QF to PVG & HKG for $599 return

[Mattg]

Qantas is currently selling flights to Shanghai and Hong Kong for $599 return. Departures from SYD/MEL/BNE available at that price.

Travel dates from 13 October to 14 November 2016 & 8 February to 22 March 2017. Sale ends 6 June.

That's the lowest Qantas fare I think I've ever seen to Shanghai.

I just did a $599 weekend in Hong Kong (booked during a similar flash sale last year) and had a great time... another one is tempting!

 

[Buzzard]

Be nice for the long weekend in March.

 

[Cool Cat Phil]

Thanks for the heads up!

Dare I say I reckon QF might be getting in before VA's imminent arrival on this route.

Hong Kong is great for a long weekend getaway!

 

[Mattg]

I'm wondering about a long weekend in Shanghai. I believe you can use the visa-free transit for stays of up to 144 hours in Shanghai (72 hours in most other cities), provided China is a transit country between two other (unique) countries. If I were to fly to PVG on QF SYD-PVG, then return PVG-HKG-SYD with the PVG-HKG leg on KA or CX, would this qualify for a visa-free transit?

 

[Isochronous]

I'm wondering about a long weekend in Shanghai. I believe you can use the visa-free transit for stays of up to 144 hours in Shanghai (72 hours in most other cities), provided China is a transit country between two other (unique) countries. If I were to fly to PVG on QF SYD-PVG, then return PVG-HKG-SYD with the PVG-HKG leg on KA or CX, would this qualify for a visa-free transit?

If it's on the same ticket it should work.

 

[Fiches Mouser]

Seems to be matching (beating?) CX's prices: https://www.cathaypacific.com/cx/en_AU/offers/collection/world-on-sale-origin-melbourne.html

Not sure who came first though. Either way, very very tempting.

 

[Mattg]

Seems to be matching (beating?) CX's prices: https://www.cathaypacific.com/cx/en_AU/offers/collection/world-on-sale-origin-melbourne.html

Not sure who came first though. Either way, very very tempting.

CX got in first...

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....onal-airfares/cx-oz-hkg-asia-600-a-76279.html

 

[snabbu]

Nice prices for sure. Could be useful as a positioning flight to Asia to then jump on some of the cheap J ex-TPE (or similar) fares.

 

[mmchow]

Qantas is currently selling flights to Shanghai and Hong Kong for $599 return. Departures from SYD/MEL/BNE available at that price.

Travel dates from 13 October to 14 November 2016 & 8 February to 22 March 2017. Sale ends 6 June.

That's the lowest Qantas fare I think I've ever seen to Shanghai.

I just did a $599 weekend in Hong Kong (booked during a similar flash sale last year) and had a great time... another one is tempting!

Considering a long weekend (Cup day in Nov) in HKG and check out the CX F lounge. Anyone interested?

 

[Steady]

Interested yes, leave pass, unlikely

 

[serfty]

Qantas is currently selling flights to Shanghai and Hong Kong for $599 return. Departures from SYD/MEL/BNE available at that price.

Travel dates from 13 October to 14 November 2016 & 8 February to 22 March 2017. Sale ends 6 June.
...

Good fare, but with travel already booked/needs, I can't make it work for me.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I'm wondering about a long weekend in Shanghai. I believe you can use the visa-free transit for stays of up to 144 hours in Shanghai (72 hours in most other cities), provided China is a transit country between two other (unique) countries. If I were to fly to PVG on QF SYD-PVG, then return PVG-HKG-SYD with the PVG-HKG leg on KA or CX, would this qualify for a visa-free transit?

If it's on the same ticket it should work.

It's a valid itinerary for transit without visa.

While this will be ticketed on a single ticket, same or separate tickets aren't a relevant consideration for TWOV purposes.

 

[JohnK]

If only the airfare came with double SCs for those struggling to make Platinum by 31 May 2017.

I can't believe I am seriously contemplating booking this time considering my calendar is fully booked.

 

[Mattg]

I've priced a routing from SYD-PVG-xHKG-SYD at $692.

As long as less than 6 days is spent in Shanghai this should qualify for a visa-free transit. Plus, if a morning flight from Shanghai to Hong Kong is taken, an afternoon can be spent in Hong Kong before QF128 departs. A domestic sector from MEL or BNE to SYD can also be added on to the start of this trip for an extra $2, provided the stop in Sydney is under 24 hours.

I'm very tempted, but I think I have enough travel booked at the moment...

 

[MEL_Traveller]

As long as less than 5 days is spent in Shanghai this should qualify for a visa-free transit. Plus, if a morning flight from Shanghai to Hong Kong is taken, an afternoon can be spent in Hong Kong before QF128 departs.

You have 6 days (144 hours) and the remainder of the day on which you arrived. Counting doesn't start until 00:01 the day after you arrive.

morning flight from PVG is a good idea to minimise delays.

 

[Mattg]

You have 6 days (144 hours) and the remainder of the day on which you arrived. Counting doesn't start until 00:01 the day after you arrive.

Oops! Yes, you're right. Have updated my post accordingly.

 

[Tonkatough]

You have 6 days (144 hours) and the remainder of the day on which you arrived. Counting doesn't start until 00:01 the day after you arrive.

morning flight from PVG is a good idea to minimise delays.

Did this successfully about 9 months ago, but it did take a long time for the Qantas staff to issue me with my boarding passes prior to my first Australian domestic connecting flight, I think because it was a relatively new VISA agreement at the time. They had to search and search for the official VISA agreement as it had not been set up on the Qantas system for a passenger to be allowed on board without a VISA to enter China. Eventually a manual override by phone to Sydney. Hopefully things have changed now. From memory, once in PVG there was relatively good signage and was hassle free.
Visa-free Entry into Mainland China

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Did this successfully about 9 months ago, but it did take a long time for the Qantas staff to issue me with my boarding passes prior to my first Australian domestic connecting flight, I think because it was a relatively new VISA agreement at the time. They had to search and search for the official VISA agreement as it had not been set up on the Qantas system for a passenger to be allowed on board without a VISA to enter China. Eventually a manual override by phone to Sydney. Hopefully things have changed now. From memory, once in PVG there was relatively good signage and was hassle free.
Visa-free Entry into Mainland China

Me thinks the check-in agent didn't know how to use TIMATIC! Two years ago friends boarded QF (MEL-SYD-PVG) using TWOV no problems.

24/72 hour TWOV has been around for a long time. 144-hour commenced Jan 2016 (and the chinese embassy sites haven't even been updated in most cases).

 

[mmchow]

Something doesn't adds up. Partner and I booked the flight - MEL-SYD-PVG and return PVG-HKG(KA)-MEL and the points and status credit earned is showing 800 and 10. Calculator is showing 6550 and 85. All other flights with QF. Anyone had any idea?

 

[QFflyermelbourne]

Yes I'm wondering if there is a condition buried in the sale that these fares don't earn points and status credits? I haven't had a moment to check but I did a dummy booking yesterday for Mel-Syd-Pvg-Syd-Mel and when I got to the final screen it was saying the booking would earn 20 status credits and 1600 points?!