I don’t know if you have figured in the day you will “lose” flying here from the US, i.e. you will depart the US on August 23 in the morning but won’t arrive until 7 pm on the 24th. The AC return flight departs at 2:15 pm on the 28. Therefore, you really only have 3.5 days in Hong Kong. Way too short, IMO to justify that long a flight.

If you mean that you will be IN Hong Kong from the 23rd to the 28th exclusive of flight days, IMO that is still a very short trip to justify the flight, and even if you are able to fly here for free, and then you aren’t going to see anything else but Hong Kong. As interesting as I think Hong Kong is, I would not just come to Hong Kong and see nothing else in Asia. Is the ticket only good through August 2007? If not, why don’t you take some more time to think about what you might want to do. I thought those types of tickets were good for 12 months.

I would use a free round-trip airfare as a jumping off point to go OTHER places in Asia (or other places in Europe) or as a base to get to Sydney and then explore Australia. Yes it will cost you more to stay longer, but you aren’t paying for the flight, so there is a huge savings there. I think you are being a bit short-sighted in using a free ticket to spend just 5 days in Hong Kong.

And I have to say that August is truly an awful month weather-wise in Hong Kong (I live here.). It is the rainiest month and the month most prone to typhoons (our version of the hurricane). It would really be a shame if you came here and you were stuck in your hotel for a day or more due to a severe typhoon closing everything down (which generally happens once or twice a season); or more likely you will just have days of pouring rain. Of course it’s hot and sticky, but it is like tat for 7-8 months of the year, its the heavier rain and typhoon risk that would bother me more.

rkkwan. Who said Air Canada doesn't fly to Bangkok? Check their site.

AC sell code-share tickets to BKK, but they don't fly there. That's why I asked about codeshares. If they allow the OP to fly on codeshares, then the choices are almost unlimited. But not if he must fly on AC metal.

Hi everyone and thank you so much for your inputs. I was actually going to be in Hong Kong from the 23rd and leave on the 28 or 29th. However I've spoken with AC and going I would be confirmed but coming back they cant confirm now so I would have to be standby and I've decided not to do that. I would more than likely be in 1st class so not really worrying about the long flight. Tokyo is wide open and it's an option but will see. Hotels there kinda look too expensive. I've focused my attention to Paris and Montego Bay

Rates for hotel rooms in Tokyo is actually very reasonable for August.

Checking Expedia, I see lots of big hotels for under US$200 a night. In general, a little cheaper than Hong Kong, and a lot cheaper than say New York City.

venusfan,

you may want to check the weather for destination cities... Tokyo would definitely be hot and humid--35C/100F+. Having said that, at least they have A/C in most indoor areas including subways and trains. Paris can be hot--make sure the hotel has A/C (and not just fans) as European cities are less equipped with A/Cs. Also good part of Paris restaurants and shops close down in August. As for relative expensiveness, I find Tokyo quite cheaper than Europe given Yen depreciation and Euro appreciation against $.