J/PEY Fanfares offer
Aug 26, 2014, 3:36 am
#181
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 384
On the FT front, I can report better success with today's CX Fanfares crazy sale.
I bagged a Chicago (E) ticket within 90 minutes. On BAEC, that's a healthy return of miles and TPs thankfully.
It was pretty hard going today I have to say, but too many people attempted to buy the most popular destinations like London and New York.
After my EWK bids sold, I quickly checked a Chicago date and no queue at all, just an open-bidding process and I landed my tickets with the fastest payment first.
To be honest, I am excited yet subdued about Chicago. I've never been to the East Coast, so it might be a great time to do a TP run in the US.
I bagged a Chicago (E) ticket within 90 minutes. On BAEC, that's a healthy return of miles and TPs thankfully.
It was pretty hard going today I have to say, but too many people attempted to buy the most popular destinations like London and New York.
After my EWK bids sold, I quickly checked a Chicago date and no queue at all, just an open-bidding process and I landed my tickets with the fastest payment first.
To be honest, I am excited yet subdued about Chicago. I've never been to the East Coast, so it might be a great time to do a TP run in the US.
Last edited by SinoBritAsia; Aug 26, 2014 at 3:37 am Reason: Extra detail
Aug 26, 2014, 5:45 am
#182
Join Date: May 2014
Location: London
Posts: 115
On the FT front, I can report better success with today's CX Fanfares crazy sale.
I bagged a Chicago (E) ticket within 90 minutes. On BAEC, that's a healthy return of miles and TPs thankfully.
It was pretty hard going today I have to say, but too many people attempted to buy the most popular destinations like London and New York.
After my EWK bids sold, I quickly checked a Chicago date and no queue at all, just an open-bidding process and I landed my tickets with the fastest payment first.
To be honest, I am excited yet subdued about Chicago. I've never been to the East Coast, so it might be a great time to do a TP run in the US.
I bagged a Chicago (E) ticket within 90 minutes. On BAEC, that's a healthy return of miles and TPs thankfully.
It was pretty hard going today I have to say, but too many people attempted to buy the most popular destinations like London and New York.
After my EWK bids sold, I quickly checked a Chicago date and no queue at all, just an open-bidding process and I landed my tickets with the fastest payment first.
To be honest, I am excited yet subdued about Chicago. I've never been to the East Coast, so it might be a great time to do a TP run in the US.
Aug 26, 2014, 5:59 am
#183
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: BNE
Posts: 2,622
Aug 26, 2014, 6:34 am
#184
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 384
Since this is an E class ticket, it should be a total of 200TPs and about 17,000 miles. Can they shift the goalposts on the class of tickets? I'm not qualified to answer.
Aug 26, 2014, 7:18 am
#185
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: BA Bronze
Posts: 1,026
It was pretty hard going today I have to say, but too many people attempted to buy the most popular destinations like London and New York.
After my EWK bids sold, I quickly checked a Chicago date and no queue at all, just an open-bidding process and I landed my tickets with the fastest payment first.
After my EWK bids sold, I quickly checked a Chicago date and no queue at all, just an open-bidding process and I landed my tickets with the fastest payment first.
Aug 26, 2014, 7:39 am
#186
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,033
On the FT front, I can report better success with today's CX Fanfares crazy sale.
I bagged a Chicago (E) ticket within 90 minutes. On BAEC, that's a healthy return of miles and TPs thankfully.
It was pretty hard going today I have to say, but too many people attempted to buy the most popular destinations like London and New York.
After my EWK bids sold, I quickly checked a Chicago date and no queue at all, just an open-bidding process and I landed my tickets with the fastest payment first.
To be honest, I am excited yet subdued about Chicago. I've never been to the East Coast, so it might be a great time to do a TP run in the US.
I bagged a Chicago (E) ticket within 90 minutes. On BAEC, that's a healthy return of miles and TPs thankfully.
It was pretty hard going today I have to say, but too many people attempted to buy the most popular destinations like London and New York.
After my EWK bids sold, I quickly checked a Chicago date and no queue at all, just an open-bidding process and I landed my tickets with the fastest payment first.
To be honest, I am excited yet subdued about Chicago. I've never been to the East Coast, so it might be a great time to do a TP run in the US.
Aug 26, 2014, 6:03 pm
#189
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,800
Seems like browsers on mobile devices had a better time with yesterday's fanfare:
http://www.e-zone.com.hk/channelnews.php?id=1793
http://hk.apple.nextmedia.com/realti...40826/52833505
The e-zone reporter got kul with an android chrome. A friend of a friend got lhr with an ipad. Apple reports a passenger with getting BKK with chrome.
http://www.e-zone.com.hk/channelnews.php?id=1793
http://hk.apple.nextmedia.com/realti...40826/52833505
The e-zone reporter got kul with an android chrome. A friend of a friend got lhr with an ipad. Apple reports a passenger with getting BKK with chrome.
Last edited by percysmith; Aug 26, 2014 at 6:12 pm
Aug 26, 2014, 6:14 pm
#190
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,800
Press coverage this morning isn't too horrible:
http://news.stheadline.com/dailynews.../27/298916.asp
http://hk.apple.nextmedia.com/financ...40826/18844668
http://news.stheadline.com/dailynews.../27/298916.asp
http://hk.apple.nextmedia.com/financ...40826/18844668
Aug 27, 2014, 12:00 am
#192
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,800
SCMP 140827 - It's not fare! Cathay leaves thousands disappointed with HK$100 ticket
http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/art...eap-fares-scam
Tho the article itself was criticised on SCMP's FB https://m.facebook.com/southchinamor...52645225964820
Cathay Pacific's plan to please travellers with HK$100 business and premium economy tickets degenerated into a public relations disaster when it left tens of thousands of people disappointed yesterday.
Tho the article itself was criticised on SCMP's FB https://m.facebook.com/southchinamor...52645225964820
Aug 27, 2014, 12:13 pm
#193
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: BNE
Posts: 2,622
I wonder? Is it the same with every Fanfares deal? If so, then I've had no problems with BAEC mileage accrual from CX.
Since this is an E class ticket, it should be a total of 200TPs and about 17,000 miles. Can they shift the goalposts on the class of tickets? I'm not qualified to answer.
Since this is an E class ticket, it should be a total of 200TPs and about 17,000 miles. Can they shift the goalposts on the class of tickets? I'm not qualified to answer.
Eligible for member residing in Hong Kong and Macau only. Residency is determined by the registered member’s preferred mailing address as registered with Asia Miles.
Membership number must be entered in the booking before the commencement of first sector of the trip.
Aug 27, 2014, 8:04 pm
#194
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 2,068
In today's SCMP:
Cyber queue-jumper snapped up HK$100 Cathay tickets while 150,000 waited in line
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/a...rt-cathay-sale
Cyber queue-jumper snapped up HK$100 Cathay tickets while 150,000 waited in line
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/a...rt-cathay-sale
Aug 28, 2014, 8:05 am
#195
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: HKG
Programs: BA(GGL) QF LTS CX AM, Hilton Diamond, PPL(A)
Posts: 1,654
HK$100 J flights queue jumper
Was this an FTer?
A Hong Kong-based frequent flyer has revealed how he turned cyber-queue jumper, snapping up a pair of cheap Cathay Pacific flights to New York while 150,000 frustrated buyers spent hours trying in vain for a bargain.
Describing the HK$100 flights to some of the world's most desirable destinations as an "amazing deal", the buyer - a lawyer - explained to the Post how he exploited loopholes in Cathay's online ticket system. He asked to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals.
Cathay has pledged to investigate, but the buyer's revelations will fuel claims of unfairness after tens of thousands missed out on the cut-price premium economy and business-class tickets offered in a special edition of Cathay's "Fanfares" promotion. Angry customers besieged Cathay's social media sites with tales of waiting for hours only to be told all 2,014 special fares had gone on Tuesday morning.
The savvy traveller, in his 30s, said he was able to find the tickets he wanted by "playing around" with the system after the website told him there were no flights left to New York on his chosen date.
"It's weird because the software was smart enough to tell me the ticket was sold out, but the fact it got me to a booking screen told me the ticket was there but that there was an IT issue preventing the payment from being started," he said.
He realised the web address in his browser showed the information the website was sending to the airline's servers, including the destination, date and fare deal he had chosen.
DON'T MISS: Gadget that stops the passenger in front from reclining their seat sees soaring sales
Figuring he had nothing to lose, he began typing different numbers in for the fare ID and trying it in a separate browser. With a little trial and error, he was able to get the fare and flight he wanted while other buyers faced "sold out" notices.
"I relied on the fact that the main Fanfares homepage showed you which fares were sold out," the man said. "So I picked a date that wasn't sold out.
"But what surprised me was that I was offered a fare that [was shown as sold out] but was available for selection in the system."
Once he received his confirmation email, he realised his booking and payment had been accepted by the airline.
Cathay, which set up the promotion to celebrate being named the "world's best airline" by British aviation consultancy Skytrax, said it had noted "discussions on social media about the use of improper access in the booking of tickets", which it "took seriously" and would investigate immediately.
The company said it reviewed its procedures after every one of its weekly Fanfare promotions and would do so again.
Explaining his method in more detail, the traveller said: "Because I did it manually rather than automatically clicking a button, it doesn't change the functionality. It wasn't secret administrative access but I was able to do what other people weren't able to do."
The man believes he did nothing illegal as he did not overload or manipulate the system but instead used a loophole within the parameters Cathay had set up.
Leung Siu-cheung, a senior consultant at the Hong Kong Computer Emergency Response Team, said: "He did not hack into the system, he just corrupted the data. He has taken advantage of a grey area."
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/a...rt-cathay-sale
This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as How one buyer got a flying start in Cathay sale
A Hong Kong-based frequent flyer has revealed how he turned cyber-queue jumper, snapping up a pair of cheap Cathay Pacific flights to New York while 150,000 frustrated buyers spent hours trying in vain for a bargain.
Describing the HK$100 flights to some of the world's most desirable destinations as an "amazing deal", the buyer - a lawyer - explained to the Post how he exploited loopholes in Cathay's online ticket system. He asked to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals.
Cathay has pledged to investigate, but the buyer's revelations will fuel claims of unfairness after tens of thousands missed out on the cut-price premium economy and business-class tickets offered in a special edition of Cathay's "Fanfares" promotion. Angry customers besieged Cathay's social media sites with tales of waiting for hours only to be told all 2,014 special fares had gone on Tuesday morning.
The savvy traveller, in his 30s, said he was able to find the tickets he wanted by "playing around" with the system after the website told him there were no flights left to New York on his chosen date.
"It's weird because the software was smart enough to tell me the ticket was sold out, but the fact it got me to a booking screen told me the ticket was there but that there was an IT issue preventing the payment from being started," he said.
He realised the web address in his browser showed the information the website was sending to the airline's servers, including the destination, date and fare deal he had chosen.
DON'T MISS: Gadget that stops the passenger in front from reclining their seat sees soaring sales
Figuring he had nothing to lose, he began typing different numbers in for the fare ID and trying it in a separate browser. With a little trial and error, he was able to get the fare and flight he wanted while other buyers faced "sold out" notices.
"I relied on the fact that the main Fanfares homepage showed you which fares were sold out," the man said. "So I picked a date that wasn't sold out.
"But what surprised me was that I was offered a fare that [was shown as sold out] but was available for selection in the system."
Once he received his confirmation email, he realised his booking and payment had been accepted by the airline.
Cathay, which set up the promotion to celebrate being named the "world's best airline" by British aviation consultancy Skytrax, said it had noted "discussions on social media about the use of improper access in the booking of tickets", which it "took seriously" and would investigate immediately.
The company said it reviewed its procedures after every one of its weekly Fanfare promotions and would do so again.
Explaining his method in more detail, the traveller said: "Because I did it manually rather than automatically clicking a button, it doesn't change the functionality. It wasn't secret administrative access but I was able to do what other people weren't able to do."
The man believes he did nothing illegal as he did not overload or manipulate the system but instead used a loophole within the parameters Cathay had set up.
Leung Siu-cheung, a senior consultant at the Hong Kong Computer Emergency Response Team, said: "He did not hack into the system, he just corrupted the data. He has taken advantage of a grey area."
http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/a...rt-cathay-sale
This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as How one buyer got a flying start in Cathay sale