Our Journey Home To Cebu

[Dzighnman]

Knowing that I gain alot of insight into various travel options by searching through this section, and others experiences, I am providing our travel details in hopes that someone sees something that may benefit them in their journey. Of course, as we all know, there are many considerations other than a base rate when considering air travel and there are some sites to help out with that. For me, I have traveled and arranged my own business travel for years so I sort of know what to look out for and continue to do my own arrangements.

So, our trip is on July 1, 2012 and knowing my plan ahead of time, I watched the fluctuations of costs for a couple months beforehand and we purchased right at the 6 month in advance time, the first week of January. We are two adults and one 8yo child. While we are in Seattle now, but before we fly we are taking a cross country trip to see family before departing for Cebu. Our departure airport is O'hare International (ORD) out of Chicago, Illinois. We are traveling economy.

My selection criteria was simple:

1). NO GOING THROUGH MANILA, I hate Manila airports, and have for years, plus, a hidden cost of going through Manila to Cebu is you always have to stay the night outside the airport, even if only for a few hours after delays etc. So you have a hotel/taxi expense and a hassle of collecting your luggage and re-checking etc... you get the picture. (for me that is significant in that we have a total of 6 large check bags, 3 med carry-ons and three back packs)

2). A two check bag allowance per person, and a proven track record of not nit-picking our carry-on weights.

3). Overall cost of trip

What we eventually settled on:

1) ORD to CEB through a Hong Kong layover with Cathay Pacific. A close second place was ORD to CEB through Incheon, South Korea on either Korean Air or Asiana. We had done the Korea xfer before and traveled on both airlines no problem and the only issue with those is the VERY late evening arrival into CEB.... otherwise, same roughly 12 hour layover etc.

2). All three airlines have the required check bag limits and we have never had issues with them weighing our carry-ons. Check bags are all 50 lb each X2 per person.

3). The end result for one way tickets was for the two adults: 846.25usd each, including all taxes and for the child, 686.55usd also, including all taxes.

We are returning home so only one way tickets needed. The asawa and child are dual citizens and will arrive ontheir Philippine passports, and I have a 13A visa and ACR-I card so no need of proof for the onward as is required most of the time.

We have flown Cathay in the past and they DO check to see that the credit card used for purchase is presented at check-in. (2 out of 2 times in the past).

The Cathay flight from ORD to HKG is 15 hours and 35 minutes and the HKG to CEB is 2 hours and 40 minutes in length. BOTH legs are on Boeing 777 A/P and this is of interest for me since I work on that model A/P. Arrival into CEB is a much more reasonable 11:30am (as opposed to an 11:35pm on other airlines)

For the 12 hour layover in HKG, there are many lounge areas for free and between that and the restaurants, we basically move around the airport fgrom site to site, as the premium lounges are 100usd per person for a 10 hour block.

As with anything related to air travel, always double check the airlines website to ensure you are operating with the latest greatest info.

Lastly, as a comparison, in 2010, we flew, one way from ORD to CEB, through ICN (Incheon, South Korea) with the late arrival into CEB and the cost was 998.20 per adult and 878.00 for the child.... same 6 month in advance purchase strategy... this was consistent with where Korean and Asiana fell on their prices this year, but the decision maker was the arrival time into Cebu.... the cost savings on Cathay was a bonus. And I check today: Price for the same flights/dates on Cathay are ~1200usd per adult and 1080usd per child.

Happy and SAFE travels!!

:thumbsup:

[sonjack2847]

Hi

If you don`t want to spend all that time in the airport you could pop over to Hong Kong island for a few hours. You can store your bags at the airport and get a train. You could have a quick look around and go back it is not that expensive to get to the island. I know that you get there late in the evening but this could kill a few hours for you. I have an address of a bar there which does food and the managers wife is Philippino. I go there quite often when I use Cathay Pacific and I have no problems at immigration. If you would like the address and phone number you can pm me.

Safe journey

Kevin

[billten]

Just get here Ron will'ya, i want to borrow your welding machine j/k ;-o

Serioiusly though, the only thing i would add is that even with the long layover you are probably better with the route selected as it is really the most direct. Other routes often have less layover but you are in the air a lot longer.

There is a VERY nice lounge in HKG, one that, for a fee, includes a shower and sauna. If you can afford it, taking a shower and change really makes a huge difference.

[Will]

Thanks for the detailed info. I hope to be making the trip (one way!) with the asawa and our little anak before the end of the year. Please keep us posted on your journey. Also, that bar that serves food in HK and the shower and sauna SURE sound like a nice break after a loooooong flight. I sure might be interested in getting those locations before we go. :)

[i am bob]

Ron, have you ever given us a post that wasn't a great help?

Keep them coming sir! Keep them coming!

And before I forget... The sooner you are back, the sooner I can read more of your blogs on building your new home!!!

:AddEmoticons04230:

[Dzighnman]

Just get here Ron will'ya

I know man, seems like this last couple months has been taking for freaking ever.... let's see, 50 days til the end of my Boeing contract and 69 until we meet up with you guys in Cebu....but who's counting?

:cheers:

[Dzighnman]

Ron, have you ever given us a post that wasn't a great help?

Keep them coming sir! Keep them coming!

And before I forget... The sooner you are back, the sooner I can read more of your blogs on building your new home!!!

:AddEmoticons04230:

Thanks Bob, we appreciate that the posts are useful. Lots more to share.... just remember, there are many of us that are anxious to hear from you when you hit the ground later in the year. I remember my first time here and all the experiences good and bad... so hopefully for you, most of them are good!!! :cheersty: Remember though, even the less than good experiences keep you on your toes... :hystery: :hystery:

[Dzighnman]

There is a VERY nice lounge in HKG, one that, for a fee, includes a shower and sauna. If you can afford it, taking a shower and change really makes a huge difference.

the shower and sauna SURE sound like a nice break after a loooooong flight

Hey, I tried, I really tried, but my asawa BEGGED me to not spend 300usd for 10 hours at the lounge... and what I learned that helped me to yield to her was when I talked to the lounge receptionist, she mentioned that from 9:00pm to 9:00am, they only have light snacks, so no buffet, they only serve basic soft drinks, no bar and they limit your access to the showers so that cleaning can occur...... so, for the same fees as the primo full services, you get far less value on the overnight 10 hour block... we may still sneak in a 4 hour block if I can talk her into it.... i feel guilty going in there by myself.. .I mean, I will go, but there will be guilt involved... :hystery: :hystery: :hystery: No, not really.. we are a team! I like the HK idea and PM'd Sonjack for the info. :thumbsup:

[i am bob]

There is a VERY nice lounge in HKG, one that, for a fee, includes a shower and sauna. If you can afford it, taking a shower and change really makes a huge difference.

the shower and sauna SURE sound like a nice break after a loooooong flight

Hey, I tried, I really tried, but my asawa BEGGED me to not spend 300usd for 10 hours at the lounge... and what I learned that helped me to yield to her was when I talked to the lounge receptionist, she mentioned that from 9:00pm to 9:00am, they only have light snacks, so no buffet, they only serve basic soft drinks, no bar and they limit your access to the showers so that cleaning can occur...... so, for the same fees as the primo full services, you get far less value on the overnight 10 hour block... we may still sneak in a 4 hour block if I can talk her into it.... i feel guilty going in there by myself.. .I mean, I will go, but there will be guilt involved... :hystery: :hystery: :hystery: No, not really.. we are a team! I like the HK idea and PM'd Sonjack for the info. :thumbsup:

For that price you would be better off finding a cheap hotel for a couple hours of nap time and drip drip after!

[OnMyWay]

Thanks for the info! I'm surprised the lounge is so expensive. In Taipei you can get a room with bed and shower for 4 hours for a bit over $30, which is nice for a long layover.

We have flown Cathay in the past and they DO check to see that the credit card used for purchase is presented at check-in. (2 out of 2 times in the past).

Next Thursday, after politely informing the agent at the Chicago Cathay Pacific office not to take it personally, they are going to get an earful from me on this stupid policy! I am going to Chicago 3 days early before my girlfriend arrives, to show them my credit card!