The two Star Alliance carriers Swiss and Lufthansa are currently offering discounted tickets for flights between Prague and Hong Kong. Tickets for a round-trip from Europe to Asia start at around €337 (~CZK 8,189). And that’s not the only good thing. While we recently reported about Lufthansa Group cutting free luggage on most worldwide routes, this fare does include one piece of checked baggage.
Departing from Prague, you will have one layover on your way to Asia. If you’re traveling on Lufthansa, this will be Frankfurt, maybe Munich. With Swiss, your trip will bring you to Zurich. There you will board the plane to Hong Kong.
Search & Book
According to the fare rules, the airlines should be selling tickets until November 24th. Still, don’t waste too much time as cheap seats can be gone anytime. The offer is valid for trips commencing on or before June 30th, 2020. And availability definitely is great, as of now.
The minimum stay requirements are five days, and you could spend up to three months in Hong Kong before returning to Europe. Use Google Flights (instructions). You shouldn’t have any trouble finding the dates that suit you best.
Once you’ve settled for a specific flight, visit the carrier’s website your booking. Or use our Travel Dealz flight search to compare prices. But since the airline will only charge a few Euros more, we’d recommend booking with them.
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
All tickets should be issued in booking class K. This is definitely not an offer for people looming to earn many miles since the earning rate is 0% with most Star Alliance frequent flyer programs. But there are still some options:
- 3,650 Miles on ANA Mileage Club
- 3,284 Miles on Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles
- 3,134 Award Miles + 160 Points on Miles&More
- 3,134 Miles on ITA Volare
- 3,042 Award Miles + 608 PQP on United MileagePlus
- 3,042 Miles on Ethiopian ShebaMiles
- 3,042 Miles on Egyptair Plus
- Customize Calculation
Information & Tips for Hong Kong
Hong Kong is known for its skyline, Victoria Peak, harbour views, and a mix of modern and traditional sights like temples and street markets. The local currency is the Hong Kong dollar (HKD), and credit cards are widely accepted, though cash is still useful in smaller shops and markets. Prices are relatively high compared to much of Asia, especially for accommodation and dining. The weather is hot and humid in summer, with a cooler, more pleasant season from October to March. Typhoons can occur between June and October.
→ All Dealz for Hong Kong
Source: TravelFree – Thanks!
Cover Picture: CC0-Lizenz / Pixabay-User carloyuen