Los Angeles to Manado Flight - Prices for summer

[brownmola]

Hi guys, I have wanted to dive N. Sulawesi for a few years now but the flight cost has always been a big factor. Is there any reason to think that I could find a flight for July for less than $1400 USD? Or should I start looking at other places to go this summer?

Currently, on Singapore Air (through their website), the flight cost is $1900.

The cheapest multi-airline flight I have seen is LAX to Singapore (Singapore) and then a separate booking on Silk for Singapore to Manado for a total of $1650.

Thanks.

 

[ScubaduoAdventures]

We think that Singapore Airlines is one of the nicest airlines around to fly but that is a little pricey. was that the non-stop flight or the one that goes thru Japan which is usually cheaper.
Try china airlines as a lot of people are using it as a lower cost alternative to Indonesia.

 

[kathydee]

Hey you might want to try flying into Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia or one of the other big hubs such as Singapore, then catch an Airasia.com flight on to Manado. Often flights to larger destinations are less expensive, just make sure and pay for max luggage on the airasia site before heading to the airport if you are carying lots of gear.

Travelzoo.com often locates good fares.

I love diving at Bunakan/Lembeh! Good luck!

 

[brownmola]

We think that Singapore Airlines is one of the nicest airlines around to fly but that is a little pricey. was that the non-stop flight or the one that goes thru Japan which is usually cheaper.
Try china airlines as a lot of people are using it as a lower cost alternative to Indonesia.

Thanks Scubaduo, right now China Air from LAX to Singapore is $1350. I'll keep looking around. Should I be optimistic about getting a ticket under $1500 or is that not realistic?

 

[brownmola]

Hey you might want to try flying into Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia or one of the other big hubs such as Singapore, then catch an Airasia.com flight on to Manado.

Thanks Kathy. I tried looking at Air Asia flights from Kuala Lumpur and Manado was not given as an option for a destination on their website. Does Air Asia fly to Manado?

 

[highdesert]

Hey you might want to try flying into Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia or one of the other big hubs such as Singapore, then catch an Airasia.com flight on to Manado. Often flights to larger destinations are less expensive, just make sure and pay for max luggage on the airasia site before heading to the airport if you are carying lots of gear.

Travelzoo.com often locates good fares.

I love diving at Bunakan/Lembeh! Good luck!

Kathy, Air Asia suspended their flights to Manado earlier this year. Or have they started it up again and I just haven't heard about it?

 

[kathydee]

Thanks Kathy. I tried looking at Air Asia flights from Kuala Lumpur and Manado was not given as an option for a destination on their website. Does Air Asia fly to Manado?

Kathy, Air Asia suspended that flights to Manado earlier this year. Or have they started it up again an I just hadn't heard about it?

Thanks, good to know - I haven't checked since I took the flight last summer. Alternatively, you can check with Lion Air as I know they also fly into Manado. Maybe Thorntree on the Lonely Planet website has updated information about which local airlines are currently flying into Manado?

 

[Kilili]

China Air from West Coast [for me SF] to Bali has always been the cheapest flight I've found. I've booked with them 5 years running on this leg. Use their web site.

Then, fly from Bali to Manado. I've used Garuda, but I believe there are others.

 

[highdesert]

When we booked 6 weeks ago, Korean Air from LAX to Bali was cheaper than China Air ... don't know if that is still the case.

 

[mitphys]

My wife and I used Lion Air to fly from Jakarta to Manado and then back from Manado to Bali. So if you can find reasonable flights to Jakarta, the add on to Lion Air was not that expensive.