If you still haven't made any travel plans, the fares below provide good reasons to hie off and spend that quality downtime time you owe yourself and your family.
Emirates
Special round-trip economy fares between Asia-Pacific and Dubai are available until December 31, 2010. Tickets, which must be booked online, start from US$833 depending on the destination. Skywards miles will be awarded.
Booking periods differ depending on flying dates. The promotion does not apply to code-share services between Bangkok and Dubai on flights EK 6200 and EK 6201. To book, visit www.emirates.com
Thai Airways
The carrier is offering economy one-way fares for those planning to travel to Europe and Perth, Australia from Bangkok. Tickets to Athens, London, Rome, Milan, Moscow, Munich, Frankfurt and Oslo start from THB12,000 (US$399). Tickets from Bangkok to Perth start from THB6,000 (US$199).
Tickets can be purchased online until December 31, 2010. These do not include taxes and surcharges, and changes to dates and names cannot be made once the tickets are purchased. Royal Orchid loyalty programme mileage does not also apply. To book, visit www.thaiairways.com
Turkish Airlines
Turkish Airlines is not only offering special fares from Hong Kong to 73 destinations in Europe, Middle East and Africa, all via Turkey, but also the option for a free transit stay at a hotel in Istanbul. Round-trip rates start from HK$4,890 (US$629), and, depending on transit times, can include a free hotel stay and tour of the city or a shorter six-hour tour of the city.
Flights depart Hong Kong on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays at 2315, arriving in Istanbul at 0525 where passengers can catch connecting flights to the carrier’s other destinations. The return leg departs from Istanbul on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 2355 and arrives in Hong Kong at 1540.
Tickets must be booked online for travel from now till January 31, 2011 to include the free perks. To book, visit www.thy.com.hk
United Airlines
It is offering passengers economy round-trip fares starting from HK$4,880 (US$627) between Hong Kong and Las Vegas for travel between now and January 31, 2011. Booking must be done online from now till December 31, 2010. However, a blackout date between January 1 and 20, 2011 applies.
United Airlines operates daily services to Las Vegas via San Francisco, using the Boeing B747-400. Flights depart Hong Kong at 1250 and arrive in San Francisco at 0828. The daily connecting flights from San Francisco depart 1040 and arrive in Las Vegas at 1224.
The return leg departs Las Vegas at 0802 and arrives in San Francisco at 0950. The connecting flights from San Francisco depart at 1157, arriving in Hong Kong at 1840. To book, visit www.unitedairlines.com.hk
Virgin Atlantic
Those already thinking of next year's travel plans can take advantage of Virgin Atlantic’s early bird rates to Sydney and London from Hong Kong. On offer are round-trip economy tickets starting from HK$4,100 (US$527) to Sydney for departures between February 7 to April 14 and April 27 to June 30.
The same fare applies to round-trip economy tickets to London for departures between February 4 and April 22 and April 27 and June 30, 2011. The carrier is also offering tickets for pairs starting from HK$7,800 (US$1,003) for travel to both destinations during the same periods. Bookings must be made online before December 17, 2010.
To book, visit www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/hk
Alisha Haridasani
