Classic Award Beijing-Hong Kong

[sarvowinner]

We have a OW 140k award booked but are considering some drastic changes which put us over the 35,000 mile limit. One option is to book a separate award from Beijing to Hong Kong. However, when I plug a dummy booking into the QF engine, would it says the tickets must be picked up from their Beijing office within two days of booking. Has anyone had any experience with this?

 

[markis10]

Quite common, and rarely has a workaround been successful!

 

[sinophile888]

You could consider travelling by train from Shenzhen North to Beijing West, train no. G72, departing Shenzhen at 7:56 and arriving in Beijing at 18:21. (2500km in 10 odd hours all daylight). You would need to stay overnight in Shenzhen as a pre 8am departure would be difficult if you spent the previous night in Hong Kong. We recommend the ShangriLa at Luo Hu (Lo Wu) ($165 - $175 pn), but another hotel closer to the SZ North station may be a better choice. There is a Hilton over the other side of SZ but I cannot get their website to work at present.

Another option would be to travel from Guangzhou to Beijing where there are 3 alternative departures; the first also on G72 but 30 minutes later. Either Hilton would be an excellent choice. H. Tianhe is more in the centre of things ($185 pn), Baiyun is a little isolated but cheaper ($130 pn). From H. Baiyun, you can catch the metro direct to Guangzhou South. This station is a long way south of the city, so the metro would be the better option.

First class is a 2 and 2 configuration, second class is 2 and 3, business class is rather pricey.

Train Search Results: From Shenzhen To Beijing

Mr. s. and I have just traveled from Guangzhou to Wuhan and return on a G train (1000km in 4 hours). It was so enjoyable compared to the hassles of flying. We also went from Hong Kong to Shenzhen and return, Shenzhen to Guangzhou and return.

Just an alternative which may not have occurred to you.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

We have a OW 140k award booked but are considering some drastic changes which put us over the 35,000 mile limit. One option is to book a separate award from Beijing to Hong Kong. However, when I plug a dummy booking into the QF engine, would it says the tickets must be picked up from their Beijing office within two days of booking. Has anyone had any experience with this?

yes.

you can workaround this by calling the qantas service centre and ticketing it as an Australian booking.

you will to pay to award assistance fee... but I would strongly ask to have this waived.