China Romance
General Discussion and Useful Links => Newbies Corner => Topic started by: Samurai_Honor on June 18, 2009, 07:30:15 pm
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Where is a great website to find cheap flights to china and what airline would you suggest?
Also how many days would you suggest?
Thanks guys....
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first trip 10 to 12 days or as many days as you can afford. For flights Check cheapair.com.Or Cheapoair.com.If you can play with the times and the dates you can ussually get a better deal.
If you don't mind spending a couple of hours in Korea or Japan.That route mite save you a few dollers.
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I am planning on using a China based travel agency next time I fly, they can get tickets cheaper than anyone, about half the cost. With fuel going up this summer its still going to be difficult to get anything under $1,000 with western based travel companies.
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Go through a local Chinatown travel agent. They buy bulk wholesale tix therefore they will undercut all of the online competitors and you get intinery in hand and not have to print via home pc. Also, it starts the process early of assimilating the culture prior to leaving for your trip. My tix cost $1,050. roundtrip from Philadelphia 7 months ago.
China Shark Mike
PS Don't forget to invest in an electronic translator too.
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http://www.flychina.com/
I got my tickets through them. I couldnt get quite the right match so I called the service number and the lady was able to tie some flights together and get a decent rate.
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Type flights to china, beijing, hong kong, where ever you want to visit in to the net and you will find the largest range of tickets possible.
If possible have flexible dates to find the best deal, i recently saved $250 by shifting 2 days.
Remember ticket prices change constantly, if a ticket is a $1000 today it could be $1200 tomorrow, if you see a good deal buy it.
How often do you fly half way around the world? Stay as long as possible!
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Cheapest flight i could get was €712 return to Beijing.
Ling was looking up flight prices on a Chinese website last night and she found one for 3850 RMB return to here, that's about €400 , guess whose booking my next flight!!
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Ok....Thank you guys. I see what you are talking about with the dates also....thanks alot!
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Heathrow to Hong Kong direct in september £405 including credit card charge
What are you Brits waiting for get out there!
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Heathrow to Hong Kong direct in september £405 including credit card charge
What are you Brits waiting for get out there!
Which airlines is that with mate. I prefer the direct flight by Cathay Pacific which is £575 next weekend. But as I will be making regular trips to and from China this year I think I ought to look for a cheaper flight.
Willy the Londoner
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London Heathrow to Guangzhou return using Lufthansa , 1 stop in Frankfurt £440 for August flights ..
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I have a question along the same lines. Why is it more expensive to fly from Chengdu to Japan than US to Japan. I got quotes of 1700us for her and 1000us for me in the US. Makes no sense whatsoever.
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I found a cheaper flight than from cheapair and cheapoair. www.Uschinatrip.com saved me $250 plus I go from a local airport. do not have to go to Atlanta. And it is right about being flexible with your dates. And stay as long as you can. I would say no less than 12 days. The time fly's when you are there. If you are going to meet a girl, it will take you a little time to decide if she is right or not. Then you would still have time to go to the agency or make arrangements with another lady.
I know there are guys here who disagree. I always had a backup plan. Got burned once.
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Hi Willy
The flight I booked is with Air New Zealand direct, on the same dates Qantas was £427 + cc direct, and under £400 with Qatar via Doha.
Flight costs change daily and these flights could be £500 now, but last summer i flew with Qatar for £424
Your Cathay ticket is high, in april I flew with them direct to HK and then on to Cebu in the philippines for £595.
Cathay is a top airline, the foods really good, they only problem is they dont load the planes by seat rows, it a free for all.
On my 6 visits to asia i have not used the same airline twice, cost is always a factor and costs always change
JimB theres nothing wrong with a back up plan
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I hear yah Robert. Ideally, I would rather pay the extra $100.00 too but.......money is tough for me to save so I may be forced to do all the layovers. :-/ It'll be worth it though when it's all over and I'm in Guangzhou with my Jessie in my arms. :icon_biggrin:
When it gets closer for me to head to China, I'll come back to this thread and reread it all and do my research to find the best deals.
Thanks everyone for posting your findings. If you find better deals, keep on posting!
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Robert try mine. I fly out of Atlanta to Beijing. This last ticket cost me $875, no long layovers and I am leaving from Chattanooga to Atlanta then Seoul then Beijing.
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Yes, that is the total cost. About 2.5 hours in Seoul. Something like a total of 14 hours from Atlanta to Seoul then 1.05 to Beijing.
I got those tickets in May.
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Well, i know that for France, I often check on
www.voyages-sncf.com
but I check also on :
www.cheapoair.com and that's quite the same prices :)
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That cheapoair seems pretty good value, I priced a couple of trips up, and with the current euro/dollar rate i should save about 100 euro each time compared to the site I used the last two times, thats about 950RMB or so more to spend there !, all good.
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Holy cow! I just punched in my source and dest and got an incredible rate. $738 round trip, san diego, San Francisco or Los Angeles, beijing, changchun. That's incredible. Hope that price is still there in a week cause that's $400 less than I paid my first trip.
Thanks for the URL guys!
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Ed
Book the flight now, it could change tomorrow let alone next week, did you check the flight right the way through to final payment as they some times have not added all the taxes, sneaky beggars
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i noticed one thing. Next to the price it says "Taxes not incl". I'm betting it'll likely be fairly close to what I paid before but still, it's not all that expensive to travel half way around the world. hehe.
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Wont be of much help cause I fly from Frankfurt germany -> Shanghai -> Hongkong, roundtrip and ICE train ticket from my city to FRA Port included with
"China Eastern Airlines" for just a unbelievabe EUR 469, all tax and fee's included. That was cheapest I found thru an travel agency in Berlin. They also organized me the chinese visa. My local travel agent where I book my US flights wanted to charge EUR 750 with Lufthansa from Duesseldorf via Munich
to Hongkong .... well.
Maybe also in the US they offer cheap rates on roundtrips wuth China Eastern, go check for that airline.
Andreas!
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Here is the latest. Check this sight out now. 875 Atlanta beijing rount trip http://www.flychina.com/default.aspx?s=101&gclid=CNTk3pLww5sCFQNbxwodCkZuAg
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Holy cow! I just punched in my source and dest and got an incredible rate. $738 round trip, san diego, San Francisco or Los Angeles, beijing, changchun. That's incredible. Hope that price is still there in a week cause that's $400 less than I paid my first trip.
Thanks for the URL guys!
In May I flew round trip to Hong Kong from Calgary via San Fran for $834 Cdn. Now the same place I see offers just under $800 Cdn.
But I am in holding mode untill her visa gets approved.
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I checked yesterday , just in case I need to go end of July . Roundtrip with Air China ( my sec. favorite ) and six day's in Holiday Inn , where I'm alway's staying $ 1145 . I'm a Asiana Club Member , they want about $200 more , but with the discount it's about the same . Last year around that time , I pay'd over $ 1600 just for the Flight . That sounds great to me . Because I need to buy Plane Ticket's to Guangzhou too and Hotel there . Hope it stay's this cheap , but as I have no Interview date yet , can't Book anything . Hopping it will go still down as it enter's the Fall season , hence it might not be till Sept. .
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Just looking by doing google search I have found flights as low as $650 But I dont when I going for sure so will just have to wait till then and hope I find it again
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Jimmy, be careful with prices that look too low. Most of them have the disclaimer taxes and extra charges not included. Before I bought my ticket I was getting quotes as low as $469 round trip and the fees and charges would be another $469. It's a marketing ploy to draw you in. As soon as I realized it was the same price I moved onto a more honest retailer. Cheapest tickets you can buy would be through a bulk wholesaler ticket agent in any local Chinatown anywhere. I paid $1,050 round trip from Chicago to Tokyo to Hong Kong. This price beat all the online prices by at least $1. and I physically dealt with a human being as opposed to just giving credit card info online. Chinese agents will always get you the lowest fares, bar none. Can't wait to get my next ticket roundtrip from Hong Kong, notoriously the cheapest anywhere.
China Shark Mike
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I bought my tickets on FlyChina.com $835.00 Taxes and fees included. I am only worried about not getting y confirmation letter today or tomorrow. For those guys who used flychina.com what was your wait time?
I waited a day to long. flychina had a round trip direct to beijing for $650. Im pissed I didt get that flight.
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For the Brits on here , check out ''netflights.com'' ''flightcentre .com'' "cheapflights.co.uk"
Used them several times, and they generally come up trumps against other net based sites on prices.
Now offering HK ...379 St Pounds inc everything (Netflights) Was going to post other prices, but no time right now.
But check them out, you can do a lot worse elsewhere!!!
David.......
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Another good link, useful for domestic flights in china :
www.ctrip.com
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Do not forget to check directly on the airlines website. There we often find promotions that are really good value. Off course you have to book in advance, stay over the weekend etc The charges are usually not unfair. In may I found a fair deal for Beijing in August, just above Euro 500,- (Oslo-Helsinki-Beijing, and back home :icon_biggrin:. Finnair do a few Asian destinations, so it might be worth have a look and see if they have something when you are due to travel
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Book in advance and shop around is the thing to do, when you are looking for them affordable tickets. When you find a good deal, take it, it might not be there tomorrow.
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For any Brits out there i found going direct onto the Air China website good, i got a direct flight from Heathrow to Beijing for £380 all in (taxes, no hidden charges) I flew in June and booked my ticket just two months before my departure date. Also i was allowed a maximum weight for my luggage was 30kg, which gives you plenty to bring all those holiday souvenirs back with you.
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Going back to UK for week on Monday. Booked my return flight one week later by Qatar. Heathrow to Hiong Kong just £322.oo plus £25 booking fee.
Means taken 24 hours to get there and will change planes ion somew arab country where I will probably shovel a load of Camel S--t!!. But thats cheapflights.
Anyone flown Qatar?
Willy
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Willy,
Qatar airlines is a top notch ariline, one of only a handful of 5 star airlines, you won't be disapointed believe me. Lucy is flying with them back to China next week. I think you'll also be surprised at the airports in the Gulf region too, i can assure you there not tin sheds anymore haha!! Also some of the cheapest Duty Free to be found. ... Not that will interest you comming from China. ....haha!! I guess it's just the time thing that's a problem. If you have a long stop over, see if you can go outside. Well worth a look round, and you'll find that English is spoken quite freely in the Gulf.....
Oh, I think we paid 287 sterling for her ticket LHR to HK, and no booking fee, .... but i'll check that with Lucy when she get's home later....
David......
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Hey Willy
Looks like you will travel via Doha, a spotlessly clean airport, no camel shit anywhere, haha
Qatar airways is am excellent service and is generally the cheapest at any given time, the down side is obvious, not direct but you seem to have plenty of time on yours hands these days, luccy bugger!
Agarn
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Jimmy, be careful with prices that look too low.
Yes I agree with this. What I usually do is get the lowest possible price I can find on the internet. Then I print it off and take it to one of the big travel agent chains (eg Flight Centre, here in Australia). They almost always can match the best price I can find on the internet. This way you get the best of both worlds.
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Willy,
Qatar airlines is a top notch ariline, one of only a handful of 5 star airlines, you won't be disapointed believe me. Lucy is flying with them back to China next week. I think you'll also be surprised at the airports in the Gulf region too, i can assure you there not tin sheds anymore haha!! Also some of the cheapest Duty Free to be found. ... Not that will interest you comming from China. ....haha!! I guess it's just the time thing that's a problem. If you have a long stop over, see if you can go outside. Well worth a look round, and you'll find that English is spoken quite freely in the Gulf.....
Oh, I think we paid 287 sterling for her ticket LHR to HK, and no booking fee, .... but i'll check that with Lucy when she get's home later....
David......
Hi David, This was the only way back at short notice. What day is Lucy flying back to China.
I would like to meet up with the better half of a great duo. haha
If I use their return ticket it goes Hong kong - Goungzhou - Daha - London but may be I will not us it. Saw you know who yesterday and gave her Andy's best wishes
Willy
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Willy,
Yes i was right no booking fee, just a 10 euro ticket fee (pick-up at the airport fee)
I think your going to miss out on Meeting Lucy, she travels to London Monday night, and Flies on to Hong Kong via Doha on the 4th (Tues) Staying over at Hong Kong for a couple of days, before traveling on to Beijing. She's in China for 15 days, for business and for visiting the family. She'll also be staying in UK for 3 days on her return trip, with my Son. I might try and get back to the UK around that time, maybe for a week or so, ...so we can fly back together...
She's no stranger to traveling, she used to work as a business translator/negotiator for a hedge-fund company in China
Her English is better than mine or yours!! ...haha!! In fact virtually her whole family speak English fluently!!
And your worried about having 2 sets of parents to meet, .....Try having the 3rd degree by Dad, in perfect English, without your lady present!! At least you'll have your lady with you, translating things between you....smoothing any difficult things that might be brought up. ...haha!! I copped the lot on my own haha!!
Maybe, we can all meet up early in the new year, when were both back in China for around 3 weeks for some sort of marriage celebration ceremony. haven't quite got to the bottom of that one yet. haha!! I'm sure we can arrange something between now an then....
David.....
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Willy,
Yes i was right no booking fee, just a 10 euro ticket fee (pick-up at the airport fee)
I think your going to miss out on Meeting Lucy, she travels to London Monday night, and Flies on to Hong Kong via Doha on the 4th (Tues) Staying over at Hong Kong for a couple of days, before traveling on to Beijing. She's in China for 15 days, for business and for visiting the family. She'll also be staying in UK for 3 days on her return trip, with my Son. I might try and get back to the UK around that time, maybe for a week or so, ...so we can fly back together...
She's no stranger to traveling, she used to work as a business translator/negotiator for a hedge-fund company in China
Her English is better than mine or yours!! ...haha!! In fact virtually her whole family speak English fluently!!
And your worried about having 2 sets of parents to meet, .....Try having the 3rd degree by Dad, in perfect English, without your lady present!! At least you'll have your lady with you, translating things between you....smoothing any difficult things that might be brought up. ...haha!! I copped the lot on my own haha!!
Maybe, we can all meet up early in the new year, when were both back in China for around 3 weeks for some sort of marriage celebration ceremony. haven't quite got to the bottom of that one yet. haha!! I'm sure we can arrange something between now an then....
David.....
I look forward to it. Sometime in the New Year we may move to Guangzhou. That is is under consideration. (I can go and annoy Ted and Sisi there.)
Willy
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I went to our Chinatown in Calgary today, I checked out a Chinese travel agency...boy I wish I checked this sooner. For a trip to Hong Kong in October I will pay just over $700 Cdn. If I had booked last week I would have saved an extra $100. The place I used last time is charging $950 Cdn. and both agencies use the same airline (United) and route (via San Fran). Maybe any of you guys with a reasonable sized chinatown in your city, should check if there is a Chinese Travel agency and compare prices.
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Finally, someone is checking out the Chinatowns. Told you guys it's the cheapest tickets out there.
China Shark Mike
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OK guys, I will give you a good starting point for searching the best price for air tickets. As I said, it's just a starting point, sometimes there are even better deals available. This guys don't sell tickets and I'm not working for them:
http://matrix.itasoftware.com/cvg/dispatch/login
You can easily log in as guest.
Quoting China Shark, be always careful with very low prices found in wild.
Cheers.
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Finally, someone is checking out the Chinatowns. Told you guys it's the cheapest tickets out there.
China Shark Mike
Yes Mike - but you are living in the biggest Chinatown compared to us :icon_cheesygrin:
and sorry - I should have taken your advise sooner. TTFN and keep swimming
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Sorry guys I fixed the thread.So everybody that commented on the music thing got deleted.Conntinue with the airplane tickets.
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Was wondering if anyone has flown Northwest from the states to China with a change in Tokyo. Going to Beijing, by the way. Northwest has a good price (I think anyway) about $940 all taxes and fees included. But one drawback is only a 50 minute layover in Tokyo to catch plane on to Beijing. And that 50 minute layover on the way back also. Is this enough time to change planes or terminals. Have been looking at the tokyo airport website, but without having been there, its all pretty confusing.
Am going to Handan in March. My lady says to take the train from Beijing to Handan.
All help and info appreciated.
Thanks
Don
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Was wondering if anyone has flown Northwest from the states to China with a change in Tokyo. Going to Beijing, by the way. Northwest has a good price (I think anyway) about $940 all taxes and fees included. But one drawback is only a 50 minute layover in Tokyo to catch plane on to Beijing. And that 50 minute layover on the way back also. Is this enough time to change planes or terminals. Have been looking at the tokyo airport website, but without having been there, its all pretty confusing.
Am going to Handan in March. My lady says to take the train from Beijing to Handan.
All help and info appreciated.
Thanks
Don
In general a 50 minute layover is enough to change planes assuming no delays (this was before the thing a few days ago). But it's usually recommended that you have at least a 2 hour layover just in case. During the winter you could easily need more than that. And with the bomb attempt on Christmas, you could easily need more than that.
Whenever possible, especially since you live on the west side, try to get a direct flight to China. Might be rougher in the short term, but you don't have to deal with the hassle of missed connections...
As for Handan, your lady is right. I'm not sure if they have the D trains heading there yet, but you're looking at several hours (I think Brian is living in Handan so he could probably give you a more accurate answer).
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Yes, the super duper fast trains run from Beijing to Handan in only 3 hours. Here's a link to routes and a general Chinese train guide:-
http://www.travelchinaguide.com/china-trains/
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Thanks mustfocus and Paul.
I talked to Brian and yes he said about 3 hours to Handan. I live on the East Coast and have a smaller airport, so I have to fly to DC,
Atlanta, or Detroit usually to make an international connection. I like flying Delta or Northwest because I have skymiles with them...But I'm sure there are better airlines. Except United.....I DO NOT like them so very much...haha
Don
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Just a note... you don't have to focus solely on Delta/NWA. You should be able to use any of the skyteam members and gain milage through them that way. At least that's how star alliance and one world operate.
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I went to our Chinatown in Calgary today, I checked out a Chinese travel agency...boy I wish I checked this sooner. For a trip to Hong Kong in October I will pay just over $700 Cdn. If I had booked last week I would have saved an extra $100. The place I used last time is charging $950 Cdn. and both agencies use the same airline (United) and route (via San Fran). Maybe any of you guys with a reasonable sized chinatown in your city, should check if there is a Chinese Travel agency and compare prices.
Where in Chinatown did you go? I live in Calgary as well and am trying to head to China in February/March. Thanks!
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You could always try toureast.com. I've had some pretty good dealings with them. But realistically, any chinese travel agency could probably get you a good deal as they generally specialize in travel to Asia.
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Just a note... you don't have to focus solely on Delta/NWA. You should be able to use any of the skyteam members and gain milage through them that way. At least that's how star alliance and one world operate.
I did not know about this multiple airline skyteam. Thanks alot
Don
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I found a couple new sites to look at flights. Kayak.com and ugoigo.com. Kayak.com will check multiple sites like travelocity, expedia, orbitz... If you are flexible with dates you can always find better deals. Going to Singapore in march. When I first started looking the best package I found was around $2700 US for 12 nights at a 3 star hotel. I have found the same price approximately, $2733.91 but in canadian funds. This is for the flight I want, not the cheapest but gets there at a decent time, 6:05 pm. (about $400 more than the cheapest, I don't mind paying the extra the first time I meet her but subsequent flights may not be so convenient for her. Almost all the flights get there between midnight and 2:00 am.) and the hotel my lady suggested to stay at, it is near her place. (the best price for the hotel so far has been on a site called agoda.com) My daughter is in the travel and tourism course at the local college here and she told me that I should also call the airline. Sometimes they will give a better price than these sites. They are making money off these deals too. I have been to europe a couple times, my sister lives in france, but I have never been to the east. I am looking forward to going.
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Bee964,
You will find that you lady will get an even better price, if you let her book your hotel.....
That's what most of the Bro's do here. Those that don't, ...tend to end-up paying top dollar!!!
David....
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Davids right let your lady book the hotel just cover the
flight and she will get you a room. We were going to a hotel
and when i asked the price it was 788rmb and my wife got the
same room for 368rmb big difference
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Ted,
It's basically the same here in Cyprus too, if i want to buy any big ticket price items, i always get the best price i can find myself, then ask a Cyp friend to get a price!! He always , but always gets a much better deal than i can ever negotiate. Foreginers are always shafted no-matter where you go...hahaha!!
David....
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David,
except in california were i came from. there not partial there
they try and screw you for moey no matter were your from.
1 price fits all-------high------:icon_cheesygrin:
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Bee964,
You will find that you lady will get an even better price, if you let her book your hotel.....
That's what most of the Bro's do here. Those that don't, ...tend to end-up paying top dollar!!!
David....
I was just a little hesitent about asking her this. I don't mind asking her but if she has to shell out anything I would feel a little uncomfortable asking her to do this and also sending the money without even meeting her. I think she will do this for me. She is in Singapore.
David,
except in california were i came from. there not partial there
they try and screw you for moey no matter were your from.
1 price fits all-------high------:icon_cheesygrin:
Kinda sounds like Toronto.
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Bee964,
Your lady would be booking the room/reservation, ....Not paying for it !!! You sort out the payment arrangement when you get there. Normally i would pay anywhere from the first to three nights in advance (when booking in at reception) then pay the remaining nights i stay at the hotel just prior to my departure, or at the end of each week in arrears....
So your lady will not have to pay anything up front when making your reservation....
David.....
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Bee964,
Your lady would be booking the room/reservation, ....Not paying for it !!! You sort out the payment arrangement when you get there. Normally i would pay anywhere from the first to three nights in advance (when booking in at reception) then pay the remaining nights i stay at the hotel just prior to my departure, or at the end of each week in arrears....
So your lady will not have to pay anything up front when making your reservation....
David.....
I don't know what the hotel policy is on bookings. Some hotels here want a nights stay for deposit when you book the room. I also didn't think it would a good idea to put her in that position if it were to arise. I have asked her to check and see if she could get a better price though. I will see what she says. Personally myself if it were me looking for a room without her help I did not think that $49 per night CDN was a bad price when most hotels were in the price range of $125 to $210 and more. And this was their discounted price? This is Singapore BTW. She is not in China but she is from China.
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Bee964
In Singapore, getting a good hotel will usually cost you more than $49. Hotels are not cheap there. Since you're in Toronto, let me give you two tips (may or may not help) as I've done that trip before...
1) Visit Tour East and Tai Pan Tours. Both travel agencies specialise in trips to Asia... $2700 is hideously expensive for a plane trip. I just did a quick quote off of Tour East's web site and a ticket from Pearson to Changi starts at $1285 round trip (mid-March). And that's from Air Canada. If you don't like them and would prefer Cathay, it's $1941. If you actually visit a store, you might get cheaper.
2) Depending on how much of a rush you're in to book the hotels, the "integrated resorts" on Sentosa (southern part of the island) are just opening up. Given another short while, there will be a flood of new rooms available. The prices might go down then.
I usually stay with relatives there, so I can't confirm how quickly the prices change there. Food is quite cheap there if you use hawker centers (good food for low prices) and food courts (decent food, higher prices). Restaurants can be killer.
Hope this helps!
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Carnegie,
did you see the bit on the internet about the madden game they have picked the last 5 out of 6
super bowl winners with the only exception being giants verse the patriots everyone thought the
patriots were going to go undefeated that year. it picks the saints to win it
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Bee964
In Singapore, getting a good hotel will usually cost you more than $49. Hotels are not cheap there. Since you're in Toronto, let me give you two tips (may or may not help) as I've done that trip before...
1) Visit Tour East and Tai Pan Tours. Both travel agencies specialise in trips to Asia... $2700 is hideously expensive for a plane trip. I just did a quick quote off of Tour East's web site and a ticket from Pearson to Changi starts at $1285 round trip (mid-March). And that's from Air Canada. If you don't like them and would prefer Cathay, it's $1941. If you actually visit a store, you might get cheaper.
2) Depending on how much of a rush you're in to book the hotels, the "integrated resorts" on Sentosa (southern part of the island) are just opening up. Given another short while, there will be a flood of new rooms available. The prices might go down then.
I usually stay with relatives there, so I can't confirm how quickly the prices change there. Food is quite cheap there if you use hawker centers (good food for low prices) and food courts (decent food, higher prices). Restaurants can be killer.
Hope this helps!
The $2700 was for the flight and the hotel stay for 11 nights, not the flight alone. I'm 3 hours away from Toronto, Windsor, and I visit there quite often. I would prefer to fly out of Detroit as opposed to Toronto. Metro airport is about 30 minutes drive from my house including the border crossing and they don't soak you for parking. From Toronto I would have to drive for 3 hours to get home after a 22 to 29 hour plane trip. I would not want to chance that. I could stay there overnight with friends I suppose. Like I said the flight was not the cheapest, it was arriving the most convenient time for her to pick me up. 6:00 pm. There were a couple other flights at around the $3000 to $4500 mark that got in at 4:30 pm but that was too much as you have noted. My step father is a doctor. He flys from Pearson to Timmins once a month. The airfare....$1200 round trip. Anybody can get to Paris and back on half that! Because it is for work it is a tax write off for him. He gets reimbursed anyways. But back to the trip and the hotel, I think that the hotel room was a good price for a 3 star hotel. And I know that the hotels are expensive in Singapore. I have looked at them. The advise about the food is most welcome though. I just heard from my lady there, she would have to have my passport to book a room for me so that is a no go. I will have to do it from my end. Besides, I would rather have my flight and hotel room paid for before I leave and only have to worry about expences for sightseeing, entertainment and food. Maybe some shopping too, I have 23 year old daughters that are electronic gadget freaks.
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Bee964,
That's total rubbish, ... you don't need a passport to book a hotel, you only need the passport as you check-in!!!
That goes for anywhere in the world....
David....
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Bee964,
That's total rubbish, ... you don't need a passport to book a hotel, you only need the passport as you check-in!!!
That goes for anywhere in the world....
David....
I'm just quoting what she told me. Quite true that you may not need a passport to book a room but I don't know what the hotel told her. I don't even know if she went at all. I was not there. Besides, I don't mind booking the hotel myself. The next time I go to visit her I will be a little more insistant on her help though. BTW you don't need a passport everywhere in the world to check-in, I have checked-in to most hotels in my travels of north america with just my drivers licence. And for late check-in all asked for a credit card number.
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Bee964,
Very true, just basically saying, that if you needed a passport, it would only be at the point of check-in....
I think you'll find though, that if your in a country outside of, lets say your locality (for you North America, for me Europe for arguments sake) you would probably have to produce a passport at time of check-in, especially in these times of a security conscious world....
David.....
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i have seen it a few different ways when wanting a room from
asking for it, to not asking for it , to also being told, they would
hold the room till a certain time. my experiences from my travels
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I can see where you are going to have to produce a DNA sample to do anything in this world soon.
But back to cheap flights... so you don't think that $49 per night is too bad either David? And the flight, The reasons for the flight that I will book, It is about $400 more than the cheapest flight, I cannot sleep in a vehicle while someone else is driving or flying it. There is a long stop over in Paris and I thought that I could get some shut eye while I was there. And like I said earlier, the arrival time is most convenient for my lady to meet me. I have seen flights as low as $1200 to singapore. ($1170 I think) Every day they change. If anybody notices any travel site that is a good one , let me know. I have found a fair few in the past 2 weeks. I am always in the market for a deal but I also like convenience too.
Dave C.
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Dave C,
I really have no-idea about airline fares from Canada/USA ...so can't comment on that score.
The hotel price seems pretty good i must admit, but again, it's been a long time since i've spent any time in Singapore, so again i can't really comment ....
If your going via Paris, god help you...haha!! I hate both of the main Paris airports. I've come accross some of the most unhelpful airport staff, that i've ever encountered there. The signage leaves a hell of a lot to be desired too, especially at Charles De Gaulle, it may take you most of your stopover to find the departure gate for your continuing flight!!!...haha!! Never found either of the airports particularly clean either....
If your worried about getting into Singapore at an ungodly hour, so be it!! English is freely spoken there, so finding the hotel shouldn't be any problem. You can then have a good sleep before meeting up with your lady the following day, ....Refreshed!!! Instead of meeting her looking like ''Death Warmed -Up'' ...lol!!!
Why are you going the long (wrong) way round to get to Singapore anyway?? Now wonder your going to be tired Dave, ...29 hours travling, that's just crazy!!!! I once flew London via Alaska and Narita (Tokyo) to Hong Kong, ....i can tell you, ...NEVER again!!!...24 hrs it took, compared with around 14/15 hrs going the right way round. ....haha!!
David.....
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from past experiences searching for flights i remember the cheaper ones had this ungodly
layover somewere for like 10 or 15 hours which i never took. that would probably made me sleep for
2 days when i got there as i was never one to sleep on planes and for sure not airports
and the rooms close buy would probably cost a fortune
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Bee964,
Very true, just basically saying, that if you needed a passport, it would only be at the point of check-in....
I think you'll find though, that if your in a country outside of, lets say your locality (for you North America, for me Europe for arguments sake) you would probably have to produce a passport at time of check-in, especially in these times of a security conscious world....
David.....
It could be that you may need a passport as a chinese citizen to book a room at a hotel. And if the person answering the questions misunderstood, then that would not be a surprise.
The $2700 was for the flight and the hotel stay for 11 nights, not the flight alone. I'm 3 hours away from Toronto, Windsor, and I visit there quite often. I would prefer to fly out of Detroit as opposed to Toronto. Metro airport is about 30 minutes drive from my house including the border crossing and they don't soak you for parking. From Toronto I would have to drive for 3 hours to get home after a 22 to 29 hour plane trip. I would not want to chance that. I could stay there overnight with friends I suppose. Like I said the flight was not the cheapest, it was arriving the most convenient time for her to pick me up. 6:00 pm. There were a couple other flights at around the $3000 to $4500 mark that got in at 4:30 pm but that was too much as you have noted. My step father is a doctor. He flys from Pearson to Timmins once a month. The airfare....$1200 round trip. Anybody can get to Paris and back on half that! Because it is for work it is a tax write off for him. He gets reimbursed anyways. But back to the trip and the hotel, I think that the hotel room was a good price for a 3 star hotel. And I know that the hotels are expensive in Singapore. I have looked at them. The advise about the food is most welcome though. I just heard from my lady there, she would have to have my passport to book a room for me so that is a no go. I will have to do it from my end. Besides, I would rather have my flight and hotel room paid for before I leave and only have to worry about expences for sightseeing, entertainment and food. Maybe some shopping too, I have 23 year old daughters that are electronic gadget freaks.
Well, if you live in Windsor, that's a different issue altogether. :dodgy: I just have one more question. Which area is this hotel in? After reading a few of your messages, I have a sneaking suspicion I know where it is... And if it's true, then I have a feeling I know why she might say you need a passport to register.
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ok i am curious on this. the passport is needed for???
in this certain area??
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Most likely, they want a confirmed registration.
As for the 2nd possibility, I don't want to say just yet because I don't want to prejudice the answer...(I'll tell afterwords)...
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I will have to find the picture. I was in one of the airports october '08. May have been CDG. i remember it was not the cleanest. Some kicka## coffee though! The passport, well I am not sure either. Could be because she is chinese. Maybe to confirm the registration. I just can't say right now. The area, is near little india. Lets see if I remember the address right, 183 selegie road. Does that help you? This is a hotel that is near where she lives? or works? I will have to check for sure. It is one that she suggested because of the proximity to her place. The hotel was called the Fragrance selegie road hotel. Best price I got was through agoda.
The flights from here go either east or west. The choice is up to you. The first leg of the journey is about 6 hours and the second is about 12 hours. Not sure of the second time. I have thought more about the flight and may take a different one. I was on ugoigo lastnight and found a few new flights, one that gets in at 4:30 pm. I like that site because you can check off about 10 different sites for them to check for you. Easier than changing web pages and entering in all the information again and again.
Dave C
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Dave C,
You mentioned 29 hrs in a previous post?? Does the remaining time account for the Paris stopover?? If it does, ....change your flight plans friend, that sort of layover time is for the mugs of this world ....Don't do it, ....you'll be recked by the time you get there!!!!
Go the right way round, the shortest distance is ALWAYS the best way!!!
David...
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Dave,
That area isn't bad. There are many hospitals in that area. If your daughters love electronics, then you're in the right area. There's a mall near there that only sells electronics/computer related things (Sim Lim Square). There is another called Funan Centre, but it's further out.
Now, as to why I was concerned, after my first post, I remembered there is an area where the hotels could be cheap... It's in an area called Geylang. Very well know area for two things... cheap but good food and lots of mainland chinese hostesses. Not that you'd be interested in the second, but it does add an interesting factor into this.
BTW, some things you might like when you're there...
1) Go to Sentosa (resort island...sorta) and watch the water show there. A little cheesy, but quite nice actually. I went a few years ago...had to buy tickets 2 hours in advance (but it gave time to get some food).
2) If you like to chill, Clarke Quay. Foods a bit more upscale, but sitting by the river and watching the people walk by is quite relaxing.
3) For good food, I prefer the Old Airport Road Hawker Centre. Good oyster omlettes (oh-ah-jian) and rojak (a crunchy SEA salad).
Lots of other things to see and food to try...
Dave C,
You mentioned 29 hrs in a previous post?? Does the remaining time account for the Paris stopover?? If it does, ....change your flight plans friend, that sort of layover time is for the mugs of this world ....Don't do it, ....you'll be recked by the time you get there!!!!
Go the right way round, the shortest distance is ALWAYS the best way!!!
David...
Come to think of it, North West out of Detroit should be a much shorter route...I think one of my cousins used them (either that or Delta)...was only about...20 hours or so with a stop either in Narita or HK (Go for HK if at all possible).
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Dave C,
You mentioned 29 hrs in a previous post?? Does the remaining time account for the Paris stopover?? If it does, ....change your flight plans friend, that sort of layover time is for the mugs of this world ....Don't do it, ....you'll be recked by the time you get there!!!!
Go the right way round, the shortest distance is ALWAYS the best way!!!
David...
Actually, I think it is 31 or 32 hours. It was a long stop over in Paris. I will be a wreck no matter what I do, I think. My dad suggested something to help me sleep, but you can't even bring gum into Singapore let alone drugs. There is a long list of common drugs to not bring into Singapore. I know that prescription drugs are ok and that you only need them in the original bottle. I just figured that it is best to not bring anything at all. It has been a long time since I have had to stay awake more than 24 hours.
I have not finalised any plans yet. This is why I am here looking for any good advise. There is plenty. I was just giving my experience on searching out airfares. When I book my flight I will decide then which to take. Truthfully, I would rather fly westward. But I don't mind making it more convenient for my lady. She says she works almost every day and the best time for her to get some time from her work to meet me is friday afternoon or early evening. BTW found a flight that goes westward but has almost a full day stopover in Tokyo.
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Actually, I think it is 31 or 32 hours. It was a long stop over in Paris. I will be a wreck no matter what I do, I think. My dad suggested something to help me sleep, but you can't even bring gum into Singapore let alone drugs. There is a long list of common drugs to not bring into Singapore. I know that prescription drugs are ok and that you only need them in the original bottle. I just figured that it is best to not bring anything at all. It has been a long time since I have had to stay awake more than 24 hours.
I have not finalised any plans yet. This is why I am here looking for any good advise. There is plenty. I was just giving my experience on searching out airfares. When I book my flight I will decide then which to take. Truthfully, I would rather fly westward. But I don't mind making it more convenient for my lady. She says she works almost every day and the best time for her to get some time from her work to meet me is friday afternoon or early evening. BTW found a flight that goes westward but has almost a full day stopover in Tokyo.
Dave,
Definitely go westward. You'll cut so many hours off your trip. Definitely consider Tour East (I don't think they have a Windor office, but www.toureast.com should be good as well).
There is a misconception that you can't bring gum... you can bring a small amount for personal use (just dispose of it properly...if you spit it out on a sidewalk then you'll be in trouble). I usually have 2 or 3 packs of gum with me... If you're looking for sleep, consider using gravol.
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Actually, I think it is 31 or 32 hours. It was a long stop over in Paris. I will be a wreck no matter what I do, I think. My dad suggested something to help me sleep, but you can't even bring gum into Singapore let alone drugs. There is a long list of common drugs to not bring into Singapore. I know that prescription drugs are ok and that you only need them in the original bottle. I just figured that it is best to not bring anything at all. It has been a long time since I have had to stay awake more than 24 hours.
I have not finalised any plans yet. This is why I am here looking for any good advise. There is plenty. I was just giving my experience on searching out airfares. When I book my flight I will decide then which to take. Truthfully, I would rather fly westward. But I don't mind making it more convenient for my lady. She says she works almost every day and the best time for her to get some time from her work to meet me is friday afternoon or early evening. BTW found a flight that goes westward but has almost a full day stopover in Tokyo.
Dave,
Definitely go westward. You'll cut so many hours off your trip. Definitely consider Tour East (I don't think they have a Windor office, but www.toureast.com should be good as well).
There is a misconception that you can't bring gum... you can bring a small amount for personal use (just dispose of it properly...if you spit it out on a sidewalk then you'll be in trouble). I usually have 2 or 3 packs of gum with me... If you're looking for sleep, consider using gravol.
I hope that is ok! I always fly with some gum. I was dreading not being able to bring some more than the drugs! I thought of the gravol as well as other stuff. I figured to just dispose of any extra down the plane toilet. I will check out the links later today.
Thanks for all the advise.
Dave
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You don't need to dispose of it in the toilet, but I wouldn't carry more than one blisterpack (those tinfoil thingies). I don't bring large amounts of gum either (ie: no Costco pack). But if you bring 2 or 3, that's fine. Like I said, dispose of that properly (in a wrapper or whatever and put in a garbage bin) and you're good. Although to be honest, I've never chewed it in front of any police.
You'll be fine there, just stay calm and confident. And keep in touch with us here if you need help.
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i have never been to Singapore but the comments about the gum
is very interesting. pretty steep fines for the unproper disposal of
the gum?
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Just got a notification from priceline.com in my e-mail on a fare from Detroit to Singapore,......$7494 US???? Thats supposed to be a deal?
Dave
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maybe you get steak dinners a massage and champagne hahahaha
would be a good price in philipine pesos hahahaha
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Littering in general is not welcome in Singapore. Gum is nasty to get rid of so they pretty much banned it in Singapore. Although in recent years they have allowed medical gum back into the country.
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:icon_eek: Eek!!!
The prices of the flights to Hong Kong had been going down, now they are up almost $250.00. I am just under 8 weeks out. I hope they go down again.
Shaun :@:dodgy::icon_cry:
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It is probably because of new years.
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did you book yet Shaun? i read were the airlines lost a ton of money the last few
quarters and prices are going up so 8 weeks out isnt to long and you might hit that
big spike when you book. just an idea :-/
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Ted,
You don't get bums on seats by increasing your airfares, ...you lower them, the more bums on seats the better your income.... and at the very least cover your operating costs....!!
The reason for the high flight costs right now to china is because of the Chinese New Year, Two or three weeks after the holiday, the prices will drop, like they always do....
David....
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I am hoping that it is the holiday. This is why I am waiting to book my seat in a couple weeks.
Dave C
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yes i forgot that the new year does have many chinese returning home
im just used to the travelling within china
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For anyone in the UK that's thinking of, or planning a trip to China either to Shanghai or via Shanghai, i just recieved an email regarding cheap airfare to Shanghia....
Depart from...Now to 15th March
London LGW - Shanghia (SHA)
295 GBP Rtn... inc taxes
Affordableflights.co.uk ...020 8782 4482 (Phone deal only)
That's the best deal i've seen for a long time Go buy a ticket NOW!!! ..haha!!!
Also available from same company.....
Depart from Now - 30th March
London LHR - Hong Kong HKG
319 GBP inc taxes
Affordableflights.co.uk ...020 8782 4482 (Phone deal only)
David......
.
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From a Canadian perspective, anytime I can go overseas for under $1000 CAD, I jump at the chance. I always avoid going during the major holidays and during the hot summer months.
I booked my flight back in November to go next week at a good price. I would have liked to book closer to the time I am going but I knew the price would be higher.
I couldn't get flights out of Vancouver in March as the Olympic crowd would be leaving Vancouver at that time.
The UK deal for 319 sterling is great! Most deals have a lot of restrictions though. For example if I cancel it costs $250 and if I change a date it is $150.
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London to Hong Kong return on Qatar is 350.oo GB Pounds return at the moment.
I have tried to book with affordable flights previous but they never seem to have the prices advertised available. There is always add ons.
Willy
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Brought in all my prices to a travel agent friend of mine to see if she could get me a better deal. My flight price that I got was $1254 US. $1294 CDN. She got it for me $1361 CDN but with all the insurance included ($110 CDN value) cancellation, baggage, missed flight... She could not book my hotel. I had to book it myself. I have been told several times, bring in the best deal you can find on the web and they can usually beat it. She saved me about $50 and I gave her some business. I think that was a fair trade.
My ex and I knew her when we were in high school. I have not seen her since before my ex and I had split so when I told her the trip was for meeting another woman her reaction was priceless!
Dave C
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did you book yet Shaun?
Ted, just saw this post. I think you already know but just in case yes I am booked on Air Canada for March 31st. Got at great price from Atlanta, just a little under $760.00. I've been afraid to look ever since thinking there might be a lower price. --Shaun
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Bee964,
In Europe now, they are not allowed to quote the base airline flight cost, they have to quote you the true cost of the flight that includes taxes, and all the other stuff!!
All i can say about these prices you quoted, is that you are certainly paying a ''Premium Price'' for your flights from Canada. Insurance, ....9 times out of 10, it's best to again hunt the internet. Personally, i've never purchased flight insurance, and never needed or wished i had in the 30 odd years i've been flying the world. Having said that, i quite understand this is a personal preference thing. All i've ever purchased, and then depending on where i was flying too, is medical insurance....
I'm pretty sure you could have found a cheaper air ticket, those prices don't only sound excessive, they ARE excessive!!!!
-----------------------------------------
Oooops!! ...just remembered your off to Singapore and not China ...haha!! But that still seems a hell of a fare your paying, but not as much as i thought before, when it was China i thought you were going too....
David.....
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Shaun,
they are down to 99.99 round trip
lol just joking looking forward to seeing the both
of you if you can make it to GZ. or maybe Sisi and
i could come to shenzhen for a day she is off work on
sat and sun
Ted
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Ted,
$99.99 :icon_eek: Really I new you were joking, I just like using the eek smiley face. :icon_cheesygrin:
I have mentioned stopping in Guangzhou to Peggy a few times and she has said yes. I am hoping to firm up some dates after we speak about her trip to Shaoguan. That should be in about an hour and a half. She wants to talk about visa to US, visa to Hong Kong, and several other things.
Getting close man. 27 days.
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When the two of you come to GZ i can take you to the consulate
here and we could get everything you need to get her visa done
straight from the horses mouth.
my charge for services many many many bags of jack link jerky or pemmican just reg and pepper
hahahahahaha just kidding
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Ted, Your request is on my to do list. The consulate is on my list of things to do also. Your help would be greatly appreciated.
I am told it would be good to meet the consulate general.
Apparently when Peggy's sister had her interview there was a small problem and the consulate general remembered meeting the sister and her American husband. He told the person doing the interview to pass her and be done with it. (Hmmm......)
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Shaun,
Yep, ..that about sums up the immigration system, not just of your country, but all the others too!!!
hahaha!!
David....
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Bee964,
In Europe now, they are not allowed to quote the base airline flight cost, they have to quote you the true cost of the flight that includes taxes, and all the other stuff!!
All i can say about these prices you quoted, is that you are certainly paying a ''Premium Price'' for your flights from Canada. Insurance, ....9 times out of 10, it's best to again hunt the internet. Personally, i've never purchased flight insurance, and never needed or wished i had in the 30 odd years i've been flying the world. Having said that, i quite understand this is a personal preference thing. All i've ever purchased, and then depending on where i was flying too, is medical insurance....
I'm pretty sure you could have found a cheaper air ticket, those prices don't only sound excessive, they ARE excessive!!!!
-----------------------------------------
Oooops!! ...just remembered your off to Singapore and not China ...haha!! But that still seems a hell of a fare your paying, but not as much as i thought before, when it was China i thought you were going too....
David.....
David,
Bee found some good prices actually for Singapore. Normally you can find something for 16-1700. The cheapest I have ever found has been $1400CDN...and those went impossibly fast. I'm not sure what airport taxes are like in Europe, but over here, they are excessive. Airport taxes most likely compose a third of that ticket. Toronto being one of the most expensive (and poorly run) airports in the world... Now if we had some real businessmen (who are also not liberal leaning) to run the place, we'd probably be able to cut the airport tax in half. And do a better job.
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must focus,
WOW!! That's really expensive 1700 dollars, you can fly business class rtn from UK to HK
Yes it's the same in Europe as far as taxes are conserned, when i checked one time, a little while ago, the taxes etc was actually MORE than the airfare!!! Somethings just gotta be wrong somewhere!!
David..
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Shaun,
there has been a new consulate general in place now so it might not
be the same one but if it is thats great. he is at shiaman island most
of the time were the USA embassy people stay at offices. the consulate
is on the other side of town
Ted
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Ted,
Peggy's sister has been married around 2 years so this may not be the same person. When I was told this I thought that being in such a high position it would be difficult to get a meeting face to face but if it is not unreasonable then I would like to try. You have a better idea of what to expect and do over there than I would. My goals are twofold. Expedite and completion. Peggy is all in on this and wants to come on the K-1. I have the paperwork so...
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mustfocus,
Out of curiosity, i just did a search on BA airfares to Singapore from London. This is not a discounted fare by the way, just the basic lowest cost that BA offer. The cost with all taxes, fees and surcharges etc came to 699.30 GBP That is the airfare of 473 GBP and the taxes etc came to 226.30 GBP.
So still a hell of a difference in cost as from Canada, even if it is a little further to travel.
I'm pretty sure that you could also get a better deal, from the internet sites than the BA price too....
David....
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David,
thats seems to be a great price 699 roundtrip
Shaun,
dont worry your in good hands when you get here. i manage to get
my way in places i have no business getting into. it must be my
very distinguished look hahahaha
Ted
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Ted,
Not really, i've since done a very quick search on the internet sites and the average price there offering is around the 450 GBP mark Rtn, inclusive all taxes... I used the dates 8th of this month to the 22nd, the same as i did for the BA quote...
I have also just checked distances... and Toronto is 2500 miles further to travel than is London... so nowhere near twice the distance, so shouldn't be twice the cost either ...lol!!
David....
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Ted,
Both Peggy and I will be grateful for your help while we are there. I mentioned that I have the paperwork in hand to take. What I have is a Dept of homeland Security Form G-325A. It is one page double sided. Is there anything else I need to take?
Shaun
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mustfocus,
Out of curiosity, i just did a search on BA airfares to Singapore from London. This is not a discounted fare by the way, just the basic lowest cost that BA offer. The cost with all taxes, fees and surcharges etc came to 699.30 GBP That is the airfare of 473 GBP and the taxes etc came to 226.30 GBP.
So still a hell of a difference in cost as from Canada, even if it is a little further to travel.
I'm pretty sure that you could also get a better deal, from the internet sites than the BA price too....
David....
Tried... been to both big and small travel agents and on the internet...cheapest is $1360 + $346.34 for Air Canada...Toronto Singapore
BA (just for comparison) ... $1550 + $674.05 for the same thing except by BA.
Flight from April 1 to April 16 at cheapest rate available. Travel time for BA was 32 hours each way...
See how why I am so critical?
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mustfocus,
Just checked BA from Heathrow/Singapore on those dates you gave in your post ....came to 733 GBP but i went a day earlier as the price was half the price so 31st march... to 16th April
They seem to want the same sort of money from Toronto to Heathrow London as they do from London to Singapore. ....So total came out around 1465 GBP which to me is crazy money!!!
David...
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Shaun,
i dont remember all the numbers but yes you will need more paperwork
and we can pick up the packet at the consulate. that form will be used at
a much later date i the process
Ted
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Ted,
Thanks
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mustfocus,
Just checked BA from Heathrow/Singapore on those dates you gave in your post ....came to 733 GBP but i went a day earlier as the price was half the price so 31st march... to 16th April
They seem to want the same sort of money from Toronto to Heathrow London as they do from London to Singapore. ....So total came out around 1465 GBP which to me is crazy money!!!
David...
Hence why I said anything under $1400 is good for a trip to Singapore. Which is also what annoys the heck out of me.
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David5o,
It is expensive to fly anywhere anymore. If I remember right, the airport taxes, they are supposed to include all the extra security costs due to the crap that happened 911. I may be wrong about that though.
To fly from my place, Windsor Ontario, to London Heathrow would be in the neighborhood of about $1100 CDN. Then the flight from Heathrow to Singapore, $1100 CDN, (699 GBP converts roughly to $1100 CDN). Just to fly from Windsor to Toronto is $450 CDN. Then it was around $650 to get to London. This is not flying the cheapest way to Heathrow either, it is going there the Canadian route. My problem is Logistics, if I go the Canadian route.
I live 20 minutes driving time from Detroit metro airport. (thats from my front door to parking the car at the airport. Not counting the time for US customs to let you into their country, sometimes 5 minutes, sometimes 4 hours. depends on the time of day, and their alert level) Flying from the US has always been cheaper. This depends on the exchange rate though. Right now the exchange rate CDN to US is almost equal. ($1.04 at the bank friday) The best price to Singapore from Detroit was just over $1100 US. My point in the post was just that for about the same price I got the plane tickets and gave a friend some much needed business. She saved me about $50 CDN and this may be due to the exchange rate. My point was just that if you are going to pay a stranger $1000 for your trip or your friend $1000 for the same trip would you not choose your friend?
Just so you know, I am not trying to find fault with anything you say in my post here. I was just putting up my experience here in looking for a flight. I must have a list of 30 or 40 different web sites for pricing now. That is not including the airline sites. I could have waited to see if I might get a better price.
I also booked a trip to France through a travel agent, $793 CDN, for December 13. A different travel agent though.(a friend of my parents, my parents are going too. A surprise 50 birthday party for my sister.) Toronto to Geneva and it is on British Airways.(my sister lives close to Geneva) I have not been on a BA flight before and I am looking forward to seeing what its like.
When I meet my lady and if things are going well I may ask her if she can travel to France in december. I have not checked to even see if it is possible. I guess that would depend on France.
Getting to be a little long winded here so I will end now.
Dave C
mustfocus,
Just checked BA from Heathrow/Singapore on those dates you gave in your post ....came to 733 GBP but i went a day earlier as the price was half the price so 31st march... to 16th April
They seem to want the same sort of money from Toronto to Heathrow London as they do from London to Singapore. ....So total came out around 1465 GBP which to me is crazy money!!!
David...
Hence why I said anything under $1400 is good for a trip to Singapore. Which is also what annoys the heck out of me.
One of those web sites I found would put up a month calander and have the price of the day you pick as well as the most expensive day that month and the cheapest day that month. It was very helpful in choosing a day to fly.
Dave C
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Which site was that? That'd be handy...
If you haven't booked your seats yet, make sure you check out www.seatguru.com to plan that out and try to book those seats. You wouldn't believe how convenient it was for me.
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They call it a Tax but you pay for the airline to have the terminal at that airport. All the costs for them (security, etc.) are called taxes.
Here the international airport is in a U shape. I fly JetBlue mostly. It was on the the end of the airport then one day I went to pick up my daughters coming in for a visit and it was on the complete different side? In the parking lot (center) I flagged down security and asked him where it was? He said follow me... He took me to the other side. As I saw the area was closed off with yellow tape (No Parking)he lifted the tape and put me right in front of the door. Some luck there.
LAst August one daughter came down. Went to pick her up and they moved it again? To the center of the U. I guess the pricing at different areas are different? Cruise ship do the same thing. They pay a fee to use the port. So this makes the difference in the prices.
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Over here they don't reorganize the terminals too often, although I must say, at Pearson International (Toronto) Terminal 1 is the most minimalist terminal I have seen...quite boring too. They could have taken a design lesson from any of the new terminals that have opened up in Asia over the last decade... AND they're proud of it too...
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DaveC,
To be honest, i had no idea how much you Canadians were/are being screwed on your airfares, but i sure do now!! hahaha!! So yeah, i can understand clearly now what both you and mustfocus are saying....
About the taxes thing, They normally state ''taxes fee's and surcharges'' apart from the standard airport fee, the rest are just money making exercises, and any excuse will raise the cost or add a new dimension to the extra costs.
Take security, ....surely that should be part of the Airport fee, what are they talking about ''extra security??'' Security is what ever it takes to make the airport and the flights as secure as reasonably acceptable. Not charge every passenger every time they change the criteria.
Fuel surcharges ....Airlines/airports use the futures markets, and buy months in advance and base there fares and fees accordingly...this is just another money maker, nothing more.
Taxes.... This is where the governments want to get in on the act of gleaning money out of the passengers, and the latest one is the carbon tax, which is a total scam, as they already have taken there cut out of the fuel costs, so having taxed the fuel, they are now taxing you for actually using the fuel!!! All this, as the aircraft of today are getting more and more efficient in just about every way. Even the new A380 is more efficient than the first 747's, but were still getting shafted for flying....
On top of all these your now getting conned into paying for E Tickets, which amounts to a computer printout. What about the savings these airlines have made by not issuing a full regular ticket??? Your being charged for saving them money for god's sake !!! Now there dreaming up even more ridiculous charges on some airlines, like Seat booking, flight meals/refreshments, and some think that your baggage should be an extra too!!
To give an example of just how crazy this is going, .... a recent search on a flight from UK to HK the Taxes, fee's and surcharges came to 5 GBP, MORE than the airfare itself!!!!!!
Just remember, 10 years ago there was little to none of this crap, what's it gonna be like in 10 years time? lol!!!
David...
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Vince ....
Sure the ports charge docking fees, but do you ever see them listed on your ticket as an extra? The same with airline tickets in the past, airport fees were just a part of the cost of your airfare.
Jeez, can you imagine Carbon tax on a liner??? How many tons of fuel do those things take on, for a cruise around the Caribbean!! hahaha!!!
David....
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Which site was that? That'd be handy...
If you haven't booked your seats yet, make sure you check out www.seatguru.com to plan that out and try to book those seats. You wouldn't believe how convenient it was for me.
I am not at home so I don't have my computer. I am at my parents place in florida. If I can find it again I will try to post a link to it. I found that feature very helpful in choosing which day to fly from any airline. I did check out seat guru, I was just to the point that I could not justify saving $10 with another $50 worth of effort and said to myself screw continuing checking and book the flight. I'm a lot more worried with seeing if we have chemistry rather than saving another $10. And don't get me wrong, I'm all for saving money. It is just that I was more concerned with the reason for the flight, meeting her. We could struggle and check and investigate as well as shop untill we are blue in the face and find that it is a never ending saga. You ultimately have to say book the damn flight and live with your decision.
Dave C
Vince ....
Sure the ports charge docking fees, but do you ever see them listed on your ticket as an extra? The same with airline tickets in the past, airport fees were just a part of the cost of your airfare.
Jeez, can you imagine Carbon tax on a liner??? How many tons of fuel do those things take on, for a cruise around the Caribbean!! hahaha!!!
David....
David...
We are going to be taxed untill we have nothing left to give, except body parts and I'm surprised that there is no tax on some of those body parts!!! Revenue Canada auditor says to you during your audit..."Oh, I see you are married and being pleasured by your wife, there is a tax on that." Maybe I should shut up and not give them any ideas....
Dave C
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I am not at home so I don't have my computer. I am at my parents place in florida. If I can find it again I will try to post a link to it. I found that feature very helpful in choosing which day to fly from any airline. I did check out seat guru, I was just to the point that I could not justify saving $10 with another $50 worth of effort and said to myself screw continuing checking and book the flight. I'm a lot more worried with seeing if we have chemistry rather than saving another $10. And don't get me wrong, I'm all for saving money. It is just that I was more concerned with the reason for the flight, meeting her. We could struggle and check and investigate as well as shop untill we are blue in the face and find that it is a never ending saga. You ultimately have to say book the damn flight and live with your decision.
Dave C
Actually, I meant the seat physically, not the ticket. The ticket you have. But where you sit on the plane can determine what condition you'll be in when you get there. For example, with seatguru, I know Cathay planes use those funky power adapters, so I have one. Or that one of the video distribution systems is under that chair, so if I want to put my laptop under the seat, I can't do it if I'm sitting there, or more importantly, how far back I can tilt my chair for when I want to sleep.. :icon_cheesygrin: That kind of stuff.
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Dave (50), No actually as I said somewhere in here, I fly JetBlue. No tickets. I print the boarding pass from online. So maybe there is something somewhere that gives the breakdown of costs but... F. it. There's no choice is there?
Dave C, Where in Fl are you?
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Vince,
I know you are in florida too, right? I am in Sarasota right now. I have absolutely no plans other than relax and get myself ready for Singapore. I will be here untill about the 23rd or 24th. Am I far from you? If you want to meet up I have navigation in the car. All I need is an address. Gas here is cheap too. $2.65/gal. We pay about $4.00/gal in Canada.
Dave C
Mustfocus,
Yes I did check out the seat. I had said in an earlier post I cannot sleep when someone else is driving. (flying) I am trying to figure out a way to overcome this. The only seat that I could not stand was once I had one just in front of a bulkhead. You cannot put the seat back in those seats. Being over the ocean for most of the flight there won't be much to see out of the window. I chose an isle seat. I don't mind getting up to let people out. I know the emergency exit seats have more room but these always go first anyways. I know that I will look like crap when I get there. I have told her this and also that I won't be able to sleep on the plane. She has to work the next morning and the plane lands at 11:35 pm. I don't expect her to meet me at the airport, but I am hoping that she does though! She suggested that she wakes me up the next morning. I told her this is ok but I sleep nude. I don't think I will sleep much before I meet her. I also don't want to be so wiped out that I fall asleep on her. The first little while there will be very trying for me. I just want to put forward a reasonable first impression.
Dave C
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Your a few hours (3+) ride away and on the other side (west) I'm on the east coast. If I can free up some time I'll let you know.
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I was thinking of taking some time over there. I have no plans other than this friday morning. I should leave by the morning of march 24th at the latest. Let me know. My plans are very flexible while I'm here.
Dave C
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Vince,
I guess things are a bit different for internal flights, i think the international rules and reg's are somewhat different. But as you say... you can't do anything about it anyway....
David.......
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Just found a list, or part list of the Extra's associated with air travel from Travelzoo....
* Unless otherwise indicated, companies listing fares on
Travelzoo may not include all applicable taxes, charges and
government imposed fees. The following overview has been
prepared to give you an idea of what additional fees and
taxes may apply.
Hmmmm, don't know why they say this, as in the UK and Europe, it is now obligatory
to clearly state the ''Total Cost'' of the flight, holiday, or service where air travel is involved!!
*Passenger Service Charge: All UK air departures now incur a
nominal passenger service charge. This fee is imposed by the
airline to cover the cost of airport passenger facilities.
This is a per person fee.
Hang on a minute, ...isn't that a part of what the airlines pay to these airports in there
fee's to operate at that airport?? It always was, for as far back as i can remember!!!
How long before they start charging for Arrivals as well???
*Airport Taxes: UK or international government-imposed taxes
for departure and arrivals.
*Insurance and Security Surcharge: Since September 11, the
majority of airlines have added a levy to cover additional
security measures and insurance.
What extra airline security are they talking about here?? It's the airport that
undertakes security, and that's part of the service that the airlines pay for in
there airport fees!!! They actually want the passengers to pay for the airlines insurance!!!!
???
*Fuel Levy: In reaction to rising oil costs, many airlines
have imposed a fuel surcharge to flight bookings. These are
included in most scheduled fares but are additional for most
charter fares.
Don't believe it, ...All airlines both scheduled and charter use this ploy to charge extra's
*Booking or Service Fee: Many suppliers charge an additional
fee for handling your booking.
Now work that one out????
*Credit Card Fee: A number of suppliers will charge a fee for
payment by credit card. This may be a percentage of
the total fare.
*Ticket on Departure: Dependent on your departure dates
(generally for travel within 2-3 weeks of purchase), you may
also have to pay a 'Ticket on Departure' fee to collect your
tickets at the airport.
Now this is the way i have always got my ticket, from as far back as i remember.
So now they want a fee for a service that was aways free, to travel on there airline!!!
*Paper Ticket Charge: Since the advent of e-ticketing,
airlines and other suppliers have increasingly added a
charge for issuing 'paper' (or traditional tickets).
This varies according to supplier.
Huh!! ...There are already some airlines that charge for these e-tickets
This is by no means a full list of the extras you may be expected to pay. some airline charge for selecting a seat(s), others are limiting baggage allowance, and expecting you to pay for the difference, while some consider baggage as an extra full stop!!! Some short to medium haul flights, on some airlines now charge for meals/refreshments....
These Airlines and Airport Authorities are fast becoming institutions that has a prime objective of how to screw the passenger/customer out of as much money as possible!!!!
Makes you wonder if anyone will be able to afford to fly anywhere in years to come!!!!
David....
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I also found a list of the "Extra's" associated with air travel...
Rule 1, Pay up or stay home.
All other rules, see #1
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Vince,
That about sums it up Nicely!!!! hahaha!!
David...