Airline Tickets

[Red DRAGON]

I need to buy a ticket from PP to Shanghai and see the price on flychina.com at 15% cheaper than what I was quoted at the Shanghai airlines office in phnom penh hotel. Unfortunately, only US addresses can book on flychina. Anyone know of any other agents that can book Shanghai Airlines or websites?

[RobW]

www.ctrip.com

Direct with Shanghai airlines or stop in Giangzhou with China Southern, last time I looked.

R

[Red DRAGON]

thanks. just tried ctrip but doesn't offer booking for phnom penh - shanghai. did you call their china office to book?

[RobW]

I'm pretty sure I always did it online. Have flown that route many times.
Otherwise, call them. They are very efficient.

[Don-Pierre de Plume]

What price were you quoted, and when do you need to travel? One-way or return?

[Red DRAGON]

$472 return online and $520 from the airline direct. Leave 27/8 return 4th 5th or 6th of September.

[Don-Pierre de Plume]

$472 return online and $520 from the airline direct. Leave 27/8 return 4th 5th or 6th of September.

http://www.zuji.com.au (you can also try the Hong Kong site, but never found it to be advantageous)

Zuji Australia (I always use this them, always have been happy with them):
Shanghai Airlines: AUD440.80 return all inclusive. Direct flights.
Depart 27/8, Return 4/9 or 5/9. Other dates heaps more.

FM0834 23:40, arrive 04:30 Outbound
FM0833 19:30, arrive 22:50 Inbound

Prices change often, don't leave it too long.


http://www.zuji.com.au/site/travel/flights/transport-results.html?skin=enau.zuji.com.au&mondial_auto=true&DPSRT=FA&DPNOC=0&DPNOA=1&DPNOI=0&DPLOC=en_AU&DPNOS=0&DPHSI=0&date_in_month=09&DPXCP=F&DPFSI=0&DPCID=0&DPXAL=F&DPTRT=flights&DPSFT=&DPXTR=F&DPTTT=R&DPXCH=T&DPXMG=F&DPHEI=7&failureURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.zuji.com.au%2Fsite%2Ftravel%2Fflights%2Fflights-search-error.html&DPDAP=Phnom+Penh+%28PNH%29%2C+KH&DPXIN=T&DPCLS=X&DPPID=5005&date_out_month=08&DPFEI=9&TRANS=ViewTransportationSearchBox%2CdoSearchForTransportation&date_in_day=05&date_out_day=27&DPDCC=AUD&DPIDT=0001&DP1WF=0&DPFIT=&DPODT=0001&DPAAP=Shanghai+Pu+Dong+%28PVG%29%2C+CN&DPAIR=NONE&DPSAC=Z26&DPDIR=

PS
You really will be dealing with a rather sophisticated booking system, which you sometimes can manipulate to your advantage (pricewise).

Booked and travelled many times, never any problems encountered. If you get a good price, grab it. Always use the option "Flexible dates".

[Red DRAGON]

Thanks, just booked. By the far the cheapest even among Zuji sites. I saw the same price on Flychina a few days ago but they updated to higher fare from Wednesday.

FYI

Flychina.com told me it is possible to book outside US and China. Just choose China as your country and then fill your address including country in the free text box.

[Don-Pierre de Plume]

Great. Did you book via Zuji at AUD 440.80?

Interesting that the prices are not rounded. They also vary with the value of the AUD, as airlines usually seem to want USD. Yep, can book from anywhere.

[Red DRAGON]

Yes 440.8 AUD. That's quite a mark up they charge at the Shanghai Airlines office here.

[Don-Pierre de Plume]

So it would appear... but if you travel the next day (using Zuji site) you pay about the same as your earlier quote.

When you travel, ask the passenger next to you how much he paid. Usually a lot more. The system seems to give incentive to fly on certain dates (perhaps to fill seats).

May I give you a tip: Next time you want to travel but are not quite sure yet, do a search on several suitable dates and create a shortcut for each result. Next time you go online, doing the normal search the prices may be way higher but your shortcuts give you the "old" price.

Doesn't always work, but often it does.