Cathay Pacific Asia Miles - Pricing LAX-HKG

Sorry if this is an age-old question, but despite the fact that I do transpacific travel 3-4 times a year, I still find myself spending hours to rate shop... Normal routine is: CX site, travel agency sites, local travel agents (half a dozen of them). Everytime, the lowest price seems to be with a different method.

I usually book "upgradeable" economy class because I have almost unlimited flow of miles (thank you, SPG) and basically try for upgrade every 2-3 days until the flight.

Anyways, I'm planning to travel again in about 4 weeks and this is no exception.

LAX-HKG-LAX, depart last week of Dec, come back second week of Jan. The "lowest economy" is $2k!! Wow!! Is it supply/demand? I've traveled during this time before and man, this is crazy.

So for those of you based in LAX, is there a "smoking gun" way to get the best fares?

It's xmas season and CX is trying to milk it. I bought my tix about 1 month ago at 1600usd, K code, HKG-MNL via the online store.

You can try the Asian ethnic market consolidator if they have lower fares but those are usually M class.

It's xmas season and CX is trying to milk it. I bought my tix about 1 month ago at 1600usd, K code, HKG-MNL via the online store.

You can try the Asian ethnic market consolidator if they have lower fares but those are usually M class.

You can specify the K class when you book with a TA.

You can specify the K class when you book with a TA.

from a layman perspective it would be very simple for CX online to offer fares for specific fare classes right out, making life so much easier and speeding up the entire online purchase experience. As of now, you only find out the booking class when you get to the final confirmation page online. Damn shame.

Sometimes I think their poor online reservations and purchasing is a mediocre attempt of supporting local T/As

LAX-HKG-LAX, depart last week of Dec, come back second week of Jan. The "lowest economy" is $2k!! Wow!! Is it supply/demand? I've traveled during this time before and man, this is crazy.

No smoking gun. As has been said, it is Christmas season and all airlines have raised their prices. I flew on CX last year around this time and paid $2200 for JFK-KUL, then back to TPE in coach. Y was packed on all flights (although I was op-upped on several of them). I just paid $2500 for BOS-TPE, mostly on AA/JL for the week before Christmas. Sorry, them's the breaks.

No smoking gun. As has been said, it is Christmas season and all airlines have raised their prices. I flew on CX last year around this time and paid $2200 for JFK-KUL, then back to TPE in coach. Y was packed on all flights (although I was op-upped on several of them). I just paid $2500 for BOS-TPE, mostly on AA/JL for the week before Christmas. Sorry, them's the breaks.

Its just odd that the TA's can get better pricing than CX site during the "milking time".

Hmm. LAX-TPE-LAX via hkg is $1100 during CNY time, maybe I can celebrate the other new year. Just sucks because I have to be back there again in early April, but then it becomes 2 for 1 :)