Cathay Pacific Asia Miles - Contacting CX Holidays by telephone - impossible?

Have tried contacting them in the morning, at lunch, later in the day - nothing but "I can flyyyyyy, I can flyyyyyy" on hold - so far I have managed to get an hour on hold as my personal best.

They take over a day to respond to emails, which isn't any use as I have to confirm payment for tickets by tomorrow and have all selection details finalised. Every time I ask a question I get 2 days of silence, then a short email.

Is there any sneaky way to get through to them? I am using the 27474388 number. In 4 days of attempting to call them, I have not once succeeded. If it makes any difference (and I suspect it doesn't) I am MPC Silver.

THanks!
AT

p.s. while I'm here - what are the chances of two MPC Silvers getting opups to or from BKK (leaving Friday night in a few week's time, returning that Sunday afternoon)? Is this a busy / oversold route?

Have you tried calling Marco Polo club to tell them your situation? Maybe that will help. I haven't done that before but have had your experience before and did my booking almost fully via email.

Murphy's Law prevailed, and I got through about 15 minutes after posting this (it was a 46 minute hold time though). Found a very friendly guy who sorted everything out for me.

A hint for FTers booking through CX Holidays: If you want to splash out and upgrade your room, do it through the Hotel directly. The Hotel quoted me US$30 per night to upgrade the room one tier, whereas CXHolidays quoted me US$70 per night for the same upgrade. Fair enough that they have to make a buck through it, but I'm just passing the wisdom on. :-)

I may be too late to reply, as you sort out everything already...

But, it seems like to be the "golden rule" to call CX holidays that YOU ONLY RING AT 9AM! I have tried it many many time, in the last few years already, as I often book holidays thru CX Holidays for myself, my girlfriend, my parents etc... (I can be travel agent for my family really...) I only ring at 9am, once they open the door. Other times ==> MISSION IMPOSSIBLE! (unless you want to wait for something like 2 hours)

Its easier to deal with a travel agent, and have them deal with CX Holidays..

Customer Service at CX Holidays and Dragonair Holidays seems to be getting worse.

I shall be in HKG in May and try to tag a side trip at the end. Last week, I tried unsuccessfully to book on-line at the CX-H and D-H combined web site for a package for mid-May.

Rang the call centre and was put on a perpetual hold. My e-mail was finally answered some four days later (luckily just before the public holiday last Friday) and I was surprised to be told that price and tour particulars for May have not yet been finalised. They will not be available until the end of April.

I am shocked at the quality and ability of senior management. It is obvious that they lack the capability to plan more than a few weeks in advance!

This is certainly reflective of the quality and capability of senior management at the parent’s level – Cathay Pacific Airways. :mad::td:

Customer Service at CX Holidays and Dragonair Holidays seems to be getting worse.

I shall be in HKG in May and try to tag a side trip at the end. Last week, I tried unsuccessfully to book on-line at the CX-H and D-H combined web site for a package for mid-May.

Rang the call centre and was put on a perpetual hold. My e-mail was finally answered some four days later (luckily just before the public holiday last Friday) and I was surprised to be told that price and tour particulars for May have not yet been finalised. They will not be available until the end of April.

I am shocked at the quality and ability of senior management. It is obvious that they lack the capability to plan more than a few weeks in advance!

This is certainly reflective of the quality and capability of senior management at the parent’s level – Cathay Pacific Airways. :mad::td:

My experience was just as bad. I gave up on them long time ago. I called MPC and they could not help. I suggest you call a TA to book your vacation package.

I use Swire travel. A VERY fast agent who has to be reminded about issuing tickets/payments, etc, though still good. Very good rates on hotels as well.

My experience was just as bad. I gave up on them long time ago. I called MPC and they could not help. I suggest you call a TA to book your vacation package.

I haven't had a problem using CX Holidays and they take credit cards without any surcharges, something you will not find with every travel agent.

Mine too, contact them via email and asked for tour package to Hochiming City (SGN), and Siem Reap (REO) in May 5, & May 9 after I finished my business in HKG. They reply in two days, saying they do not have the rate until late April.

I haven't had a problem using CX Holidays and they take credit cards without any surcharges, something you will not find with every travel agent.

That is if they actually have the rates available for you to use your credit card to book! LOL:D! My "problem" of using CX Holidays is their inability to quote me a rate in early April for a tour in May. I'd gladly pay a reasonable additional fee for using the credit card.

We are already at the second week of April 2008 and CX Holidays/Dragonair Holidays still do not have the rates finalised for May 2008 which is less than four weeks away. Hopelessly incompetent management.

Hi all, I am new to this forum and glad to find somewhere I can share my experience as well. Few years ago I got bad experience with travel agents, they hold my deposit and rejected my booking, then force me to purchase another package. Really sick.

Since then I booked from CX holidays website. Yes, their call center is unreachable most of the time. Normally I waited for 1- 2 days and someone will reply my request. For very short lead time this process may not work.

Last week, I found most of their package equipped with an instant booking feature, I tried my booking to TYO and it was instant confirmed. I got my booking reference real-time. I made a call to Cathay airways to check the reference and they told that it was a valid air booking. I got a call on the following day on document delivery confirmation. Very good, no waiting for 2 days right now.

Same with all of you, I wish to have one reliable travel agent to serve me. . Hope that this information help.

Duplicate - deleted

I use Swire travel. A VERY fast agent who has to be reminded about issuing tickets/payments, etc, though still good. Very good rates on hotels as well.

Same here, I use Swire as well.

I've tried other agents, but so far Swire always comes out tops.

Bit annoyed they have started charging 2% for credit card bookings though.

Welcome to FT, German88!

CX Holidays/Dragonair Holidays have finally begun posting availabilities and prices for departures after April 30, 2008 last week.

For those who are interested in "Private Tours" to China, you will be disappointed as selections have been greatly reduced. Not sure if additional tours may be added later.

Well 2 weeks ago, I had my secretary on the phone trying to get thru to CX holidays.

She called and didn't put any marco polo number in. She waited for an hour and hung up, and told me they weren't answering. I rang them, put in my diamond card number, and I was connected to an operator within 5 seconds!

It seems they are aware of the slow service and fast track MPO diamond card members. This is obviously done at the expense of the waiting public.

My advice to you is to find out (maybe ask a family, friend or colleauge) to ring them for you and get them on the phone line with their diamond card number.

Well 2 weeks ago, I had my secretary on the phone trying to get thru to CX holidays.

She called and didn't put any marco polo number in. She waited for an hour and hung up, and told me they weren't answering. I rang them, put in my diamond card number, and I was connected to an operator within 5 seconds!

It seems they are aware of the slow service and fast track MPO diamond card members. This is obviously done at the expense of the waiting public.

My advice to you is to find out (maybe ask a family, friend or colleauge) to ring them for you and get them on the phone line with their diamond card number.

Is this something new? It had been about two years since I called CX Holidays. There was no way for me to key in my MPC number. I could not get through on phone. Each email took about one week for a reply. I ended up giving up on CX Holidays.

Yea, as DM you have no problem...although my experience as GO was there was also basically zero wait-time as well, and as SL I don't ever recall waiting really long times either. So my advice is just find any MPC member who can call for you with their MPC#.

Yea, as DM you have no problem...although my experience as GO was there was also basically zero wait-time as well, and as SL I don't ever recall waiting really long times either. So my advice is just find any MPC member who can call for you with their MPC#.

I have no wait time at the MPC line, but two years ago, CX Holidays did not even ask to key in my MPC #. I kept holding until I gave up (and called a travel agency instead). So I was wondering whether that was changed for CX Holidays.

I don't have any difficuties to call up CX holidays Japan and CX reservation and ticketing office in Japan :p
They don't have a membership nnumber keying system.

I really can't imagine how CX has been able to survive and even surprisingly attain high awards in the area of customer service!!!

If customers can't reach CX by phone, what service can CX offer then!!

I had bad experiences trying to get hold of CX by phone. The only exception is their reservation line. Marco Polo and other customer service lines are ALL unavailable for customers and the waiting time is unacceptable by all standards. May be the level of service is good but one can only know if among the minority who are able to get hold of CX.


Very POOR management.... I wonder how long CX will be able to survive and be a leading airline!!

Swire Travel offers a good service.. off course.. 'cause they have a privileged access to CX!!