SYD <--> HKG prices

[Yada Yada]

I'm costing a return trip in business class SYD-HKG so that I can attend a conference in Macau in May. Here is what I've just found online:

QF: SYD-HKG-SYD		$6,274 (D)
CX: SYD-HKG-SYD		$7,704 (D)
SQ: SYD-SIN-HKG-SIN-SYD	$4,903 (?)
MH: SYD-KUL-HKG-KUL-SYD	$4,641 (J)

With QF I can earn points towards retaining status, although I wasn't really planning to fly much with them this year domestically as I'd prefer to retain Gold status on Virgin Blue.

What's with the CX price? It's way out of line.

On SQ, the benefit is that I could leave a day earlier, do some work in SIN and visit friends on the weekend before continuing on to HKG. And what's more, I can travel on on the A380 both ways between SYD & SIN.

The MH schedule is a bit painful and would require either overnight flights (I'm sick of doing that) or staying a night in KUL between flights which would increase the total cost. On the plus side, I could credit the flights to Velocity.

I saw the following in the Cheap International Airfares forum section:

My mother just bought two business class tickets on Cathay for LHR-BNE-LHR for $5,500 inclusive per person to come over in late February. That is way cheaper than any OneWorld fare the other way.

This is an outrageous difference in cost, especially given that LHR is more than twice the distance from SYD. What gives?

Has anyone here who regularly travels to Honkers got any better ideas? At this point SQ wins in terms of cost, convenience, and fun in the air and in SIN. But there is no FF payoff at all with them - I don't even have a *A account any more (thanks a lot AN) so the points would be wasted.

 

[NM]

Sounds like we will be due an SQ A380 J class trip report in the near future.

The QF and CX prices are significantly more than you would pay for a DAS13 if you really wanted to turn it into a mileage run - and you could stop in SIN on the way for the same purposes as mentioned. Including taxes it would work out just a little over $5000, so not much more than the SQ fare, and you could choose to use CX or QF (and JL as well).

 

[Yada Yada]

Sounds like we will be due an SQ A380 J class trip report in the near future.

The QF and CX prices are significantly more than you would pay for a DAS13 if you really wanted to turn it into a mileage run - and you could stop in SIN on the way for the same purposes as mentioned. Including taxes it would work out just a little over $5000, so not much more than the SQ fare, and you could choose to use CX or QF (and JL as well).

Thanks NM! I've been here long enough that I probably should know what a DAS13 fare is, but I do not. Guess I am not paying enough attention. Anyway, I just did a quick search and found this:

I did a DAS13 in November 2007, routing BNE-ADL-SIN-KUL-HKG-NRT-BNE. This was booked through out corporate travel agent and issued by Qantas. Cost was $5078.50 including taxes and fuel fines, plus a $99 booking fee charged by the TA.

That's pretty cool and a lot better than the direct flight prices. So who did you fly on for the SIN-KUL sector, JL?

 

[NM]

Thanks NM! I've been here long enough that I probably should know what a DAS13 fare is, but I do not. Guess I am not paying enough attention.

DAS13 is a OneWorld 13,000 mile Circle Asia business class fare. You must have at least two stopovers (SIN and HKG if you like), and must travel via South West Pacific (Australia for you), South East Asia (SIN, HKG etc) and North East Asia (China or Japan).

So a routing like SYD-SYD-HKG-NRT-SYD fits the bill nicely. The stopovers can both be in the same region, so no need to stop at NRT and can just connect there. Its often a good value business class option for Asia locations.

 

[ioki]

what about one world circle asia fare? < 13K miles starting in oz is AUD $4649 while < 17K miles is AUD $5399

those price now are quite close to the SQ fare you had listed in your initial post.

*EDIT*, oops.. didn't realise NM's post about DAS13 the circle asia fare

 

[Yada Yada]

DAS13 is a OneWorld 13,000 mile Circle Asia business class fare. You must have at least two stopovers (SIN and HKG if you like), and must travel via South West Pacific (Australia for you), South East Asia (SIN, HKG etc) and North East Asia (China or Japan).

So a routing like SYD-SYD-HKG-NRT-SYD fits the bill nicely. The stopovers can both be in the same region, so no need to stop at NRT and can just connect there. Its often a good value business class option for Asia locations.

Thanks again NM. I'll phone my TA tomorrow to get a quote. But two flights in J on the A380 is very tempting.

 

[Mal]

Yeah, Cathay prices ex Australia (even in Economy) are a little out of wack (for me at least).

I've tried pricing them out a few times both via the "specials" page and the regular booking engine, and cannot get a competitive fare with their opposition (including Qantas).

Must be having some pretty great loads ex Australia at the moment!

 

[littl_flier]

What about VS upper class YY? As well as sticking the points to your DJ status, there's the limo transfers as well thrown in. Worth a few extra $. Prices in March are $4746 but book into Z class which doesn't get the limo transfers.

 

[Yada Yada]

What about VS upper class YY? As well as sticking the points to your DJ status, there's the limo transfers as well thrown in. Worth a few extra $. Prices in March are $4746 but book into Z class which doesn't get the limo transfers.

Well I am a complete dill. Why didn't I think of that?

Just checked but could not find a fare below $8,200 for my dates.

 

[littl_flier]

Well I am a complete dill. Why didn't I think of that?

Just checked but could not find a fare below $8,200 for my dates.

Did you try upper class with restrictions though?

I'm suprised it's that high for full fare though, a little bit on the expensive side.

 

[Yada Yada]

Yes, it is strange, especially for Virgin. The lowest Upper Class fare with restriction was over $8,200 and the full fare with no restrictions was over $15,000. I wonder who is paying those crazy fares?

 

[littl_flier]

Yes, it is strange, especially for Virgin. The lowest Upper Class fare with restriction was over $8,200 and the full fare with no restrictions was over $15,000. I wonder who is paying those crazy fares?

Yeah, just checked May. $15,200 for J on a direct flight. (almost $1000 an hour) I don't think many pay that.

I'll second the DAS13 then as a quick way to retain your QF Gold status.

 

[Yada Yada]

Yeah, just checked May. $15,200 for J on a direct flight. (almost $1000 an hour) I don't think many pay that.

I'll second the DAS13 then as a quick way to retain your QF Gold status.

Thanks littl_flier, NM and ioki.

I think the DAS13 will be the way to go. That's if I can get myself motivated to attend the conference. I'd rather be at home.

 

[HardieBoys]

If you just wanted a quick trip to Macau, you could try Viva Macau's Premium Economy product, which is on sale right now:

Fly Viva Macau

It's cheap, and direct, avoiding the double immigration queues (into Hong Kong, then out of Hong Kong, then into Macau, then all the way back).

Obviously you won't earn any points...

 

[Evan]

Fly economy
(like a lot of us would have to)

DAS13 is great, 8 flights, upto 13,000 miles (is all you need for your flights) and your set, around $5k and around 600 SC

Not that it helps you all that much but my last DAS13 was like this....
SIN-PER-MEL-SYD-NRT-KIX-TPE-HKG-SIN
Of course you could make yours more simple rather than a SC run.

hmmmm did i just say i did a DAS13 and also fly economy yes i did, i flew J for my flights and whY for work.,.. flying J makes flying Y so much harder.

E

 

[simongr]

Yet another vote for the DAS13 - I am flying my 3rd or 4th in a couple of weeks - I have done some where my stopover is a pure fare enabler - but am now finding that generally if I have to be in our other asia offices (Tokyo, PVG, PEK, SIN) I can find an excuse to go to our HKG office - even if I am working on SYD work its just good to catch up with the team there.

Since KA and JL came on the scene the fares have become much more useable.

Mind you... if I was free and clear on the status side for AA/QF then I would be taking the SQ flight just to experience the A380.

 

[jasonja3]

Mind you... if I was free and clear on the status side for AA/QF then I would be taking the SQ flight just to experience the A380.

I think I would also, new J product, and not just a new plane, but the latest in design etc....

Agree the DAS13 is very economical J travel through Asia, I just did my 7th one... BNE-SYD-SIN-HKG-KHH/TPE-NRT-CNS-SYD FOR $5174 INC TAXES. (600sc)

 

[Yada Yada]

Thanks for your help, everyone.

Checked out Viva Macau - flexible fare in premium class is $1,050 each way so quite a good deal. Downside is that they fly 762 and 763 aircraft so the planes may be a bit old. The seating in the forward cabin is 2x2x2 with 45" pitch and they serve 2 hot meals. Drinks may/may not be alcoholic according to the website.

While retaining either QF or DJ status is helpful for all my local flying, I'd like to avoid a long mileage run because it is tiring and I'd be away from home for too long. Guess I'm a bit over it all these days! That said, I'd prefer to fly with an airline that has a lounge.

I'm really tempted to take SQ's A380 just for the experience. Will ponder on it all a bit longer.

 

[ANstar]

What about VS upper class YY? As well as sticking the points to your DJ status

Except you dont earn status with Virgin Atlantic on the Velocity program...