Chinese carrier China Southern Airlines currently offers very cheap business class tickets from London to Beijing, China with a single layover in Amsterdam. Prices start at €1,163 / £1,063 for trips leaving London in September 2019. This offer is only valid until August 23, 2019, so you better be decisive!
KLM handles flights between London and Amsterdam. China Southern operates an A380 on its daily flight between Amsterdam and Beijing. These planes feature fully reclinable lie flat seats in a 1-2-1 pattern on their upper deck.
Search & Book
According to fare rules, these tickets are on sale until August 23, 2019. They cover flights leaving London in September 2019 with a minimum stay of six days or at least one night from Saturday to Sunday. Our availability calendar helps you find the best prices for trips up to a month:
You will be forwarded to our flight search. From there on, you can select to purchase either the cheapest ticket available via an OTA or book directly on China Southern’s website, which we recommend.
Why is booking with an airline better than with an online travel agency?
More often than not, online travel agencies offer lower fares than airlines do. We still recommend booking with the airlines directly. There are two main reasons for that:
Better Customer Service
In case any problems like delays, cancellations or missed connections arise, you can communicate directly with the airline. The airline has to take care of you because you have a contract with them.
If a travel agency issues your ticket, you may have to reach out to them first. You also depend on your OTA to forward information like flight changes instead of receiving them directly from the airline. In many cases, you may get a prime exhibition of responsibility shifting rather than problem-solving.
This especially applies to premium tickets. You don’t want to spend more than €1,000 to wind up with some budget OTA’s telephone hotline in case anything goes wrong.
Baggage and Other Fees
Economy fares not including hold luggage are industry standard by now. In most cases, travel agencies charge much higher baggage fees than the airlines themselves. If bags are not included in your fare, airlines are often the cheaper alternative.
This also applies to other things like food services, insurances or priority treatment. In almost all cases, you pay less for additional amenities when booking on the airlines’ website.
Mileage
China Southern issues the long haul tickets in booking class I. Affiliated programs will credit you 100% of your travel distance without tier bonuses. That number can increase quickly if you already sport a status, for example up to 140% for the lowest tier in American’s AAdvantage. The following represents the base output without any bonuses:
- 12,646 Miles on CSA OK Plus
- 9,728 Award Miles on Flying Blue
- 9,728 Award Miles on American AAdvantage
- 9,728 Miles on MEA Cedar Miles
- 9,728 Award Miles on Saudia Alfursan
- 9,728 Award Miles on Vietnam Airlines Lotusmiles
- 9,728 RDM + 1,946 MQD on Delta SkyMiles
- 9,728 Avios on British Airways Executive Club
Information & Tips for China
China is the most populous and the third largest country in the world, so naturally, there is a lot to see. The most touristically important cities are the capital of China, Beijing and the financial and trade center Shanghai.
Best Time to Travel
Since the country is vast and extends over several climate zones, there is no best travel time for China. China is connected to Europe through numerous direct flights and the travel time is about 11-13 hours. Flights to China can be found for less than 400€ throughout the year, and there are also often excellent Business Class fares.
A general advice is that travel should be avoided during the Chinese national holidays, which span over the first two weeks of October. During these time tourist destinations are overcrowded with Chinese tourists on their domestic vacation.
Visa for China
Most European citizens will need a visa to enter China.
You can apply for a tourist visa at a Visa Application Service Center (CVASC) in your country. There you’ll hand in your visa application personally and can pick it up again after a few days. There is no faster and cheaper way.
Alternatively, you can apply for a visa by mail. The processing time will be up to two weeks, and you’ll have to pay for extra for shipping.
There are also so-called Visa services available that sometimes offer a faster (and maybe even cheaper) way to get your Visa. Check local sites to find out more.
→ All Dealz for China
Information & Tips for Beijing
China’s capital Beijing is full of historically and contemporary important buildings. Most of them concentrate arround Tian’anmen square – which is sorrounded by government buildings and the entrance to the Forbidden City, the palace that hosted China’s emperors for more than 500 years. Beijing itself is full of attraction that take weeks to discover, but the fun doesn’t end there. Just a 90-minute bus ride away is The Great Wall at Badaling, the best known section of the Great Wall of China.
The Best Time to Visit
Beijing is located in a continental climate zone and is known for its hot, humid summers and its harsh, cold winters. Therefore, the best times to visit are from late March through May and late August through November.
Please be aware that during the Chinese National holidays, usually two weeks after October 1st, the city is overcrowded with Chinese tourists and should be avoided.
From the airport to the city
Beijing Capital Airport, the second busiest worldwide, is very well-connected by public transport. It is served by a regular subway line and an express rail way to the edge of the city centre, which takes 20 Minutes and costs about €3 one way. Further, there are 18 bus lines to different parts of the city (costing €3-5). Of course, taxis are an option as well. A trip to the city centre costs around €12-15, but often take over an hour.
It is not possible to rent a car in China without a Chinese drivers licence.
→ All Dealz for Beijing
Thanks to our source YHBU!
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