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Melbourne to Qingdao (China) $235 Return Beijing Capital Airlines March - July 2017 Luggage/Meals/Drinks Included

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Due to some users reporting that edreams.com.au were unable to fill their order (OzBargained) I have removed their links. The lowest prices that can be found now seem to be $235 through IWantThatFlight. See the links below and play with some dates yourself and report back your success.

A cracking deal to get to China on a full service airline. If you've never heard of Hainan Airlines, they are rated very highly on Skytax and you can read all their reviews here: http://www.airlinequality.com/airline-reviews/hainan-airlines/

Thanks to the user "lookwithin" for finding out that Beijing Capital Airlines is actually a subsidiary of Hainan Airlines, and they are flying their planes on this route using codeshare. So please note you will not be flying on Hainan Airlines as the websites suggest, you will actually be flying with Beijing Capital Airlines

All luggage/meals/drinks included (including alcoholic beverages. Hiccup.)

For any Port Adelaide or Gold Coast fans, they are playing in Shanghai on May 14th….Keep this in mind when booking if you were planning on visiting Shanghai anyway (2 hour plane flight from Qingdao)

Have a play with dates between March and July as it's pretty scattered, however I've included a couple of samples below. Good luck.

A couple of test dates:

June 2nd - June 20th:

eDreams.com.au $190: https://www.edreams.com.au/travel/?action=engine%2FItinerarySearch%2Fsearch&landingPageType=PASSENGER&locale=en_AU&mktportal=skyscanner&searchId=30760325478&searchMainProductTypeName=FLIGHT&testToken=1%23930-2%2310670-3%2327795-4%2341022-5%2317646566188-6%2347965-7%2351587-8%2316772430754-9%233413270815-10%234553079172-11%2322215341945-12%2327259310758-13%2334551089016-14%2326252872961-15%2332120600045&testTokenDate=2017-01-17T04%3A45%3A05&utm_campaign=MEL-TAO&utm_content=meta-desktop&utm_medium=metasearch&utm_source=skyscanner&utm_term=flight&fareItineraryKey=0,1A&segmentKey0=0,HU8672&segmentKey1=0,HU8671&skyscanner_redirectid=WMlUntxnEeafxAmkHGbJEw#/results/type=R;dep=2017-06-02;from=MEL;to=TAO;ret=2017-06-20;collectionmethod=0;internalSearch=false

IWantThatFlight.com.au $235: http://iwantthatflight.com.au/flight.ashx?&oc=MEL&dc=TAO&dd=…

May 3rd - 16th May:

eDreams.com.au $190: https://www.edreams.com.au/travel/?action=engine%2FItinerarySearch%2Fsearch&landingPageType=PASSENGER&locale=en_AU&mktportal=skyscanner&searchId=30760325478&searchMainProductTypeName=FLIGHT&testToken=1%23930-2%2310670-3%2327795-4%2341022-5%2317646566188-6%2347965-7%2351587-8%2316772430754-9%233413270815-10%234553079172-11%2322215341945-12%2327259310758-13%2334551089016-14%2326252872961-15%2332120600045&testTokenDate=2017-01-17T04%3A45%3A05&utm_campaign=MEL-TAO&utm_content=meta-desktop&utm_medium=metasearch&utm_source=skyscanner&utm_term=flight&fareItineraryKey=0,1A&segmentKey0=0,HU8672&segmentKey1=0,HU8671&skyscanner_redirectid=WMlUntxnEeafxAmkHGbJEw#/results/type=R;dep=2017-05-03;from=MEL;to=TAO;ret=2017-05-16;collectionmethod=0;internalSearch=false

IWantThatFlight.com.au $235: http://iwantthatflight.com.au/flight.ashx?&oc=MEL&dc=TAO&dd=…

April 12th - April 25th:

eDreams.com.au $190: https://www.edreams.com.au/travel/?action=engine%2FItinerarySearch%2Fsearch&landingPageType=PASSENGER&locale=en_AU&mktportal=skyscanner&searchId=30760325478&searchMainProductTypeName=FLIGHT&testToken=1%23930-2%2310670-3%2327795-4%2341022-5%2317646566188-6%#/results/type=R;dep=2017-04-12;from=MEL;to=TAO;ret=2017-04-25;collectionmethod=false;airlinescodes=false;internalSearch=false

IWantThatFlight.com.au $235: http://iwantthatflight.com.au/flight.ashx?&oc=MEL&dc=TAO&dd=…

Proof: http://imgur.com/a/gmjbq

For anyone worried about booking with eDreams due to their many negative reviews on the Internet, I've included the same fares over at IWantThatFlight which can be found for $222 return. These fares can be also be had for $234 return through https://www.hainanairlines.com

Credit again to Scott's Cheap Flights for this one

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closed Comments

    • +6

      Why is that buddy?

    • +22

      If negs were bullet wounds, you'd be the one who would have to leave a will :P

      • +10

        North korea? isnt it where you escaped from and left your whole family there for good?

    • Just don't use any escalators or elevators, avoid any roads and large crowds of people, and you'll be fine.

      • +1

        So… don't go to Qingdao?

    • In my suburb, if you mention the word China, its always a negative thing lmao

  • +5

    Such an amazing deal. Great find!!!

    • +12

      I agree with A), but China is massive… it'd be like saying I don't ever wanna go to Australia ever again because there are too many people in Sydney and Melbourne.

      • Australia, isn't that the place with giant spiders and killer crocodiles? Of and snakes, don't forget the snakes.

    • +7

      While it's not the greatest place on earth, to call it "one of the most horrific places on the face of the earth" is a bit much

        • +17

          By that standard no one should go to the USA either, last time I was there I saw a man take a dump on a street in San Francisco, I saw a gang fight in Idaho, saw a kid piss on a tree at the beach in LA - yup, better not go there.

        • +5

          @wallet72:
          Agreed. I'd actually rather go to China than the US.

        • +1

          I'm with Wallet72. Here in Australia I've witnessed a river of urine trickling along a shopping centre carpark. Originating from a tradie urinating under his car only metres from the entrance to the escalators.

          Have you been to Hollywood in Los Angeles at night? There a tonnes of unhygienic homeless people that would scare the heck out of you.

          As for spitting. Australia's international airports look the most disgusting. Discarded chewing gum mashed into the carpets, arm rests, tables. Not much better are city trains, buses, bus stations, foot paths.

        • +5

          I saw a tall white girl (probably 18-20 years old)piss under a tree in Hyde park(Sydney)with three other girls standing around her during daytime, I also saw white guys stretched their heads out of their cars and shouted at Asians for no reasons in Sydney.

          There are other stories as well which I won't list here.

          Don't be picky on others unless you are perfect.

        • -7

          @Mumbles:

          As I said, Shanghai was the 'semi okay place'. I really cannot properly describe China without evoking more rage from those who either haven't been there or somehow had some magical experience. The Chinese culture is just a very horrific polar opposite to what it is in the western world, its very self centered, materialistic, rude, disrespectful (not in all aspects) and just overall shit.

          I flew into the country as a non racist, I flew out contemplating voting for Pauline Hanson (I still wouldn't do it though she's just insane).

          As I also said about the tour thing, if you literally go to that country with everything planned for you, and you avoid actually mingling with the general public, seeing what occurs outside of the 'touristy areas' and focusing on yourself as opposed to other people you would have an amazing time there. In my 3 weeks there I believe I met about 4 genuinely nice chinese people.

        • -7

          @Hsinking:

          Once again, one of many horrible aspects of China.. But my experience involved witnessing parents instructing children to literally take shits on the footpath equivalent of Michael Place, then walk away from it.

          Your example doesnt even come close, its in a park and the girl was surrounded by her friends. Whilst its not a nice scenario its not horrific.

          And once again, I could go on and on about my experience of China.

        • +7

          well I'd suggest you don't bother travelling in the rest of Asia/SubContinent/South America/North America/Africa/Eastern Europe/Western Europe/Southern Europe/Pacific Islands.

          Actually you should just stick to err actually not even Melbourne, maybe just Toorak (Don't stray into St Kilda).

        • -6

          @supabrudda:

          hahahahahaha another person who clearly hasn't been to China or went there and didnt leave the tourist areas. I'm a fairly well traveled person. I've never been anywhere that even comes close to how horrible China is, but once again this was my experience, I don't know what your shitty comments are really going to do to change that..?

        • @rambutann: I've never been to China but the mrs wants to go to Hong Kong, I've been putting it off and suggesting other places though purely because of the lack of manners and how rude Chinese people can be. It's just not something I could handle.
          Same reason I would never go back to Rome…. I'm a pretty friendly person, can talk to just about anyone and try to be nice to everyone. The people i encountered there were just too damn rude for me.

        • +1

        • +1

          @OneMoreTune:

          Rudeness is a large factor that can easily affect a holiday.

          Although, Hong Kong is nothing like China at all. Its very similar to Singapore without the cleanliness and the people are super nice. They generally dislike chinese mainlanders. But you do see mainlanders there and they do stick out like a sore thumb..

        • +2

          @Hsinking:
          I'm glad you told me she was tall.
          That made all the difference.

        • @OneMoreTune: I've been to Hong Kong 5 times and China once. I think you'll be fine in HK.

        • +1

          So… you haven't been to Qingdao, which pretty much makes your posts irrelevant…

          Take your racist rants elsewhere mate.

        • rambutans are one of the most horrific fruits on earth.

        • +1

          @rambutann: Yes I'm probably not as well travelled as you, I've only clocked up 42 countries so far.

          And yes I haven't really been to China, I was only travelling by myself for a bit over 4 week, which obviously means I'm not as well travelled as your good self.

          Although I'm not sure how my comments were shitty?
          I'd put $100 that anything you've seen in China, I've seen on happen in Oz. In fact I'll just narrow it down to Melb. Did you ever see a turd in the basin in China? Ive seen one at Govt Offices here in Melb. Have you seen one on the seat or floor of a toilet in China? Again here in Melb, numerous times in a respectable Govt workplace right here in Melb CBD.

          Lesson: 20% of the world is inhabited by (profanity). Which means China has almost 10x as many (profanity) as we do people. Like here, the other 80% are awesome!

        • @unclesnake: You're not supposed to eat the hairy bit!

        • @lainey13: we talking about rambutans here?

        • He's clearly you are a racist troll who's got a gripe against the Chinese.

          Bringing up old debunked stereotypes of people pooing everywhere on the streets.

          I've lived in China for several years and and travelled across the country. Never seen people poop on streets.

    • B) China is literally one of the most horrific places on the face of this earth.

      Care to elaborate?

      • +1

        I clarified myself in a previous response to supasaiyan.

        I could go on and on about it.

        • +1

          Yeah I guess China isn't for you with your expectations set as such.

        • +5

          @jkcat:
          What expectations? He clearly defined his experiences. Can't really blame him thinking lowly of it if that was what he encountered.

        • +1

          @Maz78:

          Thank you jeezzussssssss.

        • +3

          @Maz78: What expectations? Experiences that are different from home but within your narrow comfort zone. It's fine that you draw a line on what's acceptable & otherwise to your own standards, but I wouldn't see exaggerations such as "most horrific" part of constructive conversation at all. It only attracts backlashes and you get nothing useful out of it.

        • @jkcat:

          I get your point. However, I'm not up for seeing people take a shit on the streets when travelling. Doesn't exactly bode well for the country you're visiting…

        • +3

          @Maz78: Like I've said, China's surely not for everyone and this is what I suggested. You get street loos, you ride CRH trains at 350km/h. You breathe smog, you touch a stone wall that erects for centuries. You get queue jumpers, you devour cuisines that beat the shit of any Chinese food you've ever had. It all boils down to preferences and how you are willing to get accustomed.

    • +11

      A) Visa costs too high lol. Have you ever travelled?

      B) Why because people don't speak English well and have different customs? You're a grub. Take a trip to the war-torn parts of ME and Africa and let me know which one is more horrific.

    • +2

      China is literally one of the most horrific places on the face of this earth.

      What? I haven't been there for about 7yrs, but I had an awesome time and the people were just lovely (and I travelled for over 4 weeks around the country). Usual scammers in the big cities (no diff to Oz or anywhere in the world). I met someone there who dropped their wallet in Beijing west train station running for a train, she was chased across the station by a local (yell at her in mandarin, who she ignored) just to give it back as she was getting on the long distance train. I doubt that'd happen in Syd or Melb.

      According to here it's only $au60 for a visa,
      https://www.travelchinaguide.com/embassy/australia/visa-appl…
      I believe it's $135 for Chinese nationals to visit Australia (since they're not allowed to do eVisa's, they have to do a class 600 visa)
      http://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Visa/Visa-1

      • +1

        Qingdao has implemented the 72-hour visa-free transit policy since November 16th 2015 to facilitate citizens of 51 countries and regions to enjoy a visa-free stay up to 72 hours when taking an international transfer via Liuting Airport. Read more about 72-Hour Visa-Free Transit.

      • +1

        You're forgetting the processing fee also

    • +4

      What a load of absolute crap. I am not Chinese, I have gone there many tims and loved every second. Just because you had a bad experience - don't jump to conclusions!

      • +4

        While I agree with not making conclusions too fast but really you are doing the same, just the opposite direction as you had a positive experience.

        What is concerning in this thread is that as soon as someone voices their opinion about something that is negative (as they had negative experiences) they get negged to oblivion.

        • Thanks for the PC response. Going by the number of negative votes I think most people agree with me. Feel free to neg this comment as well.

        • +5

          @Hoobi: what in the world is PC about it? They're pointing out you just did the exact same thing you told someone not to do!? What are you smoking!?

        • @Hoobi:

          Look at OneMoreTune's comment below - this is spot on.

        • +2

          I agree, (I +1 to remove your neg), but it was a pretty stupid statement/troll. There's stupid negative statements & consturctive negative statements. The original comment had nothing to back up the claims.

    • +2

      Not sure why you're getting negged, because you're right. A quick browse of Liveleaks will show you the truth of China.

    • Not sure if you are trolling or just simply dumb, but either way please get out of here.

      • -3

        Haha how would I be trolling or dumb for simply stating what my experience was of the horribleness that is China? I hope everyone enjoys their $190 return flights. That'll probably be the highlight of the trip.

    • +1

      If you are Chinese you will understand what rambutan is saying. If you have a different nationality and go China you will enjoy it.

      I assume rambutan has an Asian background.

      Its even worse if you have Chinese background and don't speak Chinese.

      • Not at all haha. I do however understand what you are saying… Especially the HK/China citizen relationship.

      • I actually consistently noticed public attitudes are improving in tier 1 cities like shanghai, not unexpected when the HDI, average income and living standard has been improving.

        As a Chinese, the cultural stuff is not novel to me, I'd rather go somewhere else too. But to call it one of the worst places in the world?

      • I didn't like China due to the pushiness, pollution and disgusting toilets but that was mainly Beijing. Shanghai was OK except for the mother who got her boy to pee in the cleaners bucket because she cbfed waiting at the Shanghai Pearl. Vietnam was more pleasant IMHO. That being said I loved the food and history, being on tour was the highlight. We hired a private tour guide for the group.

      • If you're Chinese and you agree with him you're an absolute failure of a human being. It's like a Jew agreeing with someone spewing antisemitic comments.

        • I don't agree that its the worst place on earth. Far from it.

          I know many Chinese that are not fans of mainland Chinese. I should clarify, most mainland Chinese outside of China are OK as they adjust to international cultures.

          It is the mainland Chinese still in China that are bad.

  • +2

    ive flown hainan without issue - theyre part of hna capital, one of the largest chinese investment firms who are on a spending spree at the moment… plenty of cash and their core focus is transport and logistics.

    • +3

      Including a 13% stake in Virgin Australia :)

  • This is one crazy deal! Too bad I don't have any relatives in China.

    • Adopt a kid from China now for free! See? I found u another deal!

  • Great find OP! Shame no dates during the beer festival. Too good to miss so will have a think tonight.

    • +2

      Might be all sold out by then. Crazy Cheap. Think fast!

  • +1

    I would never trust eDreams, way too many bad reviews.

    • I have used them once, albeit domestic only. No issues. As always with cheap flights you need to be certain of the dates you want to avoid trying to change and being stung later.

    • Added a note at top that if people are worried, they should pay the small extra bit and book through https://www.hainanairlines.com

    • I used them a few times for international flights, no drama so far. I heard stories when you need to contact them. I never have.

    • Oh god i hope its not that bad, i booked that Singapore Airlines error fare with E-Dreams

  • +6

    I don't know about lots of other places in china, but I really liked qingdao, home of the qingdao beer festival. It's on the coast and was where the sailing events were run for the 2008 Olympics. I went there from Beijing and immediately felt that familiar proximity to the coast and coastal casual-ness. I thought the people were pretty nice and have been told that as it was an Olympic city the people have more exposure to western people and manners. The area around the train station was a bit of a s**thole though, and you will need to know the chinese name for your hotel because the taxi driver won't know the English name.

    • +1

      That's true. Basically,be well prepared with your materials. Don't expect any one speak English, from sales assistants to taxi drivers, from restaurant waiters to hotel staff. Although most of those so-called white collars do speak good English. Also, there's no Gmail or Google Map, Google play, facebook, Twitter etc in China.

    • hahaha, don't trust taxi drivers around train station. they are a group of craps, others are all good in Qingdao

  • From wiki
    
    
    World's 5-Star Airlines
    
    Japan All Nippon Airways (Star Alliance)
    South Korea Asiana Airlines (Star Alliance)
    Hong Kong Cathay Pacific (Oneworld)
    United Arab Emirates Etihad Airways
    Taiwan EVA Air (Star Alliance)
    Indonesia Garuda Indonesia (SkyTeam)
    China Hainan Airlines
    Qatar Qatar Airways (Oneworld)
    Singapore Singapore Airlines (Star Alliance)
    
  • -2

    Enjoy the smog.

    • +6

      Please Don't get put-off by this BS about smog! Smog has never been much of an issue on the many occasions that I have gone there.

      China is one of the most amazing places I have ever travelled to (and I am not Chinese) - great food, great people, amazing places to visit, and generally inexpensive. I just booked a flight out of the blue when I saw this - $190 to go to china is a super deal!

      • +5

        I love China, but the pollution in Beijing last time I was there was truly horrific. Not a problem in qingdao on the coast though (relatively). Skip winter if pollution worries you.

      • Smog is only bad in Beijing, where the silly northerners still burn coal for heating in winter.

        • +1

          I saw fairly bad smog in Beijing, Shanghai, Yellow Mountains, Westlake and Xi'an. That was just before Winter kicked in, too. (Like days before Winter arrived; still 20 C weather).

          I had a good holiday, but as prolonged exposure to smog felt unpleasant.

    • +3

      Just tee it up when there's a big political/international event on, they shutdown the factories for a few weeks - magic how all that smog disappears!

    • Qingdao is a peninsula surrounded by ocean. You get less smog there than in Melbourne.

  • +2

    Great fare OP! For those who are worried about booking through edreams - iwantthatflight has slightly more expensive fares (~220 for my dates) and they are much more reliable. You can also book through the airline as someone already pointed out.

    Also note that there are ~$310 flight to Beijing (in June anyway). May work out cheaper if you are intending to travel to bejing because the airfare/train fare is about $75-80 one-way from qingdao to beijing.

    • +2

      Iwantthatflight are just a metasearch engine/ fare aggregator, not a travel agent that issues tickets. They will redirect you to whatever online travel agent they're affiliated with, probably edreams as well? Haven't checked yet.

  • +3

    Thanks OP! My uncle lives in Qingdao and he loves it there :)

  • +3

    Fare rules for this airfare:

    PERMITTED 01JAN 17 THROUGH 18JAN 17 OR 20MAR 17 THROUGH
    14JUL 17 OR 01SEP 17 THROUGH 05OCT 17 OR 09OCT 17 THROUGH
    08DEC 17 ON THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL SECTOR.

    Maximum stay is 1 month.

    • Thanks!

    • Struggling to find dates in the November-December period anyone had any luck?

      • +1

        It seems only flights up until 29/10/17 have been loaded into the reservation systems.

      • Special prices are for March - July only

  • +1

    Any deals for Sydney people?

    • They fly to Changsa and Xi'an from Sydney, give a search on your dates to see if there's anything special.

      • Only two cities directly from Sydney? Sydney to Xian $421 direct flight that's good price.

    • There are flights to Beijing for around AUD300 in June, but with China Southern. Service wise, China Southern is not as good as Hainan, but you would be all right if you are not extremely fussy with that.

  • thanks OP for sharing!

  • Amazing fare - Qingdao looks like a nice area to visit too.

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