Floor, EAST Area of the station. Please allow 20-30 minutes for walking to 2nd floor departure, and security check. The frequency of Hangzhou-Hongqiao trains is as good as that of subways in many US cities.
5) Getting cash at HGH The international terminal at HGH (where you arrive) only has an exchange vendor with hefty fees that is open limited hours. However, the adjacent domestic terminal has a bank ATM. To get to the entrance of the domestic terminal, exit the international terminal and keep walking right, past the taxi stand. Then enter and take the escalator to the second floor. The bank ATM will be on your left, next to the escalator.
6 Getting TWOV without issues The advice is to print out your itinerary, hotel reservation, etc., to speed up the procedure at the entry point in China. At SFO, the check-in agents were clueless, so be prepared to get there very early and fight for your boarding passes. Please read the last few pages on this thread for first-hand experiences. Good luck. There is a thread on FT for further details. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/china...hread-231.html

ATM To get to the entrance of the domestic terminal, exit the international terminal and keep walking right, past the taxi stand. Then enter and take the escalator to the second floor. The bank ATM will be on your left, next to the escalator.

Travel information for Beijing and airport:
Beijing will have 2 hubs starting Sept 30,2019. PEK (Beijing Capital International Airport) is original main hub and will continue for Star Alliance flights and Cathay Pacific (including subsidiary Cathay Dragon Air). PKX (Beijing Daxing International Airport, will debut Sept 30, 2019)
planned for airlines of the SkyTeam alliance and One World Alliance (AA, BA, etc. except Cathay Pacific) will be relocated to the new airport. Most flyers taking advantage of this China OJ deal will continue fly through PEK. Some people who use positioning flights through Beijing using non-Star Alliance airlines need to make sure you are flying into PEK, or else need 2hr ground transportation from PKX to PEK.
PEK allows TWOV within 24hr to stay inside security zone airside. This is more convenient for immediate turn than Shanghai-PVG, which force all passengers to exit immigration and customs, then re-check in from land side, even if you have immediate turn within 24hr.

Who are going? When for outbound and inbound? Routing from major hubs:
July 2017

August 2017
Quinlanty: Aug 3, ORD-HKG-HGH; Aug 7, PVG-LAX-SFO-IAH-ORD-YYZ (see post #284 for a brief report on TWOV procedure at HGH).

September 2017
Kmxu: 1 Sept, IAD-HNL-GUM-, 3 Sept, GUM-PVG; 4 Sept, PVG-SFO-ORD
Quinlanty; Sep 1, IAD-HNL-GUM; Sept 3, GUM-PVG, Sep 4, PVG-SFO-ORD-YYZ
pushmyredbutton: Sept 1; SFO-HNL-GUM-HKG Sept 3rd: HKG-HGH, Sept 4th: PVG-SFO
X31: 8 Sept BTV-EWR-SFO-HKG-HGH; 11 Sept PVG-NRT; 12 Sept HND-SFO-IAH-EWR; 13 Sept EWR-YUL
Kmxu + 3: 9 Sept, IAD-SFO-HKG-HGH; 12 Sept, PVG-SFO-IAD
techdarko: 12 Sept, SFO-HKG; 14 Sept, HKG-HGH; 16 Sept, PVG-SFO
Quinlanty: Sep 14; SFO-HKG-HGH; Sep 18, PVG-SFO-YVR
bencanfly: Sep 14, SFO-HKG-HGH; Sep 18, PVG-SFO-IAD
tde211: Sept 17, SFO-HKG-HGH; Oct 18 - PVG-SFO-YVR
Fishleafer: Sep 20, SFO-HKG-HGH; Sep 26, PVG-SFO-YVR
X31: 21 Sept BTV-EWR-HNL-GUM-HKG; 23 Sept HKG-HGH; 25 Sept PVG-SFO-IAH-EWR; 26 Sept EWR-YUL
985X: Sept 22, LAX-SFO-HKG; Sept 23, HKG-HGH; Sept 25, PVG-LAX; Sept 26, LAX-YVR
flyingstudent: Sept 23: SFO-HGH
netoreisinger: 30 Sept, BOS-EWR-HKG-HGH; 4 Oct, PVG-SFO-ORD-YUL

October 2017
gba: Oct 22, SFO-HKG-HGH; Oct 29: PVG-NRT-SEA-YVR
beyounged: Oct 24, SAN-SFO-HKG, Oct 26, HKG-HGH, Nov 8, PVG-HND-YVR
as219: Oct 26, LGA-ORD-HKG (+1); Oct 30: HKG-SFO-EWR-YUL (+1)
X31: 26 Oct BTV-ORD-HKG; 28 Oct HKG-HGH; 30 Oct PVG-SFO; 31 Oct SFO-ORD-YUL
riphamilton +1: Oct 27, BOS-EWR-HNL-GUM-HKG (+1); Oct 30: HKG-GUM-NRT; Oct 31: NRT-ORD-YUL

November 2017
Quinlanty: Nov 3, BOS-EWR-HKG-HGH; Nov 6, HGH-SFO-IAH-ORD-YYZ
pushmyredbutton: Nov 19: BDL-ORD-HKG-HGH, Nov 27 HGH HKG-SFO-(YVR)
Davistev: Nov26, LAX-NRT-PVG

December 2017
Kmxu: Dec 1, IAH-HNL-GUM-HKG; Dec 3, HKG-HGH, Dec 4, PVG-SFO-IAD
X31: Dec 1, YUL-IAD-IAH; Dec 2, IAH-LAX-PVG; Dec 4, HGH-HKG-GUM-HNL; Dec 4, HNL-EWR-BTV.

January 2018
Kewldude21: Jan 14 IAH-EWR-HKG Jan 16 HKG-HGH Jan 22 PVG-SFO-IAH
mpiotrow: Jan 21, ORD-SFO-KIX; Jan 23, KIX-HGH; Jan 24, HGH-HKG-GUM-HNL-DEN-YYZ

February 2018

March 2018
Davistev: Mar03, PVG-SFO-YVR
flyer777lr: Mar 20, DEN-HNL-GUM; Mar 23, GUM-KIX (NH)-HGH; Mar 26, HGH-HKG-GUM-HNL; Mar 27, HNL-EWR-YYZ
Kewldude21: Mar 22 IAH-EWR-HKG Mar 24 HKG-HGH Mar 28 HGH-PEK-SFO-IAH
flyme2: Mar 28, BTV-ORD-HKG; Mar 29: HKG-HGH; Apr 17: HKG-EWR-YUL
JetSetDave: Mar 29, EUG-SFO-HKG-HGH; April 3, PVG-SFO-EUG
Coeur 05: March 31, bos-sfo-hkg-pvg; April 5, PVG-lax-ord-yow

April 2018
ttyl: Apr 01 BTV-IAD-EWR-HKG; Apr 02 HKG-HGH; Apr 04 PVG-SFO-IAD-LGA-YUL
Toronto1970: April 6, EWR-ORD-HKG-HGH; April 13, CTU-SFO-EWR-YYZ
Exiled in Express: April 18, ORD-HKG-HGH; April 30, WUH-NRT-SEA-YVR
X31: Apr. 28 : BTV-EWR-HKG-HGH; May 1st : PVG-KIX; May 15th : ITM-HND-YVR-YYJ

May 2018
Kewldude21: May 3 IAH-SFO-HKG May 13 PEK-SFO-IAH

October 2018
KMXU, Oct. 18, IAD-SFO-HKG-HGH, Oct. 25, PVG-SFO-IAD

November 2018
KMXU, Nov. 14, ORD-HKG-XIY, Nov. 19, PEK-ORD

September 2019
xinliz Sept 4 SFO-NRT-PVG Sept 25 PEK-EWR-YOW
Flying Machine Sept 9 LAX-SFO-HKG Sept 10 HKG-HGH Sept 16 PVG-SFO-IAD

October 2019
kmxu: Oct 26, IAH-HNL-GUM-HKG, Oct. 27, HKG-XIY, Oct 30, CTU-SFO-IAH
wolfpacktrojan: Oct. 26, EWR-SFO-PVG, Oct. 28, PVG-NRT-SFO-YVR

November 2019
kmxuand his colleague: Nov 9, IAD-PEK, Nov 12, PEK-NRT-HNL-SFO-YYZ
kmxu's colleague: Nov 13, YYZ-IAD-NRT-PEK, Nov. 16, PEK-ORD
kmxu: Nov. 20, IAD-NRT-PEK, Nov. 22, PEK-EWR-YYZ
kmxu: Nov. 23, YYZ-IAD-NRT-PEK, Nov. 26, PEK-ORD
aquanine Nov 28: LAX-SFO-KIX, Nov 30: KIX-PEK, Dec 2: PEK-SFO-YVR

December 2019
kmxu: Nov. 30, IAD-NRT-PEK, Dec. 2, PEK-ORD-YYZ
kmxu: Dec. 3, YYZ-IAD-NRT-PEK, Dec. 6, PEK-ORD
jskang Dec 5, EWR-PVG, Dec 8, PEK-NRT-IAD-YOW

January 2020


February 2020


March 2020

April 2020
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UA, USA to China OJ from $303 ai

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Old Aug 4, 2017, 9:05 am
  #271  
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: SJC / DPS
Programs: AS G75K, UA Silver
Posts: 1,757
Originally Posted by drvannostren
Any specific dates? As a YVR guy this definitely speaks to me

I'm looking for end of Feb hopefully but I'm interested for any dates if it's just $235.
I've gotten the SFO-HGH/CTU-YVR itin to price at $265...haven't hit $235 yet
I doubt I'll bite since the costs from getting from HGH to CTU can be quite high.
pushmyredbutton is offline  
Old Aug 4, 2017, 9:57 am
  #272  
 
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: LA LA Land
Posts: 92
What is the likelihood of getting a refund? I have SFO-HKG-HGH//PVG-Canada and want to switch my routing.
cyberUAL is offline  
Old Aug 4, 2017, 10:00 am
  #273  
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: BTV/YUL
Posts: 8
ORD-NRT-(overnight layover)-NRT-HGH-HKG-(overnight layover)-ORD-YUL for $350 on 12-15 JAN

I'm putting the opening link in since there are lots of options for the ORD-TYO leg, with either a nonstop flight or stops in EWR, IAD, IAH, LAX, or SFO (with SFO allowing SFO-HND instead of NRT). NRT-HGH is on ANA, HGH-HKG is Cathay Dragon after a 6 hour layover in HGH.

Final leg to Canada can also go to YOW (same price) or YHZ ($60 more).

I think this is TWOV safe for US travellers but someone else will be able to check this over and confirm!

Last edited by awt42; Aug 4, 2017 at 10:02 am Reason: Added TWOV note
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Old Aug 4, 2017, 10:12 am
  #274  
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: SJC / DPS
Programs: AS G75K, UA Silver
Posts: 1,757
Originally Posted by cyberUAL
What is the likelihood of getting a refund? I have SFO-HKG-HGH//PVG-Canada and want to switch my routing.
What basis would your refund be on? If booked more than 24 hours ago and none of your segments have changed or cancelled, I'd say your chances are close to 0%. You could apply the value to a new ticket, but the change fee is likely the entire fare.
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Old Aug 4, 2017, 10:41 am
  #275  
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Pacific Wonderland
Programs: ʙᴏɴᴠo̱ʏ Au, IHG Au, HH Dia, Nexus, Pilot FlyingJ Preferred
Posts: 5,336
Originally Posted by pushmyredbutton
I've gotten the SFO-HGH/CTU-YVR itin to price at $265...haven't hit $235 yet
I doubt I'll bite since the costs from getting from HGH to CTU can be quite high.
Out 10/24, back 10/25 for $240
https://goo.gl/flights/Zjoz

Looks like you can get that price up until daylight savings time switches and then the Hong Kong layover goes from 1 hour to 11 hours and the price rises $200.
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Old Aug 4, 2017, 11:03 am
  #276  
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: DTW/MBS
Programs: UA 1K, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Formerly Starbucks Gold
Posts: 3,525
I'm going to status match to United. It looks like I would need 35k miles.

But if I were to ticket this (if I can) through an OTA, would that make more sense then on United.com? There's no PQD requirement for the trial, and you do get the status during the trial, so I'm thinking I could get a lot more RDMs that way rather then booking on UA.
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Old Aug 4, 2017, 11:24 am
  #277  
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: DEN
Programs: UA 1K 0.7MM (trying to get to 1MM!)
Posts: 1,272
Originally Posted by nobodyherebutme
Depending on how you specify the search, you may get the option for a slightly longer stay in HKG. For instance, https://www.google.com/flights/?gl=us&source=flre_fli_share&f=0#search;iti=ORD_GU M_2018-01-14*GUM_HKG_2018-01-15*HKG_HGH_2018-01-16*HGH_GUM_2018-01-20*GUM_YYZ_2018-01-21;tt=m;sel=ORDHNL0UA219-HNLGUM0UA201,GUMHKG0UA159,HKGHGH0KA622,HGHHKG0KA63 7-HKGGUM0UA116,GUMHNL0UA200-HNLLAXZUA534-LAXDEN0UA495-DENYYZ0UA4509;eo=e lets you stay 21 hours whereas https://www.google.com/flights/?gl=us&source=flre_fli_share&f=0#search;iti=ORD_GU M_2018-01-14*GUM_HGH_2018-01-15*HGH_GUM_2018-01-20*GUM_YYZ_2018-01-21;tt=m;eo=e doesn't.

The rule for the HGH stay on this itinerary is that you must leave on Wed or Sat. Apparently, the flight in/out of GUM is one that only runs twice a week.

If I was going to do this, I'd skip IAH. That 55 min connection just doesn't sound good for a flight leaving ORD in the middle of winter.
Thanks! I might look into doing that first link you sent...seems pretty good! Unfortunately, even if I skip IAH and fly direct to HNL, there's still only a 1 hour layover at HNL, so it's not much better than 55 mins in IAH, though I guess there's the possibility of the plane making up more time in the air from ORD-HNL compared to ORD-IAH.

Originally Posted by BThumme
I'm going to status match to United. It looks like I would need 35k miles.

But if I were to ticket this (if I can) through an OTA, would that make more sense then on United.com? There's no PQD requirement for the trial, and you do get the status during the trial, so I'm thinking I could get a lot more RDMs that way rather then booking on UA.
How would you get more RDMs booking through an OTA rather than booking with UA? Aren't RDMs just based on your status and the price paid? With your UA status match, you'd either be getting 7x the fare for Silver, 8x the fare for Gold, 9x the fare for Platinum, or 11x the fare for 1K.
​​​​

Last edited by mpiotrow; Aug 4, 2017 at 11:33 am Reason: Added additional response to BThumme
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Old Aug 4, 2017, 11:40 am
  #278  
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: DTW/MBS
Programs: UA 1K, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Formerly Starbucks Gold
Posts: 3,525
Originally Posted by mpiotrow

How would you get more RDMs booking through an OTA rather than booking with UA? Aren't RDMs just based on your status and the price paid? With your UA status match, you'd either be getting 7x the fare for Silver, 8x the fare for Gold, 9x the fare for Platinum, or 11x the fare for 1K.
​​​​
If you buy on UA stock it is, but if you get it it as a bulk fare by chance (booking through the chase portal has worked for my AA tickets in the past), it's based on a small amount of distance flown. You don't earn any PQDs, but that's not relevant since I don't need it for the challenge.
BThumme is offline  
Old Aug 4, 2017, 11:46 am
  #279  
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: UA Plat MM, CM Plat, Amex Plat, Hertz CP, Hyatt Globalist, SPG Gold, Vons Club
Posts: 6,852
Originally Posted by BThumme
I'm going to status match to United. It looks like I would need 35k miles.

But if I were to ticket this (if I can) through an OTA, would that make more sense then on United.com? There's no PQD requirement for the trial, and you do get the status during the trial, so I'm thinking I could get a lot more RDMs that way rather then booking on UA.
If I would be matching, I would ticket with UA for seamless transaction (especially in light of the match). What advantage would a OTA provide?

Thanks and Safe Travels
Flying Machine is offline  
Old Aug 4, 2017, 11:50 am
  #280  
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: DTW/MBS
Programs: UA 1K, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Formerly Starbucks Gold
Posts: 3,525
Originally Posted by Flying Machine
If I would be matching, I would ticket with UA for seamless transaction (especially in light of the match). What advantage would a OTA provide?

Thanks and Safe Travels
If it gets coded as a bulk/specialty ticket, the earned award miles (for S T L K G) is 50% of distance flown.

So UA stock (I'm currently silver) - 6 x 300ish = 1800 miles.
Special fare - .5*18,000ish = 9000 miles.
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Old Aug 4, 2017, 11:55 am
  #281  
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: UA Plat MM, CM Plat, Amex Plat, Hertz CP, Hyatt Globalist, SPG Gold, Vons Club
Posts: 6,852
Originally Posted by BThumme
If it gets coded as a bulk/specialty ticket, the earned award miles (for S T L K G) is 50% of distance flown.

So UA stock (I'm currently silver) - 6 x 300ish = 1800 miles.
Special fare - .5*18,000ish = 9000 miles.
Anyway why mess with a match. UA all the way. There is a separate thread with no UA Credit for Bulk Fares.. (not the 50% as you mention..) Just a thought..
Flying Machine is offline  
Old Aug 4, 2017, 12:12 pm
  #282  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 18,323
Originally Posted by mspel
PRICE DROP! Down to $235 rt for SFO-HKG-HGH // CTU-SFO-YVR. EWR departures and YYZ returns for just $35 more lol.
Just so everyone knows, this one requires a visa.
CDKing is offline  
Old Aug 4, 2017, 12:45 pm
  #283  
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: DTW/MBS
Programs: UA 1K, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Formerly Starbucks Gold
Posts: 3,525
Anyone able to force anything under 410 from Chicago/East coast November 18-21?
BThumme is offline  
Old Aug 4, 2017, 2:36 pm
  #284  
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: San Francisco, CA & Bangkok (Home)/Lawrenceville & Switzerland (Boarding School)/Baltimore, MD (College)
Programs: DL DM, AL MVPG 75K, SQ Gold, BA Silver, HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Marriot Plat, Hertz Pres Circle
Posts: 599
If the wiki is to be trusted, seems like I'm the first to fly out. Let me tell you, 15 plus hours in Y without economy plus on United is hard!

For those of us with OneWorld status, Cathay Dragon gives invitations to the really nice Pier/Wing/Bridge/Cabin lounges, and the Pier is about a 5 min walk.

HGH- Despite qualifying for a TWOV, staff at HGH didn't know what that was, in spite of my explanations in Chinese, so I had to go to the office and apply for "special circumstances visa waiver".

Was able to negotiate the taxi down to 90 RMB. Oh and cherry on top, my luggage didn't arrive with me on Cathay Dragon. However, KA did serve hagan daz ice cream. Anyone know do I contact United or Cathay about compensation for my delayed baggage? Any questions, feel free to ask

Last edited by Quinlanty; Aug 5, 2017 at 3:04 pm
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Old Aug 4, 2017, 3:26 pm
  #285  
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: DEN
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 175
Originally Posted by Quinlanty
If the wiki is to be trusted, seems like I'm the first to fly out. Let me tell you, 15 plus hours in Y without economy plus on United is hard!

For those of us with OneWorld status, Cathay Dragon gives invitations to the really nice Pier/Wing/Bridge/Cabin lounges, and the Pier is about a 5 min walk. The flight doesn't leave out of a satellite lounge as some people guessed.

HGH- Despite qualifying for a TWOV, staff at HGH didn't know what that was, in spite of my explanations in Chinese, so I had to go to the office and apply for "special circumstances visa waiver".

Was able to negotiate the taxi down to 90 RMB. Oh and cherry on top, my luggage didn't arrive with me on Cathay Dragon. However, KA did serve hagan daz ice cream. Anyone know do I contact United or Cathay about compensation for my delayed baggage? Any questions, feel free to ask
Thanks for the report. I am flying SEA-SFO-HKG-HGH-SFO-DEN-YVR on 8/31-9/4 and I am somewhat anxious about being able to use TWOV. UA staff I spoke with in SEA had no clue. So I was counting on HGH staff to be familiar with it. Your experience has me worried, especially since I do not speak Chinese.

What was involved in getting the special circumstances visa waiver?
nobodyherebutme is offline  


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