Hi, I wonder if anyone knows a "good" website for getting flights from Zurich to Hong Kong.
I just check the Swissair site, along with expedia. and it shocks me to see that taking swissair from London Heathrow to Zurich to Hong Kong return is just 415 pounds (CHF 747), but from Zurich to Hong Kong with Swissair is a whopping Chf 1099. In fact, it's still cheaper to fly from Zurich to London, then from london to Zurich to Hong Kong all with Swissair. What's the logic in that? That's not even to mention carbon footprint.

Don't get me started on airline pricing... do not expect to understand it, but be happy when you make a good deal.

We never found really good prices from Zurich, so we often fly from Germany (for example Stuttgart, less than three hours by car) for a fraction of the price. Best prices usually come from smaller agents, we have use this on several times: http://www.asiaticket.de/ they sometimes have real bargains! (Oh, yes: Forget the website and call them directly... they do not have the IT department of expedia or Swiss )

You can ask them if they do have tickets from Zurich as well... I think last time we asked they did not, but if we simply ask often enough they might change their mind...

Well you can try Globetrotter

http://www.globetrotter.ch/reisen/fluege_online_buchen

which looks at the low costs as well as Swiss

and also Asien.ch

www.asien.ch

As for why the fares are so expensive here it's just market forces. There's a lot of competition out of London (BA, Cathay etc) while in ZRH LX is basically the only game in town with only lines like Emirates keeping them slightly honest.

According to Globetrotter the cheapest flight is China Southern at CHF 839 with Qatar close behind at CHF 852

I fly regularly to asia as well, and find that zurich is particularly poorly serviced compared to the UK in terms of price. if you are looking for a bargain, forget the direct flights and look at Lufthansa, Airfrance, KLM.

Best bargain I have found though is Finnair, which easily knocks hundreds off the competition. This was for Japan though, so HK might not be as good.

btw, i get tips on the cheapest deals from the local asian networks. try your local HK or Chinese society. I am sure someone has found the latest best deal

Hi,

I just use www.kayak.com and it provides me the information about all the different flights and then takes you to the airline's web site to book it.

have fun

Martin

You are right. This ridiculous tariff practice is quite common. The airlines make direct flights more expensive.

Try Emirates. Or other airlines with Asian hubs.

thanks everyone for the replies. I shall give my local asien stores a quick check tomorrrow.

Pricing is bizarre but there is a logical answer (if in theory not a green one - see later comment). For Swiss to get a customer to endure the inconvenience of dragging themselves via Zurich from London there has to be an incentive. That is price. They are effectively 'stealing' a customer from BA etc. to fill their aircraft. All the carriers feed their networks and home hubs like this. BA, Lufthansa, KLM, Air France. For the green argument, bear in mind that ALL these flights will operate whether 60%, 70%, 99% full, so the green 'cost' is the same. However, as a carrier, you are more green if your flights are full.

London is interesting as it has some differences from Zurich, Stuttgart, Munich, for example. Multiple carriers flying to the same place at around the same time. That is rare and it brings intense competition. To then pull a customer away from a direct flight needs a greater incentive, hence the Swiss bargains ex LHR.

With airport taxes so high, even a 'free' flight these days costs the best part of £100 but (as people here confirm), the numbers sometimes work.

For Asia, the route 'over the top' with Finnair is really well priced. Going is good as you don't feel you've actually 'left' till you hop off out of Helsinki. The flight time is much less than the long way round and you get to Asia in the AM instead of PM. Coming back though is harrowing. 2hrs sitting bored in Helsinki airport, after 9hrs+ on the flight you think you should be home. That may be just habit on my part.

Overall, now is a great time to do that trip you have always wanted. All the airlines want/need full planes and so prices are great. Be flexible, book in advance, pick the right airline on the right dates and that is where the bargains are.

P.S. I have never found a travel agent that can find a cheaper flight if I spend just an hour online. Oh, and if you ever head to the US (New York). Think about going via Geneva. Prices MUCH lower than Zurich and if you have a GA or half-price card, that leg is at least cheap, if not free.

D

The simple explaination to your query is that the staff in Switzerland get better pay than their counterparts in England.

Alway you should always visit your favourite airline's website first before checking the rest.
Lufthansa
Zürich - Hong Kong
from CHF 899

Emirates
Zürich - Hong Kong
from CHF 1061

By the way, Swissair is history The airline is called Swiss International airlines