How to Book Travel on Xiamen Airlines

With a rainbow of Asian cultures and dialects, China is rich with diversions for travelers who want to explore Silk Road country. Those seeking to book travel on Xiamen Airlines should know that the airline offers domestic flights for travel within China, as well as international flights connecting China with the rest of the world.

Things You'll Need

• Passport.
• Visa.
• Valid credit card.
• Computer with Internet access.

Instructions

Book Travel on Xiamen Airlines

1. Reserve your tickets directly through Xiamen Airlines. You can visit the company's English-language Web site for more information on the airline (see Resources below).

2. Pick an international destination for travel on Xiamen Airlines. The carrier offers service to locations like Seoul, Tokyo and Bangkok.

3. Book tickets for Chinese domestic air travel on Xiamen Airlines via a travel agent, after your arrival in China. Chinese travel agents offer the best rates for those seeking tickets for domestic travel. It's possible to score discounts of over 50 percent when making your purchase via this means.

4. Don't be shy about bargaining for your tickets on Xiamen Airlines. Bargaining is to be expected when doing business in China. Don't accept the first price you're shown; it is likely that you can chop 20 percent off this number.

5. Choose a domestic destination for travel on Xiamen Airlines. The carrier has flights to Chinese locations like Sanya, Shanghai, Shantou, Shenyang, Shenzhen, Tianjin and Taiyuan.

Get to Know Xiamen Airlines

1. Know that Xiamen Airlines has been in existence for over 20 years. It was founded in 1984. The airline's main hub is Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport.

2. Expect to fly to or make a connection through Xiamen. This is where the airline is based, in this city of over 2 million in China's Fuji Province.

3. Keep in mind that Xiamen Airlines has a fairly sizable fleet, comprised of the following planes: Boeing 737-300s, Boeing 737-500s, Boeing 737-700s, Boeing 737-800s and Boeing 757-200s. On average, Xiamen's planes are just over 7 years old.

Tips & Warnings

• Xiamen Airlines does not yet offer online booking for English speakers.

• Tourists entering China need to show a Chinese visa to be allowed into the country. Get your Chinese visa before setting off for China. Simply apply for one with your country's Chinese embassy; allow enough time to mail your passport to the embassy and for the embassy to mail it back.

• Know that, for United States nationals, Chinese visas cost $50. Those from other countries can expect to pay $35.

• Check the State Department's travel site for advisories based on China's current political climate.