Hello there
I am actually from Latin America moving to Chengdu the coming month. I believe that your classmate should verify with some agencies because at the end of the day is 10 times cheaper, you could change your flight in one year guarantee that’s what I got with my agency. Or he or she has a US Visa or Canadian Visa it could have a pretty good deal for the trip.
Hope this helps….and about of the exchange rate.. well is obvious that their banks for that.
Cheers,