maverikbc

I haven't used Grab in SGN, but it was very reliable when I was in Danang, a lot cheaper than meter taxis, too. Mailinh and Vinasun are 2 major reliable taxi companies in Vietnam. I was scammed by a minor brand taxi in Hanoi: the meter went up like crazy! At both SGN and DAD, you need to pay a small fee (around 10k VND) at airport entrance when you're heading there.

SGN isn't far from the center, and surrounding is pretty built up. If you don't mind walking, there are several basic to midrange hotels within 15 minute walk (check locations on Google Map).

maverikbc

Does this mean we're good to go?

I hope Amex will cover my ticket if they cease operations. I haven't booked anything non-refundable for this trip yet, including positioning flights to/from LAX.

IluvSQ

Don't know about LAX, but in SFO they used the AF lounge, for which an invitation card was issued.
Lounge wanted the invitation and BP.

gpen1827

Not sure if anybody noticed this, but the earn rates when seen on Hainan Airlines' site for Hong Kong Airlines seems to have changed as of October 28th of last year. Open this link, and scroll down after clicking on Hong Kong airlines.

After

Before

IluvSQ

Just checked, I earned 16660.8 miles for SFO-HKG-BKK.
2194.4 points for HKG-BKK, 14466.4 points for SFO-BKK.
First program I have ever seen that deals in fractions.
GCMAP puts the legs at 6927 and 1049 miles respectively, so I am not sure how they calculate this.

And I have been upgraded to Gold since I met the challenge.

Colin

Doctorslices

https://www.reuters.com/article/hna-...-idUSL3N1ZB20J

"HONG KONG, Jan 11 (Reuters) - Prices of some perpetual bonds issued by debt-laden Chinese conglomerate HNA Group Co Ltd’s Hong Kong Airlines leapt on Friday after the carrier said it would be able to meet interest payments due this month.

Blue Skyview Company Ltd, a financing unit of Hong Kong Airlines, on Thursday said it would be able to meet, on time, the next interest payment on 7.125 percent perpetual bonds, due on Jan. 26."

George84

Just finished my LAX-HKG-PVG-HKG-LAX itinerary. Let me start off by saying it was a great experience. Zero hiccups on any of the flights or transfers.

Check-in at LAX TBIT was fast with two dedicated business class desks. HX uses the Los Angeles International Lounge which is shared with a few other airlines. It's newer, has plenty of seating, and a decent beverage selection. Don't expect to eat great food in there, but there are small snacks available. Better food options outside the lounge. Our LAX-HKG boarded late but the process was smooth and easy for business class passengers with a dedicated jetway for business class passengers.

HX appears to be operating their newest A350 with new diamond seats on the LAX-HKG-LAX routes, at least we got it both ways on our trip. The new plane is in mint condition. The cabin crew are extremely friendly and eager to please. All spoke great English so no problems communicating that I have had on other Asian carriers. Food was good, not great, but there were some standout dishes--the lobster appetizer I had comes to mind. I will say it easily tops Air China's food and I would put it on par with US carriers. Window seats have 2 air vents per seat while the center seats only have 1 per seat. If you get hot on planes, keep this in mind--I woke up a few times sweating before I realized my vents were not open. IFE was decent, but bring your own entertainment if your picky about what movies you want to watch. Overall though, great flights in both directions.

Transit in HKG is easy. You don't have to go through customs or go to any transit desks. There is a security entrance that you are funneled to and your onward boarding pass is scanned and you make your way through a security line again. Business class passengers get off first so we zoomed through that line both times we were there. The HX lounge in HKG was nice. On the smaller side but has a great food spread (one of the bests I have seen for a lounge--on par with the buffet food I recently had at the Polaris lounge in Houston). There is even a made to order Noodle bar. All kinds of drinks available. Shower facilities were pretty good.

HKG-PVG-HKG was operated by an A350 with the older style seating. I actually felt like the seat is wider and may have been more comfortable for a longer flight but we only had 2 hours. Full dinner was served on our evening flight and a breakfast was served this morning. Felt like it was the same catering we got on the longer route--good but not great. Both flights were easy and on time.

When checking back in this morning at PVG, make sure to ask for a business class lounge pass. They check in agent didn't initially hand me one so I had to ask. HX shares a loung with China Eastern and maybe also Cathay Pacific? The food this morning in the lounge was limited but again there was a noodle bar serving made to order noodles which were actually pretty good.

If the price was right I would fly HX again in a heartbeat. These days, I am mostly flying on deals or points, so without an alliance partner to transfer points to, it may be a while before I fly them again. But I would, and would probably choose them over a US carrier given the opportunity. And btw, HX has a huge operation in HKG. It's hard to imagine that they would just "go under" and stop flights the very next day. I have to imagine that if they do fold at some point (which seems less likely now) there would be a winding down process over many months. But I'm just guessing here. I hope they don't though, there are some very nice and hard working people there.

I really hope everyone gets an opportunity to experience HX and I hope your flights are as enjoyable as mine were.

IluvSQ

Just checked the rules, points are in KM, and calculated as 130% of km flown for J class ( 200% in C/D, 80% in Z).

DavidDTW

If you earned any miles for your flights with the HX program, those points are transferable to a few different carriers. Info is on the HX website.

IluvSQ

Ponits can be USED on several different carried, such as Alaska or Etihad, but I don't see anywhere where they can be transferred to any other airline program.

DavidDTW

Under their FWC info, it says points can be exchanged with partners by using points.com

https://www.hongkongairlines.com/cms...t_locale=en_HK

josephstern

Good catch.

I only have 500 points, so I can't see the transfer ratios. Has anyone tried this? Can you see the ratios?

DavidDTW

Someone posted that info in this thread a while ago. If you scroll thru, you should be able to find them.

vincewy

I'll be checking in on Sat (good thing I'm running away from Harper) at LAX.

I have an overnight connection at HKG, staying in Hong Kong Sun night, and going to PVG next day (Monday). Does anyone know if your bag will be tagged all the way to PVG or will I need to pick it up at HKG?