Bereavement Fares?
#2
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Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 2,377
Sorry to hear about your lost.
Unfortunately, bereavement fares has been slowly disappearing in the past decade or so. Even with most US domestic airlines, they only offer around a 10% off now a days.
Since this is a time-urgent question, I would highly suggest you pick up the phone and call CX immediately and see what they could offer.
Unfortunately, bereavement fares has been slowly disappearing in the past decade or so. Even with most US domestic airlines, they only offer around a 10% off now a days.
Since this is a time-urgent question, I would highly suggest you pick up the phone and call CX immediately and see what they could offer.
#3
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: HKG/HND/OOL
Programs: QF Emerald. SQ Gold.
Posts: 3,170
sorry to hear this.
1) don't think such fares exist but anyhow the regular fares on website might be cheaper.
2) depending on circumstances of death, some insurance scheme offers travel cost for immediate family member. You might want to look into this to reduce your immediate financial burden at this difficult time.
1) don't think such fares exist but anyhow the regular fares on website might be cheaper.
2) depending on circumstances of death, some insurance scheme offers travel cost for immediate family member. You might want to look into this to reduce your immediate financial burden at this difficult time.
#4
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Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 2,377
Did a quick dummy booking...if your father leave HKG today (27th), or Wed, or Friday this week, you can still get V + V for both inbound and outbound. Total fare HKD 12,892.00. This seems to be same price EX-HKG as some random October / off season dates.
#5
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Try booking on another carrier instead of CX. Chances are it will be cheaper. Try KE, BR and even PR as they all fly to YYZ. AC won't be cheap either... if you're looking for a business class ticket.
#6
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Sorry for your loss.
My suggestion is simply buy whatever you can buy.
Bereavement Fares, offered or not, usually contains lots of restrictions. In some cases, buying a typical ticket may be cheaper.
Beside - when you think about bereavement fare, always remember this - airlines are business. They don't do favors without reasons.
My suggestion is simply buy whatever you can buy.
Bereavement Fares, offered or not, usually contains lots of restrictions. In some cases, buying a typical ticket may be cheaper.
Beside - when you think about bereavement fare, always remember this - airlines are business. They don't do favors without reasons.
#7
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,800
And unfortunately loss of imminent family member is not a reason.
When my maternal grandma died about 10 years ago, Mum couldn't pull any bereavement fare. But she said our TA used her GO seat guarantee for the only time she's ever used it to date.
When my maternal grandma died about 10 years ago, Mum couldn't pull any bereavement fare. But she said our TA used her GO seat guarantee for the only time she's ever used it to date.
Sorry for your loss.
My suggestion is simply buy whatever you can buy.
Bereavement Fares, offered or not, usually contains lots of restrictions. In some cases, buying a typical ticket may be cheaper.
Beside - when you think about bereavement fare, always remember this - airlines are business. They don't do favors without reasons.
My suggestion is simply buy whatever you can buy.
Bereavement Fares, offered or not, usually contains lots of restrictions. In some cases, buying a typical ticket may be cheaper.
Beside - when you think about bereavement fare, always remember this - airlines are business. They don't do favors without reasons.
#8
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,800
CX will waive change charges for death in family (but need to see Death Cert which takes a month to get, hence another OD article):
貴客喪父不獲體恤 國泰僵化硬收手續費招怨
http://hk.on.cc/hk/bkn/cnt/news/2015...00822_001.html
貴客喪父不獲體恤 國泰僵化硬收手續費招怨
http://hk.on.cc/hk/bkn/cnt/news/2015...00822_001.html
#9
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Join Date: May 2006
Location: HKG
Programs: A3, TK *G; JL JGC; SPG,Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,952
CX will waive change charges for death in family (but need to see Death Cert which takes a month to get, hence another OD article):
貴客喪父不獲體恤 國泰僵化硬收手續費招怨
http://hk.on.cc/hk/bkn/cnt/news/2015...00822_001.html
貴客喪父不獲體恤 國泰僵化硬收手續費招怨
http://hk.on.cc/hk/bkn/cnt/news/2015...00822_001.html
#10
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Hong Kong, France
Programs: FB , BA Gold
Posts: 15,556
CX will waive change charges for death in family (but need to see Death Cert which takes a month to get, hence another OD article):
貴客喪父不獲體恤 國泰僵化硬收手續費招怨
http://hk.on.cc/hk/bkn/cnt/news/2015...00822_001.html
貴客喪父不獲體恤 國泰僵化硬收手續費招怨
http://hk.on.cc/hk/bkn/cnt/news/2015...00822_001.html
My mother is quite sick in Europe. Would you suggest buying a "cheap" ticket at a late date and then change it if my mother passes away at an earlier date (which is likely). Would CX waive the change fee but still reprice the ticket based on fare buckets available?
Last edited by brunos; Aug 31, 2015 at 11:46 am
#11
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Join Date: May 2009
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Brunos - I'm sorry to hear.
If seats are tight, I'd buy the flex fare (preferably with free rebooking and a reasonably-priced cancel) for the earlier date and redate it as I go along. So I'm ready to scram if the end is near. I'd sleep easier at night.
In the Oriental Daily case the passenger's father passed away and the passenger had to rebook his return to YVR.
If you buy cheap and have to leave earlier you'll face the same struggle as the Oriental Daily passenger trying to get a waiver on the cancellation fee and still you'll be subject to full repricing.
If seats are tight, I'd buy the flex fare (preferably with free rebooking and a reasonably-priced cancel) for the earlier date and redate it as I go along. So I'm ready to scram if the end is near. I'd sleep easier at night.
In the Oriental Daily case the passenger's father passed away and the passenger had to rebook his return to YVR.
If you buy cheap and have to leave earlier you'll face the same struggle as the Oriental Daily passenger trying to get a waiver on the cancellation fee and still you'll be subject to full repricing.
#12
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: MPC, Marriott, Hyatt
Posts: 407
Brunos - I'm sorry to hear.
If seats are tight, I'd buy the flex fare (preferably with free rebooking and a reasonably-priced cancel) for the earlier date and redate it as I go along. So I'm ready to scram if the end is near. I'd sleep easier at night.
In the Oriental Daily case the passenger's father passed away and the passenger had to rebook his return to YVR.
If you buy cheap and have to leave earlier you'll face the same struggle as the Oriental Daily passenger trying to get a waiver on the cancellation fee and still you'll be subject to full repricing.
If seats are tight, I'd buy the flex fare (preferably with free rebooking and a reasonably-priced cancel) for the earlier date and redate it as I go along. So I'm ready to scram if the end is near. I'd sleep easier at night.
In the Oriental Daily case the passenger's father passed away and the passenger had to rebook his return to YVR.
If you buy cheap and have to leave earlier you'll face the same struggle as the Oriental Daily passenger trying to get a waiver on the cancellation fee and still you'll be subject to full repricing.
#13
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So, normal rules apply, except they let you on in short request by paying those fare buckets...
So, normal rules apply, except they let you on in short request by paying those fare buckets...
#14
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: HKG
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Posts: 1,327
Sorry, I do not read Chinese.
My mother is quite sick in Europe. Would you suggest buying a "cheap" ticket at a late date and then change it if my mother passes away at an earlier date (which is likely). Would CX waive the change fee but still reprice the ticket based on fare buckets available?
My mother is quite sick in Europe. Would you suggest buying a "cheap" ticket at a late date and then change it if my mother passes away at an earlier date (which is likely). Would CX waive the change fee but still reprice the ticket based on fare buckets available?
However CX refuse to waive the 300 dollars (currency not specified) rebooking fee even if the member already presented CX his birth cert to establish the parent-son relationship as well as the "permit to bury" to proof his dad's death. CX insists to have the death cert instead of the permit in order to waive that 300 dollars... The member said it took a month for the HK Gov't to issue the death cert so it's impossible for him to present CX the death cert when he leaves HK in mid October
Back to your case. If I'm you I won't take this risk. Even if CX agrees to waive your rebooking fee, your rebooking is still subject to ticket conditions as well as sub-class availability so you may not be able to change to a later day flight due to expired ticket (e.g. 1 month for your booking day v. 3 months needed for your actual departure day), full flight (no more V class) etc...