Oneworld circle asia fare.

[simongr]

I think the problem with the product (and yes I know you dont have to use it) is that it is pretty hard to get up into China (without using Dragonair) on this ticket - unless using NRT as a hub. It would have been good if transits had been allowed - but then that might explain why HKG is in SE Asia

 

[jasonja3]

So what we would be looking for was mention of 'transiting' in the rules. Which there seems to be none.

When I booked back through HKG, the CSA said I had up to 24hrs to leave HKG, so could there be other rules that are not published on the OW website??

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

The relevant rules

Travellers must pass through each of the alliance’s three defined regions across these continents:
• North East Asia, including China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan.
• South East Asia, including Cambodia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore,
Thailand and Vietnam.
• South West Pacific, including Australia and New Zealand.

3 Only one international departure and one international arrival permitted in each of the three
regions.

I can't see anything about stopovers, but the PDF on JL's site is a summary not the full rules. Does anyone have a copy of the full rules?

 

[simongr]

Stopovers

For -17 Type Fares 2 Free Stopovers Required And A Maximum Of 5 Permitted. Stopover Allowed Only Once At The Same Point. Note - 1.two Stopovers Required Outside Country Of Origin 2.a Maximum Of One Stopover In Country Of Origin 3.where A Passenger Disembarks At One Point And Re-embarks At A Subsequent Point Enroute The Points Count As A Single Stopover. And - Unlimited Stopovers Permitted At Usd 100.00 Each. Note - 1.additional Stopovers May Not Be Purchased In Country Of Origin 2.child/infant Discount Not Applicable

Transfers

Unless Otherwise Specified Unlimited Free Transfers Permitted On The Pricing Unit Fare Break And Embedded Surface Sectors Permitted On The Fare Component. Note - Not More Than Three Transfers At Any One City Permitted. --- Only One International Departure And Arrival In The Country Of Origin Permitted.

I have a word document of the rules - taken from Expert Flyer - just on hold with QF now trying to work out how to get to PEK from SYD without going via HKG - they are stumped given D0 availability NRT-PEK on 14/5

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

The rules are on oneworld - Home.

Only 1 stopover at any one city.

 

[simongr]

Hmm - this is not going well. Availability into PEk without going via HKG is zero. Currently having tickets priced:

SYD-HKG-SYD - restricted first $7944 - restricted business $6270
HKG-PEK-PVG-HKG - business - $$ unknown at this point

And for tgtwwm - Circle Asia 13k SYD-NRT-PVG-HKG-SYD A class - $6049

So having promised my boss a figure of roughly $15K its going to be more like $18K. Now I could fly in J whilst my colleague flies in F - but as he works for me and the saving is only $1900 - I migth let it slide...

 

[simongr]

Bloody hell - another email - another change to flights :evil: another segment on hold with QF :evil:

I hope this bloody thing stops moving.

 

[simongr]

Blimey O'reilly!! What a dog's dinner this has been!

Ok - sequence of events. A few weeks ago I proposed that we go to visit a new business we have in CHina - who have offices in Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai (we have an existing office in Shanghai). I suggested 13 May for two weeks visiting each new office. Initial planning was based on this (no bookings at this point). This date was pushed to 20 May as we were waiting for Board approval for the purchase (due 2 May local time) before we committed as it could be delayed a month. Also we were informed that no point in going to Guangzhou. Then we got board approval so started ticketing, then told that timng needed to be brought forward and we couldnt do that much as no-one speaks english in China so reworked out plan to do some work in Shanghai that we were thinking of posponing to 2008 based on increased worki in Beijing this year. Rebooked based on that and then told that wr need to switch shanghai and Hong Kong around as Shanghai office staff moving offices - so our plans completely revamped...

So the sequence of routings went:

28 Apr:
simongr - syd-nrt-pek-nrt-pvg-hkg-syd
tgtwwm - syd-nrt-pek-nrt-pvg-hkg-syd

2 May (morning)
simongr - syd-hkg-pek-nrt-pvg-hkg-syd
tgtwwm - syd-nrt-pvg-hkg-syd

2 May (afternoon)
simongr - syd-hkg-pek-pvg-hkg-syd
tgtwwm - syd-hkg-pvg-hkg-syd

3 may (morning)
simongr - syd-hkg-pek-hkg-pvg-hkg-syd
tgtwwm - syd-nrt-pvg-hkg-syd

Joy of joys. My nice little $14K+++ for two is now closer to $18K (inclusive) for two...

But at least its F up and down and I am not flying on my birthday...

 

[simongr]

Dang miss you in HKG and PVG.

Since you've posted dates I assume this means you are now finally ticketed?

Quoted from another thread - well I have the tickets at home and am all set to go

Trip report oultine being drafted tomorrow - and a few more questions

But this is NOT a circle Asia fare sadly - coming in at A$9250

 

[Shano]

But this is NOT a circle Asia fare sadly - coming in at A$9250

....the price of greed in pursuit of SC's / miles

 

[simongr]

To be fair the price is jacked up because of the late notice changes and the F class seats up and down and the yo yo pattern...

 

[Shano]

I'm just jealous.....

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

I'm just jealous.....

Me too. Since I pass through asia a few times soon I'll be keeping an eye out if our paths should cross (doesn't look like it at the moment).

 

[simongr]

I am next up there in AUgust and November and that WILL be a circle asia fare - just wish there was a way to get to one of the NE Asia locations in F then I could do it all in F again

 

[Altair]

Interesting thread and product.
We may use this for the 3 weeks Christmas / New Year holiday, but as Kiwi Flyer stated it is difficult to use it from NZ.
I looked at an intineray and it came out at 17.2K. Changes to it then came out 15K which makes it not good value.
Oh well =we need to think of what to do at Xmas.

1. Go to India for friends wedding
2. Do a "Circle Asia" tour
3. Go to a couple of countires in South America

Does Star Alliance have a similar product?

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

IIRC OW circle asia fares ex NZ were pretty bad - better to go out of Australia where can more easily maximise and just do trans-tasman on separate ticket.

*A has similar products (and other passes besides). With lots of asian based airlines, plus NZ, it is much easier to construct some great itineraries.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

You probably realise this already, but for travel christmas/new year you should get sorted asap.

 

[simongr]

If you want to go to S.Am wouldnt a circle pacific fare be the way to go?

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Not necessarily. You need the more expensive south american variant of circle pacific.

Fares on some US-based airlines to south america via USA may be quite flexible and competitive alternative.

When I visited south america last year I decided on a DONE5, since the circle and round trip products weren't that much cheaper and the DONE5 allowed me stopovers in europe and north america (plus a lot of extra SCs).

 

[simongr]

Right I think I might actually be able to use this fare later this year to go:

SYD-PVG-HKG-SYD

A pretty boring fare but it does enable me to potentially get an F seat ($7K) rather than J ($4K) if the schedule doesnt allow for J seats