Europe? How about Hong Kong... every weekend

Shanghai travelers en route to Europe have never had it cheaper, but the real winners may be Hong Kong commuters. Newcomer Hong Kong Express Airways (which launched its first SH-HK flight only three days ago) announced Thursday that it will offer a monthly package for unlimited trips between the two cities, all for around 6,000 RMB. The deal is currently available in Hong Kong for HK$6,888 (6,086 RMB) a month, and the company reported that ticket prices will probably decrease by the time it is offered in Shanghai. So how much could you save? According to discount travel site elong.com, roundtrip tickets between the two cities range from 420 RMB to triple that, plus substantial tax and service fees. Moral of the story: travelers would have to make the trek at least weekly to justify the price tag. The monthly ticket may not be for the casual visitor, but frequent fliers are poised to benefit not just from financial savings, but also from faster booking and boarding procedures.

Photo from maja_x1