Internal flights
Mar 8th, 2017 | 10:45 AM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
Internal flights
Hi
Has anyone used ChinaTravelDepot to purchase internal flights? It's offering me cheaper options than ctrip.
For work flights, the possibility exists for my colleague in China to purchase tickets for me, as I noticed with my Chinese teacher this morning that even through Ctrip in the UK the price on the CHinese website is a little bit cheaper than English one. As long as he types in my passport details correctly I am guessing this is ok?
I take it even if your confirmation is in Chinese you can check in at the airport and they will print your ticket?
On a different topic, Can anyone tell me roughly the rate I would get GBP-RMB in China?
I know the pound has fallen but in the UK, the best rate I saw was an abysmal 7.9177, with taking out money in an ATM in China, would I be guaranteed a better rate? I am not bothered about my home bank charging fees.
I think I also read somewhere that the it doesn't matter which cash machine you take money out, as the rate is set by the Bank of China or something?
thanks
Has anyone used ChinaTravelDepot to purchase internal flights? It's offering me cheaper options than ctrip.
For work flights, the possibility exists for my colleague in China to purchase tickets for me, as I noticed with my Chinese teacher this morning that even through Ctrip in the UK the price on the CHinese website is a little bit cheaper than English one. As long as he types in my passport details correctly I am guessing this is ok?
I take it even if your confirmation is in Chinese you can check in at the airport and they will print your ticket?
On a different topic, Can anyone tell me roughly the rate I would get GBP-RMB in China?
I know the pound has fallen but in the UK, the best rate I saw was an abysmal 7.9177, with taking out money in an ATM in China, would I be guaranteed a better rate? I am not bothered about my home bank charging fees.
I think I also read somewhere that the it doesn't matter which cash machine you take money out, as the rate is set by the Bank of China or something?
thanks
Mar 8th, 2017 | 12:27 PM
#3
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 12,836
Likes: 26
I'm unfamiliar with the site you mention, but have used both ctrip - http://english.ctrip.com/flights/ and elong - http://www.elong.net/ and would use them again.
Unless the savings are considerable I'd want to make my own arrangements in case you need to contact the site along the way, as I've had to do occasionally when there was an issue. Having someone else do it may just complicate things and may not be worth any small savings.
Unless the savings are considerable I'd want to make my own arrangements in case you need to contact the site along the way, as I've had to do occasionally when there was an issue. Having someone else do it may just complicate things and may not be worth any small savings.
Mar 8th, 2017 | 01:36 PM
#4
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 324
Likes: 0
The rate that one gets from an ATM is decided by Visa and can be found here: https://usa.visa.com/support/consume...lculator.html/
Other exchange rates found all over the internet are "interesting" but not always reflective of what one can really gets in real life.
I have never used ChinaTravelDepot but have seen their name kicked around on the web and they appear legit. I used to like travelzen but they were bought out. Then I switched to elong but their website has been problematic in recent weeks. Ctrip has been ok in the past but there has been way to many issues and 'scandals' since they changed their business model. I'd be willing to take a chance for flights but would definitely avoid them for hotels.
Other exchange rates found all over the internet are "interesting" but not always reflective of what one can really gets in real life.
I have never used ChinaTravelDepot but have seen their name kicked around on the web and they appear legit. I used to like travelzen but they were bought out. Then I switched to elong but their website has been problematic in recent weeks. Ctrip has been ok in the past but there has been way to many issues and 'scandals' since they changed their business model. I'd be willing to take a chance for flights but would definitely avoid them for hotels.
Mar 8th, 2017 | 04:18 PM
#6
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 452
Likes: 0
> Has anyone used ChinaTravelDepot to purchase internal flights? It's offering me cheaper options than ctrip.
There can be all sorts of hiccups with these foreigner-targeting agencies--problems with bait-and-switch, payment difficulties, etc. You'll get the best price just doing it yourself. Few Chinese ever book far in advance, there are many flights to most destinations, and it's better just to show up in China and do it yourself. Ticket agencies are everywhere, but stay away from those in the big hotels or near expat ghettos which are used to selling at high prices to the gullible. Elsewhere you should at least ask for a better price, but typically that's what you'll get straight away, although there can be slight variations for the first flight of the day, typically cheaper.
> As long as he types in my passport details correctly I am guessing this is ok?
Hard to say. But adding yet another party to the project is only going to add difficulties. Agencies usually want a scan of various passport pages sent in. It's more trouble than its worth, especially as you'll usually get just as good a price or better yourself once in China.
> On a different topic, Can anyone tell me roughly the rate I would get GBP-RMB in China?
We could, but it would be different tomorrow. Typically your best rate is from a bank machine (ATM), which, while no longer the Interbank rate it used to be, is still better than that available for over-the-counter exchanges. The charges applicable are set by your card issuer, so you simply need to ask your bank. In the best cases it's a flat fee, and if you take out larger sums is perfectly acceptable for the convenience. There are also branches of HSBC, Deutschebank, and Citibank that will take any card ever thought of, and a very few freestanding machines that have excess charges and offer you the choice of accepting them before you commit. (No need to pay these charges.)
Note that not all machines in China accept foreign cards (avoid Everbright Bank, for instance), but the numbers that do are now very numerous. Except for use with the foreign banks you'll need Union Pay, Visa, Visa Electron, Plus, Mastercard, Maestro, Cirrus, JCB, or American Express symbols on your card. Note, too, that maximum withdrawals are commonly limited to ¥2500 or ¥3000, but multiple successive withdrawals may usually be made. And also note that you'll almost certainly be paying for your air tickets in cash, unless you like paying up to 4% more, plus possible shenanigans with DCC conversions.
For a lot more on money and prices, see this:
http://bit.ly/2ngaQ4T
There can be all sorts of hiccups with these foreigner-targeting agencies--problems with bait-and-switch, payment difficulties, etc. You'll get the best price just doing it yourself. Few Chinese ever book far in advance, there are many flights to most destinations, and it's better just to show up in China and do it yourself. Ticket agencies are everywhere, but stay away from those in the big hotels or near expat ghettos which are used to selling at high prices to the gullible. Elsewhere you should at least ask for a better price, but typically that's what you'll get straight away, although there can be slight variations for the first flight of the day, typically cheaper.
> As long as he types in my passport details correctly I am guessing this is ok?
Hard to say. But adding yet another party to the project is only going to add difficulties. Agencies usually want a scan of various passport pages sent in. It's more trouble than its worth, especially as you'll usually get just as good a price or better yourself once in China.
> On a different topic, Can anyone tell me roughly the rate I would get GBP-RMB in China?
We could, but it would be different tomorrow. Typically your best rate is from a bank machine (ATM), which, while no longer the Interbank rate it used to be, is still better than that available for over-the-counter exchanges. The charges applicable are set by your card issuer, so you simply need to ask your bank. In the best cases it's a flat fee, and if you take out larger sums is perfectly acceptable for the convenience. There are also branches of HSBC, Deutschebank, and Citibank that will take any card ever thought of, and a very few freestanding machines that have excess charges and offer you the choice of accepting them before you commit. (No need to pay these charges.)
Note that not all machines in China accept foreign cards (avoid Everbright Bank, for instance), but the numbers that do are now very numerous. Except for use with the foreign banks you'll need Union Pay, Visa, Visa Electron, Plus, Mastercard, Maestro, Cirrus, JCB, or American Express symbols on your card. Note, too, that maximum withdrawals are commonly limited to ¥2500 or ¥3000, but multiple successive withdrawals may usually be made. And also note that you'll almost certainly be paying for your air tickets in cash, unless you like paying up to 4% more, plus possible shenanigans with DCC conversions.
For a lot more on money and prices, see this:
http://bit.ly/2ngaQ4T
