Oneworld circle asia fare.

[serfty]

... I guess my real uncertainty lies in whether it's counted as a sector, i.e. given my previous itinerary, would that be 7 or 8 sectors? ...

Using the same reasoning, surface segments would not count as one of your 8 permitted.

Of course, until the official rules are published, this is really all only conjecture.

 

[jasonja3]

Seperating Hong Kong and China, and OW's limited flights in SE China makes it difficult, as HKG is such a hub. I guess it will be much better once Dragon Air join OW.

Trying to route between TPE and CAN, can't do it without passing through HKG, and they are all seperate flight numbers (according to EF).

Anyone have any suggestions? My itinerary is at the moment SYD-NRT-TPE-HKG-BKK-SYD. (Going to Guangzhou by train from HKG). BKK is just maximising use of the 13000m. Cost is AUD$5119 and 420SC in J.

My preferred route is SYD-NRT-CAN-TPE-HKG-SYD.

Thanks,

Jason

 

[Chucksta]

This routing would have got me 540 SC and totalled 12996 miles!

PER-SYD-NRT-ICN-HKG-SIN-PER

But i ended up booking:

PER-SYD-NRT-KIX-ICN-HKG-SIN-SYD-PER on a 17,000 mile tix to get my 660SC! and also a Platinum QFF

 

[oz_mark]

or PER-SYD-MEL-NRT-HKG-SIN-MEL-ADL-PER for 80+40+140+80+80+120+40+80=660 SCs

I think moving the ADL stop would get more SC's

PER-ADL-SYD-MEL-NRT-HKG-SIN-MEL-PER

(and there is not much mileage diff between PER-ADL-SYD and PER-SYD, 2 miles I think)

 

[simongr]

Trying to route between TPE and CAN, can't do it without passing through HKG, and they are all seperate flight numbers (according to EF).

Jason

I am having similar problems with CAN and SHA - mileage monkey indicated only flights to both locations with from Japan (NGO, KIX, NRT).

I have an itinerary that needs to be something like SYD-PEK-CAN-SHA-SYD but its not working at the moment

 

[jasonja3]

I have an itinerary that needs to be something like SYD-PEK-CAN-SHA-SYD but its not working at the moment

For CAN, fly into HKG and catch the train or CZ flight, although it is quite busy at the moment and flights are full.

I have booked syd-hkg-nrt-tpe-(hkg-syd). Stop overs are allowed in HKG when travelling in NE Asia, it took a few phone calls and different CSA's at the premium desk to sort it out, but I eventually got the answer I was looking for.

Also interesting to learn (OT I know), because of the friction between China and Taiwan, there are no direct flights between them, only via HKG.

 

[jasonja3]

Additional stopovers are available for $100 ea. Two are already included on the 13K fare.

 

[simongr]

Right - actually getting stuck into the booking of this and having some real problems.

The itinerary is:

SYD-NRT-PEK-NRT-PVG-NRT-HKG(train to CAN and back)-SYD

Planning to leave 13/14 may, 4 days in Beijing, weekend in Tokyo, travel to pVG on Sunday 20 May, two days in Shanghai, travel to CAN via HKG, two days in CAN and back to SYD bia HKG - phew!

Problems:

D0 SYD-NRT 13 May - solution fly on 14 May and spend 3 1/2 days in PEK
D0 HKG-SYD 25 May on virtually every available option. SOlution - just requested F travel

I will post my intinerary here shortly to get thoughts - hoping I might get approval for F travel from my boss based on this email:

I am just working out our itinerary for our trip to China to support Project X. We have allocated two weeks which includes visits to each of the office (Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou). I am trying to minimise cost and as a result we have to have to odd routings – flying via Japan on a few occasions. A simple business class ticket is approximately A$8,000 to $10,000 (US$6,700 – US$8,200). There is a discounted business class ticket which A$5,400 (US$5,400) but with limited (and in some cases zero) availability (especially getting out of Hong Kong at the end of the trip). Another option would be a discounted first class ticket which would be A$7,049 (US$5,900). There would be more availability on the way out of Hong Kong and potentially in other parts of the trip.

Given that the cost is less than a standard ticket going point to point (which still involves numerous transfers) can I get approval for us to fly in First class? I don’t see there being a major issue especially as we are travelling overnight on a few occasions and doing some pretty heroic transfers to make sure that we maximise time on the ground.

I am awaiting simboss2’s confirmation of the schedule but need to lock this in ASAP – at least to make some provisional bookings to lock in best discount availability.

I based the A$8,000 to A$10,000 from the ITA software based the segments I need to do.

Just waiting for US boss to check his blackberry and approve

Just checked A availabilty and its A9 on qf128 at 9:10pm out of HKG

EDIT

Just rechecking and there is no availability on 15 May for the NRT-PEK trip :arggghh: Just wondering if I have an A class ticket whether they will release a J seat into D... - any thoughts?

 

[serfty]

I did a oneWORLD E/F for those dates and the early flights showed availability showed:

CX 139
25/05/07 09:00 AM
25/05/07 08:10 PM 333

F4 A4 J9 C9 D9 I8 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q9 O9

QF 188
25/05/07 09:25 AM
25/05/07 08:35 PM 333

J9 C9 D9 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 R9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q9 O9

Note, E/F does this is from a NA perspective; availability ex Oz may differ.

 

[simongr]

Sorry - the HKG-SYD needs to be evening out of HKG or Saturday morning (less preferable) as we need to do a full day's work in CAN.

S

 

[jasonja3]

If you take outside your Circle Asia fare, China Eastern or similar from PEK-PVG in J it is only $300, so you can reduce your DAS17 fare to a DAS13 fare, and save $$$. And if you want to maximise points, route via BKK or SIN on the way home, it will also give you more availability.

 

[simongr]

Not sure what you are suggesting re PVG.

Currently SYD-NRT-PEK-NRT-PVG-NRT-HKG-SYD is 16,200

Cutting out the PEK-NRT-PVG would leave SYD-NRT-PEK-NRT-HKG-SYD being 13,966 miles which is over the 13K miles limit. Am I missing something? My head is spinning at the moment trying to plan and am close to flicking this to FCM to sort out the best possible option.

Its getting a little bit of the "too hard" basket.

Mind you I need confirmation of the trip first which I hope to get today...

 

[jasonja3]

SYD-NRT-PEK then travel to PVG on local carrier
PVG-HKG-BKK-SYD Totals 12,665 Miles

By taking the another local carrier between PEK and PVG, you cut out the need to transit again through NRT, and also reducuing your miles and fare.

Another option is to route through HKG to PEK from SYD, why do you not want to do this when the fare will allow it? so it would be SYD-HKG-PEK-NRT(or HKG)-PVG-HKG-SYD which is just over 13,000 miles, so the DAS17 would be required.

 

[simongr]

I wasnt sure if you could transit through HKG on the way to PEK - that would make life easier. I thought the rules said only one inter-regional departure from each region:

B.THE JOURNEY MUST INVOLVE TRAVEL TO ALL THREE REGIONS AND MUST INCLUDE ONE DIRECT FLIGHT BETWEEN THE FOLLOWING REGIONS - 1. NORTHEAST ASIA - SOUTHWEST PACIFIC 2. SOUTHEAST ASIA - SOUTHWEST PACIFIC 3. NORTHEAST ASIA - SOUTHEAST ASIA

C.ONLY ONE INTERREGIONAL DEPARTURE AND ONE INTERREGIONAL ARRIVAL PERMITTED IN EACH REGION. REGIONS ARE DEFINED AS NORTHEAST ASIA/SOUTHEAST ASIA/SOUTHWEST PACIFIC.

I assume rule b doesnt mean I have to have 1 direct flight between NE Asia/SWP and SE Asia and SWP?

I am getting close to checking the availability to fly on a Circle Pacific at this point

 

[jasonja3]

My Itin. is SYD-MEL paid spererate ticket then MEL-HKG-NRT-TPE-HKG-SYD which is 12800miles. note the second transit through HKG. You are allowed 2 stopovers on the 13k fare. A stopover must be less than 24hrs, and can cross the regions again.

Both May 13 and 14 are showing D class avail SYD-HKG CX110 HKG-PEK CX318. Depart SYD 7.35am, arrive PEK 9.00PM.

 

[simongr]

Thanks - that might make life a lot easier (potentially). I am not sure I want to fly out at 7AM on my birthday (13 May) - but travelling all day on Monday might work - we would only lose 1/2 day.

I would then be keen to have an itinerary:

SYD-HKG-PEK-NRT-PVG-NRT-HKG-SYD which is well inside the 17K mile limit (but not quite enough miles to tip me into EXP yet).

That is slightly preferable to SYD-LAX-NRT-PEK-NRT-PVG-NRT-HKG-SYD and I might be able to get it all in F

 

[simongr]

OK - the potential itinerary is below (availability shown after the leg number): edited to amend leg 4

Leg 1: 13 May A4/D0 14 May A4/D0
Depart: SYD 7:35a 13/05/2007 Terminal: 1
Arrive: HKG 3:00p 13/05/2007
Flight: CX 110 - Cathay Pacific Airways
330 - Airbus Industrie A330
Total Duration: 9 hours 25 minutes

Leg 2: D9
Depart: HKG 4:45p 13/05/2007
Arrive: PEK 8:00p 13/05/2007
Flight: CX 312 - Cathay Pacific Airways
330 - Airbus Industrie A330
Total Duration: 3 hours 15 minutes

Leg3: D4
Depart: PEK 3:20p 18/05/2007 Terminal: 2
Arrive: NRT 7:45p 18/05/2007 Terminal: 2
Flight: JL 782 - JAL
777 - Boeing 777 Passenger
Total Duration: 3 hours 25 minutes

Leg 4: D4
Depart: NRT 2:05p 20/05/2007 Terminal: 2
Arrive: PVG 4:15p 20/05/2007 Terminal: 1
Flight: JL 621 - JAL
767 - Boeing 767 Passenger
Total Duration: 3 hours 10 minutes


Leg 5: D4
Depart: PVG 6:10p 22/05/2007 Terminal: 1
Arrive: cough 8:50p 22/05/2007 Terminal: I
Flight: JL 614 - JAL
767 - Boeing 767 Passenger
Total Duration: 1 hours 40 minutes

Leg 6: D9
Depart: cough 10:50a 23/05/2007
Arrive: HKG 3:00p 23/05/2007
Flight: CX 511 - Cathay Pacific Airways
773 - Boeing 777-300 Passenger
Total Duration: 5 hours 10 minutes

Leg 7: A4/D0
Depart: HKG 9:10p 25/05/2007
Arrive: SYD 7:55a 26/05/2007 Terminal: 1
Flight: QF 128 - Qantas Airways
744 - Boeing 747-400 Passenger
Total Duration: 8 hours 45 minutes

That looks like it might just work. I am not sure what JALs regional product is - any ideas? It's a shame that if we get approval for F class flights that we can't make the most of it. Admittedly it would be the two biggest flights in F so that would be ok - but there isnt any F on the remainder of the flights :shock:

 

[jasonja3]

You might like to check legs 4 and 5, they don't seem to make much sense.

What are you using to plan the trip? EF?

JAL's international regional product is like Thai, CX etc, standard business seats, nothing fantastic, but much better than Y!!

 

[simongr]

I was using a combination of EF and the oneworld tool. The reason for legs 4/5 is that to get from PVG to HKG (without flying direct) is pretty tricky. I thought about NRT but there was not much joy in terms of good flight times. Basically we need to be in HKG by about 6PM to get the 8PM train out to Guangzhou. Going to cough (despite making the immature side of me chortle each time I type that) seemed like a working option.

Not sure where we will stay at cough though ...

What doesnt make sense on those flights? PVG-cough evening of 22 May and cough-HKG morning of 23 May?

EDIT

Oh you mean that I am flying twice from PVG-cough....

 

[jasonja3]

Oh you mean that I am flying twice from PVG-cough....

All looks good now. I like this new fare, esp. since SYD-HKG-SYD alone is from $5,500 in J.