Transpacific Air Travel Options: Korean Air and Asiana

Continuing our series of "how do I get home from Guangzhou, now that Northwest is dropping service?", we discuss the availability of flights through South Korea. You are permitted to take your child through Seoul's Incheon Airport on her Chinese passport with US visa, as long as you have a same-day connection and don't leave the secure zone.

This is good news for adoptive families, as Seoul (airport code ICN) offers excellent coverage to both the US and Canada. Strong business ties between Korea and China have also led to frequent services covering many cities.

The two long-range carriers based in Korea are Korean Air (airline code KE)and Asiana (airline code OZ).  KE is the bigger and older of the two.

Korean Air is a significant member of the SkyTeam alliance and has strong operational ties to partner Delta Air Lines, so you can earn SkyMiles or WorldPerks miles. KE has aggressively added service to North America, opening up markets such as Las Vegas, and serving Los Angeles four times a day. KE offers two departures from Guangzhou, which connect to the North American cities shown on this map. (KE also flies to Washington Dulles as well as Dallas/Ft. Worth, but you can't make those on a same-day basis from Guangzhou.)

KE then offers onward connections in North America with SkyTeam codeshare flights on Delta or Northwest.

Flying into China is a little more complicated depending on what North American gateway you would be coming from. The early-morning departures out of LAX, Las Vegas, Toronto, and New York JFK offer the broadest range of same-day connections. Flights from Atlanta, Chicago, Honolulu, San Francisco, Seattle, and Vancouver arrive Seoul later in the day, when most departures to China have already left, although you can make good connections to Shanghai, Beijing, Wuhan, Kunming, and Shenyang. Otherwise, you could opt to spend a night at the airport hotels and then catch morning flights to the other cities shown on the map.

Korean companies have significantly invested in nearby Shandong, Liaoning, Jilin, and Heilongjiang provinces, so not surprisingly KE and OZ put most of their aircraft into those cities. Not too many adoptive kids come from the Northeast, however. KE does have morning flights to Changsha in Hunan, and afternoon flights to Wuhan in Hubei and Kunming in Yunnan, so that does help some of you.

As of the time of this posting, I have not been able to get a press contact to answer my questions about adoption fare availability. 

For a sample short-notice routing, however, the "everyday" fare is reasonable. KE's website gave me a fare of $1081 roundtrip, leaving LAX on March 7 and returning March 22.

Unlike some other airlines, you cannot book an open-jaw routing on KE's website, so you'll need to phone them to make a reservation.

Contact info:

Website: www.koreanair.com

Phone: 800-438-5000

Asiana Airlines is a member of the Star Alliance, so you can earn United Mileage Plus points with them (Air Canada, US Airways likewise). They do not reach as many North American destinations, nor do they offer the frequency of Korean Air. However, if your child is coming from Zhejiang or Jiangsu, OZ offers service where KE does not.

Here too, not every North American city Asiana flies from has even service to/from China. Families traveling from Vancouver (actually on an Air Canada codeshare) don't make all the possible outbound connections on the same day, so would require an overnight stay in Korea.

Asiana also reaches San Francisco and Seattle, but you can't make a same-day connection going home from Guangzhou, so that's why they don't appear on this map:

Asiana likewise has not replied to my questions about adoption fares. However, on the same LAX-Guangzhou roundtrip routing I used for Korean Air above (leave March 7, return March 22), OZ quotes a fare of $909 - more than $100 cheaper than KE.

The OZ website also does not support open-jaw routings, so you'll need to call their reservations desk.

Contact info:

Website: us.flyasiana.com

Phone: 800-227-4262

Summary:

The option of flying through Korea has good potential depending on where specifically you will be meeting your child. Fares are good compared to the Japanese carriers, and more cities in China as well as North America are reached with just one connection. If more kids were coming from Northeastern provinces, KE and OZ would likely be a first-choice for many parents. However, with both of these carriers, where you are coming from and where you are going will make a big difference.

Transpacific Air Travel Options: Hainan Airlines

Second in our series of airline profiles for China adoption trips is a relatively new carrier across the Pacific, Hainan Airlines. Hainan (airline code "HU") only started service to the US in June 2008, flying between Beijing and Seattle.

This airline is relatively young - starting in 1993 - and flies a modern Boeing, Airbus, and Embraer fleet. They are the #4 domestic carrier in China and cover all the major cities with a robust schedule, award-winning service, good safety record, and competitive pricing. It is entirely possible some of your city-to-city transportation in China will be on this carrier.

Of keen interest to adopting families is the excellent schedule offered in both directions. Flight HU 496 leaves Seattle at 1:20 pm on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday (plus Friday, beginning in April) and arrives Beijing at 4:35 pm, with plenty of time to make connections to 16 other cities, including Hangzhou, Xi'an, Haikou, Taiyuan, and Guangzhou. This is great for families who are pressed for time or money, and want to proceed directly to their child's adoption city, skipping the tourism break in Beijing. (And if you do want to stay in Beijing for a few days at the beginning of the trip, well, you're right there!)

Coming home, the 8:30 am out of Guangzhou connects with plenty of time to make HU 495, which leaves Beijing at 4:20 pm and arrives Seattle at 11:40 am (again, four days a week.) The Seattle run uses a brand-new Airbus A330-200 with seat pitch of 32" in Economy - which is the same as you'd encounter on Northwest. All seats have an inflight entertainment system with 50 video channels and 50 audio channels, plus games. Both Chinese and Western meals are served inflight.

The Seattle timing is perfect for clearing Customs and making onward flights to the whole West Coast, as well as key cities in the Midwest and East Coast.

(EDIT: The Summer/Fall 2009 westbound schedule is exactly the same as posted above. The eastbound flight now leaves at 2:00 pm, arriving Beijing at 4:40 pm. No change to connection availability.)
Hainan Airlines offers a very competitive everyday fare structure. I entered a sample itinerary on the airline's website out of Seattle for March 4 to Beijing, returning from Guangzhou March 21, and got a fare for under $1000. Hainan also offers through-ticketing via Seattle on Alaska Airlines, American, and Continental to select US and Canadian destinations, also with surprisingly good fares.

While this airline does not specifically offer an adoption-fare program, the quotes you'll find from their website for close-in dates definitely represent a bargain. I have talked with the airline's US General Manager, and he tells me they are in fact looking into setting up an adoption desk. They have received government approval to add service to Chicago and Newark, although with the current economic crisis, those new routes are on hold.

In summary, Hainan Airlines offers adoptive families good value for money and a quality product. Families whose kids hail from Zhejiang, Shaanxi, Henan, and Guangdong will also appreciate being able to fly to those provinces on a same-day connection if they wish to skip the Beijing stopover.

Contact information:

Web: www.hnair.com/us

Phone: 888-688-8813 (US and Canada)

Transpacific Air Travel Options: ANA-All Nippon

With Northwest Airlines pulling out of Guangzhou in March 2009, there will no longer be an American-flag carrier serving the city all adopting families leave from. I have been conducting research and contacting airlines' press offices for comment and suggestions; over the next few weeks I'll discuss some of the other options available.

Let's start with the Japanese carrier ANA - All Nippon Airways. Tokyo's Narita Airport is ANA's home base, which means no hassles regarding your new child's Chinese passport. ANA is a member of the Star Alliance, so earning miles on your United frequent flyer account is straightforward. And ANA serves a number of destinations in China, most importantly Guangzhou. ANA, not surprisingly for an Asian carrier, has a good reputation for service, and as an English-speaker, you will not have any problems.

When you look at the ANA timetable, however, connections out of Guangzhou back to America are slim. Only San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Honolulu can be hooked up.  From these three cities, going to China, connections can be made to Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Beijing (except for L.A., which arrives too late to make the Beijing flight.) Click on the map below for an expanded view:

I ran airfares on a typical short-notice adoption routing: leaving San Francisco March 4 to Beijing, returning from Guangzhou on March 19. The total trip came to about $1600 per person. If you want to book a third seat coming back from China (which we highly recommend), expect to pay around $900 for the one-way. You'll have to call their reservations desk, as you cannot book a one-way ticket from China to the USA over their website.

The spokesman I've dealt with confirms that ANA does not offer special fares for adopting families. When you do get your placement date, you'll be paying the higher no-advance-notice fare.  With the current economic crisis, even the short-notice fares aren't too bad, but these do tend to go up in the summer months. And when the economy does get stronger again, prices will get even steeper.

The limited connections available with this carrier also mean you will have to spend at least one more night inbound to China - while a Beijing stopover is a great idea to help you with jetlag, and to see the sights before Placement Day, if you are trying to economize by flying directly to your child's provincial capital, ANA is not going to be your first choice.

Contact information:

Phone: 1-800-2-FLY-ANA (US 50 and Canada)

Web: www.anaskyweb.com/us/e

More grocery goodies

Feeling thirsty after a great Chinese New Year party?

This might be good, as long as it's not syrupy. Someday I suppose I'll try it.

It's Asparagus Beverage. Umm, no. Think I'll pass, despite the nice illustration and smiley face on the can.

Now this is a product I have tried and heartily recommend. The producer is Elisha Waters from Fujian, and these are lightly flavored mineral waters. They have the orange and apple you see here, and also peach and lychee. All very nice; about 99 cents here in the States.

NWA/Delta merger: One thing you won't see for much longer

With the Spring 2009 schedule, Delta has announced it will stop the Saturday-only "extra" flight between Minneapolis and Tokyo-Narita, leaving the route with just one daily nonstop. This will mean MSP will no longer see two 747-400 aircraft simultaneously at its gates.

Over the next few weeks I'll explore how much more difficult it is becoming for adoptive families to make their China trip. 2009 was supposed to have been a year that saw unprecedented expansion of flights between the USA and PRC; instead carriers have cut back existing services and deferred - indefinitely - serving the new authorities they so fiercely sought just a year ago.

They're out there, waiting for you...

Take a deep breath and pull it together before walking through those doors. Yes, your family is hiding behind one of the banks of arrival monitors, with balloons and stuffed animals and cameras. They're happy and proud and excited, and they have no conception of how exhausted you are. (And of course, your new child has no idea who these loud strangers are.)

One last dose of patience and composure is what you have to leave for yourselves, to use at this moment. These are people you love. And you don't have the strength or the mental wherewithal to tell them to leave you alone for a few days while you figure out where your bathroom is and how to cook for yourselves and get over the China Colon Syndrome.

Be kind. You're almost home.

40 articles and counting!

Like a bowl of Shanghai-style beef noodle soup, weninchina.com aims to be filling, nutritious, and something you want to have available every day.

We've just published our 40th article about the China travel experience for families. Unlike the traditional travel guidebooks, which are organized around the various regions of China, we realize each family's timeline and itinerary is different. So we've set up our website more like a Dim Sum cart - pick what you're interested in and swing back for more when you're ready.

We've organized information into categories that apply wherever you land:

Lodging - including links to many of the most commonly-used hotels for adoptive families. Most of you will not be staying in well-known Western chains. There are important differences between a Chinese "5-star" hotel and what we would call "5 stars."

• Space - what you should expect about the layout of your hotel room
• Bathrooms
• the Beds - they aren't like hotel beds back home
• Cribs
• Electrical Outlets and Converters - not every region in China uses the same kind of plug, and the outlets are difficult to find in your hotel room
• Light Switches - quite possibly the first minor annoyance you'll encounter in the country. Yes, the switch in your hotel room does not work like you'd expect it to...
• the Breakfast Buffet - the only meal you know will be coming at a consistent time. Here's how to make the most of it.
• your hotel room's mini refrigerator - it's the same appliance, but there's something you don't know...
• your Room Safe - a must-use tool

Food - it's good, and for the most part, inexpensive.

• Chopsticks - yes, you need to learn how to use them
• KFC / Pizza Hut - these Western chains have made interesting adaptations for Chinese tastes, and should be on your list of things to try. There's no need to be afraid of ordering at the counter for yourself!
• Starbucks - because we can't live without good coffee, and you won't find any at your hotel
• Congee - it's what your child is eating; you should know what it's about

Travel and Tourism - advice about getting there, getting around, and getting home.

• Planning your Transpacific flights - more difficult since you have to leave from Guangzhou. We list and discuss several options
• Tokyo Narita Airport - a quick overview of where many of you will connect through
• Chinese Domestic Flights - what to expect as you move around the country
• Departing China - baggage strategy, getting through Guangzhou Baiyun airport, and what to expect for security
• Preparation for coming home - dealing with jetlag, relatives, and re-integrating into your 'normal' life. Includes a checklist of things you'll need to have done or arranged for before you leave for China.
• Shamian Island - the adoptive parents' refuge in Guangzhou. Includes a downloadable map to use when walking around.
• Traffic in China - amazing and hair-raising
• Passport & Money Holders

Money and Shopping - never enough of the former, never enough time for the latter...

• Money Basics - what the bills and coins look like, what to call them. China is very much a cash-based society, and you'll be using this knowledge every day.
• How to Exchange Currency - you'll be carrying a lot of it; here's where to go and how the process works
• Shopping for Groceries - a great and inexpensive way to get to know the Real China, not just the touristy stuff. It's something you can do on your own - and endlessly entertaining.
• Olympic Souvenirs - while a little outdated, still a good read concerning knockoff goods and how to determine what is authentic merchandise

Safety and Health - to supplement what your doctor or travel clinic has prepared you for

• Baby Formula Advisory - current information and government links regarding the tainted milk scandal of 2008
• Problems with Time Zones - jetlag when arriving in China isn't as much of a problem as that the local time zone doesn't fit the day/night cycle well
• "China Colon Syndrome" - will happen to you. Here's some help on how to deal with it.
• Spraying for Bugs - be aware, be prepared
• Physical Preparation for your trip - ideas on how to get ready for your two weeks away from the normal routine
• Crossing the Street - if you think the traffic is crazy when you're in a vehicle, then consider what it means for you as you walk around!
• Dealing with the Smog - when you encounter it, you'll remember it always. Here are some ideas on how to get through it until your next city.
• Email and Internet Monitoring - you may encounter some frustration, but it's not personal.

People and Culture - explaining some of the things you'll see on your trip, and ideas for back home

• Karaoke - is a huge industry in China. You might or might not get roped into it...
• Umbrellas - are used for more than rainshowers. If you want to fit in quickly, here's a good idea.
• Boats on the Pearl River - Guangzhou is a busy port with lots of traffic, and Shamian Island is a perfect spot to watch it from.
• Lucky Fish - why do Chinese have pictures and hangings of fish everywhere?
• the China Daily newspaper - your nightly reading assignment
• Chinese TV stations - in this case, watching TV can be considered to be 'good for you', and we do heartily recommend it!
• Chinese Learning Resources - for you and your children to use "back home". We profile and recommend several publishers and book distributors.

We hope to see you soon, and invite your comments, questions, and suggestions at weninchinainfo@mac.com.