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These are the cheapest fares to Europe we have seen in the last 4 years! Flying Air China and travelling in January - June/24. Prices listed include 2x 23kg checked luggage, meals and entertainment.
Air China: Rome Return Melbourne $886, Sydney $922. Istanbul Return Melb. $861 (EXPIRED), SYD $894 (EXPIRED) via Beijing @ IWTF
900
nocure on 04/01/2024 - 16:15 iwantthatflight.com.au (3241 clicks)
Last edited 10/02/2024 - 21:54 by 1 other user
Last edited 10/02/2024 - 21:54 by 1 other user
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Not to transit
In many major cities (Beijing is included), Aussies have 72 hours visa-free transit
https://www.visaforchina.cn/BER2_EN/generalinformation/news/…You just get a 24-hour visa when you land - they just look at your boarding pass and stamp it. You have to stay in the airport though.
Not if you have a transit stop…. be careful and check the ticket beforehand.
If you have an "A-B-C" ticket, then you get the transit visa on-arrival in the Chinese airport.
The immigration staff issue 1-day and 3-day Transit Visas, according to your plane ticket.
I've read about 7-day transit Visas, but I've not heard much about them.
( A - Sydney, B - China, C - Another country outside of China )
that is called 144 hour visa-free transit.
which you can use China as a transit county to stay 7 days.I know of the 144-hour Visa,
but I had not read/heard of anyone getting it.Not so welcoming giving you 144. It means death in Chinese
Beggars can't be choosers I know, but a 2 day travel each way.. Rather spend the money?
Some companies were used to offer hotel staying in this cases to spend that time, I dont know if they still do it
Do you mean… hotels?
https://www.csair.com/en/tourguide/transit_flow/free/
China Southern if your layover is 6-30 hours will provide a free hotel
As someone who frequently travels and recommend it as much as I can. I am all for saving money if it means breaking that barrier of getting out and seeing the world.
"All roads lead to Rome"
And transiting Beijing is often a horrid experience, many travellers kept in transit areas without access to food or water for unknown reasons.
No way, Air China is ok, i was sent to a hotel near the airport for the flight next morning
Yep and that gap gets closed right up if you start factoring in the cost of an extra day of leave…
China is not a great connecting point from Australia for many reasons…
What are the reasons?
ask pythagoras
Via China
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|Via Dubai
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x
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⟍As if that mattered IRL.
You may travel in a straight line and the layovers may make the journey longer than going full on zigzag but with smoother transfers. Also prices - as proven in this deal - don't reflect the mileage.
Not the greatest itinerary in this deal, but the price is unbeatable.
At the risk of sounding like a nerd….Pythagoras only works on a flat surface. The curvature of the earth leads to counterintuitive shortest routes between two points.
@mongos: But pythagoras does apply to isosceles triangles and that is what is posted by Johnny 🐝. Cheap. Irrespective of if it reflects reality.
@mongos: While true, no great circle mapper is going to show a favourable route from AUS to EU as via CN
@SenZubEanS: Great circle mapper shows Syd to London as directly overflying Guangzhou/HK. That’s why for a long time Qantas used Hong Kong as the stop in the kangaroo route,
Russia allows Chinese planes to fly through Russian airspace,
so the Europe flight could be quicker AND you get to see China on the way :-)The issue with a Chinese transit is,
your luggage could be opened up by authorities,
while your plane transits China.
( The USA does this too )You do know the earth is not a flat surface right?
Pythagoras does not told you the following:
SYD ⇾ PEK8934 km
PEK ⇾ LHR8175 km
Total:17110 kmSYD ⇾ DXB12039 km
DXB ⇾ LHR5505 km
Total:17544 kmAnd if you fly from Brisbane, basically Brisbane to Beijing then to London, is a straight line, which means that’s the shortest route if you have learned Pythagoras correctly.
I think Dubai and Doha are the best transit options to Europe. But the price is apprx $2300-$2400/pp. So this Air China deal is really attractive. Start to think if I want to save the money or to save my lower back…….btw Beijing is such a historical city with totally different culture. Not bad to experience it. Plus the food is amazing and cheap.
I think Dubai and Doha are the best transit options to Europe
Why?
Having done Dubai, Doha, and Singapore transit to Europe, Singapore shits on the other two for better airport and many more options during the layover. I haven't used Hong Kong as a stopover but been there many times and would choose that over the Middle East as well.
really good price. Air china not bad (similar to Qantas or even better)
Air china not bad (similar to Qantas or even better)
To die hard fans - sure. To an average non-Chinese traveller - quite a risky statement.
It is a relatively safe airline.
What risky?
They might - *gasp* - argue with you on the internet
hard disagree. the seats are so uncomfortable and inflight entertainment not as good
lol air China is no way comparable to Qantas. You get what you paid, though this is not bad price
you pay a qantas price for air china service flying qantas
or pay air china price and fly air china servicetake ur pick
Qantas is a joke as well… on average 10 yrs old airplanes
What's the problem with that average? It's not a laptop, it's an expensive vehicle built to last and you're spending there maybe several hours.
@pizzaguy: The problem is paying premium for a fraction of the worth. It’s like you’re paying premium for leasing a 10 yrs old car.
I don’t mind for newer 2-3yrs car but for premium fee. Having said that, newer vehicle or plane does come with newer technology and safety.
Since you already asked and That’s the problem.
For that long in the field, the plane should already made a return from its investment. And the mileage would probably had been very high.
on average 10 yrs old airplanes
And 60 year-old trolley dollies. Ugh.
I'd say they are not that different. different shades of mediocre
Have you ever fly Qantas recently? Or Air China recently? I did, both. QF9 from Perth to London Economy / QF10 London to Perth Business and CA166 to PEK Economy
QF: Very standard services, Biz passenger do get a free pyjama home, standard food, burned beef steak on Biz, + very attentive crew.
CA: Standard services, standard food + attentive crew (strong accent when speak english, but tried their best to accommodate)Pay for QF and travel QF? Nah
Pay for CA and travel QF/Ca? Yes sureQantas couldn't land its plane at Queenstown, so the genius pilot landed at Christchurch and forced me on a 6 hour bus ride. When I asked them for compensation, they said to go away, thanks Qantas
Like you said, they couldn't land. Did you expect them to take you back or let you pick the drop off town?
They should have the option of parachutes, broaden their services….
But our compensation system does not compute.
@carrawa: They should offer hotel stay rather than forcing you on a 6-7 hour bus trip. No food, no water, no toilet breaks, they don't care about anyone.
All other planes landed at Queenstown except Qantas on that day.
When landing at Christchurch, the landing bump was so strong, it hurts your back
everybody complained on board. It shows their pilot is not being trained properly nowadays after Alan Joyce' blood sucking corporate culture.Qantas is hopeless, a third world airline now
The fatality numbers say otherwise.
Bring ur own food onto the plane. Air china has one of the worst plane food 😭😭
Xiamen and Sichuan Airlines have some of the best food
Never tried but good to hear! Even the smell of their food makes me feel sick 😂
Amazing prices, would totally travel at this price - wish I had the leave!
Might be hard getting out of the airport with a transit visa with the final destination being Turkey even if you're an Australian citizen. Even harder or impossible if you're a dual (Turkish/Australian) citizen. Plenty of stories online regarding visa's getting rejected for people who have entered Turkey in the past.
Pity there's no easy way to get to the UK…
Maybe use Rome as a stopover. Amazing city. A big history theme park with great food and wine
One of the best cities I've visited, wonderful place.
Rome(FCO) is like THE budget gateway in the EU, possibly ATH too.
You can get a return flight to NYC from SYD for <$1450 which is crazy cheap. But the routing is equally crazy with long transits:
SYD-PEK-FCO-CPH-ARN-EWR
with great food
Really? After my 5th day in a row of pizza and pasta I was screaming for something else… but it's all they have…
I'm calling BS, they had great coffee and gelato when I visited.
Plenty of meat dishes if you search a bit harder
Plenty of meat dishes if you search a bit harder
Yeah €50 for a steak… almost no options where you can get a cheap schnitty of steak for a decent protein hit.
I've traveled quite a bit, and I can't think of anything place that beats Australia for variety of cheap good food. Happy to hear some nominations though that I might not be aware of.
@1st-Amendment: variety may not be there because Australia is very multicultural.
I do find Japan and Taiwan food trumps Australia in terms of quality and value.
Some Eastern Europe place has good and value food like Austria, Czech Republic and Greece….
It is Western Europe that is expensive and boring. I remember by the third day in Paris, I was noodle hunting. Pastry in France was great though.
I do find Japan and Taiwan food trumps Australia
1000%. Some of the best food in the world bar none and unbelievably cheap.
China Southern: London Return from Melbourne $1161, Sydney $1184, Brisbane $1287 (2x 23kg Bags), March to June @ Google Flights https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/824424
Tbh kinda sad China didn't include us with their new visa free policy (the Dutch, French, and some other EU countries got it recently) when we're a relatively big trading partner.
Would love to visit their big cities.
They deliberately exclude popular migration country because all those Visa centre is a big money milking machine operate by well connected PRCs. Allowing those countries visa free entry will burn a big hole in these people’s wallet.
All those countries in the list are there to lure more tourist into China to aid its declining economy, except Malaysia, not sure why it is on the list🤔🤔
There is an old Chinese say “Do not temper with others vested interest!”
LMAO, you make up the best theories on OzB.
Thanks for the laughthey are very correct, the china visa service centres are terribly inefficient and inconvenient bureaucracies and nickel and dime you for everything
they make it nearly impossible to get multiple entry visas as they want people to pay for the single visa every time to increase their revenue - they are not there as a public service, they exist as a business for the well connected people
@TightAl: Electronic Travel Authority visa (subclass 601) and eVisitor (subclass 651) are very easy…..
@syswong: You got no clue.
Very easy for someone in Africa to apply this visa? Or China? Or Vietnam? How about Philippines?
Lmao absolute joke. More laughs, thanks for exposing yourself.@TightAl: You obviously Lmao too much and not think with the right part.
Do you think Australia should just let everyone in whiteout any screening?
What Australia is doing is they are providing a very easy way of applying tourist visa as long as the criteria is met, and one of them I think is free.
PRC on the other Charge everyone a VISA fee no matter what your condition is.
Your sour and bitterness against Australia make me wonder why the F are you even staying here? Go home if you are not happy here!!
@syswong: You didn't even look at what those visa requirements are and you cited them. LoL
That visa literally excludes all the countries i mentioned but I know, your brain is wired differently.
CCP BAD.Actually nothing i've said is sour and bitter to Australia. But keep thinking that :)
I don’t understand what’s mumbling all about… China visitor visa is cheap comparing to applying for oz tourist visa…
We should be grateful comparing those people who live and hold SEA passport especially ASEAN. Wherever they go around they need a visa
Just for your reference, all in A$
EU 125
UK 217
USA 32
AUSTRALIA 145
CHINA 110These people have NO clue.
Ignorant Australians somehow think everyone else can apply online and waltz onto a plane into Australia.
Looking to go to Europe late August until mid October. Are there likely to be deals arriving closer to departure? Or better to lock in sooner than later?
As somebody who recently flew to Rome through Beijing using Air China - the flight itself was great (it was very good to leave Sydney in the evening and arrive in Europe late-ish too), the airport - not so much. The layover was 10 hours on the way there and 12 on the way back. I was planning on getting the 72 hour visa to leave the airport, and you're meant to be able to get it on the spot in Beijing, you're meant to talk to a man that gives 72 and 144 hour visas. But the man just looked at my boarding pass and said I'm not getting one and just told me to go stay in the airport and pointed to the 24 hour visa queue. So be prepared to not be able to leave the airport despite qualifying for the 72 hour visa as the man can just say no. Maybe the man was just in a bad mood or hungry or something, I don't know. Maybe I could have been a bit more persuasive/pushy, but I chose not to do it in China.
The terminal you stay in is relatively modern, but not much going on in terms of amenities - there are a few coffee shops (Costa and Starbucks) and a few places to eat (Pizza Hut and KFC, but both close at like 5 pm). The terminal was also pretty cold at night (I reckon around 18 degrees). Wifi didn't work either, so maybe get an eSim from Airalo or something.
Maybe the man was just in a bad mood or hungry or something, I don't know. Maybe I could have been a bit more persuasive/pushy, but I chose not to do it in China.
May be he is desperate for a cigarette, paid a lot of money and handle by a bad quality lady the night before, or better rushing to his "regular appointment" with lady staff / friend….
I didn't expect the shotty airport to have no restaurants either unfortuately and had a similar experience with the transit. I'm guessing you probably didn't ask in Chinese hence the response given, but you're not allowed out of the airport unless you have a layover over 24h despite the visa free rule.
I heard that they scan your fingerprints when you transfer via China, is this correct? Story via a podcast travelling Taiwan to Australia via China for an Australian, and had to go through gates, get scanned, then through gates again to next flight to AU.
and face scan too
That is CCP big brother just for a transfer??? Surely they had ripped enough data from TikTok.
For the unaware, that should be a compulsory note in the deal!
What can you do? Aussie are sucked into CCP deals, cheap mobile, cheap cars, cheap visa, cheap flight that route over Russia…..
I personally think cheap flight deals that routes over Russia should not be published at all as it is a serious safety issue. Then many will disagree and claim mindset like me is interfering with their freedom of choice!
US does the same. And while China rips through tiktok data, US' NSA rips through Google, Bing, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, etc .
@wisdomtooth: At least there is some level of transparency and accountability with the US. CCP do whatever the F they want and you have no transparency, no rights, and no accountability. That is the difference.
At least there is some level of transparency and accountability with the US
oh you sweet summer child
@TightAl: Every country has NSA like agency. Say someone got arrested at lease in Australia, Europe and USA there are ways you can find out what happen. In country like Russia, China, North Korea…. you have no way of finding out and very often you just "Suddenly die" like Li Keqiang. if Julian Assange is from Russia or China, he would be dead long time ago. So there you can argue alll you want but there are fundamental difference in our system.
@syswong: You're making it out as if Julian Assange has it good. Fundamental difference lmao. Sorry but you have ZERO clue of what the NSA is doing.
NSA doesnt want ANYONE to know what they are doing.
More comedy. Keep it up. Reading too much Apple Daily.Sorry but you have ZERO clue of what the NSA is doing.
But you do?
Upstairs for thinking, downstairs for dancing…
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Anyone know if there are any visa requirements going through China for Australian citizens?