Hi there,

This spring I'll take the family (wife & 2,5 year old daughter) to Asia.
We'll be flying BA CW to Hong Kong.

We'll spend a few days in HK and then visit friends in SIN, then we'll move to BKK to finally spend some days in Koh Samui before flying back to HKG.

I was thinking of using the Visit Asia pass of OW for the legs HKG-SIN-BKK-HKG. The fare is about US$ 1,700 for the three of us, pretty similar to what I could get on CX web site (US$1,600).

The CX website fare is pretty flexible as it allows date/flight changes for free (no show and cancellation at a fee of HK$600).

Is the Visit Asia fare more flexible? It seems that only the first leg must be confirmed prior to arrival from LHR.

Do you get miles and BA tier points on the Visit Asia fare?

It seems that this kind of single continent pass does not exist in other classes than Y.

As I'll be flying CX for the first time, I was considering to test their business class on the HKG-SIN leg but one-way ticket in Business class for a 3h30 flight reach HK$ 12,500. Is this really worth the money on this regional leg?
I guess yes if on the 747 (all fitted with the new cabin).

In summary, any information on the flexibility and miles/TP accrual of the Visit Asia fare are welcome as well as a feedback on whether J class on SIN-HKG is worth the money cnsidering that it would be a first time CX flight in J.

Cheers

CX J class from HKG to SIN is definitely NOT worth the price. I've flown this sector in J on a 777, I've flown a lot of regional CX flights and long haul flights, and the J cabin is different on regional flights and long haul flights. Seats on CX's regional J cabins do not have the same features as those on the long haul flights. You need to check what type of equipment is being used for your flight, however be aware that CX is notorious for changing equipment right up to the last minute. There have been times when I've had a great seat assigned only to show up at the airport to find that the equipement has been changed and my great seat is no longer so great. I'd say, save your money, the $12,500 can be spent elsewhere on the trip where you'll get more value for money.

As for HKG - SIN/BKK - HKG, I can't help you with your questions, I do have a suggestion if you are not set on flying OW airlines you could consider SQ, HKG - SIN - BKK - SIN - HKG, with a stopover in SIN in one direction. If you are interested in flying on the A380. SQ has one SIN - HKG - SIN a day on the A380. Also, this will give you a flight between SIN and BKK, as CX does not operate these flights and your CX ticket would be an open jaw ticket from HKG - SIN/BKK - HKG.

Thanks Startpacking,

You're right, for having flown SQ quite often (both regional and int'l) and having read so many negative things on CX regional services (opposite to their LH services), I think that I would indeed get more from flying SQ. But for such short flights, I'd rather take advantage of my OW Sapphire status to access CX lounges...reason for which I'll try to stick to CX.

CX does fly SIN-BKK (once a day) BKK-SIN (CX713), SIN-BKK (CX712), operated usually by a 777...BKK is some kind of a hub for CX for their flights to India/Pakistan (Delhi, Karachi, Mumbai) but they are also flying to SIN.

...However, there is a good opportunity to try the EK Business class on the A380 on BKK-HKG for about US$450 tax incl...I might decide to give it a try and be a bit unfaithfull to OW.

Opps, I forgot about the SIN - BKK connections to the Indian subcontinent on CX. Sorry.

If the CX lounges are of importance to you, there's only one way to accomplish that, you'll need to fly a OW airline. Look at it this way, you're in HKG you want to experience the CX lounges, which you can only do in HKG. You can always fly the A380 on other routes in the future.

I completely understand your dilema, I too am a OW Sapphire member, lounge access is nice and I often find it hard to justify flying an airline where I can't earn OW points and requalify for elite status.

In this thread from 2008-2009 the OP reported that the Visit Asia flights booked into M class:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/onewo...ticketing.html

You might try a PM to the OP of that thread or the OP of the following thread(who also reported the purchase of a visit asia pass) for further information:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/onewo...ght=visit+asia

Too bad that the OW web site is silent on the booking class: http://www.oneworld.com/ow/air-trave...and-conditions

Hi - I am also thinking of spending 6-7 weeks in Asia after the Chinese New Year week. What are the best deal for this?

Impossible to give a meaningful answer without knowledge of where you want to go, class of travel, how many stopovers. This is because *A, ST and OW have different rules for their "Asia" products. The prices also vary depending on where the ticket is purchased.