Assistance with Chinese work trip and Oceania holiday

[Beta4Me]

Hi all,

I'm having to travel urgently to China (Taiyuan) for work to meet some manufacturers. This will be my first overseas trip. I will be travelling with another person.

I'm also wanting to tack on a Guam trip + the island hopper to Honolulu and back with my best mate.

Therefore, I'm looking for assistance with finding flight availability and routings this month (Feb) for the following:
- MEL-somewhere-TYN and return for 2 people; then
- MEL-somewhere in Asia-GUM and back; whilst doing
- GUM to HNL via Saipan and Palau and back (slotting inside MEL-GUM-MEL trip)

I have approximately 1M points across QF, SQ, AA, USDM, LifeMiles, SPG and Amex MR. I'm hoping that I can mix in some paid flights (good value for money though) on *A to get *A Gold via Aegean over the course of these trips but wanting to focus on using points. Happy to buy points if good VFM. Whilst in HNL I'm planning on doing a status run to SJU and back to get OWE status (QF WP).

Ideally, all flights will be J or above (loathe Y) for both the work trip for 2 and holiday for 2--naturally using the last hurrah of the USDM GUM loophole for the holiday

More than happy to flick some cash the way of the helper-outerer that assists with planning these flights.

Btw, recommendations re: accommodation won't go astray. I'm planning to burn approx. 35K HGP points on Guam and Saipan Hyatts.

Thanks in advance!

 

[smit0847]

I think this is the most complicated flight assistance request I have ever seen.

I can help you with the MEL-GUM-MEL as I've just returned from one myself if you tell me the dates and preferred stopover in north or south asia.

 

[Beta4Me]

I think this is the most complicated flight assistance request I have ever seen.

I can help you with the MEL-GUM-MEL as I've just returned from one myself if you tell me the dates and preferred stopover in north or south asia.

It's just two trips in one: China and then Oceanic Islands

Awesome. Thanks. Leaving sometime the week after next coming back just under a fortnight after (leaving time for 2-3 days per Island x 4 + my status run). I know roughly when I need to go and the exact timing is based more on flight availability than anything.

Preferred stopover would be Singapore for sure. Maybe Japan. Anything else that is appealing in your opinion?

 

[boylero]

pack your thermals, fly to Beijing with Cathay Pacific/Dragon Air MEL-HKG-PEK Online Flight Bookings, Ticket Bookings, Airfares, Promotions - Cathay Pacific Australia and then train to Taiyuan. Beijing Train to Taiyuan - Timetables, Fares and Tickets Booking

You'll get to see a little of the country side that way, and if you have time have a night in Hong Kong.

 

[smit0847]

Why not just do 1 trip and have China as your stopover for GUM? Shouldn't be difficult to pull off a stopover in PVG or PEK.

 

[Beta4Me]

Why not just do 1 trip and have China as your stopover for GUM? Shouldn't be difficult to pull off a stopover in PVG or PEK.

Aren't the stopovers with USDM <24hrs or am I mixing it up with LifeMiles? If I am, then what you propose absolutely could work!

 

[smit0847]

Aren't the stopovers with USDM <24hrs or am I mixing it up with LifeMiles? If I am, then what you propose absolutely could work!

Stopover are not allowed on an intra-region award however many people (including myself, twice) have managed to book it.

There's very little J availability out of MEL - if you are willing to start in SYD there are options on Sunday - Wednesday (Feb 16-19) on both TG and OZ. These options would get you to PVG either late the same day or early the following morning which should be convenient to then high speed train it to your manufacturers.

If you must leave from MEL there's only J available on Wednesday Feb 19 on TG but I may be able to piece you something together including SQ outbound as we're within the 14 day window.

Assuming you want to spend several days in China there are then plenty of 1 and 2 stop all-J options from PVG to GUM later that week and on the weekend.

I don't know when you would like to return from GUM (i.e. how long you would like to be there) so can't advise on return options but assuming you will be in GUM for a week to do your status run there are plenty of all-J options home the first week of March.

If you would like further assistance please let me know exact dates you would like to leave and arrive each place and your preferred carriers (if you have any). I can't make any promises but based on others experiences you *should* be able to book this for 30k USDM miles pp in J or 40k pp in F.

If you would like further assistance from me I would ask for an appropriate assistance fee is the booking is made as it will take me some time to sort through the options and suggest the best. This is a redemption I am very, very familiar with.

 

[mushez]

Advice I can give as some are suggesting you fly to China, then from China do your return flight to GUM, to consider your Chinese Visa.

I am going to assume you don't have an APEC card and that your lack of prior travel will rule you out getting one.

Likewise, you cannot get a multi entry visa for China as to get one you need to have had two prior visa's with two entries into China in the past 12 moths.

Which leaves the single and double entry options for you, and from memory you cannot get a double entry visa without a successful single entry prior so something you may want to check out - or if your flight back was via PVG or Bejing to transit for less than 72 hours before flying back to MEL, a single entry will work for you.

 

[Beta4Me]

Advice I can give as some are suggesting you fly to China, then from China do your return flight to GUM, to consider your Chinese Visa.

I am going to assume you don't have an APEC card and that your lack of prior travel will rule you out getting one.

Likewise, you cannot get a multi entry visa for China as to get one you need to have had two prior visa's with two entries into China in the past 12 moths.

Which leaves the single and double entry options for you, and from memory you cannot get a double entry visa without a successful single entry prior so something you may want to check out - or if your flight back was via PVG or Bejing to transit for less than 72 hours before flying back to MEL, a single entry will work for you.

Thanks for the advice. I'm thinking I could fly Shanghai/Beijing to Taiyuan if needed, for example, to shorten the journey both ways so that I could fit the trip into <72hrs for the single entry Visa. I don't really want to stay that long anyway tbh.

 

[Beta4Me]

Stopover are not allowed on an intra-region award however many people (including myself, twice) have managed to book it.

There's very little J availability out of MEL - if you are willing to start in SYD there are options on Sunday - Wednesday (Feb 16-19) on both TG and OZ. These options would get you to PVG either late the same day or early the following morning which should be convenient to then high speed train it to your manufacturers.

If you must leave from MEL there's only J available on Wednesday Feb 19 on TG but I may be able to piece you something together including SQ outbound as we're within the 14 day window.

Assuming you want to spend several days in China there are then plenty of 1 and 2 stop all-J options from PVG to GUM later that week and on the weekend.

I don't know when you would like to return from GUM (i.e. how long you would like to be there) so can't advise on return options but assuming you will be in GUM for a week to do your status run there are plenty of all-J options home the first week of March.

If you would like further assistance please let me know exact dates you would like to leave and arrive each place and your preferred carriers (if you have any). I can't make any promises but based on others experiences you *should* be able to book this for 30k USDM miles pp in J or 40k pp in F.

If you would like further assistance from me I would ask for an appropriate assistance fee is the booking is made as it will take me some time to sort through the options and suggest the best. This is a redemption I am very, very familiar with.

All sounding really good. Definitely will be <14 days so could go SQ J which would be my preference for an Asian airline. Ideally F but I'm not sure there's many F options for my route or how they would stack up to SQ J? I have no issue travelling from MEL to SYD (or even BNE) for international departure.

Given all the advice so far I'm thinking Australia-China-Guam-island hopper-Honolulu-island-(SJU status run)-Honolulu-island hopper-Guam-Singapore-Australia. How does that sound? Timeline I'd be thinking departing for 2-3 days China, 2 days Guam, 2 days Saipan/Palau, 3 days Honolulu (excluding status run of I think 2 days), 2 days Saipan/Palau, 2 days Guam then home. I think that's an appropriate amount of time to enjoy each place but I'm open to recommendations.

Re: dates, within 24-48hrs I'll know essentially exactly when from work and I'll adjust my holiday time to match.

*Need to keep in mind that I have a 2nd passenger to China and straight back to Australia (MEL) AND a 2nd passenger (different person) going Australia (MEL) to Guam and then the whole holiday with me and back home* Obviously USDM for my mate for GUM but not sure what the best way to do J/F for the other passenger to China with me and then back on their on. Whilst waiting for date confirmation I'd appreciate anyone's/your thoughts on this.

Lastly, more than happy to negotiate a booking assistance fee. I'd do this myself but I don't have the time, experience or inclination so happy to pay a bit to avoid planning these trips myself

 

[mushez]

I am going to assume you are not aware of the two visa options open to you, if you do then sorry in advance.

1st is getting a letter of invitation from the factory you are going to in China and apply for a single entry visa at the Chinese Embassy which will allow you to enter China once, for a period upto 30 days, anytime you want in the 6 months after your application.

2nd is the 72 hour transit visa, granted to selected passports at the boarder of CAN, PVG, & Bejing on arrival as long as you are transiting onto a third location - aka MEL-PVG-GUM. The transit visa on arrival is not granted if you are simply doing a MEL-PVG return flight.

Thanks for the advice. I'm thinking I could fly Shanghai/Beijing to Taiyuan if needed, for example, to shorten the journey both ways so that I could fit the trip into <72hrs for the single entry Visa. I don't really want to stay that long anyway tbh.

 

[Beta4Me]

I am going to assume you are not aware of the two visa options open to you, if you do then sorry in advance.

1st is getting a letter of invitation from the factory you are going to in China and apply for a single entry visa at the Chinese Embassy which will allow you to enter China once, for a period upto 30 days, anytime you want in the 6 months after your application.

2nd is the 72 hour transit visa, granted to selected passports at the boarder of CAN, PVG, & Bejing on arrival as long as you are transiting onto a third location - aka MEL-PVG-GUM. The transit visa on arrival is not granted if you are simply doing a MEL-PVG return flight.

Thank you for clarifying. I did not know this!

 

[mushez]

Glad I could help. Just to clarify further you need to have a visa to visit China and have it before travel. The check in agent should not allow you check in without it.

You can apply for a single entry visa from the nearest Chinese visa office, they take a week normally or can get 1 day or 3 day rush options.

Most would rather have a VISA than rely on the new 72 hours transit visa, as it is new and isn't always hassle free yet.

Also it is not uncommon to wait for upto an hour in the que to pass through immigration in China, PVG is better than most with 5 minute waits at time, but I have also had hour waits at PVG in the past. CAN has to be the worst airport in China for immigration lines, PVG the best, but I am yet to go to Beijing.

The first piece of advice I give anyone, and most thank me for about china, is take your own breakfast with you. I personally take up my wheat bix, long life milk, kiwi fruit, and even plastic bowl etc. Makes everything work so much better eating Chinese food the other two meals.

2nd is keep 12 hours or more of water with you at all times. China they serve water either 60 degrees or 100 degrees. Milk they always serve warm, beer is also room temp to warm. Bottled water is sold at room temp if you went down that route, and at 2rmb a 600mil bottle isn't that expensive. Taking the two complementary 600mil bottles of water all hotels supply each night is handy.

Thank you for clarifying. I did not know this!

 

[browski]

Here is my suggestion.
2 x Work pax

MEL-HKG-SYD return Cathay Pacific J class. Depart MEL 12.50am Arrive HKG 7.00am
HKG-TYN-HKG return Hong Kong Airlines J Class. Depart HKG 11.20am Arrive TYN 2.10pm Depart TYN 3.05pm Arrive HKG 6.00pm
HKG-GUM return on United in J Class. Depart HKG 11.10pm Arrive GUM 6.10am. Depart GUM 7.25pm Arrive HKG 10.35pm
GUM-SPN-GUM-ROR-GUM-HNL-GUM on United (will be a mix of Y and J)
HKG-SYD CX Depart HKG 11.55pm Arrive SYD 12.15pm
SYD-MEL one-way on QF or VA

Your Mate
MEL-CNS return on VA or Jetstar (last flight arrives CNS at 11.35pm)
CNS-GUM return on United Depart CNS 1.20am Arrive GUM 6.05am (which exactly meets your in-coming flight from HKG) (CNS-GUM only departs THURS and MON)
GUM-SPN-GUM-ROR-GUM-HNL-GUM on United
GUM-CNS on United Departs GUM 7.30pm Arrives CNS 12.25am
overnight in CNS
CNS-MEL on QF/VA/JQ/Tiger
Alternatively your mate could fly MEL-HKG and meet you there.

Notes:
MEL = Melbourne
SYD = Sydney
HKG = Hong Kong
TYN = Taiyuan
GUM = Guam
SPN = Saipan
ROR = Palau
HNL = Honolulu
CNS = Cairns

Let me know if you need help booking it.

 

[smit0847]

We need to know how many USDM and LMs points you have and if you want to use them or pay for J. Do you have a budget for rev tickets? Browski's suggestions are excellent if you want to get rev flights but will be vastly different to mine going down a redemption route as I now know the USDM GUM process like the back of my hand.

 

[Beta4Me]

OK, so a major change...China trip is off as the are sending an envoy to us (not quite, but the relevant people are flying over). Additionally, I can't find any good status runs at decent notice at this short notice from HNL so I've scrapped that idea and therefore scrapped the whole Island Hopper to Honolulu idea (part of the reason for doing that was a status run).

Therefore, just have to worry about getting from Australia to Guam and then Saipan and Palau. Having reviewed my points balances (see below), I'm thinking that exploiting the loophole that Guam is part of North America under LifeMiles would mean I could fly to the continental USA for 50K in J. So, I was thinking that DisneyWorld in Orlando would be pretty nice and I could wrangle a <24hr "stopover" in HNL along the way by doing something like GUM-HNL-???-MCO.

Additionally, all this now means dates are now confirmed. I would like to leave any time from the night of the 14/02 onwards and get back no later than the night of the 27/02. 2-3 days in each place would be good with 5-6 in Orlando (DisneyWorld needs 4 so I'm told).

In terms of routing, I'd definitely like to go via Singapore on the way to/from Guam in SQ J (outside 14 day SQ J window for return flights so another airline required and therefore maybe a different stopover?).

Points balances:
AA: 78K (+12K)
LM: 150K
QFF: 254K (+50K)
SQ: 60K
USDM: 60K
Westpac Altitude: 256K
Amex MR: 32K

Based on the points having a "price" of, say, 2.5c, I'd like to avoid spending more than $3K on flights (per person)--a pretty hard and fast limit.

Yes, I know this is now a major change...sorry! To recap: Guam, Saipan, Palau & Orlando are now the desired destinations using USDM for MEL/SYD/BNE-Guam (and back) and LifeMiles for Guam-Orlando-Guam. Looking forward to your assistance (acknowledging the appropriate gratuity being required--negotiable by PM).

Thanks in advance!

 

[Beta4Me]

Started new thread due to major change in trip requirements: http://www.australianfrequentflyer....islands-florida-holiday-57724.html#post985145

 

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