The national carrier of the U.A.E., Etihad Airways, is offering sweet fares on Business Class flights from Prague to Chengdu. Prices for round-trips from Europe to China start at only CZK 36,416/€1,408. Not bad compared to what those tickets can typically cost you.
Since Prague is not one of Etihad’s destinations, one of their codeshare partners like Lufthansa or Air Serbia will connect you to another airport within Europe (e.g., Frankfurt or Belgrade). While the airline will operate a Boeing 777 or an Airbus A330 on their routes from German airports to Abu Dhabi, the flight from Belgarde to the U.A.E. will be on board of an Airbus A320. No matter where you’re first flight came from, you will board a Boeing 777 or 787 in Abu Dhabi on your way to China.
Search & Book
Tickets will be sold until October 22, 2019. Seats at the discounted rate are of course, always subject to availability. This deal is valid for flights until March 31, 2020.
The minimum stay requirements are only 3 days while the fare allows you to let six months pass between your departure from and your return to Europe.
Use Google Flights (instructions) to find all available connections and the dates that will suit you best. As always, you can go to our flight search to compare prices that OTAs will offer. But we recommend booking directly on the website of the carrier since this will guarantee better communication in case there are any problems.
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 will be issued in booking class Z. Although Etihad is not a member of an airline alliance, you can earn between 100% and 130% of the actual miles traveled with many frequent flyer programs.
Please note that the miles you can earn on feeder flights may vary, depending on the airline that operates the flight. Check WheretoCredit.com to find out how many miles you will be credit with.
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 Chengdu
Chengdu is the capital of China’s Sichuan province. It is one of the three most populous cities in Western China. Around 8 million poeple live within the city. Being a place of historical importance throughout China’s history, Chengdu has become an important economical and cultural center of modern day China. Like the sorrounding Sichuan province, Chengdu has a proud cultural heritage. City and province are famous for their spicy cuisine. Further, the province is home to the last surviving Giant Pandas. A lot of the city’s tourism infracstructure is centered around them.
Best time to travel
Chengdu is located in a subtropical climate zone, with a monsoon season stretching from june through mid-september. The city is hot and humid and should be avoided then. Temperatures are modest the rest of the year, making Chengdu an attractive place to visit. The coldest month is January, with a daily mean temperature of 5 degrees.
From the Airport to the City
Chengdu Shuangliu Int’l Airport is a hub for Chinese Carriers Sichuan Airlines and Air China. It is very well connected to the city by several means of transportation. A highspeed railway line takes you to Chengdu East Railway station in about 10 minutes, charging less than €2 for a one-way ticket. The subway is the cheaper alternative, but takes a bit longer. If you prefer roads over tracks, there are a number of bus services to different places in Chengdu, starting at RMB 10 (approx. €1.30). Of course, taxis are available as well. A ride to the city center should take 45 minutes at max and cost around RMB 70 (€9).
→ All Dealz for Chengdu