China Airlines - Sky Team - Which FF program to join

[NinnyPoo]

I am about to purchase China Airlines (CI) business return flights to Europe.

My question is "Which frequent flyer program to join, given I am based in Sydney".

I can see use for Delta Miles, as travel to the US, but is there a local credit card that allows you to transfer miles to Delta Airlines? Or is there another Australian card allowing transfer to a different Skyteam member.

I still maintain a HK Credit card that allows transfers to Garuda and AirFrance/KLM, but this card wont be used that much, as only used for any non AUD expenses I have.

Many thanks to any Sky Team enthusiasts out there.

 

[NinnyPoo]

Have just found Where to Credit | Where to Credit China Airlines Flights in J Booking Class which is helpful..

Further suggestions appreciated and if Delta do they have a status match? Currently Star Alliance Gold and Qantas Platinum.

 

[dajop]

Have just found Where to Credit | Where to Credit China Airlines Flights in J Booking Class which is helpful.

It’s probably not that helpful as you don’t know what it costs to redeem. I think Delta’s program does require a lot of points for awards - but does have the advantage of having VA as a partner to redeem on. Worth looking into how much it costs for those redemptions.

 

[NinnyPoo]

Thanks @dajop.. Virgin to Delta would be useful.

Apologies all for the error in the title ., Air China should be China AIrlines (Rookie error)

 

[support]

Apologies all for the error in the title ., Air China should be China AIrlines (Rookie error)

Fixed.

 

[luxury-lizard]

I'm also interested in this as I am considering booking CI for early 2020 (booking won't be open for my dates for another month) for SYD-TPE-YVR - seems to be around the $4200 return in J (and if you pick your days of travel you can avoid the 20 hour layovers in TPE). My FF programs of choice are LM (*A) and AA (OW) so would like to avoid a bunch of orphan points in Skyteam but CI's price beats other options by at least $2000 (of course there will probably be a seat sale at some points which may offer better options).

Any general comments on CI would be welcome as the Skytrax reviews are not that great - many complaints on cancelled / delayed flights and poor customer service dealing with this.

 

[NinnyPoo]

I'm also interested in this as I am considering booking CI for early 2020 (booking won't be open for my dates for another month) for SYD-TPE-YVR - seems to be around the $4200 return in J (and if you pick your days of travel you can avoid the 20 hour layovers in TPE). My FF programs of choice are LM (*A) and AA (OW) so would like to avoid a bunch of orphan points in Skyteam but CI's price beats other options by at least $2000 (of course there will probably be a seat sale at some points which may offer better options).

Any general comments on CI would be welcome as the Skytrax reviews are not that great - many complaints on cancelled / delayed flights and poor customer service dealing with this.

Luxury Lizard, Based on dajop , Delta makes sense to me, as I am likely to fly to the US and within the US. The Virgin Velocity link ensures no orphan miles.

For CI as an airline, while I have not flown them from talking to people while I was based in Hong Kong they were seen as a good option (with stopover to North America). For me, I rate above the Mainland China carriers and Vietnam Airlines, but below Cathay and Singapore. Given prices though, it doesn't make sense to fly SQ, CX or especially Qantas at the time I want to fly. PE on all these airlines is similar pricing to CI Business. Also look at EVA, which flys into Brisbane only. They have a very good North American network, though their Brisbane planes are A330, when CI uses new A350 planes.

ps. Try Taipei for 20 hours though. It is actually an interesting city with great food.

 

[luxury-lizard]

Luxury Lizard, Based on dajop , Delta makes sense to me, as I am likely to fly to the US and within the US. The Virgin Velocity link ensures no orphan miles.

Also look at EVA, which flys into Brisbane only. They have a very good North American network, though their Brisbane planes are A330, when CI uses new A350 planes.

ps. Try Taipei for 20 hours though. It is actually an interesting city with great food.

Many thanks NP, I checked EVA and not only is it more expensive ($1000+) but their schedule requires a very long layover in TPE in both directions (added to the cost/hassle for getting to/from BNE) - would otherwise consider Korean Air which can be similar price with very short layover times.

Your tip on visiting Taipei for 20 hours is not appealing - when you land at 5am and depart at 11pm - just too tiring - would need a couple of days.

This is all a 'backup' plan if I can't get FF award flights - which to/from YVR is very dicey (using *A or OW where I have points). Last time we snagged a QF 'seat sale' for about $5400 which was 'good enough' - of course a day later it was matched by AC (my preference due to non-stop flights). So CI at $4200 or so looks pretty attractive.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Your tip on visiting Taipei for 20 hours is not appealing - when you land at 5am and depart at 11pm - just too tiring - would need a couple of days.

They should provide you with a hotel for this (STPC) - Novotel at TPE airport. And there's a free half day tour of Taipei which leaves at 0830.

 

[Melburnian1]

I'm also interested in this as I am considering booking CI for early 2020 (booking won't be open for my dates for another month) for SYD-TPE-YVR - seems to be around the $4200 return in J (and if you pick your days of travel you can avoid the 20 hour layovers in TPE). My FF programs of choice are LM (*A) and AA (OW) so would like to avoid a bunch of orphan points in Skyteam but CI's price beats other options by at least $2000 (of course there will probably be a seat sale at some points which may offer better options).

Any general comments on CI would be welcome as the Skytrax reviews are not that great - many complaints on cancelled / delayed flights and poor customer service dealing with this.

TripAdvisor has taken over from Skytrax as the most popular review site for airlines. On TripAdvisor 'airlines' is on a 'three button' submenu near the top of the home page if I recall.

Have you considered PR via MNL? It flies from BNE, MEL or SYD. Modern planes (although to YVR ex MNL may be seven across not quite completely lie flat in J) and probably fares below CI. PR is safe and good on board. Some days (typically weekends, although all days in Christmas school hols) it's a refurbished A333 (1-2-1 in J, lie flat), other days it's a new A321neo (2-2 lie flat in J).

Perfect English of PR staff compares to only fair on BR. I haven't flown on CI but have been in one of its lounges in TPE.

 

[luxury-lizard]

TripAdvisor has taken over from Skytrax as the most popular review site for airlines. On TripAdvisor 'airlines' is on a 'three button' submenu near the top of the home page if I recall.

Have you considered PR via MNL? It flies from BNE, MEL or SYD. Modern planes (although to YVR ex MNL may be seven across not quite completely lie flat in J) and probably fares below CI. PR is safe and good on board. Some days (typically weekends, although all days in Christmas school hols) it's a refurbished A333 (1-2-1 in J, lie flat), other days it's a new A321neo (2-2 lie flat in J).

Perfect English of PR staff compares to only fair on BR. I haven't flown on CI but have been in one of its lounges in TPE.

Thanks for the tip on PR to YVR - will price it out as well - I'm concerned about their older J seating to YVR and transiting MNL (not that I've ever been there but it seems to rank in the lowest of the low airports - and a couple of years ago there were reports of tourists been scammed by security staff "finding" prohibited items in their luggage). Anyway my outbound travel date opens next week and I'm hoping to find award seats on AC using LM but availability does not look great at the moment (I need 2 seats and would prefer to buy tickets than have a 10+ hour daytime layover or > 1 connection).

 

[MEL_Traveller]

In terms of seating I think China Airlines wins out here. Why fly trans-pacific in an angled lie flat when you can have a full flat seat? Food wise I think PR and CI look pretty much same same. But it's airline food, I don't think that would be the make or break over a flat bed.

 

[jase05]

CI for me every day, highly recommend them. Seats are very comfortable and a very nice cabin. Staff are pretty attentive and I’ve always enjoyed the meals onboard.
And yes Delta do have a status challenge so maybe do that and the return trip to Europe would easily qualify you as a SkyTeam Elite plus

 

[moffat39]

They should provide you with a hotel for this (STPC) - Novotel at TPE airport. And there's a free half day tour of Taipei which leaves at 0830.

Have just found this thread. Wife and I have a return trip on China Airlines from Brisbane to Vancouver departing in late April and returning in late May this year. Booked direct with CI with Premium Economy on the flight to Vancouver and Business on the way back for around $2900 each which I thought is great value. The stopover is around 18 hours each way and that was a plus with us so we can experience Taipei.

Was about to book the Novotel which on the Accor website is $149 for one night. Am Accor Platinum so hopefully will get early check in and lounge access. Have searched for China Airlines STPC but seems that China Airlines does not do this.

At this stage will most likely do the sightseeing in Taipei ourselves in the afternoon rather than join the tour.

If anyone does know more about China Airlines doing STPC could they please advise.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Have just found this thread. Wife and I have a return trip on China Airlines from Brisbane to Vancouver departing in late April and returning in late May this year. Booked direct with CI with Premium Economy on the flight to Vancouver and Business on the way back for around $2900 each which I thought is great value. The stopover is around 18 hours each way and that was a plus with us so we can experience Taipei.

Was about to book the Novotel which on the Accor website is $149 for one night. Am Accor Platinum so hopefully will get early check in and lounge access. Have searched for China Airlines STPC but seems that China Airlines does not do this.

At this stage will most likely do the sightseeing in Taipei ourselves in the afternoon rather than join the tour.

If anyone does know more about China Airlines doing STPC could they please advise.

Just call China Airlines and ask them for their stopover hotel. It's listed in the fare rules. They also advertise it on their website.

 

[moffat39]

Just call China Airlines and ask them for their stopover hotel. It's listed in the fare rules. They also advertise it on their website.

MEL_Traveller many thanks for your quick response. Will do that in next few days and post what they say including the conditions.

I could not see it on the website.

If the stay is limited to a block of say 6 or 8 hours may be better off booking with Accor and receiving my Platinum benefits. I doubt I would get my Platinum benefits if I had STPC!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

MEL_Traveller many thanks for your quick response. Will do that in next few days and post what they say including the conditions.

I could not see it on the website.

If the stay is limited to a block of say 6 or 8 hours may be better off booking with Accor and receiving my Platinum benefits. I doubt I would get my Platinum benefits if I had STPC!

I sent the link for the free day use to a family member the other day but it doesn't seem to be working now. Perhaps they withdrew it already (but this would only be in the last couple days). The stopover must be longer than 12 hours to qualify, so you'll be fine in that regard. But check the fare conditions, the STPC is written in there.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Family member just reported back. CI booked their stopover hotel today, but apparently it's only 6 hours and the passenger has to pay the rest after that.

I'm waiting for more details (additional hourly rate etc).

There's a free half day tour from the airport to Taipei. Twice a day with the first one at 0830. I'll find out if they can take that tour and get the hotel from 2-8 pm.

 

[ndro777]

I don’t know if this has been mentioned before but CI also provide free wifi for their business class passengers. You just have to sign up and get the vouchers. It’s 24hr voucher for each leg. Pretty handy imho.

 

[moffat39]

I don’t know if this has been mentioned before but CI also provide free wifi for their business class passengers. You just have to sign up and get the vouchers. It’s 24hr voucher for each leg. Pretty handy imho.

ND thanks for that tip. Our flight back from Vancouver is in business so will give it a try.

Yet to phone to request the booking at the Novotel but will report back once I do.