Air from US to China

[lori450]

We are planning a land/cruise trip to China June 2013. We live in Ft Lauderdale and I need to fly into Beijing and fly home from Shanghai. I would soooooo love to be able to go business class at least on the way to China. But it is sooooo expensive. Does anyone know any ways to achieve this without breaking the bank. I did see a credit card that will give me 30,000 points (United Airlines) but I have to get it and use it for 90 days before I can access the points. I knew that Cruise Critic would have all the pros. Thanks for any advice you can give me.

[Globaliser]

I would soooooo love to be able to go business class at least on the way to China. But it is sooooo expensive. Does anyone know any ways to achieve this without breaking the bank. I did see a credit card that will give me 30,000 points (United Airlines) but I have to get it and use it for 90 days before I can access the points.

A lot depends on your perspective on pricing, and what you think is expensive and what isn't. I don't know your dates, so have only been able to do a very rough search to get an idea of prices.

 

I can see round-trip business class tickets to Peking and back for about $2,800 if bought now. Is this the price level that you've described as "sooooo expensive"? I know it's way beyond many people's budgets, but equally I don't know whether you've only been able to see fares that are much higher than this, and that $2,800 is actually within the ball park that you'd be prepared to pay. After all, even the cheapest economy ticket is likely to be more than $1,600 if bought now, so to my mind $2,800 is a pretty good price.

 

Another ball park figure for doing it on frequent flyer points is this: To get a round-trip business class ticket to China on UA, you'd need 120,000 points per person. So even if you collected that 30,000 bonus, you'd still have to collect over 200,000 more points to have enough to redeem for two business class tickets. Even buying an economy ticket and upgrading would cost you 60,000 points per person round-trip, and there are all sorts of restrictions around doing that. Everything to do with frequent flyer redemptions is subject to availability, which is usually much tighter than for cash tickets.

[Turtles06]

We traveled to China a year ago (for a trip with Viking River Cruises), flying into Beijing nonstop from the East Coast, and flying back from Shanghai (changing planes in San Fran as there were no nonstops from Shanghai). Fortunately, we had enough FFM on United to book business class seats using miles. We accumulated the miles mostly from a United affinity credit card. That did take some time.

 

*However,* even though we booked nearly a year in advance, the very day the flights opened for booking, United would not open up any business class seats for award travel on the flight from Shanghai. We were put on a waiting list (number one) for business class, but in the entire 11 or so months, United never opened up those seats for award travel, and we flew back across the Pacific (10 hours) in Economy Plus, which even so was pretty uncomfortable. (We were able to book biz class to Beijing the moment the flights opened for booking.)

 

I wound up fighting with United to give us back the miles they'd taken from us for biz class on the Shanghai flight; it took awhile, but I finally got them back.

 

As noted above, lots of restrictions on using miles for travel, but I highly recommend being able to get biz class on the way over at the very least, esp if you have a 14-hour nonstop as we did.

 

One tip if you do use miles: at least on United, booking a one way ticket with miles "costs" no more in miles than a roundtrip. If that's the case on your airline, go ahead and book your outbound flight the moment it opens for booking. If you wait until you can book your return, you may be out of luck snagging award travel seats on the outbound flight.

 

Good luck!

[Acrusa]

We traveled to Beijing for our cruise on Oceania 2 years ago. I booked 3 seats in economy took the full row, the price was $1300.00 round trip per seat.We did not have enough for FF miles.You must book this with a TA only.Our tickets read Mr A and Mrs A and extra passinger A. This was on Air China non stop from JFK to Beijing . Then from Hong Kong to Beijing then non stop to JFK.The only problem we had was when we arrived into Beijing from Hong Kong, the people at the desk could not concive of 2 people with 3 seats , but we had a superviser strighten it out.The round trip was $4600.00 and we had the full row to layout in.

[lori450]

That is SO clever! Thank you! Since I posted this, I discovered a company that arranges for low cost business class. I'm waiting to hear from them, but if it doesn't work out, I will buy the three seats! Thanks again

[lori450]

A lot depends on your perspective on pricing, and what you think is expensive and what isn't. I don't know your dates, so have only been able to do a very rough search to get an idea of prices.

 

I can see round-trip business class tickets to Peking and back for about $2,800 if bought now. Is this the price level that you've described as "sooooo expensive"? I know it's way beyond many people's budgets, but equally I don't know whether you've only been able to see fares that are much higher than this, and that $2,800 is actually within the ball park that you'd be prepared to pay. After all, even the cheapest economy ticket is likely to be more than $1,600 if bought now, so to my mind $2,800 is a pretty good price.

 

Another ball park figure for doing it on frequent flyer points is this: To get a round-trip business class ticket to China on UA, you'd need 120,000 points per person. So even if you collected that 30,000 bonus, you'd still have to collect over 200,000 more points to have enough to redeem for two business class tickets. Even buying an economy ticket and upgrading would cost you 60,000 points per person round-trip, and there are all sorts of restrictions around doing that. Everything to do with frequent flyer redemptions is subject to availability, which is usually much tighter than for cash tickets.

 

OMG! where are you finding business class for $2800????? Economy is $2200. We are flying from MIA/FL either 6/9/13 and returning from Shanghai on 6/28 or leaving on 6/11/13 and returning 6/30. The "guru" that is helping me says he might be able to find business class for $3500 each round trip. Can you tell me where you found the $2800 business class?????

[jcerst]

We found an unbelievable round trip on Qatar Airlines by going through Rome to Doha to Beijing, returning from Singapore-Doha-Rome.

$4900 for two business class.:cool:

Miami round trip on Alitalia premium economy non stop.:D

Qatar has won the airline of the year award two years in a row!

Good luck!

[Ashland]

We just recently used Air China LAX-Beijing (777-300ER) and took the chance and booked the outbound aisle and window (42 L&J) seat leaving that middle seat to chance....luckily it worked out well even though the plane was pretty fully booked but I did call the airlines often during the last week checking on that seat and also checked with the gate agent. Probably most of you will not think so but I think my speaking to the gate agent directly day of flight may have helped as she made eye contact several times with me and smiled and nodded..many people seemed to be requesting seat changes and she could have easily put someone in that seat...Thanks CA...On the return we booked some of the only 2's (33 L&J) available mid-plane on their new 777-300ER..This small separated seating area behind first class was very comfortable if you can book either of the 2's.

[Globaliser]

Can you tell me where you found the $2800 business class?

United Airlines was having a sale. However, the fare required the ticket to be issued on or before 6 November 2012.

 

I'm afraid it looks like the most important words in my post were "if bought now".

[lori450]

I found United Airlines it was 2700 a seat round trip business but after all the taxes and fees it was $3354 round trip each. We are flying FLL to EWR in First Class and EWR to Beijing Business First and the same on the way back. I'm very pleased. Thank you all so much!! It's not $2800 but it's close.

[Globaliser]

I found United Airlines it was 2700 a seat round trip business but after all the taxes and fees it was $3354 round trip each.

Where did you find this? I can't see it on any search for published fares, so I'm wondering whether you've got it through some discount broker or consolidator.

 

If so, there are potential pitfalls you need to be aware of: you might want to click here, run that search, and read some of the threads to find out about them.

[greatam]

We found an unbelievable round trip on Qatar Airlines by going through Rome to Doha to Beijing, returning from Singapore-Doha-Rome.

$4900 for two business class.:cool:

Miami round trip on Alitalia premium economy non stop.:D

Qatar has won the airline of the year award two years in a row!

Good luck!

 

 

You are so right. The Middle Eastern airlines very often have some fantastic prices to Asia if you are willing to connect through the Middle East. Etihad very often has business class seats from JFK to Bangkok for about $2000pp, with the stopover in Abu Dbahi. China just slightly higher.

 

And Kuwait Airlines, while not nearly as luxurious as Qatar, Etihad or Emirates, very, very often has FIRST CLASS seats for $1900 RT from JFK to Kuwait City during the summer months (who vacations in Kuwait when it is 120 degrees???). The short hop over to many Asia cities is a very, very reasonable add on (last time I looked-first class add on to Saigon-$550).

 

Kuwait Airlines does NOT have booze, but they retrofitted their planes with second generation lie flat seats in first class (a generation of seats behind Qatar and Etihad). Their food is good, their lounges are VERY good, they provide limo service from hotels to airports, they greet you at the plane and you have a personal escort.

 

All of the monarchs in the Middle East have national pride and reputation on the line. So the Middle Eastern airlines just keep getting more and more luxurious.

[lori450]

Where did you find this? I can't see it on any search for published fares, so I'm wondering whether you've got it through some discount broker or consolidator.

 

If so, there are potential pitfalls you need to be aware of: you might want to click here, run that search, and read some of the threads to find out about them.

 

I found it on Kayak. The flight guru I was working with told me to take it, that it was a great price. He double checked it and told me to go for it. He also told me to go into United and join their mileage club first. So, I got miles for next year, too.

[lori450]

I just checked Kayak and the price has gone back up to $4254 for the same flights. I'm so happy that I checked yesterday!!! I've never flown first or business class before, so I am very excited to be comfortable while I'm flying. Oh, they happen to be the shortest travel time flights too!!

[greatam]

I found it on Kayak. The flight guru I was working with told me to take it, that it was a great price. He double checked it and told me to go for it. He also told me to go into United and join their mileage club first. So, I got miles for next year, too.

 

Don't want to burst your bubble but you very well could have a consolidator ticket, PARTICULARLY if it was considerably cheaper than anything else you could get. There are considerable differences in tickets and I do not mean price only.

 

The restrictions are so severe on some heavily discounted tickets that there are even "use it or loose it" provisions. Just as an example: You book a flight leaving at noon after your cruise. But the airline changes the flight to 9AM. The restrictions essentially say: "Flight XXX is still flying, it is just flying at 9AM, not noon. So be on flight XXX at 9AM or your ticket is NO good. Use it or loose it!!!"

 

Kayak has been directing people more and more to consolidators, travel agents and discounters for all kinds of things including air fare. I have forbidden anyone in the office to use Kayak anymore because if you are not REALLY paying attention, you could end up purchasing what you think is a great deal only to have it blow up in your face. Vayama, CheapOAir, CheapFares, Mobissimo, Skyscanner, etc. etc. are all consolidators and are selling on Kayak. If you can't read ALL the fare rules BEFORE you click pay, you are generally buying strictly on price and could cost yourself ultimately more than you will ever save.

 

Hopefully, you land in China a couple days BEFORE your cruise to allow for any mishaps.

 

And it would be to your benefit to find out EXACTLY what fare class your ticket is booked in. NOT just the letter but the entire letter/number sequence. You don't want to find out at a connection that you cannot use your ticket on another airline or change flight routings due to some unforseen glitch without MAJOR hassles and money.

 

And one other thing-LOTS of airlines are now chopping the heck out of mileage accrual when consolidator tickets, "cruise package", "vacation package" or any other package or non published fare is purchased. Big thread over on FT about Delta not allowing full miles or any miles at all when purchasing various types of heavily discounted tickets. So the roughly 16,000 miles you THOUGHT you were going to accrue RT to China from the US becomes 4000 or maybe none at all.

 

Sure wish you would have posted on the Cruise Air forum before you bought the ticket.

 

NOT all airline tickets are the same even if it is the same flight number, same airline, same plane and you can pick your seats and get a confirmation number. There are TRUE differences other than price. Just an FYI.

[lori450]

It directed me to the United Airlines site where I booked the flights. Could I have the same problem if I booked it directly from United?

[lori450]

I checked on United Airlines and my reservations are listed as purchased from United. How can I tell if there is a consolidator involved? I avoided the Vayama. I was initially transferred to United, but it was the First Class rates that showed, so I re-entered business class and got the price that was advertised on Kayak (on the United Website). I am frightened now and would like to know how to confirm that I am OK. I did not see any restrictions other than it was a nonrefundable price. The reservation shows that I will earn about 16,000 miles upon completion of the trip. I have an hour layover between the domestic flight FLLto EWR and the international flight EWR to PEK. Is there anything special I need to do then? I know if I travel internationally I have to be at the airport 3 hours early, but I will only be in EWR for 1 hour. Do I show up 3 hours early for the flight from EWR to FLL? You've put quite a scare in me and I would appreciate your help in finding out if I'm OK.

[lori450]

sorry, freaking out. Here's the refund portion of the contract. Does it sound OK? I also bought Travel Insurance from a separate Travel insurance company. The fare code is Fare Basis Code PPW03BM3

FARE RULES TEXT

CANCELLATIONS

ANY TIME

TICKET IS NON-REFUNDABLE.

WAIVED FOR SCHEDULE CHANGE.

NOTE -

--

NON-REFUNDABLE APPLIES TO ADT/CHD/INF

--

YR / YQ INTERNATIONAL SURCHARGE

WILL NOT BE REFUNDED

--

A. UA CUSTOMER COMMITMENT

--

CUSTOMERS WHO PURCHASE A TICKET FOR TRAVEL

ON UNITED VIA UA CHANNELS - UA RESERVATIONS //

UNITED.COM // UA AIRPORT TICKET COUNTER //

UA CITY TICKET OFFICE - MAY CANCEL THEIR

RESERVATIONS/REFUND TICKET WITHOUT PENALTY

WITHIN 24HRS OF PURCHASE.

--

FULL REFUND PERMITTED ANYTIME DUE TO REFUSAL

OF TRAVEL DOCUMENTS. EMBASSY LETTER REQUIRED.

--

B. EXCHANGE - CHANGE TO 1ST TICKETED FLIGHT /

) WHOLLY UNUSED TICKET

--

FULL VALUE OF A WHOLLY UNUSED TICKET MAY BE

APPLIED TOWARDS PURCHASE OF A NEW TICKET PRICED

AT -CURRENT- FARE LEVELS UPON PAYMENT OF AN

ADMINISTRATIVE FEE EQUAL TO CHANGE FEE

CONTAINED WITHIN THIS RULE.

--

CHILDRENS GENERAL RULE 200 IS NOT APPLICABLE //

APPLY CAT 19 - INFANT WITHOUT A SEAT //

INFANT WITH A SEAT // CHILD

--

RESIDUAL VALUE // IF ANY // WILL BE RETURNED

IN THE FORM OF A NON-REFUNDABLE VOUCHER VALID

ON UNITED AIRLINES//AGENCY MAY ISSUE

NON-REFUNDABLE MCO VALID ON UA ONLY.

IF APPLICABLE // ANY DIFFERENCE IN FARE/TAX/FEE/

SURCHARGE // COLLECTABLE AT TIME OF EXCHANGE.

--PROVIDED--

--ORIGINAL RESERVATIONS ARE CANCELLED PRIOR TO

ORIGINALLY SCHEDULE FLIGHT OR TICKET HAS

NO VALUE.

RESERVATIONS FOR NEW ITINERARY ARE MADE AND

TICKETS EXCHANGED NO LATER THAN 1 YEAR FROM

DATE OF ISSUE ON ORIGINAL PURCHASED TICKET.

--

THE NON-REFUNDABLE CANCELLATION AMOUNT OF THE

TICKET BEING EXCHANGED REMAINS NON-REFUNDABLE

AND CARRIED FORWARD IN THE ENDORSEMENT BOX OF

THE NEW TICKET.

--ORIGINAL RESERVATIONS ARE CANCELLED PRIOR TO

ORIGINALLY SCHEDULE FLIGHT OR TICKET HAS

NO VALUE.

--

--TAG 5 -- WHOLLY UNUSED / OUTBOUND CHANGE TO

1ST FLIGHT COUPON

--

REPRICE USING CURRENT QUALIFYING FARES

CHARGE CHANGE FEE OR HIGHEST FEE OF ALL CHANGED

FARE COMPONENTS.

--

1. ADV RES IS MEASURED FROM RESISSUE DATE TO

DEPARTURE OF PRICING UNIT

2. TKT REISSUE RESTRICTED TO UA OR ANY CARRIER

--

WHEN CHANGE RESULTS IN FARE DIFFERENCE

--

2 STEP PROCESS

REFUND RESIDUAL IN FORM OF VOUCHER

AGENCY MAY ISSUE NON-REFUNDABLE MCO VALID UA ONLY

RESIDUAL VALUE MAY NOT BE APPLIED TOWARD FEE.

ADD-COLLECT FEE / FARE DIFFERECE - IF APPLICABLE

--

ENDORSEMENT BOX - HIGHER NON-REF AMT AND

NEW ENDORSEMENTS.

) --

C. BOOKING CODE CHANGE PERMITTED

--

WHEN A FARE IS INTRODUCED INTO THE MARKET

OR A CURRENT FARE IS REDUCED OR BOOKING CODE

BECOMES AVAILABLE / THE TICKETED PASSENGER MAY

QUALIFY FOR ONE OF THE ABOVE OPTIONS.

ALL PROVISIONS OF THE NEW AIR FARE MUST BE MET

BEFORE DEPARTURE.

NO CHANGE TO ORIGIN/DESTINATION/DATES/FLIGHTS.

--- ONLY BOOKING CODE CHANGE IS PERMITTED.---

--

AN ADMINISTRATIVE FEE EQUAL TO CHANGE FEE

WILL BE ASSESSED. -- RESIDUAL VALUE /IF ANY /

WILL BE RETURNED IN THE FORM OF A NON-REFUNDABLE

VOUCHER VALID FOR TRAVEL ON UNITED AIRLINES.

AGENCY MAY ISSUE NON-REFUNDABLE MCO VALID UA

--

--TAG 7 - ONLY BOOKING CODE CHANGE PERMITTED

REPRICE USING QUALIFYING CURRENT FARES

1. NO CHANGE TO FARE BREAKS/FLIGHTS/DATES

2. UA FARES ARE USED

3. ADV RES IS MEASURED FROM REISSUE DATE TO

DEPARTURE OF PRICING UNIT

--

WHEN CHANGE RESULTS IN FARE DIFFERENCE

--

2 STEP PROCESS

REFUND RESIDUAL VIA VOUCHER

AGENCY MAY ISSUE NON-REFUNDABLE MCO VALID UA ONLY

RESIDUAL VALUE MAY NOT BE APPLIED TOWARD FEE.

ADD-COLLECT FEE / FARE DIFFERENCE - IF APPLICABLE

--

ENDORSEMENT BOX - NEW ENDORSEMENTS.

--

D. EMERGENCY PROVISION

--

TICKET MAY BE USED TOWARD PURCHASE OF

ANOTHER TICKET DUE TO AN EMERGENCY OF

PASSENGER / IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBER OR

TRAVELING COMPANIOIN.

DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED CONTACT CARRIER.

CHANGES

ANY TIME

CHARGE USD 400.00 FOR REISSUE/REVALIDATION.

WAIVED FOR SCHEDULE CHANGE.

NOTE -

--

CHILDRENS GENERAL RULE 200 IS NOT APPLICABLE//

APPLY CAT 19 - INFANT WITHOUT A SEAT //

INFANT WITH A SEAT // CHILD

--

A. CHANGE MADE TO OTHER THAN THE FIRST TICKETED

FLIGHT

--

) TICKETS MUST BE REISSUED WHEN ANY VOLUNTARY

CHANGE IS MADE. WHEN TICKETED RESERVAIONS

ARE CANCELLED PRIOR TO FLIGHT TIME - NEW

FLIGHTS MUST BE CONFIRMED AND TICKET REISSUED.

NO OPEN RETURNS PERMITTED.

--

IF CHANGES ARE MADE TO OTHER THAN THE FIRST

TICKETED FLIGHT THE FARE LEVELS IN EFFECT AT

TIME OF ORIGINAL TICKET ISSUE WILL APPLY

PROVIDED THE NEW ITINERARY QUALIFIES FOR

ALL THE PROVISIONS OF THE ORIGINALLY

TICKETED FARE BASIS CODE / SAME BOOKING CODE

IGNORING ADVANCE RESERVATION OR TICKETING

REQUIREMENTS.

--

CHARGE ONLY ONE CHANGE FEE THE HIGHEST CHANGE FEE

OF ONLY THE CHANGED FARE COMPONENTS.

--

UA DOMESTIC FARE PROVISIONS MAY BE OVERRIDDEN

BY UA INTERNATIONAL FARES

--

--TAG 1 - REPRICE USING CURRENTLY TKTD FARE

-- SAME BOOKING CODE --

PROVIDED THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE MET

1. NO CHANGE TO 1ST FLIGHT COUPON/FARE BREAKS

2. WHEN NO INTL COUPONS REMAIN - ALL NEW

TRAVEL MUST BE DOMESTIC

3. ALL RULE AND BOOKING CODE PROVISIONS ARE MET

EXCEPT ADV RES-TKT

4. ADV RES IS MEASURED FROM ORIGINAL TKT DATE

TO DEPARTURE OF PRICING UNIT

5. TKT REISSUE RESTRICTED TO UA OR ANY CARRIER

--

EVEN REISSUE

ADD COLLECT CHANGE FEE

--

--IF THE NEW ITINERARY QUALIFIES FOR THE

ORIGINALLY TICKETED FARE FAMILY / BUT RESULTS

IN FARE DIFFERENCE DUE TO CHANGE IN

DAY OF WEEK TRAVEL OR SEASONALITY -

--

--TAG 2 - HISTORICAL FARES / REPRICE USING

FARES IN EFFECT WHEN TICKET WAS ISSUED

PROVIDED THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE MET

1. NO CHANGE TO 1ST FLIGHT COUPON

2. WHEN NO INTL COUPONS REMAIN - ALL NEW TRAVEL

MUST BE DOMESTIC

3. ALL BOOKING CODE PROVISIONS ARE MET

4. ADV RES IS MEASURED FROM ORIGINAL TKT DATE

TO DEPARTURE OF PRICING UNIT

5. TKT REISSUE RESTRICTED TO UA OR ANY CARRIER

--

NO REFUND WILL BE MADE

ADD COLLECT FEE / FARE DIFFERENCE - IF APPLICABLE

--

) IF CHANGES BY THE PASSENGER NO LONGER QUALIFY

FOR THE ORIGINALLY TICKETED FARE / DUE TO

ORIGINAL BOOKING CODE NOT AVAILABLE OR

ORIGINAL TICKETED FARE NO LONGER QUALIFIES DUE

TO OTHER RULE RESTRICTIONS - THE FULL VALUE

OF THE ORIGINAL TICKET MAY BE APPLIED TOWARDS

EQUAL OR HIGHER QUALIFYING FARE -

USING FARES IN EFFECT ON THE ORIGINAL

TICKETING DATE.

--

FARE IS RECALCULATED FROM POINT OF ORIGIN.

ANY DIFFERENCE IN FARE/TAXES/FEES/SURCHARGE

WILL BE APPLICABLE AT TIME OF CHANGE/REISSUE.

-----

CHARGE ONLY ONE CHANGE FEE THE HIGHEST CHANGE FEE

OF ONLY CHANGED FARE COMPONENTS.

--

--TAG 2 - REPRICE USING FARE IN EFFECT WHEN

TKT WAS ISSUED

1. NO CHANGE TO 1ST FLIGHT COUPON

2. WHEN NO INTL COUPONS REMAIN - ALL NEW TRAVEL

MUST BE DOMESTIC

3. NEW TKT HAS EQUAL OR HIGHER VALUE THAN

PREVIOUS TICKET

4. ALL BOOKING CODE PROVISIONS ARE MET

5. ADV RES IS MEASURED FROM ORIGINAL TKT DATE

TO DEPARTURE OF PRICING UNIT

6. TKT REISSUE RESTRICTED TO UA OR ANY CARRIER

--

--OR--

--

---TAG 2 -- REPRICE USING FARES IN EFFECT WHEN

TKT WAS ISSUED

1. NO CHANGE TO 1ST FLIGHT COUPON

2. WHEN NO INTL COUPONS REMAIN - ALL NEW TRAVEL

MUST BE DOMESTIC

3. ANY CARRIER NORMAL FARES ARE USED

4. ALL RULE AND BOOKING CODE PROVISIONS ARE MET

5. ADV RES IS MEASURED FROM ORIGINAL TKT DATE

TO DEPARTURE OF PRICING UNIT

6. TKT REISSUE RESTRICTED TO UA OR ANY CARRIER

--

--WHEN CHANGE RESULTS IN FARE DIFFERENCE

--

ADD COLLECT FEE / FARE DIFFERENCE - IF APPLICABLE

--

ENDORSEMENT BOX - HIGHER NON-REF AMT AND

NEW ENDORSEMENTS

--

B. EMERGENCY PROVISION

--

TICKET MAY BE USED TOWARD THE PURCHASE OF

ANOTHER TICKET DUE TO AN EMERGENCY OF

PASSENGER / IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBER OR

TRAVELING COMPANION.

) DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED CONTACT CARRIER.

[aquidneck1]

Lori, don't freak out. You are fine if you purchased from the United site and it looks like you did. You got a great deal. Enjoy your trip.

[lori450]

Lori, don't freak out. You are fine if you purchased from the United site and it looks like you did. You got a great deal. Enjoy your trip.

 

Thank you, Jean!

[Globaliser]

I have an hour layover between the domestic flight FLLto EWR and the international flight EWR to PEK. Is there anything special I need to do then? I know if I travel internationally I have to be at the airport 3 hours early, but I will only be in EWR for 1 hour. Do I show up 3 hours early for the flight from EWR to FLL?

I very much doubt that you have to be at the airport three hours early for an international flight. There are very few circumstances I can think of where this is a requirement. UA's website will give you the times that you have to be there to check-in. Just make sure you allow some margin for things to go wrong on the way to the airport.

 

You should be given both boarding passes when you check in at FLL and your bags will be through-checked, so when you're at EWR it should just be a question of going to the gate for your onward flight.

It directed me to the United Airlines site where I booked the flights. Could I have the same problem if I booked it directly from United?

If you've bought it from the UA website, then you should have a published fare ticket.

 

At a guess, was the base fare for your ticket actually $2,709? If so, that matches published fares for your purchase date that I can now see.

[lori450]

I very much doubt that you have to be at the airport three hours early for an international flight. There are very few circumstances I can think of where this is a requirement. UA's website will give you the times that you have to be there to check-in. Just make sure you allow some margin for things to go wrong on the way to the airport.

 

You should be given both boarding passes when you check in at FLL and your bags will be through-checked, so when you're at EWR it should just be a question of going to the gate for your onward flight.If you've bought it from the UA website, then you should have a published fare ticket.

 

At a guess, was the base fare for your ticket actually $2,709? If so, that matches published fares for your purchase date that I can now see.

 

Yes, that's the base fare amount! Oh, I am so relieved. thank you!!! I chose those flights because I live 15 min from FLL and I used to live in NJ so I'm familiar with EWR. They are also some of the shortest trip times. Thank you again for the information on the boarding passes, etc. I'm back to being happy and excited about our trip.

[jcerst]

Lori,

Enjoy your trip!

We tried to cancel our round trip to Rome from Ft. Lauderdale in order to take advantage of a sale with Qatar airlines but it would cost over $2800 to do so:eek:

[lori450]

Lori,

Enjoy your trip!

We tried to cancel our round trip to Rome from Ft. Lauderdale in order to take advantage of a sale with Qatar airlines but it would cost over $2800 to do so:eek:

 

thanks for your good wishes. Oh, Rome. I love Rome. I've been there a couple of times and would be happy to share any info you might like. Have you been there before?

[greatam]

Yes, that's the base fare amount! Oh, I am so relieved. thank you!!! I chose those flights because I live 15 min from FLL and I used to live in NJ so I'm familiar with EWR. They are also some of the shortest trip times. Thank you again for the information on the boarding passes, etc. I'm back to being happy and excited about our trip.

 

I am so glad this is actually a United booking.

 

I know I worried you but there are just more and more discounters/consolidators selling on Kayak and you just don't know what you are buying a lot of times. Prices look great but the underlying RULES for the ticket could totally trash a vacation.

 

Enjoy your trip.