Asia, here I come!

Boss got his bid for SEA and plans to fly Asia for a while. He's fairly senior so he can likely get Bejing every month. Looks like I have to get a China visa! I did his crew visa and found out all sorts of stuff!

For instance: Aug 1 regs say tourist applicant must have RT tickets and hotel reservation (nonrev itinerary will not suffice) OR invitation letter from someone in China. I got lucky and a pilot wife I know will invite me, so I can apply for one year multiple entry. (plus she lives in Bejing!) Then I found out that Boss can't get a tourist visa in the same passport as his crew visa. So, if he wants to do leisure trip in China, I have to get the Feds to renew his 2 yr secondary passport (where he kept his Russian visa). I don't even know if they will allow this.
Good news is that it doesn't take long to get a tourist visa--about a week and most agencies charge less than $50 to apply for you. (no mail app)
Osaka, Nagoya, Guam, Shanghai, Taipei,NRT, ICN, HNL etc. Could be major fun!
It's funny that his new routes will begin just as we've returned from 2 wks in Thailand and Bali. He'll be "prepped" for the time difference. It looks like commuting to SEA is going to be easier than NY--who knew? Sure can't be more expensive to layover before/after trips...

That's awesome! I have a couple coworkers who are Chinese, and I know one still has family out there, but I think they may be from Hong Kong, which is very easy to get into (no visa for short stays needed). Otherwise, I also have some friends who taught English for a while in PEK, they may know some people out there.

Oooooo, that's awesome news!! That's a huuuge part of why I'm trying to wind up working on the west coast.

Great news M7, looks like we’ve got a new Far-East Correspondent. *wink*

We might be able to meet up with Nick in Singapore, if we don't get on for BKK leg. I think he just got married. Haven't seen him active on NR for a while.

I think Nick's wedding is right around now - I know one of his friends from his internship at WN (well, we have similar jobs at different companies, and I've helped him look at loads a few times and we've emailed back and forth a bit). They just flew to MEL last week for the wedding, and Nick just got a job in HKG with CX now.

Sorry if I ruined that for ya, Nick ;)

well, pooh that Nick is going back to HKG but YAY for the wedding! DIdn't you just have yours, Bue?

I did, mid August! Wanted to go to SJD for the honeymoon, but return flight was looking a little tough with other NRSAs. Ended up going to LAS though, still had a good time and now she understands why I hate going there for more than 2 nights (exhausting city :) )