Circle Trip Question

[kmjsyd]

Hello Forum,

Some of you would know about my question since I have posted same question in another site. I am simply hoping...

I am thinking of circle trip SYD - TPE - OKA - cough - SYD in Jan 2013. My conditions are:

1. I am paying.
2. Due to my physical condition, I have no choice but fly in premium class for a longish flight.
3. I prefer to fly with *A, but I am happy with any respected a/c apart from QF.

Firstly, I have tried *A circle trip and found out that there is no flight to/from OKA.
Secondly, I have tried website agent (expedia and so on), and again only found that ex-SYD had to be with QF :shock:
So far what I have found is to buy every sector in return to connect: SYD - TPE (via SIN, BKK or HKG) - OKA - cough - OKA - TPE - SYD, and I think it is a waste of time.
I believe that there would be better way to do.

Just your 1 cent would be appreciated.

Kind regards,

 

[Peabody]

So far what I have found is to buy every sector in return to connect: SYD - TPE (via SIN, BKK or HKG) - OKA - cough - OKA - TPE - SYD, and I think it is a waste of time.

Why go direct when you can connect!?!

 

[kmjsyd]

Why go direct when you can connect!?!

I thought direct connection would be saving time and more convenient instead of flying back and forth for each sector. I simply mean if there is a way to connect A-B-C-D-A rather than A-B-C-D-C-B-A would be better and that is the concept of RTW or circle trip. And I hoped that there would be some way to arrange circle trip for my plan, and some of you might know something which I do not know of.
I must have miscomprehended something seriously wrong.
Thank you for the advice, Peasbody.

 

[richie9x]

That sort of booking might be best for a real travel agent to see what they can do. Unusual bookings like that is where a TA can really shine.

Have you considered going via a Taiwan based airline? EVA Air or China Airlines. China airlines fly from Sydney so they would be handiest. SYD-TPE, TPE-OKA, fly OKA-cough as a separate booking with whoever is cheapest, then return cough-xTPE-SYD. The first stop in TPE might count as a stopover, so might be a cheap option. Although China Airlines is part of Skyteam alliance so not much use if you want to credit you flights to a Australian based FF program.

 

[kmjsyd]

That sort of booking might be best for a real travel agent to see what they can do. Unusual bookings like that is where a TA can really shine.

Have you considered going via a Taiwan based airline? EVA Air or China Airlines. China airlines fly from Sydney so they would be handiest. SYD-TPE, TPE-OKA, fly OKA-cough as a separate booking with whoever is cheapest, then return cough-xTPE-SYD. The first stop in TPE might count as a stopover, so might be a cheap option. Although China Airlines is part of Skyteam alliance so not much use if you want to credit you flights to a Australian based FF program.

Thank you for the advice, richie9x.
For some reason, I have not thought about China Airlines. I checked, and as you advised, can connect to OKA. The price is good too. I joined KE a couple years ago by accident, so I still could credit mileage to it if I am desperate.

Once again, thank you so much.

 

[drron]

You could do a OW Circle Asia without using QF if you changed the itinerary slightly-SYD-HKG-TPE-cough-OKA-NRT-SYD
This would use CX and JAL.NRT is just a transfer to get you back to SYD.Total mileage is just under 13000 so the cheaper of the circle fares.

 

[kmjsyd]

You could do a OW Circle Asia without using QF if you changed the itinerary slightly-SYD-HKG-TPE-cough-OKA-NRT-SYD
This would use CX and JAL.NRT is just a transfer to get you back to SYD.Total mileage is just under 13000 so the cheaper of the circle fares.

Thank you very much, drron. Probably due to my sentiment against QF, I have never considered about OW. ...But the price is far more expensive (cpmparing to SYD/TPE wz SQ and TPE/OKA/cough/TPE as separately)!!
One funny thing I have found is that when I did dummy booking with expedia the route you have suggested, and here comes the connection: JL in long haul, and cough/OKA by TG:shock:. I have never known that TG offered direct flight between cough/OKA. And this connection never appeared in Star Alliance "Asia Circle Trip" wmm... As I am very new to aviation industry, it simply makes me wonder...

Anyhow, I am really impressed that how generous and kind you all not mind sharing your knowledge with someone like me.

Cheers to you all!! :mrgreen:

 

[drron]

I'm surprised that it gave you the TG codeshare-there are 6 flights a day cough-OKA operated by JTA-a subsidiary of JAL.They do have a few codeshares with TG though.

 

[kmjsyd]

Expedia did not mention the flight was codeshare. Now it makes sense. Also I remember my last SYD-cough flight with TG for the first time. At cough APT, I was given Sakura lunge's invitation, not ANA. When I asked the agent, she told me that JAL & TG has a very strong relationship over the alliance matter at least in cough, and I found it very interesting.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Hello Forum,

Some of you would know about my question since I have posted same question in another site. I am simply hoping...

I am thinking of circle trip SYD - TPE - OKA - cough - SYD in Jan 2013. My conditions are:

1. I am paying.
2. Due to my physical condition, I have no choice but fly in premium class for a longish flight.
3. I prefer to fly with *A, but I am happy with any respected a/c apart from QF.

Firstly, I have tried *A circle trip and found out that there is no flight to/from OKA.
Secondly, I have tried website agent (expedia and so on), and again only found that ex-SYD had to be with QF :shock:
So far what I have found is to buy every sector in return to connect: SYD - TPE (via SIN, BKK or HKG) - OKA - cough - OKA - TPE - SYD, and I think it is a waste of time.
I believe that there would be better way to do.

Just your 1 cent would be appreciated.

Kind regards,

What cities do you intend to stay overnight in? Is it just TPE, OKA, cough only or do you need to overnight a 2nd time in OKA & TPE again.

I agree with Richie9x re using either BR or CI to travel to Japan via TPE. It's really just a round trip rather than a circle trip routing. Even if you fly BR SYD/TPE/OKA then cough/TPE/SYD it's still classed as a return trip - just one with an open jaw sector in your country of turnaround.

Maybe call a travel agent or BR or CI direct and ask if they have any special fares in J or F if you don't want to travel in whY.

 

[kmjsyd]

What cities do you intend to stay overnight in? Is it just TPE, OKA, cough only or do you need to overnight a 2nd time in OKA & TPE again.

I agree with Richie9x re using either BR or CI to travel to Japan via TPE. It's really just a round trip rather than a circle trip routing. Even if you fly BR SYD/TPE/OKA then cough/TPE/SYD it's still classed as a return trip - just one with an open jaw sector in your country of turnaround.

Maybe call a travel agent or BR or CI direct and ask if they have any special fares in J or F if you don't want to travel in whY.

Thank you very much ozbeachbabe.
This trip is just for introducing some part of Asia to my friends for leasure. Apart from TPE, I was born in Okinawa and lived in Kumamoto, so I/we do not need to visit same place again on this trip.

The magic word you mentioned was "open jaw". When I read Richie9x's advise, something started ringing in my head, but I did not managed to figure it out. Then, now you opened the door.

Once again, thank you so much for all of you spending your time to advice me.

Warmest regards,
kmjsyd