In June I booked a ticket (HKG-ZRH-HKG) in J on CX website.

During the booking process, under the "Key Conditions" summary it was stated:

"Rebooking - HKD1600 charge for rebooking"

In the emailed booking confirmation the fare rules were stated as:

* ITINERARY - HONGKONG CX ZURICH CX HONGKONG
* FARE HKD34450 PLUS TAXES HKD629 PER ADULT(SUBJECT TO CHANGE)
* RESERVATIONS FOR ALL SECTORS AND TICKETING ARE REQUIRED AT
LEAST 30 DAYS BEFORE DEPARTURE
* TICKETS MUST BE ISSUED ON/BEFORE 31AUG2017
* EX-HKG VALID FOR YEAR ROUND FROM DATE OF ISSUE
* BUSINESS CLASS - I+I
* VALIDITY - MINIMUM 2DAYS - MAXIMUM 1MONTH
* HKG/ZRH VALID ON ANY CX FLIGHT OPERATED BY CX
* ZRH/HKG VALID ON ANY CX FLIGHT OPERATED BY CX
* REBOOKING FEE HKD1600 APPLIES PER PERSON PER TRANSACTION
* ANY MODIFICATION MUST CHANGE BEFORE FLIGHT DEPARTURE
* FARE DIFFERENCE MAY APPLIED FOR MODIFICATION BEFORE DEPARTURE
* NOSHOW FEE HKD2000 APPLIES PER PERSON PER TRANSACTION
* REFUND FEE HKD1600 PER PERSON FOR TOTALLY UNUSED TICKET ONLY
* RE-ROUTE IS NOT PERMITTED AFTER TICKET ISSUED
* NON-ENDORSABLE / NON-REROUTABLE / NON-REFUNDABLE
* VALID ON FLIGHT/DATE SHOWN

3 weeks before departure I called CX to change outbound flight to 1 day earlier.
I was fully prepared to pay the HKD 1600 change fee (plus any potential fare difference). But the CX agent informed me that no rebookings were possible after 30 days prior to the flight.

Needless to say that I was very surprised. I assume that CX is not lying to me on what the fare rules are. However, I find the way these fare rules were communicated to me during / after the booking process deceiving:

(1) The condition for Rebooking (HKD 1600 change fee) was stated without any time limit qualification
(2) I assumed that a Rebooking is a Modification, which "must change before flight departure"

Even if CX is "right" in their interpretation of the fare rules, I would expect that key rules are disclosed in an unambiguous manner that is understandable to a layman.

One of the reasons for buying this J ticket was to have the flexibility to rebook (against a fee); for re-bookings not to be possible anymore within 30 days to departure I consider a significant limitation to the ticket I bought.

I have written to CX to explain this. But when called back by an agent, I just get repeatedly told what the fare rules are, ignoring my broader point that the way these are worded is not clear.

Am I asking too much here? Views?


P.S. I looked into cancelling the ticket and booking a new one. But the return flight (which I don't want to change) is very full. On the outbound flight that I am looking to change, there is still availability in my fare class.