Let's Visit Asia » airfares

Increase in Fuel Surcharges

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:52:24 +0000

I was surfing around for cheap airfare deals for November and noticed that I’m still able to see the kind of airfares I was seeing a few months ago. I thought this a bit strange, considering the skyrocketing fuel prices of late. It was when I got to the page indicating the total amount I need to pay that my jaw dropped: the tax and fuel surcharge fees cost more than the seat itself!

Now I understand how airlines can advertise that they haven’t increased airfares, and in fact are still offering discounted fares. As usual, the trick is in the small print: plus taxes and surcharges.

Considering the trend in fuel prices is going, I wonder, are we seeing the end of real low-cost travel?

Post from: Let's Visit Asia

Air Asia X Promo on Australia-KL Flights

Sat, 12 Jul 2008 18:38:08 +0000

Here’s some airfare offers from our traveling folks down there. Air Asia X, the long-haul budget airline, is offering airfares from Perth to KL for just AUD 132, and from Perth for just AUD 172. Here’s a screenshot of the Air Asia website showing all the details:

Air Asia X is just like the lowcost Air Asia flights, except for a few, but tangible differences that will make traveling long distances more comfortable. They offer a limited number of XL seats for those who require more legroom, and set meals are provided (snacks are available for purchase). You don’t get free baggage allowance, but would need to pay baggage fees according to the weight of your stuff (which is rather becoming the norm nowadays anyway).

Compared to the usual airlines plying this route, these offers are really quite competitive, so plan your travels and snap those cheap airfares quickly!

Post from: Let's Visit Asia

Airfare Promo: LA, SF, or NY to Asia for $748

Thu, 17 Jan 2008 11:05:13 +0000

This scoop is for our readers from LA, San Francisco, or New York: Cathay Pacific is offering very tempting airfares to Asia:

Cathay Pacific announced a “Deal of the Month” for January 2008 that includes a nonstop flight to Bangkok, Beijing, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Shanghai, Singapore, or Taipei for $748 round-trip from either LA, San Francisco, or New York. Free stopovers in Hong Kong are allowed. Although taxes can add over $200 to the base price, you can still fly to two Asian cities for around $1,000, which is a good deal. Asian currencies have almost uniformly gained value over the dollar, but prices in most of Southeast Asia are still cheap enough that you will not feel the budget pinch that you would if you were traveling to Europe.

If you want to take advantage of this promo, you’ve got to book this month of January for travel between Feb 15 to March 15, 2008. Check Cathay Pacific’s website for seat availability and promo conditions.

Post from: Let's Visit Asia

NokAir Now Flies to Hanoi

Sat, 12 Jan 2008 09:34:24 +0000

For the last three years, Thailand-based budget airline NokAir has only been servicing domestic routes. Now, they’re flying further out, to Hanoi, Vietnam, operating 2 flights a week to and from the new Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok.

Check out the Bangkok-Hanoi promo fares currently going as low as 3 THB!

Or, if you also need a place to stay, why not consider getting the Nok Hanoi packages. Imagine, round trip airfare, full board accommodations, plus day tours around Hanoi and Halong Bay (a a UNESCO World Heritage site located in Quảng Ninh province, Vietnam. ) for only 13,500 THB per person for a 3D/2N package, or 16,000 THB for 4D/3N!

Post from: Let's Visit Asia

Bohol, Here We Come!

Mon, 07 Jan 2008 06:30:17 +0000

Ok, sudden change of plans.

When I realized what a long road trip it was going to be to head all the way to Pagudpud by car, I decided to check whether I could cut the trip short by taking a flight to Laoag City. Considering that I’m pregnant and we’ll have a hyperactive 5-year old in tow, I checked Cebu Pacific’s airfares, and was surprised to see that they were offering one-peso seat promos to all domestic destinations!

After an hour or so of surfing and mulling over, I’ve made an impromptu booking to Tagbilaran, Bohol. Yup, that’s about the opposite direction of where we wanted to go to, but it’s a destination that’s always been on our list of must-visit places in the Philippines. It’s also one of the places voted by travel website IGoUgo users as one of the 10 “Best Places You’ve Never Heard Of“, so we’d better get there before the rest of the world does hear about it!

Flights booked, accommodations next. As I write, I’m scouring the web for places to stay in Bohol. In the next few weeks, I’ll be taking you on a virtual trip to Bohol, Philippines, as I share the fruits of my web search as I plan our trip. Perhaps at the end of it all, I just might convince you to take a trip there yourself!

By the way, Cebu Pacific is still having the P1 sale til Feb 29, albeit to a reduced number of destinations (including Laoag!).

Photo: Chocolate Hills, Source: Wikipedia

Post from: Let's Visit Asia

Flying with Jetstar

Wed, 26 Dec 2007 15:51:15 +0000

Since I was not early enough in booking tickets for travel this month, I took the next big break in our calendar: the days near Chinese New Year. I was able to secure tickets with Jetstar’s promotional fares a while back, and barring any unforeseen circumstances, the family will be on a two week break soon in the Philippines.

It’s going to be our first time to fly Jetstar and I’m curious how different it is to other budget airlines plying the Southeast Asian skies. I’ll definitely let you know how the flight goes!

Have you flown Jetstar? Care to share your experience?

Post from: Let's Visit Asia

Jetstar Asia Christmas treats with HSBC

Wed, 12 Dec 2007 01:31:26 +0000

If you hold an HSBC card, you might want to take advantage of Jetstar Asia’s promotional fares for intra-Asia flights, i.e., applicable to Jetstar (3K) and Valuair (VF) flights from Singapore only.

For more details, check the fares and seat availability here.

Post from: Let's Visit Asia

East Coast to Beijing via United Airlines

Fri, 16 Nov 2007 07:00:34 +0000

You’re based on the US East Coast and would like to fly to Beijing? You’re in luck: United Airlines is having an East Coast to Beijing airfare sale.

Well, the image above says it all, but some important details of this promotional sale:

Purchase by November 24, 2007
Travel outbound by December 13, 2007
Travel is valid on Monday-Thursday; travel on other days of the week are slightly higher
A 6-night minimum stay is required and a maximum stay of 30 days is permitted

Other sample fares:
Atlanta – Beijing: $380 (may be co-operated by partner airlines)
Chicago – Beijing: $370
Miami – Beijing: $380 (may be co-operated by partner airlines)

See more details from United and book online quickly as these promotional seats are limited!

Post from: Let's Visit Asia

Jetstar Offers $3 and $33 Airfares

Sat, 10 Nov 2007 08:16:36 +0000

If you’re traveling from Singapore, Australia or Christchurch, NZ, then get your fingers a-clickin’ to take advantage of Jetstar’s 3rd anniversary promo. They’re giving away $3 or $33 fares to a number of destinations in Asia. But you have to be really fast… Promo lasts only until tomorrow!

Post from: Let's Visit Asia

Travel Time, Time and Travel

Mon, 15 Oct 2007 03:27:28 +0000

I’m still searching for that apparently now-rare December flight to Manila. Everyday, I troll the airline websites, hoping for some good news, but still have nothing to show for my efforts. Absolutely frustrating! Obviously October isn’t early enough to be thinking of Christmas holidays. Perhaps I might have to concede and take Melissa’s advice to wait for a better (meaning: cheaper) time to travel, possibly after the New Year, but before the Chinese Lunar Year celebrations.

Time. Read more time-related travel entries form this month’s theme day from the travel and culture channel of b5media.

Post from: Let's Visit Asia