Anyone who is in the process of booking any flexible J or F tickets be aware that most prices will be going up significantly for ticketing on or after 11 July. Examples of the new fares:
Revised fare levels are as follows:
HKGLON LONHKG Fare
Fare Type Fare Basis HKD GBP Rule
First Class OW F 68530 6210 CX48
First Class RT F 97890 9550 CX48
Business Class OW J 41970 3835 CX48
Business Class RT J 59950 5900 CX48I don't immediately have the corresponding existing fares to hand, but the discrepancy between LHR-HKG-LHR and HKG-LHR-HKG pricing is bigger than I remember (ex-LHR is about 50% more expensive).
All Europe, SW Pacific, S & SE Asia routes have new prices also.
Plus, normal fares to the US are also going up:
From HKG to LAX/SFO
Current(HKD) Revised (HKD)
F 69020 73850
FR 115020 123080
J 40760 43610
JR 67920 72680
From HKG to NYC
Current(HKD) Revised (HKD)
F 91930 98370
FR 153210 163940
J 52250 55910
JR 87070 93170
sxc
Jul 7, 08, 3:10 am
This is what I suspected would happen after the introduction of the new product.
I wonder how this will affect CX's market share. I know of at least one big investment bank which has banned travel on CX to London. Their staff must take either BA, QF or VS instead.
newcalvey
Jul 7, 08, 3:51 am
This can't be a product based fare rise, surely ? They can't say that new-J is demonstrably better in all areas than either VS or BA on the LHR route. This has to be just more fuel cost increases.
KO2546
Jul 7, 08, 4:37 am
The current prices for HKG-LON are: [%] denotes latest increase
F O/W HKD 55,330 [+24%]
F RTN HKD 85,120 [+15%]
J O/W HKD 37,110 [+13%]
J RTN HKD 57,090 [+5%]
and for LON-HKG:
F O/W GBP 5,781 [+7%]
F RTN GBP 8,894 [+7%]
J O/W GBP 3,573 [+7%]
J RTN GBP 5,496 [+7%]
The consistency across the LON-HKG fares is rather interesting, maybe it is constrained by BA/VS's pricing for that route?
KO2546
Jul 7, 08, 4:49 am
Seperately, what I never understood is the existence of Fare Basis J and F. When you walk up to a ticketing counter at the airport and ask for a full fare J or full fare F, the most you will ever get charged is 56,500 for J and 73,410 for F. Under what circumstances would you want to pay 57,090 and 85,120 (or higher) for J and F respectively? Is this all purely academic since most people buy full fares on a company discount?
Current CX published fares to London (RTN)
D2RTCX CX D Round-Trip 46400(HKD)
C2XRTCX CX C Round-Trip 52700(HKD)
J2RTCX CX J Round-Trip 56500(HKD)
J CX J Round-Trip 57090(HKD)
CIF YY C Round-Trip 58230(HKD)
A2RTCX CX A Round-Trip 58730(HKD)
F2RTCX CX F Round-Trip 73410(HKD)
CIF YY C Round-Trip 84990(HKD)
F CX F Round-Trip 85120(HKD)
FIF YY F Round-Trip 93640(HKD)
FIF YY F Round-Trip 124810(HKD)
sxc
Jul 7, 08, 4:53 am
Just did a quick search online for competing prices on fully flexible tickets:
Is this all purely academic since most people buy full fares on a company discount?
The problem with the companies who are banning CX travel is that CX refuses to discount as much as the other carriers now.
IHEARTNY1
Jul 7, 08, 5:27 am
Actually for most companies they will be specific negotiated rates with CX. I know my company does and there is a specific D Class fare which is a lot lower than the published fares. Also there is an annual rebate and a lot of other discounts/offers as well. I think for that Ibank someone is referring to must be because of the breakdown in the negotiation rather thatn this price rise.
QRC3288
Jul 7, 08, 6:40 am
Actually for most companies they will be specific negotiated rates with CX. I know my company does and there is a specific D Class fare which is a lot lower than the published fares. Also there is an annual rebate and a lot of other discounts/offers as well. I think for that Ibank someone is referring to must be because of the breakdown in the negotiation rather thatn this price rise.
I've read about it a few times here...how big does your firm need to be to get a company discount with CX?
sxc
Jul 7, 08, 6:55 am
I've read about it a few times here...how big does your firm need to be to get a company discount with CX?
This gives you an idea of the bog standard discount available to everyone:
http://www.cathaypacific.com/cpa/en_HK/offerspromotions/pap
hau cheng
Jul 7, 08, 7:20 am
This is what I suspected would happen after the introduction of the new product.
I wonder how this will affect CX's market share. I know of at least one big investment bank which has banned travel on CX to London. Their staff must take either BA, QF or VS instead.
Interestingly, VS are starting twice daily flights from LON to HKG
IHEARTNY1
Jul 7, 08, 8:11 am
I've read about it a few times here...how big does your firm need to be to get a company discount with CX?
Well I work for a global MNC and I am sure we spend quite a bit of travel with CX to Asia. Although the preferred carrier is BA in the UK.
I would imagine it will be at least a few Million £ at a minimum to start getting all those benefits. I think the discount it is also arranged through the corporate travel agency but the rates we get are specific to our company.
sxc
Jul 7, 08, 9:03 am
Actually for most companies they will be specific negotiated rates with CX. I know my company does and there is a specific D Class fare which is a lot lower than the published fares. Also there is an annual rebate and a lot of other discounts/offers as well. I think for that Ibank someone is referring to must be because of the breakdown in the negotiation rather thatn this price rise.
Exactly my point - CX will not negotiate as low as the competition. If they don't have to, all power to them. But the sample I am seeing anecdotally is a slow tide rising against CX in the corporate world as well.
ijgordon
Jul 7, 08, 11:10 am
Exactly my point - CX will not negotiate as low as the competition.Well, different market, but our corporate negotiated fares on CO for NYC-HKG are meaningfully more expensive than our negotiated fares on CX for the same route. And the CO discounted fare isn't even available on Saturdays -- full published fare only.
ssw207
Jul 7, 08, 5:56 pm
Exactly my point - CX will not negotiate as low as the competition. If they don't have to, all power to them. But the sample I am seeing anecdotally is a slow tide rising against CX in the corporate world as well.
scx, absolutely right there. In fact the corporates and i-banks have shyed away from CX 2 years ago.
My former employer (a top 5 global financial institution heavily involved in the subprime mess) mandated back in 2006 that all flights from HKG to NYC HQ must be done RTW via HK-UK-US-HK routing on a prenegotiated RTW biz fare class and cannot fly CX J HKG-JFK direct, unless he/she is of a certain corporate rank or urgent business need. F is solely reserved for regional & group C-level officers. Trips can be approved by the country level CFO with endorsement by the Asia Pac CFO. The rationale for the RTW routing is that the Asia-based executives can visit both the US HQ and UK European HQ on one ticket. The firm had a negotiated contract with CX which was a mere ~5% discount on regular published J fare. My personal travel agent was able to price very close to this fare, so its not much of a deeply discounted deal.
They have now revised the policy that employees below a certain corporate grade must fly economy regardless of distance. Only the group C-level officers can fly F. To travel on biz class, the routing must be the cheapest, including flights with 1-stopover anywhere in East Asia. So they are all flying HKG-ICN-JFK or HKG-TPE-JFK, as even HKG-NRT-JFK is too expensive for the firm. Every trip now requires the Asia Pac CEO's approval, and deviation from this rule must be authorized from the group CFO Office in NY. I dont think a lowly Analyst would have the guts to send an email to NY corporate requesting a CX Business Class trip approval for HKD 93,170 airfare, plus hotels and incidentals, vs. ~HKD $30K Biz airfare on KE, OZ & CI, especially on roadshows where such costs are multiplied.
With the TPE-HKG routes being challenged by the cross-straits direct charter flights, I wonder what CX is thinking to revise their fares upwards. Looks like Philip Chen has passed his valuable experience on how to run the company to the ground to Tony Tyler.
As for me, I am officially defecting to JAL Mileage Bank as I'm tired of this nonsense from CX.
christep
Jul 7, 08, 9:42 pm
More today...
Revise to Special H Type Fares from USA to TC3/2
Please be advised that revision to Special H Type Fares from USA
to TC3/2 is made with immediate effect for travel commencing
on/after 08 July 2008.
From LAX/SFO to From NYC to
HKG/ BJS/ SHA/ XMN/ CKG/ CAN/ HKG/ BJS/ SHA/ XMN/ CKG/ CAN/
HGH/ KMG/ TAO/ SHE/ WUH/ CSX/ HGH/ KMG/ TAO/ SHE/ WUH/ CSX/
DLC/ KWL/ NKG/ SYX/ TSN/ CTU/ DLC/ KWL/ NKG/ SYX/ TSN/ CTU/
HAK/ NGB/ SIA HAK/ NGB/ SIA
Current (USD) Revised (USD) Current (USD) Revised (USD)
And...
Please be advised that CX F/J Fares from HKG to Indonesia, Malaysia,
Philippines and Taiwan will be revised for tickets issue and travel on/after
14 July 2008.
West Coast Ace
Jul 7, 08, 10:33 pm
More today...
Revise to Special H Type Fares from USA to TC3/2
I just found this out the hard way. Went to CX.com - was looking at LAX-DXB for early next March - $2103 USD ($427 USD in taxes/charges)! Those 21,850 AA miles would be sweet - but not at that price.
http://www.angrybackhand.com
etkuo
Jul 8, 08, 3:42 am
seems that cx is greatly affected by the fuel price raise and the fine
first decreasing Y class baggage allowance for North America flight and charging extra fees for those who want to increase the allowance from 23kg to 32kg
and now increasing j and f fares also
hope that they can maintain the high quality services after all these
ak333
Jul 8, 08, 11:25 pm
This is unfortunately the reason I have had to give up CX this year; they just got too pricey in J. The companies that I consult for (that still let me fly J) are all giving me a max they will pay, and CX is way above. So this is my last year as an AA EXP, as most of my miles were from CX. I have on the other hand just made Gold with EVA.
christep
Jul 11, 08, 3:11 am
Interestingly, some Y fares are going down...
Please be advised the changes to CX fares from LON to HKG with
immediate effect.
Ummm... interesting! Maybe the columns were swapped round by mistake? :D
Or perhaps because of the strong GBP?
Kit Angel
Jul 11, 08, 12:25 pm
The fares went up today.
And, very troubling, my agent tells me that the only economy fares for next year she can get at present are "high season".
Very difficult to choose - pay today's high season or wait for the low and shoulder fares to be announced [my dates are mainly low season] and risk another 15% hike, which takes away the saving?
JALPak
Jul 11, 08, 12:27 pm
Ummm... interesting! Maybe the columns were swapped round by mistake? :D
Or perhaps because of the strong GBP?
No not a mistake. CX said they are not raising the Y fare....for now
ny911
Jul 11, 08, 3:33 pm
Seperately, what I never understood is the existence of Fare Basis J and F. When you walk up to a ticketing counter at the airport and ask for a full fare J or full fare F, the most you will ever get charged is 56,500 for J and 73,410 for F. Under what circumstances would you want to pay 57,090 and 85,120 (or higher) for J and F respectively? Is this all purely academic since most people buy full fares on a company discount?
Current CX published fares to London (RTN)
D2RTCX CX D Round-Trip 46400(HKD)
C2XRTCX CX C Round-Trip 52700(HKD)
J2RTCX CX J Round-Trip 56500(HKD)
J CX J Round-Trip 57090(HKD)
CIF YY C Round-Trip 58230(HKD)
A2RTCX CX A Round-Trip 58730(HKD)
F2RTCX CX F Round-Trip 73410(HKD)
CIF YY C Round-Trip 84990(HKD)
F CX F Round-Trip 85120(HKD)
FIF YY F Round-Trip 93640(HKD)
FIF YY F Round-Trip 124810(HKD)
:confused:
From what I got on cx.com just now
ex-HKG to LHR fares in roundtrip
D- 46440 + tax
C- 53940 + tax
A- 58770 + tax
F- 73450 + tax
ny911
Jul 11, 08, 3:36 pm
Ummm... interesting! Maybe the columns were swapped round by mistake? :D
Or perhaps because of the strong GBP?
Ex-LHR fares are just too expensive comparing with ex-HKG's. Perhaps the sales of ex-LHR tickets to HK has dropped dramatically.:p
christep
Jul 14, 08, 4:32 am
Now the ex-HKG to USA fares wef 21 July:
Revision to Special Business Class Fares from HKG to USA
Please be advised that Special Business Class Fares from HKG to USA will be
revised for tkts issued on/after 21 July 2008 as followings :
From HKG to LAX/SFO
Fare Class Current(HKD) Revised (HKD)
J1234 36390 38940
J1234R 60650 64900
Fare Class Current(HKD) Revised (HKD)
CR 83410 89250
C1234 44790 47920
C1234R 74630 79860
All other fare types not mentioned remain unchanged.
wowpeter
Jul 17, 08, 2:42 pm
scx, absolutely right there. In fact the corporates and i-banks have shyed away from CX 2 years ago.
My former employer (a top 5 global financial institution heavily involved in the subprime mess) mandated back in 2006 that all flights from HKG to NYC HQ must be done RTW via HK-UK-US-HK routing on a prenegotiated RTW biz fare class and cannot fly CX J HKG-JFK direct, unless he/she is of a certain corporate rank or urgent business need. F is solely reserved for regional & group C-level officers. Trips can be approved by the country level CFO with endorsement by the Asia Pac CFO. The rationale for the RTW routing is that the Asia-based executives can visit both the US HQ and UK European HQ on one ticket. The firm had a negotiated contract with CX which was a mere ~5% discount on regular published J fare. My personal travel agent was able to price very close to this fare, so its not much of a deeply discounted deal.
They have now revised the policy that employees below a certain corporate grade must fly economy regardless of distance. Only the group C-level officers can fly F. To travel on biz class, the routing must be the cheapest, including flights with 1-stopover anywhere in East Asia. So they are all flying HKG-ICN-JFK or HKG-TPE-JFK, as even HKG-NRT-JFK is too expensive for the firm. Every trip now requires the Asia Pac CEO's approval, and deviation from this rule must be authorized from the group CFO Office in NY. I dont think a lowly Analyst would have the guts to send an email to NY corporate requesting a CX Business Class trip approval for HKD 93,170 airfare, plus hotels and incidentals, vs. ~HKD $30K Biz airfare on KE, OZ & CI, especially on roadshows where such costs are multiplied.
With the TPE-HKG routes being challenged by the cross-straits direct charter flights, I wonder what CX is thinking to revise their fares upwards. Looks like Philip Chen has passed his valuable experience on how to run the company to the ground to Tony Tyler.
As for me, I am officially defecting to JAL Mileage Bank as I'm tired of this nonsense from CX.
With CX Long Haul Load Factor average from 89% to 92%, and overall load factor for the whole airline running at high 80%, there is no need to give discount. At routes like LHR and JFK, they are running at +90% load factor, so why will any airlines give huge discount when there is not even enough seat for sales? If you look at other CX flights with lower load factor, I am sure you will find the corporate discount to be much higher. It is simply a way to maximize yield. In the current high fuel cost environment, fuel account for 49% of CX operating cost (at current USD160 per barrels), even CX is having a difficult time balancing its sheets (hence the profit warning). In fact, a few analysis are already predicting CX to post a loss of around USD200 million this year if the fuel price does not come down. So it only makes sense for any company that is not backed by government fundings to try to reduce their loss by increasing fares. Other carriers might be able to ride through this by going into Chapter 11 protection or asking for government bailout, but this is not the case with CX. Nobody is going to give CX any money (not even during SARS), so I for one, think that CX management is doing an awesome job trying to curb any possible loss by increase fares and yield. I am also pretty confident that CX, even with their increase in ticket price, will remain quite compeitive, this is due to the lower fuel surcharge imposed by CX compare to other carriers. So I don't think Tony Tyler is running the airline down, I rackon the current strategy that is being employed by CX is really good. CX is not slashing any aircraft or employees, CX is simply redeploying their resouces to maximize it's return. So whenever the fuel price decided to come down (which it will, it is all speculative at the moment, that's why fuel price increase 90% within the first 7 months this year), CX will be in a much better position than many US and European carriers that is slashing aircraft and cutting jobs. Just my two cents.
christep
Jul 20, 08, 8:27 am
Yet more:
CX F2/A2/J2/C2/D2 Fares from HKG to LON Revised
Please be advised that CX F2/A2/J2/C2/D2 fares from HKG to LON
changed with effect for tickets issued and travel on/after
25 July 2008. Changes are:
- increase F2/A2/J2/C2/D2 fares
- introduce midweek/weekend travel for J2 and D2 fares
HKG to LON (HKD)
Fare Basis Current Revised Rule
F2OWCX 47720 51540 V302
F2RTCX 73410 79280 V302
A2OWCX 38180 41980 CXAE
A2RTCX 58730 64580 CXAE
J2OWCX 36730 cancel TBA
J2RTCX 56500 cancel TBA
J2XOWCX 38570 new TBA
J2WOWCX 39680 new TBA
J2XRTCX 59330 new TBA
J2WRTCX 61030 new TBA
C2XOWCX 34260 35980 CXAA
C2WOWCX 35040 36760 CXAA
C2XRTCX 52700 55340 CXAA
C2WRTCX 53900 56540 CXAA
D2OWCX 30160 cancel CXAZ
D2RTCX 46400 cancel CXAZ
D2XOWCX 31670 new CXAZ
D2WOWCX 32450 new CXAZ
D2XRTCX 48720 new CXAZ
D2WRTCX 49920 new CXAZ
Midweek ‘X’ - permitted travel Sunday through Wednesday
Weekend ‘W’ - permitted travel Thursday through Saturday
brunos
Jul 20, 08, 9:06 am
All the new fares given here are to/from LHR and to/from USA. Does anyone has the new A & C return fares to/from CDG?
christep
Jul 20, 08, 10:10 am
I only have these for Europe, which isn't exactly what you want. Interesting to note that starting in HKG is dramatically (almost 30%) cheaper.
CX First/Business Fares between HKG and Europe
Please be advised that CX First/Business fares between HKG and
AMS/FRA/PAR/ROM/MIL revised with tickets issue and travel
on/after 11Jul08. Revised fare levels are as follows:
Fare type Fare basis From HKG to FRA From FRA to HKG Fare rule
First Class OW F HKD 53720 EUR 6271 CX48
First Class RT F HKD 76730 EUR 8958 CX48
Business Class OW J HKD 40110 EUR 3776 CX48
Business Class RT J HKD 57300 EUR 5394 CX48
Fare type Fare basis From HKG to PAR From PAR to HKG Fare rule
First Class OW F HKD 53720 EUR 7959 CX48
First Class RT F HKD 76730 EUR 11370 CX48
Business Class OW J HKD 40110 EUR 4844 CX48
Business Class RT J HKD 57300 EUR 6920 CX48
Fare type Fare basis From HKG to AMS From AMS to HKG Fare rule
First Class OW F HKD 53720 EUR 7920 CX48
First Class RT F HKD 76730 EUR 11313 CX48
Business Class OW J HKD 40110 EUR 4844 CX48
Business Class RT J HKD 57300 EUR 6920 CX48
Fare type Fare basis From HKG to ROM/MIL From ROM/MIL to HKG Fare rule
First Class OW F HKD 53720 EUR 6509 CX48
First Class RT F HKD 76730 EUR 9298 CX48
Business Class OW J HKD 40110 EUR 3948 CX48
Business Class RT J HKD 57300 EUR 5639 CX48
brunos
Jul 20, 08, 1:02 pm
I only have these for Europe, which isn't exactly what you want. Interesting to note that starting in HKG is dramatically (almost 30%) cheaper.
Thanks chrisstep.
But the A and C fares used by many people are considerably cheaper. For example the A RT fare out of Paris (internet) was EUR5118, less than half the F RT quoted here. I vaguely remember that the A RT out of HKG was not cheaper than out of Paris. I wonder what these A & C RT fares are today.
West Coast Ace
Jul 20, 08, 2:02 pm
seems that cx is greatly affected by the fuel price raiseVery true. Loads are up:
With CX Long Haul Load Factor average from 89% to 92%, and overall load factor for the whole airline running at high 80%, there is no need to give discount.Also true. Until they see business drop off they can keep raising prices to see what their market will bear.
Psychiatrist
Jul 20, 08, 2:15 pm
after reading all of this, I think my chances of getting long-haul business class reward tickets in the future will be very very low ...
having said that, I just redeemed a HKG-JFK in J and a HKG-LHR in J, both over 10 months in advance :p
I'm sure we'll see more complaints from people with lots of Asiamiles and no flights to redeem them on!
Pickles
Jul 20, 08, 4:29 pm
I'd say, if they can crank up the prices and keep loads up, more power to them. At least they'll be around when their competitors croak, and then they can raise prices even more!
christep
Jul 20, 08, 10:39 pm
Interestingly though I've just managed to get two A seats on a HKG-JFK non-stop for mid-August, and as far as I can tell we are the only people in First on the flight so far. I guess this might be due to the Olympics closing down pretty much all business trips to China.
(I know that's not the same as redemption, but even A on the HKG-JFK non-stops has been pretty hard to get with only 6 seats in the cabin.)
cxfan1960
Jul 20, 08, 10:55 pm
Interestingly though I've just managed to get two A seats on a HKG-JFK non-stop for mid-August, and as far as I can tell we are the only people in First on the flight so far. I guess this might be due to the Olympics closing down pretty much all business trips to China.
(I know that's not the same as redemption, but even A on the HKG-JFK non-stops has been pretty hard to get with only 6 seats in the cabin.)
Did you get it without waitlisted?
IHEARTNY1
Jul 20, 08, 11:01 pm
Did you get it without waitlisted?
I just checked randomly in August and there are still good availability in A for the non stop flights. 840 to be most free
christep
Jul 20, 08, 11:09 pm
Did you get it without waitlisted?I was booking through the excellent AA RTW desk, so no waitlisting. Initially we got seats on CX888 (very often A availability) because there was only one seat on 830, but obviously someone cancelled and 830 went to F4A4.
One bit of me is happy that we could get on it. Another bit is worried that for the longer term it is not good if CX can't sell many seats for high-fare F since at some point they might just withdraw F altogether. Hopefully it's just a combination of summer holidays and the Olympics causing temporary low loads.
cxfan1960
Jul 21, 08, 12:06 am
I was booking through the excellent AA RTW desk, so no waitlisting. Initially we got seats on CX888 (very often A availability) because there was only one seat on 830, but obviously someone cancelled and 830 went to F4A4.
One bit of me is happy that we could get on it. Another bit is worried that for the longer term it is not good if CX can't sell many seats for high-fare F since at some point they might just withdraw F altogether. Hopefully it's just a combination of summer holidays and the Olympics causing temporary low loads.
CX has obviously been cutting the number of F seats. As you said, they may just withdraw F altogether on some routes. I think CX will keep F on HKG-JFK. There should be enough F passengers.
KO2546
Jul 21, 08, 12:15 am
I was booking through the excellent AA RTW desk, so no waitlisting. Initially we got seats on CX888 (very often A availability) because there was only one seat on 830, but obviously someone cancelled and 830 went to F4A4. Not often you get to see these two words right next to each other! :D
May I ask where does your AONEX originate from and why book through AA? Is it because they operate the first sector of your ticket?
christep
Jul 21, 08, 12:36 am
It's ex-MNL (so the first segment is on CX, in fact there are no international segments on AA) and, as regularly reported by many people here, it is on AA because the "extra" charges are dramatically lower that way.
I have always been very happy indeed with the AA RTW desk - they know the product, they can drive the booking systems, and they don't mess you around. I guess it helps that I know exactly what I'm doing, and I have access to Expertflyer which seems to give pretty much exactly the same availability as the AA agents can see so it's all very quick and efficient - they don't have to spend time looking for availability because I do that for them with EF.
And you can always just get straight through on the phone - no messing around in queuing systems. All in all they make it very easy for me to spend my US$20K or so with them.
KO2546
Jul 21, 08, 12:49 am
Thanks for the explaination Christep. I have read somewhere that AA surcharges are indeed much lower but I have always been put off dealing with them based on my check-in / in-flight experience with them.
What I still don't understand is, if your first segment is with CX, then I thought you HAVE TO ticket with CX. That's what I was told by CX ticketing in LHR when I tried to book a DONE3 with them whilst the first segment is on BA. (i.e. the airline issuing the tix must be the first segment carrier)
Also, presumably the AA desk you dealt with is AA in MNL, not HKG. Does AA fly to MNL from NA? If not, why do they have a desk there?
I use EF too and yes it does make planning a XONEX a great deal easier!
christep
Jul 21, 08, 12:52 am
Nope - as you can see from various threads on the Oneworld forum, any airline should accept to do OW ticketing. Some offices of some airlines seem to push back more than others, but at the moment AA seems happy to take any revenue it can get. Over the years I've ticketed on AA ex-CAI, ex-MNL (first flights on BA and CX respectively). I've had CX's GSA in DOH ticket for me (first flight on BA). Of course, often it is the first carrier that tickets also (CX ex-HKG, ex-TPE, ex-CDG; BA ex-CAI).
The AA RTW desk is a US-based facility that sets tickets up for issue by any AA office or GSA anywhere in the world. AA has a GSA (Airesources Inc) in Manila which is actually issuing the tickets for me, but that simply involves them swiping a credit card and printing the itinerary. Many Filipinos travel to the US so I guess it makes sense for AA to have a GSA there to capture their business.
tedhl
Jul 21, 08, 4:55 am
in fact I think there's a lot of mentions in the AA or oneworld forums here on how excellent the AA RTW desk is !!
KO2546
Jul 21, 08, 5:21 am
So guys, let me get this right. Next time if I want to buy a OW RTW fare, say commencing from TPE, I should call the AA RTW desk in the US? I assume the pricing will be based on ex-Taiwan.
If let say the RTW tix start from HKG, on CX to LHR, should I still call the AA line in the US or contact AA Hong Kong?
Sorry for my ignorance (and hence all these questions/clarifications), I always assumed I had to ticket with CX if the first sector was with them! :mad:
christep
Jul 21, 08, 6:49 am
Yes in general, dependant only on AA having an office or GSA there who is clued up on these things. The offices in common starting locations are often discussed in the OneWorld forum. AA certainly has a GSA in Taipei although I've never used them.
You should always contact the AA RTW desk first to set everything up, then just deal with the GSA for taking your money. The only issue is that the AA RTW desk is only open 7am-8:30pm M-F, and 9am-5:30pm Sat-Sun CDT, so there's no overlap with Asian office hours.
IHEARTNY1
Jul 21, 08, 11:35 am
I am also ticketing 2 DONE4 with AA (ex NRT) this week. I am really surprised at how professional the Oneworld RTW ticket desk. I did make a mistake and called the LHR based AA office whole stuff up the initial bookign when the queue it across to AA DUB (this is the RTW HQs fare Desk where they validate all fares). I then called the RTW desk in AA DFW and fixed up the segements (the stupid agent at LHR just booked F/Y/J - any random class in the booking).
Within 1 day I got a fare quote based in JPY and based on ex NRT price.
Also I manage to minmise my AA sectors to just 2!
Also my first international sector is with QF then BA.
Although there is a risk that AA might close down due to its recent financial difficulties - however you might be protected by ur insurance.
ijgordon
Jul 21, 08, 1:43 pm
CX has obviously been cutting the number of F seats. As you said, they may just withdraw F altogether on some routes. I think CX will keep F on HKG-JFK. There should be enough F passengers.
Actually there hasn't been much of a cut in F capacity on HKG-JFK. Roughly a year ago it was 12 (744 via YVR) + 8 (nonstop A346) = 20 seats daily.
Now it's 9 (74A via YVR) + 2 * 6 (nonstop 77W). = 21 and will soon drop down to 3 * 6 = 18 when they go put the 77W on the YVR flight later this year.
So only a 10% reduction when all is said and done (20 to 18). I imagine demand has fallen off at least that much, certainly with the outrageous price increases, so it is actually pretty easy to find "A" inventory, even on the nonstops.