Flying to Hong Kong shall I risk the cheap airlines?

I went with Cathay direct in the end, £639. I thought I didn't want to get stuck in Peking if the connecting flight was late or cancelled. I found a Swiss air flight from London city via Zurich for £320 but I got all the way to the final checkout and it went up to £670.
 
dpbadger said:
I'm planning to fly London to Hong Kong in March next year. I've found tickets cheap tickets with Air China, Eastern China airlines via Beijing for about £360 return. Is it worth the risk or should I just stump up the £600 to go direct with Cathay? I'm going from London so if I can find a cheap European airline provider I'd rather do that ie Swiss or Lufthansa. I'm taking hand luggage only so they can't lose my baggage.
I don't want to be stuck in Beijing for hours if they cancel the onward flight. Has anyone used the cheaper Chinese carriers?
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Beijing is a fair old detour.

I used to fly Cathay or BA when I was living in HK.

One time I cheaped out and went Aeroflot via Moscow and ended up arriving a day late after having spent a night sharing a hotel room outside Moscow airport with some total random.

I used Air China a few times for regional flights, they are fine. You might find some of the Chinese cultural norms around coughing and spitting a bit off-putting though.
 
I'm flying on the 19th any tips for anything to see, eat or do? My friend lives on the airport island but we will be doing missions to the city area.
 
dpbadger said:
I'm flying on the 19th any tips for anything to see, eat or do? My friend lives on the airport island but we will be doing missions to the city area.
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Big Buddha
10,000 Buddha
Macau
Victoria Peak (and the path that goes ROUND the top, it has the best view along that path for the harbour)
Sky100 and the Oxygen Bar on the 110 Floor, it has a open roof section.
All the malls
Take a Ding Ding journey (the tram)
Temple Street, Lady Street - both are tourist trap selling cheap knock offs that you can find on Temu
Dim Sum at an old school Cantonese restaurant
Bakery for egg tarts - there are 2 types, cookie crust and puff pastry crust like a Pastel De Nata.
Food and more food.
 
dpbadger said:
I'm flying on the 19th any tips for anything to see, eat or do? My friend lives on the airport island but we will be doing missions to the city area.
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Personally I think a trip over the border to Shenzen and poking around the electronics district and other is well worth it. It's very different to HK, but also alike! You used to be able to just get a visa on the border (with a UK passport), Shenzen only, so you didn't need the faff of a full China visa.

There used to a knackered old soviet aircraft carrier moored North of SZ you could just go and wander around basically unsupervised. I think it sank while be moved though :)

Macau is also fun to visit, casinos etc, but also some great Portuguese influenced food and culture.

One of the best things about HK is that you can start in the busiest districts, and just walk for half an hour and be sat on top of a mountain taking in the views. Braemar Hill was my favourite spot, the best view of the harbour. Lion Rock very good on the Kowloon side.

I also really like the new towns, I worked in Sha Tin so have a bit of a soft spot for the place, the ten thousand Buddha monastery is next to my old office :) nice place for a wander.
 
Aircraft carrier sounds interesting even just to look at a sunk one. I think Macau was on the cards as well. I will be staying on the same island as the airport as that's where my friend lives on the south near the beach.
 
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