Balmy

Earlier today, I was looking up flights to Aus.

Cheapest by quite a decent amount was one of the Chinese carriers.

Had a stopover in Beijing (makes it a long journey) but it cost LESS than booking flight to Beijing itself.

I would need to contact them to see if break of journey in china is possible. Not done so, as at this stage just preliminary looking at cost. Do not have definite dates.

Just thought it weird.

A friend has just booked a flight stopping off in Hong Kong to visit her brother. I think around £2,500? 3 months stay in Aus.

It does sound crazy and it possibly is!
But, if you have a stop off in Beijing, thats all it is, a stop off and adds time to what is already a long, arduous journey.

You are stuck on the aircraft whilst they load up the passengers who are on a direct journey travelling from Beiging to Australia.
If you are lucky you can disembark and have a walk around the airport and get ripped off if you purchase anything!
I would prefer to pay the extra on a non stop direct flight to Australia. You will knock a few hours off the flight time, and the jet lag will be significantly reduced

But if I could have 'break of journey', I could stay with friends in China for a while: two, one English, one Chinese, both former work colleagues who I have not visited since the 1980's. (on that occasion, I had a break of journey in India on flight to China)

My original interest in the flights was on account of cheap ticket on the Ghan being available for early March.

However, my long awaited appointment for vascular surgery has now been offered for this time, so I can't now go.