Best way to fly to Hong Kong or Australia?

[N'Syncro]

I don't know if anyone is a frequent flier around here, but I thought i'd ask.

Anyone have any suggestions on which air carriers to use or more importantly, NOT use when flying to either Hong Kong or Australia? I'm heading to HK in January for a few weeks, and then probably spending my last week in Australia. Either flying out of Saskatoon, Calgary, or Edmonton. I don't know if I should head to Minneapolis first, or just Van?

The only carrier that I really want to avoid is Air Canada b/c i've been screwed by them far too many times in the past.

Any thoughts? Thanks!

[Canadian Turbo]

Re: Best way to fly to Hong Kong or Australia?

Well I have flown to Asia a number of times and Australia a couple as well and planning to go again in the spring hopefully. Personally I have found that AC has been great as of late and their international service (flew to Tokyo and back in June on AC) is far better than domestic and I much prefer it over an American airline, when you have their seat back TV on a 12 hour flight you will be much happier than United's old purple tinted TV in the aisle. That being said I would think it depends on how easy you can get the routing but going through Vancouver is usually the easiest and best as you avoid any US customs. For Hong Kong I had a great time on Cathay Pacific going through Van, but and I would suggest AC Air New Zealand or Qantas for Australia and going through Van saves a couple hours over LA or San Fran too.

[FlyBoy]

Re: Best way to fly to Hong Kong or Australia?

+1 for Cathay Pacific out of Van to HK. Comfy seats, great food. Even get slippers to walk around the plane in (3 years ago anyways).

[852VR6]

Re: Best way to fly to Hong Kong or Australia?

Cathy Pacific for sure! Everytime I go back to HK ive always taken Cathy Pacific. Plane is nice, seats are comfy, the entertainment system is better than Air Can and the food is better!

[[Cronzy]]

Re: Best way to fly to Hong Kong or Australia?

+1 for Cathay Pacific out of Van to HK. Comfy seats, great food. Even get slippers to walk around the plane in (3 years ago anyways).

I love those slippers, but I must agree with the past 2 posts on Cathay Pacific

[R_Ethug]

Re: Best way to fly to Hong Kong or Australia?

yes calgary to van via whoever

cathay to HK all the way.. great flights that i've had going to asia with them

i'm flying to Australia this fall.. cgy-san fran-sydney all with aircanada and united air.. so hopefully its OK.. really on those 12+ hr flights.. just drop nyquil or ambien and your set

[RONDAL]

Re: Best way to fly to Hong Kong or Australia?

Cathay, AC like mentioned. Anyone on the Star Alliance has good flights getting to the asia pacific hubs.
NWA is also good, you fly Calgary to Seattle and then go. They had great service when i flew to hong kong 28 months ago.

[N'Syncro]

Re: Best way to fly to Hong Kong or Australia?

Cathay Pacific? Never even heard of them. Then again, i've never flown off the continent before. I'll look into them, but i'm going to need more good praises towards Air Canada for me to consider them again! lol. I find they are ok out west, but will SCREW you if you head east, especially to the coast.

[bonfire]

Re: Best way to fly to Hong Kong or Australia?

Cathay is the business. Singapore Airlines, out of San Fran is pretty nice. Sing Air, is a wicked airline.

I flew AC to Toronto last week, I am blown away how well it went. Checked in on my phone, they just scanned the phone, at the kiosk thing, it printed a bag tag, dropped bag off and went in. Sum total of words spoken was 'Hello' to the lady running the bag drop. No 34 minutes of typing, no snotty attitudes, no chaos, bags came off pretty quick in TO but took a while back here in Edmonton.

Albeit that isn't international.

[VWSM]

Re: Best way to fly to Hong Kong or Australia?

If you can avoid United do it..Oh my aching back just thinking about it.