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Shanghai/Beijing Return from Melbourne $284, Sydney $298 (Includes 2 Free Nights Hotel in Xi'an) @ Hainan Airlines

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Shanghai/Beijing Return from Melbourne $284, Sydney $298 (Includes 2 Free Nights Hotel in Xi'an) @ Hainan Airlines
Go to Deal
neil on 29/03/2017 - 15:28 google.com (2870 clicks)
Last edited 30/03/2017 - 16:09

Here is a cheap deal flying to China which includes a free overnight stay each way if you connect in Xi'an.

Hainan Airlines will provide you with free transfers and accommodation for stops longer than 6 hours in Xi'an but not Changsha. You also get 2 free checked bags and food.

IWantThatFlight lists flights for $284 connecting in Xi'an which means 2 free hotel stays.

Google Flights is showing more of the cheap deals than Skyscanner/IWTF.
The cheap Melbourne flights seem to mostly be in May however are available from April to September. $284 is the cheapest but many of the rest are around $293 (booked directly from Hainan's website).

Sydney to Shanghai - Google Flights $316 IWantThatFlight has it for $298 including 2 free hotel stays.

You'll have to play with the dates to get a cheap price.

Melbourne- Beijing - Google Flights is also on sale for $284. 2 free hotel stays + flights for $284.

Most stopovers don't look long enough for a free hotel stay. This one has 1 free hotel stay on the way back. Another, another.

Sydney-Beijing IWantThatFlight inc 1 free night hotel. $298 or here

Went to Xi'an 10 years ago and was blown away by Terracotta Warriors. My miniature terracotta army.

via Scott's Cheap Flights

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closed Comments

  • geek001 on 29/03/2017 - 15:30
    +1

    I am sure everyone is wondering the same thing. Whether scotty has setup a new website for flight? :)

    • neil on 29/03/2017 - 15:35
      +6

      Ha different Scott but also a tightarse.

      I signed up for his free list initially which was good but subscribed to premium trial for 1 month. Initially I was sceptical but he really finds some good flight deals that don't show up in aggregators. Until I can figure out how he is doing it, I think I'm going to continue onto a paid sub.

      • geek001 on 29/03/2017 - 15:38

        Now you are just confusing me. Different Scott who is TA? :)

        It would be interesting to find out how he is doing it? Just like how magicians do their magic. I will do some digging. :)

        • railspider on 29/03/2017 - 16:48

          He says he spends a lot of time on cheap flight forums (and no doubt, OzBargain) to find the deals.

          I agree though that he does find a handful of previously unpublished bargains - haven't taken advantage of any but appreciate the service.

      • geek001 on 29/03/2017 - 15:45
        +3

        Apparently manually using Google Flights. http://www.cnbc.com/2016/11/29/how-a-29-year-old-turned-an-o…

        • The J man on 29/03/2017 - 17:10

          That's awesome, good on the young lad.

          On another note, hell of a deal OP, have an upvote.

      • Cozzie on 30/03/2017 - 16:12

        So, I am lost. Who are these people?

  • 8200 on 29/03/2017 - 15:54
    +2

    LOL, the VISA for China will cost more than the airfare

    BONZA deal, the Canton fair is on mid next month.

    • BluBoy on 29/03/2017 - 16:33
      -1

      You can get a one week visa for free.

      • bbtlovebbt on 29/03/2017 - 16:44

        You can try to see what happen. Visa cost $120?

      • Cyphar on 29/03/2017 - 16:44

        This isn't true on an Australian passport. A visa is required. An L-Class Visa, a tourist visa, is $109. Only a transit-visa is free and is valid for 72 hours

      • runamuck on 29/03/2017 - 16:45

        How?

        • BluBoy on 29/03/2017 - 16:55

          144 Hour visa for the Shanghai (and a few other) areas:

          https://www.travelchinaguide.com/embassy/visa/free-transit-1…

        • bbtlovebbt on 29/03/2017 - 17:20

          @BluBoy:
          Find somebody to try to see what happen?

        • jeppetto367 on 29/03/2017 - 17:32

          This transit visa isn't valid for people booking these flights. This is only for people transitioning through China to another country with a long stopover.

        • Cyphar on 29/03/2017 - 17:46
          +2

          @BluBoy: The keyword there is transit. Not eligible on these flights. You need to be transiting through China onwards to another destination (That ISN'T where you came from) to qualify. IE; MEL > PVG > NRT and NOT MEL > PVG > MEL

        • BluBoy on 29/03/2017 - 20:01

          Handy if Hong Kong is just across the border…

        • Cyphar on 30/03/2017 - 13:13

          @BluBoy: Which has nothing to do with this sale. Even if you go to Hong Kong, you still need to come back and fly from the airport you landed it to the point of origin making that visa invalid.

    • narayansmate on 31/03/2017 - 08:40
      +1

      Visa costs $110 through official embassy and if there are 2 or more going, you can apply for an use http://www.visatochina.com.au and it costs $80 pp. I went to China last year with a group and a friend used it for three of them. Worked perfectly.

    • Blockchainsmoker on 01/04/2017 - 21:32

      Any details on the canton fair champ?

  • CASHONLY on 29/03/2017 - 16:16
    +8

    Is Hainan chicken rice on the inflight menu??

    • Truthbe on 29/03/2017 - 16:30

      My favorite

    • geek001 on 29/03/2017 - 16:58
      +6

      Lol. When you get there, don't be disappointed if you find that they don't actually have Hainanese Chicken Rice in Hainan. It is a dish created by the Hainanese immigrants in the Singapore/Malaysia region.

      • Cyphar on 29/03/2017 - 17:47
        +2

        Spot on. It's pretty much Singapore's national dish and so amazing. IMO the best one you'll find is in the Golden Mile Food Center….. BRB; booking a flight to Singapore

        • geek001 on 29/03/2017 - 17:50
          +3

          Well, if you are going to Singapore for chicken rice, may I suggest the 1 michelin star soya chicken rice there too? :)

      • alohame on 30/03/2017 - 15:25

        Well they do, except they don't call it Hainan Chicken Rice, but rather Wenchang Chicken Rice, which was brought by the expat to SEA years ago.

  • dosada on 29/03/2017 - 16:26

    It's a small army my friend.

  • ajxutao7 on 29/03/2017 - 16:31

    a spell mistake?
    Changsta: should be Changsha

    • neil on 29/03/2017 - 16:33
      +27

      🎵 Been spelling all my life, livin in the Changsta's paradise. 🎵

      Fixed, thanks.

  • adeboy on 29/03/2017 - 16:36

    That's so cheap, wish they will fly from Adelaide..

  • 00 on 29/03/2017 - 16:42

    Any dates in 2018 part of this?

    • neil on 29/03/2017 - 16:48
      +1

      Don't see any. Going through Google Flights it shows cheap flights up until October. It allows you to search to Feb 2018 but nothing there.

  • joannatan on 29/03/2017 - 16:43

    how the hainan airlines provide the accommodation, is it automatically provided or you need to claim it?

    • neil on 29/03/2017 - 16:51

      If it's like other airlines, they'll just provide you a transfer/hotel (usually one near airport) on arrival. I've had that when flying in Beijing & Jordan (different airlines). They'll pick you up the next day and take you back as well.

      • joannatan on 29/03/2017 - 16:55

        I did check with Xiamen airlines last time, and the customer service told me it is not guarantee, they only provide when the accommodation available, during off peak may be .

  • Cyphar on 29/03/2017 - 16:46

    That's a hell of a price and worth it just to see the Terracotta Army alone. Sadly there isn't much else to do in Xian so that transit through is perfect. Hainan Airlines is also very good too and the only one I'd fly with outside of Qantas to China.

    • Thatbargainhunter on 29/03/2017 - 16:49

      There is heaps to do in Xi'an.

      Mt Huan Shan especially, which is only an hour away by HSR.

      • Cyphar on 29/03/2017 - 16:59
        +3

        "There's heaps to do in Xian"

        Proceeds to list something outside of Xian.

        Huashan is actually in Huayin and more like 2 hours outside. Not something I'd consider in Xian

        • Thatbargainhunter on 29/03/2017 - 17:15
          +2

          It is 30-35 minutes by HSR.

          ie. G1548
          07:20 - Xi'an North
          07:50 - Huashan North 0h30m

          Add 10 mins Taxi to the base.

        • Eeples on 29/03/2017 - 19:07
          +2

          That's funny. That's the reason I went to xian. To do the plank walk for my 50th. At mt hua.

          Caught the HSR there, cable car up, traversed the peaks, plank walk, other cable car down, HSR back.

          Easily done in a day.

        • Thatbargainhunter on 29/03/2017 - 19:21
          +1

          @Eeples:

          You can easily walk up in a day and if you get the first train and a late train back, you could do walk both ways.

          It has to be one of the most ridiculous things I've ever seen travelling (and I travel A LOT).

        • ippy on 29/03/2017 - 20:47
          +4

          Try this -
          1. Eat at Muslim quarter
          2. City wall - walk/cycle
          3. Daming palace
          4. Wild goose Pagoda
          5. Drum/bell tower

          Lots of history in Xi'an, more than Shanghai for example. Which makes the former more interesting. That said, the Shaanxi museum is not that great.

          Eat eat eat.

          Mentioning Huashan is not unreasonable. It's like saying you want to come to Sydney to see the Blue mountains or Palm Beach or you want to go to Melbourne to see the twelve Apostles…. And Huashan looks decent.

        • ippy on 29/03/2017 - 20:48
          +1

          @sambutler9876: ridiculous how? I'm going in June!

        • Bluberry on 29/03/2017 - 21:35
          +1

          Not true. Very accesible by high speed train. Mt hushan is amazing!!! Loved tha planks and the chess pavilion.

          There are also so many others things to see and do around Xian. It is one of my favourite places to visit in China! Unfortunately most people only know about the terracota warriors so they only spend a day in xian and miss out on so much fun.

        • Thatbargainhunter on 29/03/2017 - 22:24
          +2

          @ippy:

          Just the fact that the plank walk exists.

        • illumination on 29/03/2017 - 23:47

          "There's heaps to do in Xian"

          Proceeds to list something outside of Xian.

          Lol that's funny.. however to be fair, if someone was talking about Sydney and what there was to do there, would you similarly point them out for mentioning going to the Blue Mountains, even though one could argue that they're also not "part of Sydney"?

        • Cyphar on 30/03/2017 - 08:36

          @illumination: On transit? No. It's a ~2 hour drive out of the airport on a smooth run. Spending a week there? You'd be silly not to!

        • ippy on 30/03/2017 - 08:55

          @illumination: I guess if you were to visit Sydney or Melbourne you'd never leave the CBD huh?

        • MrBear on 30/03/2017 - 13:06

          @illumination:

          even though one could argue that they're also not "part of Sydney"

          But they are not part of Sydney, so there is no argument to be had.

        • illumination on 30/03/2017 - 13:35

          @MrBear:

          I agree with you. It is definitely not part of Sydney.

          I was actually laughing at Cyphar's response to this comment because I found it funny, sarcastic yet factual.

          However, that wasn't my question. My question was:
          Would he point it out to someone if they roughly said the following:

          There's so much to do/see in Sydney, such as the Blue Mountains… etc.

          I don't think most people would point that out and say "uh that's not part of Sydney..", even though, yes, it isn't technically part of Sydney.

      • DavidFong on 30/03/2017 - 17:28

        A little bit closer to Xi'an (and very close to Xi'an airport) is the 'mini terracotta army' (Tomb of Emperor Jingdi / Hanyangling https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Attraction_Review-g298557-d50…), which is an excellent counterpoint to the Qin ShiHuangDi's more famous terracotta army.

        Although very close to the airport, and about the same distance from Xi'an central as the Qin terracotta army, unfortunately it is more difficult to get to, with a public bus which only runs about once an hour. Both the locals and myself usually hire a taxi/car to get to this attraction. I have never seen Hanyangling crowded, and it is a tourist attraction that most locals have not seen!

        The typical one-night Xi'an tour would include the Terracotta Army, the Xi'an city wall (about 13 km long I think, the longest intact city wall in China, bicycles are available for hire on top of the wall), the Bell Tower/Drum Tower/Muslim quarter, and Big Goose Pagoda (DaYanTa). The tour would usually also include the location of Qin ShiHuangDi's tomb, which is just a mound and so not worth going, and Huaqing hot springs. Although slightly pretty, Huaqing is of almost no interest to Western tourists unless already familiar with 20th century Civil War history or (somewhat sexist) Tang Dynasty lore.

  • railspider on 29/03/2017 - 16:48

    Do Hainan Airlines do (free) alcohol on flights?

    • Meconium on 29/03/2017 - 17:03

      Probably Tsingtao. Unlikely to have a lot of choice I expect.

  • grizz_li on 29/03/2017 - 16:56
    -2

    Sounds too good to be true.

    • Cyphar on 29/03/2017 - 17:43

      It's a sale price for new routes to capture the Chinese market share which is quite lucrative.

  • Tasmaniac on 29/03/2017 - 17:28
    +1

    Just got back from Shanghai/Beijing and I would suggest giving yourself plenty of time to unwind between activities. The subway system over there is great though and it's super easy to navigate both cities.

  • geek001 on 29/03/2017 - 17:47

    Hmmm.. Tried some dates but when I click through to the booking sites, I get: Due to airline fare or availability updates that occurred after we posted the latest price,
    your price changed from $240.50 To $385.50

    That is in USD. Also, I would question what sort of "free" accommodation they are providing. No details on the Hainan Airline page.

    • neil on 29/03/2017 - 19:47

      Try IWantThatFlight or Skyscanner. e.g. this IWTF link brings up a booking via mytrip.com.

      What dates/locations are you trying?

      • geek001 on 29/03/2017 - 21:00

        Hi neil I dont want to come across as an @ss. I think your deal is great. I was just venting my frustration at how the price changed after I clicked through from the aggregator sites.

        • narayansmate on 31/03/2017 - 08:45

          Hi. I booked yesterday direct through Hainan and got cheaper prices, $284 pp. No extra fees at all. I did a dummy run before booking. Return from Syd-Xi'An, didn't need to go to Shanghai or Beijing.

  • sal78 on 29/03/2017 - 21:08

    so annoying it's not ex bris

  • LKJ899 on 29/03/2017 - 22:06

    So it's only for May?

    • neil on 29/03/2017 - 22:21

      The cheap Melbourne flights seem to mostly be in May however are available from April to September.

  • fitmos on 30/03/2017 - 16:17

    Damn, what a hell price!

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