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Post by gretch on Jan 13, 2006 1:56:22 GMT 7
Okay, I know this info is probably somewhere in the archives but I've searched and can't find  , so, sorry for the repeat! Anyway, I'm ready to buy my plane ticket and have some questions; keep in mind I'm only staying for one semester (Feb20-July10), and my school's only reimbursing one way, they said up to 500USD. They reimburse in RMB (of course!) and will do so when they get the receipt (they say). And my money's tight on my end going into this purchase: Would you recommend buying round trip now, or one way? Is it cheaper to buy one way out of China, from China? Say do the schools ever have "connections" for better rates? I'm concerned about getting reimbursed in RMB and having difficulty converting to USD. I do want to do some travel after my contracts up, but not sure (regarding spending the RMBs). Last, any websites you can recommend? I can't find links here! Yes, I know there somewhere...  Thanks everyone!!! Next....Packing!  |
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Post by Dr. Gonzo on Jan 13, 2006 4:22:42 GMT 7
This link is on this board. It's recommended by Raoul, but what the hell. www.flychina.com/Generally you'd save money buying a 12 month ticket from your home country, but that isn't a golden rule. International airfares don't change a lot. There are specials, deals etc, you just hunt around. |
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Post by Mr Nobody on Jan 13, 2006 7:42:37 GMT 7
Hit the net, search for cheap flights. Usually, a return is considerably cheaper than two singles, at least from Oz. A 12 month return is more expensive than a 3 month return, things like that. Usually MUST buy a return unless you have a working visa of some kind already in the passport.
Staying for one semester, I would buy a return, but leave the other end open so you can stay longer if you want, or leave when you want.
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Post by Dr. Gonzo on Jan 13, 2006 8:51:10 GMT 7
I came in last time on an L visa and with a one-wayer. China doesn't have a problem with this: I think airlines push this one.
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Post by Lotus Eater on Jan 13, 2006 9:36:24 GMT 7
Universities do have some guanxi in buying tickets OUT of China - but be warned - you won't get the airline of your choice. If their friend is pushing Antique Aeroflot this week - that's the deal! And it is usually only from the airport the university town is in - nor if you wanted to travel to Beijing etc and stay there for a few days. Also airlines here don't book too far in advance. The best deals come out at the beginning of the month - so if you buy in the middle of the month for next month , you will frequently pay a higher price. But it can be nerve racking waiting to buy at the beginning of the month if you wanted to travel around the e.g. 7th. Not certain that helped at all.  |
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Post by cheekygal on Jan 13, 2006 12:15:15 GMT 7
elong.com it's a pretty good site though they do give you headache at times  but like anything else in China! ;D |
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nolefan
Barfly
Quod me nutrit, me destruit!
Posts: 686
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Post by nolefan on Jan 13, 2006 16:05:00 GMT 7
i second the elong.net recommendation. THey seem to have some of the best rates around
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Post by gretch on Jan 14, 2006 4:47:29 GMT 7
Thanks all!
Re: Elong- I've priced some flights on their website, good prices, but have tried to get through via phone and was on hold forever! So I'm still trying there.
I would like the return ticket to be open as to where I return from. My uni is near Xianyang/Xi'an Airport (Unis in Xianyang), but I'd like to do some traveling.
Later,
Gretch
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Post by cheekygal on Dec 13, 2006 20:38:08 GMT 7
Ok I take back the elong.com comment. Actually they've been only good about my local airfares. When it came to international... Boy, did I snap at them: I was trying to find a suitable route for my upcoming vacation and I asked them to check for me some connection. First time they said there is but they aren't sure. Second time they took my number down and didn't call back. Third time they did the second all over again. Forth time I forced them to stay with me on the phone and ... I snapped. They couldn't understand the airlines name, I was spelling it for 15 minutes. Then they said there is not such flight and no flights from one destination to another - which is a big fat bull because there is! And finally I heard the second all over again!!! DUH. More over, the common connections they have on the websites they kept repeating there was no seat available while all the airlines involved and other agents would give me availability.
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Post by Vegemite on Dec 14, 2006 13:21:14 GMT 7
It is cheaper to buy return tickets but I bought one-way tickets to China and we came in on work visas (yes, then 14 year old daughter had to get a work visa, too) as I didn't want to be tied down to returning via a certain route. I like travelling and wanted the option of roaming before returning. I did, first though, check out that the money offered at the end of contract by the school would cover at least one oneway ticket to NZ from China, I also made sure I got all my airpoints on the two tickets here. So here we are, no return tickets but the option to wander a bit and go home via some other route...if I save some money...got a hell of a shock the other day, though, when I checked airfares back to NZ and they were double what they were when I first came here. CCTV are saying right now on today's news, though, that the airfare increases are just a current glitch. These are the best airfare sites that I use for international travel. The one that's recommended on Raoul's doesn't actually cover flights to NZ so I don't know how many other destinations it omits. airfares.sentienttechnology.com/default.aspx?aid=6&agency=avuwww.kayak.com/ |
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Post by Noodles on Dec 14, 2006 13:40:23 GMT 7
Hey vegemite, I just checked prices to London on those sites you listed, both were way higher than i have just booked.
I booked direct with the airline i wanted and the price was pretty reasonable. About a thousand cheaper than either of those above.
That might just be for london, maybe to NZ they have good deals, i dont know.
I would recommend going straight to a few of the major airlines websites and checking what they can offer.
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Post by Noodles on Dec 14, 2006 15:03:01 GMT 7
I stand corrected - well actually i'm sitting, but it's still the same general idea.
I just re-checked on some different dates and that KAYAK site is pretty good.
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Post by Vegemite on Dec 14, 2006 18:38:07 GMT 7
I booked direct with the airline i wanted and the price was pretty reasonable. I would recommend going straight to a few of the major airlines websites and checking what they can offer. I just did that, and yep, one major airline that I checked had fares to NZ that were half the price on both Kayak and Sentinent...so it does to pay shop around. My plan now, when I decide to go home via whatever country, is I'll check options on a site like Kayak or Sentient and then go to the actual airline and see what price they offer. And I can't get over how cheap it is to fly to the UK from here...amazing...3,000RMB |
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Post by cheekygal on Dec 14, 2006 23:29:01 GMT 7
It's cheaper than flying to Russia! And as much as the train ticket to Moscow! And almost as much as flying to HK! It always bugs me when I look at the promotions for Europe. If only it was that easy to get a visa there (for people from my side of the world), I'd go there for a weekend.
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Post by Noodles on Dec 15, 2006 8:24:38 GMT 7
What's more amazing is that it is still the same as 5 years ago.
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, so, sorry for the repeat! 
but like anything else in China! ;D
