COMMENTS ABOUT EXPERIENCES ON CATHAY PACIFIC'S ALL-ASIA PASS APPRECIATED
Sep 10th, 2005, 08:47 AM
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COMMENTS ABOUT EXPERIENCES ON CATHAY PACIFIC'S ALL-ASIA PASS APPRECIATED
Has anyone travelled using this special pass - being able to travel to 18 different cities from Hong Kong?
I have no reservations about the airline itself, but would like to hear the experiences of some who have used the All-Asia Pass.
Was it as economical or convenient as it appears?
I have no reservations about the airline itself, but would like to hear the experiences of some who have used the All-Asia Pass.
Was it as economical or convenient as it appears?
Sep 10th, 2005, 12:15 PM
#2
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I haven't used it or the competing Malaysian Air Pass because they don't really suit my style of traveling. If there are several far flung places you want to visit on one trip, and you don't mind flying back through the hub each time, it might be fine for you. The two biggest problems with the passes from my point of view:
1. You have to fly through the hub each time you fly which makes what might be one short flight on another airline into two longer flights on Cathay Pacific (think about flying from Bangkok to Singapore, for instance. With the airpass you have to fly through Hong Kong, making the flight about 4x as long).
2. It encourages the traveler to see lots of different places in a short amount of time (so that people feel they "get their money's worth"
when Asia doen't lend itself well to that kind of travel. It makes more sense in Asia to fly to one place and then take short regional or in-country flights which are quite inexpensive.
1. You have to fly through the hub each time you fly which makes what might be one short flight on another airline into two longer flights on Cathay Pacific (think about flying from Bangkok to Singapore, for instance. With the airpass you have to fly through Hong Kong, making the flight about 4x as long).
2. It encourages the traveler to see lots of different places in a short amount of time (so that people feel they "get their money's worth"
when Asia doen't lend itself well to that kind of travel. It makes more sense in Asia to fly to one place and then take short regional or in-country flights which are quite inexpensive.
Sep 10th, 2005, 08:19 PM
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KATHIe. As I try to explain a bunch of times on this matter YOU DON"T HAVE TO GO BACK TOO HK ON EVERY LEG..
I used the pass and flew singapore to bkk direct non stop. and if you look at the map on the cathay web site it spacificalhy shows you this.
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these passes are a great deal unfortunatly they are a bit missunderstood by some fodorites
some negatives
-you have too have the tickets booked by a local agent and in my case, I took it too the only travel I could get to and they barely knew what asia was this place was your tipical caribian specialists... So the procees of booking took about 1 hour, then again I chose 10 or so destinations. ..
-the ticketing proces takes about a week since the agent has too contact the airline and cordinate all the flights .. (I had too change some of my original requests and dates for some reason)
-Bali.. this is the one major destination where it is bit inconvinient have too fly HKG-DPS-HKG ... I chose too take a 24 hour bus too jakarta
NOTE now a days lots of budget airlines have sprung up all over the region so you could easaly and cheepaly make a convinient connection.
posatives.
-the ariport in Hong kong once again has been vogted the worlds best. the place may be HUGE but it is easy too get around in.
-catehy airlines once again has been voted the worlds best airline.
-great value.
-the add on cities are well priced
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I read you other posts that says you may stay in HK FREE ACCOMIDATIONS.. the pass seems too be good for you .. but it really depends on how long your staying in ASIA.
'
I used the pass for 3 months and got my full money's worth.
I used the pass and flew singapore to bkk direct non stop. and if you look at the map on the cathay web site it spacificalhy shows you this.
==========
these passes are a great deal unfortunatly they are a bit missunderstood by some fodorites
some negatives
-you have too have the tickets booked by a local agent and in my case, I took it too the only travel I could get to and they barely knew what asia was this place was your tipical caribian specialists... So the procees of booking took about 1 hour, then again I chose 10 or so destinations. ..
-the ticketing proces takes about a week since the agent has too contact the airline and cordinate all the flights .. (I had too change some of my original requests and dates for some reason)
-Bali.. this is the one major destination where it is bit inconvinient have too fly HKG-DPS-HKG ... I chose too take a 24 hour bus too jakarta
NOTE now a days lots of budget airlines have sprung up all over the region so you could easaly and cheepaly make a convinient connection.
posatives.
-the ariport in Hong kong once again has been vogted the worlds best. the place may be HUGE but it is easy too get around in.
-catehy airlines once again has been voted the worlds best airline.
-great value.
-the add on cities are well priced
----------------
I read you other posts that says you may stay in HK FREE ACCOMIDATIONS.. the pass seems too be good for you .. but it really depends on how long your staying in ASIA.
'
I used the pass for 3 months and got my full money's worth.
Sep 11th, 2005, 03:16 PM
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It's funny that I know tonnes of people who've been to to Hong Kong, but no one I personally know has actually bought the CX pass. I guess reasons include:
- It includes flight from a US gateway to HKG, but they don't provide add-ons for other cities via AA or other airlines. Only US gateways are JFK, SFO and LAX.
- Restrictive season. During those low seasons, one can often get pretty cheap airfares to HKG on other airlines.
- Don't earn any FF miles.
- Tax added with each city. So, that price is not inclusive, and the more cities you go, the more taxes you pay.
- There are more and more low-cost airlines in SE Asia, which has brought down airfares in that region. The deal on CX may be as good as it sounds.
- While there are some intra-Asia routes that doesn't require going back through HKG, those are the minorities. And most of those go through TPE or SIN. So, that may or may not be that helpful.
- HKG is not the most economical airport to use a hub. The OP has an apartment to use in Hong Kong, so that helps a lot, but the airport is still quite far from city unless you take the Airport Express (HK$90-100 each way). Expensive in Asian standards.
- Beijing and Vietnam not included, and Shanghai via Dragonair costs extra.
Having said that, it may still work for some people, like it did for orgy7. But there are the above restrictions.
- It includes flight from a US gateway to HKG, but they don't provide add-ons for other cities via AA or other airlines. Only US gateways are JFK, SFO and LAX.
- Restrictive season. During those low seasons, one can often get pretty cheap airfares to HKG on other airlines.
- Don't earn any FF miles.
- Tax added with each city. So, that price is not inclusive, and the more cities you go, the more taxes you pay.
- There are more and more low-cost airlines in SE Asia, which has brought down airfares in that region. The deal on CX may be as good as it sounds.
- While there are some intra-Asia routes that doesn't require going back through HKG, those are the minorities. And most of those go through TPE or SIN. So, that may or may not be that helpful.
- HKG is not the most economical airport to use a hub. The OP has an apartment to use in Hong Kong, so that helps a lot, but the airport is still quite far from city unless you take the Airport Express (HK$90-100 each way). Expensive in Asian standards.
- Beijing and Vietnam not included, and Shanghai via Dragonair costs extra.
Having said that, it may still work for some people, like it did for orgy7. But there are the above restrictions.
Sep 11th, 2005, 09:00 PM
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the reason many AMERICANS dont buy it may be that it is best suited for those with flexible plans. and at least 2 weeks vacation. but too get the most out of the pass 21 days ++ is best. Most toursts (USA) have 2 weeks vacation on set dates...
You may notice that the pass is not offered in EUROPE where people seem too work 3 days a year and do have lots of vacatiion time.
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I remember handing my 3 inch thick book of ticket stubs. to the check in agent at JFK, she smiled at me and said WOW, So I guess they don't see the pass used that much either.
I get the feeling if ithe pass were that popular Cathey would not be offering it for so many years now. at just about the same price.
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You may notice that the pass is not offered in EUROPE where people seem too work 3 days a year and do have lots of vacatiion time.
==========
I remember handing my 3 inch thick book of ticket stubs. to the check in agent at JFK, she smiled at me and said WOW, So I guess they don't see the pass used that much either.
I get the feeling if ithe pass were that popular Cathey would not be offering it for so many years now. at just about the same price.
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Sep 12th, 2005, 02:20 PM
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I was reading the pages of conditions just today and you have 21 days to use the pass unless you pay more for an extension. It appeared to me that you do need to return to Hk ea. time, but there may be some wiggle room. I have used it, but only to go on to a single city and it was good value - but now there are many lower priced airlines available.
Sep 12th, 2005, 03:35 PM
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I think the only downside is having to take CPs very cramped economy seats back and forth from US to HK. It's pretty brutal. Bring some sleeping pills if you can.
Make sure you book your actual seat assignments from the US><HK so you don't get stuck is a bad seat (and there are lots of them.) Suggest you go to seatguru.com to scout out the best seats then call CP and book 'em.
Make sure you book your actual seat assignments from the US><HK so you don't get stuck is a bad seat (and there are lots of them.) Suggest you go to seatguru.com to scout out the best seats then call CP and book 'em.
