PEK Airport, Beijing BCIA

ChinaApril2008 767
Originally uploaded by JoeDuck

This is in Terminal 3 at Beijing International where Duty Free shops are everywhere. Some trinkets were very overpriced here but the scotch seemed reasonable, though I think on balance Duty Free is not going to save all that much given the markup.

Air Lingus - Flights to Ireland around $300

Air Lingus has some great looking deals from East and West Coast to Ireland:

http://www.aerlingus.com/cgi-bin/obel01im1/bookonline/index.jsp?campid=aer_lingus_gus&se=ppc

No United Continental Merger

CNN is reporting that there will not be a Continental United merger after all. Continental's CEO told employees today that the airline was better off alone than merged. A United Continental merger would have created the world's largest airline.

Beijing Capital International Airport Terminal 3

Beijing Capital International Airport Terminal 3 460
Originally uploaded by JoeDuck

PEK = BCIA = Beijing International Airport. Arriving by Taxi to the new Terminal 3 building, a massive terminal that with the Olympics will soon be one of the world's busiest places. The Dragon Shaped Beijing Airport is exceptional in terms of cleanliness, design, and effeciency and despite the language barriers you find in China I had no trouble navigating customs and ticketing to easily make my flight home from PEK to the USA. Note that the airport is 40-60 minutes from most places in Beijing so be sure to allow time to get there, especially if you have an early morning flight.

PEK Beijing - Know Your Terminal!

If you are travelling to or from Beijing's Airports, keep these items in mind:

BCIA stands for "Beijing Capital International Airport" and is commonly used when referencing the Beijing Airport even though PEK is the same Airport.

Know your Terminal! PEK is a *huge* Airport, and the taxi will need to know which Terminal you are departing from. My United Airlines PEK to SFO flight was from Terminal three and I think most international departures are now from that terminal. Your hotel concierge may ask you "which airport" and I think they really mean "which terminal". Clear this up before getting in the Taxi as the Chinese Taxi drivers rarely speak any English.

PEK is the Airport Code for Beijing's main Airport which, without much traffic, is approximately a 40-50 minute taxi ride from most areas of the city. The cost for the taxi should be about 100 Yuan, perhaps a little more. In Beijing and Shanghai always ride in taxis with meters to avoid scams.

BCIA Beijing Airport, China

BCIA Airport 857
Originally uploaded by JoeDuck

The massive Terminal 3 at Beijing International Airport was completed in February of 2008. BCIA is poised to become one of the top five world airports this year:

http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90778/90857/90860/6316193.html

Beijing Airport PEK

Tomorrow I will be reporting live from the Beijing Airport if I can find a free WIFI hotspot. My trip to China was more about train travel than planes this time because I wanted to see the countryside, and did see about 1800 miles of it from Hong Kong to Shanghai to Beijing. But no trains back to USA and I will be happy to be flying home tomorrow PEK to SFO to MFR.

My friends, who flew in from Shanghai, have been very impressed with the domestic air service saying that even regular class is very impressive. I think they flew China Air from Shanghai to Beijing. The cost here for domestic air is very reasonable and I think you can generally book at last minute (though avoid that on general principle). $142 for Shanghai to Beijing.

Aloha Airlines to stop service Monday

Aloha Airlines is bankrupt and service will end after Monday, presumably with no more passenger or other services.

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080331/aloha_bankruptcy.html?.v=2