Cathay Pacific Asia Miles - CX BKK CTO 3% Surcharge for Credit Cards

Last time I visited the BKK town office a couple of days ago, I was informed that I need to either pay cash or pay a 3% surcharge if paying by credit card.

This is absolutely ridiculous. CX stooping to new lows matching the credit card surcharge of many BKK travel agents. The only other airline in BKK charging this I know of is PAL who uses a GSA anyway. :mad: :rolleyes:

And my regular TA only charges 2.65% so seems like CX is trying to make some profit out of that as well (depends on bank I guess).

You are only charged on 'special' unpublished discounted fares. If you buy a full published fare, or even a RTW Oneworld fare, you are not charged the creditcard surcharge.

Yes. 3% is a flat rate. They could differentiate between AX, DC or what have you, but basically... if you pay by cash for their special fares, you save on the surcharge.

Incidentally, do you know that in most cases, CX's fares are LOWER if you buy them through a TA than through CX themselves?

Incidentally, do you know that in most cases, CX's fares are LOWER if you buy them through a TA than through CX themselves?

True but then EVERY TA I have ever used in BKK levies a 3% charge for credit cards too. Personally I think that the "insurance" benefits which accrue rom BA AMex are worth the charge, but with the 3% fee and the AX currency conversion sting (all currencies changed into £ via US$ at particularly crappy rates), the costs tend to mount up.

Interesting that it's only certain fares. Yes I know it's THB 100 cheaper even on the CX website, a few hundred cheaper with travel agents. I just wanted to book it directly as I can't issue the ticket till a few days before departure.

Usually the TA's pay airlines a fare of about 500-1000 THB lower than what the airline charges, and if I'm willing to pay the full "nett" rate to the airline instead of them getting the reduced TA rate, they want to hit me with a surcharge. :rolleyes:

If only they'd revert to online booking, auto-pricing and ticketing robots around here like in Europe and the US.

Still, TG doesn't charge any fees ever for CC transactions, and all I book with them are unpublished fares. Neither does Finnair. Quite a cheap move from CX if you ask me.

Agree with the poor Amex rates with Land-of-Miles too, with fees and that rate I'm looking at more like 1EUR=THB 40-43 rather than the actual 48.

Is anyone able to give a comparison of the same xONEx fare from the different airline offices in BKK - especially CX, AA and QF?

I ask because I'm in the market for another xONEx and have had an easy time with CX (especially making reservations and various changes), but a comparison with AA and QF would be useful (as each has their own advantages but would need a tailored start to suit the carrier).

Is anyone able to give a comparison of the same xONEx fare from the different airline offices in BKK - especially CX, AA and QF?

I ask because I'm in the market for another xONEx and have had an easy time with CX (especially making reservations and various changes), but a comparison with AA and QF would be useful (as each has their own advantages but would need a tailored start to suit the carrier).

There is no difference in the fare.. but there might be a slight difference in the taxes, surcharges fees. etc. In order to do that, you must book the same identical itinerary with all 3 airlines, (dates included) and ask for a fare pricing. That would be hard to do unless you have all the time in the world and the airlines don't catch you for doing dupe bookings.

...Quite a cheap move from CX if you ask me.

Agree with the poor Amex rates with Land-of-Miles too, with fees and that rate I'm looking at more like 1EUR=THB 40-43 rather than the actual 48.

So.. you do have a choice...

If you want to use the nett fares, stick with the airlines that don't charge you. If you pay full fare, then you won't be charged the surcharge.

If you want to use whatever airlines' nett fares, then you have to abide by whatever rules the airlines' office impose on you.

No use complaining to us here... it ain't going to change anything.

There is no difference in the fare.. but there might be a slight difference in the taxes, surcharges fees. etc. In order to do that, you must book the same identical itinerary with all 3 airlines, (dates included) and ask for a fare pricing. That would be hard to do unless you have all the time in the world and the airlines don't catch you for doing dupe bookings.
I acknowledge that the fare will be the same and that to book 3 RTWs would be stupid, I was hoping that someone might know roughly the difference that might be expected between the different issuing carriers. If it is, say, $10, then it is no issue, but if it is, say $100, then that might be a different matter.

Personally, I've never paid more for using a credit card with any BKK TA. I've checked pricing online, between different search engines, and inquired on a cash discount, and haven't seen any difference.