Cathay Pacific Asia Miles - How to book biz tix in "I" fare class?

I find that if I use CX's site to try and book a biz ticket, LAX-BOM round trip, it always shows the higher biz class fares which run about $8k (USD).

Now if I book pretty much the same trip but in reverse BOM-LAX round trip, it prices it in Indian Rupees, and shows me the fare in "Business (I)" which even after paying 3% in foreign transaction fees amounts to less than $5k (USD) when converted.

Is there anyway to stop playing these games and just book my trip originating from LAX in the "I" fare class?

I doubt it - welcome to Point Of Sale yield management. Most non-LCC airlines do it, and you just need to play the games to get round it.

PM Me

What a pain. So I'm most likely going to be flying a bunch of people one way to India so all their trips can now start and end in BOM rather than LAX.

There are 4 of us that fly every other month to India, so its really not an issue if we can save 50% on a biz ticket booking it from BOM rather than from LAX.

My other big complaint is that everyone has AMEX cards and CX fares quoted in Indian Rupees only accepts MC/VISA and not AMEX. Book from LAX and you can use AMEX.

Anyway, I thought maybe it was just me and that I was doing something wrong that I couldn't see "I" fares from LAX.

Thanks in advance to all that reply.

I doubt it - welcome to Point Of Sale yield management. Most non-LCC airlines do it, and you just need to play the games to get round it.

I recently was very happy because I could find I fares CDG-HKG-CDG on CX French website at 3000EUR, while CX office (and TA) quoted only D fares significantly higher. They were available most days. Stupidly, I called CX office to ask if they could get me the same fare.They said no, and the next day all I fares disappeared from the CX website...

I recently was very happy because I could find I fares CDG-HKG-CDG on CX French website at 3000EUR, while CX office (and TA) quoted only D fares significantly higher. They were available most days. Stupidly, I called CX office to ask if they could get me the same fare.They said no, and the next day all I fares disappeared from the CX website...

Whatever offered on the web are not necessaily offered elsewhere, or vice versa.

As pointed out, the fares are determined differently according to the different markets. Airlines usually price out what they feel travelers can afford at that point of origin.

Do what I do and buy all your tickets originating in India

I'm not sure about LAX, but India -> YYZ is much cheaper than the other way

Of course, you have to get to India first... but hey... I had to try flying Jet at some point :)

The D class fares ex CMB on CX are quite reasonable. And I suspect would avoid any airline taxes that India might have. OTOH the flight CMB-(SIN/BKK)-HKG (leaving just after midnight) are a bit of a pain. I don't mind the regional Biz seat but the stop at 0600 doesn't do much for my sleeping. But I suppose no worse than leaving DEL at 0400 or BOM at 0345.

YMMV

Fred

I've also heard booking ex-TPE is also reasonable, though have never done so myself. Y on the JFK-HKG route isn't terrible and I keep weighing it against extra segments between HKG-TPE to see if it's worth it. It's a short flight, but the hassles of extra security and check-in tend to add hours to the door-to-door trip. One of these days though ...