Cathay Pacific Asia Miles - Does CX really charge for handling other airline's tickets?

I seem to recall some time ago CX announced they were going to charge a fee (US$30/50?) for handling bookings involving a ticket issued by other airlines... (i.e. non-160 and non-042). I am wondering:

1) do they really do this in practice?

2) as a Diamond members holding an BA-issued Oneworld RTW ticket, can I ask CX MPO or Reservation to make a booking without a ticketing deadline and just present my "open" coupon at the airport?

I don't see why you need "without a ticketing deadline" for 2). Just give them the BA ticket number. And I would be livid if they tried to charge me in those circumstances, but I haven't done it since they brought in that rule, so I'm not sure.

However, what the rule says in cxagents.com is:
Service fee for rebooking and reissue applies to the service request on
or after 1 January 2007 when CX Reservation, Ticketing and Airport offices
in Hong Kong are contacted to make voluntary changes on bookings or tickets.

1. HKD300 per person per transaction for voluntary changes on bookings
/ tickets made through CX Reservation, Ticketing and Airport offices in
Hong Kong.
2. Applies to Non-CX or Non-KA ticket stock regardless of issue place.
3. Applies to any types of fares regardless the class of travel except
Frequent Flyer Program [sic] and Non-fare paid ticket.
4. Applies to all categories of passenger except ID / AD ticket holder.
5. Collects on top of any applicable surcharge / penalty within the fare
condition.
6. This service fee is non-refundable.
7. This service fee is not interlinable.Since you are not changing the ticket (it's valid on any flight) then you should be OK in that respect. It isn't clear to me what they would regard as changing a "booking" in this respect though.

Wow, if that's the case would it apply to RTW tickets too? If so that doesn't seem to quite be playing fair with the alliance...

I can confirm having been charged HKD300 for changing dates on a CX coupon of a multi-airline ticket issued on SQ stock. Due to the "sensitivities" of the particular ticket, I found the fee to be well worth it. ;)
YMMV, of course. I don't even have a oneworld FFP card yet, so status may help.

I have the same multi airline ticket issued on SQ stock as graraps. I made some changes and was not charged. Btw, I am CX Diamond. I find that cathay is extremely generous with their diamond members. I didnt have to ask for the charge to be withdrawn. It was done automatically.

I have the same multi airline ticket issued on SQ stock as graraps. I made some changes and was not charged. Btw, I am CX Diamond. I find that cathay is extremely generous with their diamond members. I didnt have to ask for the charge to be withdrawn. It was done automatically.

Did they say "normally we have a fee but because you are DM we will exclude it"? Or did they just not mention the fee at all?

Interesting.
I have asked CX Tokyo office about rebooking.
The answer is:

1. You can cancel a flight based on non-CX ticket without this handling charge.
2. You are charged to book a flight with non-CX ticket.
3. If you book a flight with CX ticket No., then try to use non-CX ticket at checkin counter, the check-in agent applys handling charge ! (IMHO, theoretically).

Did they say "normally we have a fee but because you are DM we will exclude it"? Or did they just not mention the fee at all?

Something along this line. They said something abt thanking me for being a dm member and as a result they will waive the change fee..

CX left me with a really bad taste in my mouth a few weeks ago.

I was booked on UA ORD-HKG-SIN in C-class and for mechanical the UA flight was delayed about 20 hours and terminated in HKG, so I was rerouted onto a CX flight for the last leg from HKG to SIN (C class).

When I went to get my BP for the CX leg, they wouldn't process my check-in because I had checked in 3 bags on UA (std. allowance for a 1K), and UA had not yet paid CX for the third piece....

Now-I have no problem with CX charging UA excess baggage for the third piece, but the agent was surprisingly unhelpful about it, and wouldn't help with the process at all (i.e., had to go back to UA and get a supervisor to come back with me to CX and authorise the transaction), leading me to almost miss my flight in the process... this was my first flight ever on Cathay, and have to say, not the airline I'd heard so many great things about.

.......When I went to get my BP for the CX leg, they wouldn't process my check-in because I had checked in 3 bags on UA (std. allowance for a 1K), and UA had not yet paid CX for the third piece........

Why should CX allow a UA 1K an extra piece of checked bag for free? :confused: It was UA's fault when they rebooked you without authorizing the charge.:eek:

TerryK,

i dont think the issue is charging for teh 3rd bag. The issue is the unhelpful CX agent. Instead of calling UA (for example) they did send the passenger back.

I had similar experiences with CX ground personnel in HKG in the past. Unhelpful, unaccommodating, giving the passenger the run around (on F and C tickets).
CX has a great product in the air, great lounges in Hong Kong, but unhelpful and often sometimes really unfriendly staff at the check in counters - specifically in Hong Kong.

Thanks guys.

I have also just called up CX and was basically told the same as Wasabi Tofu. I am determined to find a way round this :mad::p

This is second only to BA's obnoxious policy of charging GBP20 for bookings made over the phone EVEN if it is due to BA's online booking limitations (e.g. if you want to book a RTW) or technical failure of its website. This I find totally unacceptable.

Sometimes I can't help but to think these airlines are all ganged up to make passengers' lives difficult. Or is it that we freq flyers are too fussy?

Thanks guys.

I have also just called up CX and was basically told the same as Wasabi Tofu. I am determined to find a way round this :mad::p

This is second only to BA's obnoxious policy of charging GBP20 for bookings made over the phone EVEN if it is due to BA's online booking limitations (e.g. if you want to book a RTW) or technical failure of its website. This I find totally unacceptable.

Sometimes I can't help but to think these airlines are all ganged up to make passengers' lives difficult. Or is it that we freq flyers are too fussy?

Nope, anytime you have to pay for a service that cannot be otherwise provided, its crappy but there's little you can do. Of course, I feel the same way about fuel surcharges, so take what I say with a grain of salt:D

I have a booking on UA ticket stock and it routes me as LAS-SFO on UA and connecting to SFO-HKG on CX. Will I be able to get through check in at LAS itself including baggage check in and issue of boarding passes? Will CX charge me any of the fees mentioned above in this thread? Can anyone help me out with a reply please

Assuming you're travelling on the flight printed on the ticket then there shouldn't be any fee from CX. You should be able to check your baggage through. Boarding card is a maybe.

Assuming you're travelling on the flight printed on the ticket then there shouldn't be any fee from CX. You should be able to check your baggage through. Boarding card is a maybe.

Thanks alot ^