Originally Posted by
jordanm
If you will be, I strongly advise against using Hong Kong Airlines as they have made it clear repeatedly that they discriminate against people with children.
Actually not very clear.
Per your own encounter, HX has not admitted that they discriminate against people with children.
Originally Posted by
jordanm
After calling many airlines it appeared that an additional 10% of the adult ticket purchased was the standard cost to also bring a lap, so the deal seemed reasonable.
Please define "many airlines". At the minimum, does it include HX?
Originally Posted by
jordanm
I was appalled -- how can an airline discriminate against people who have children by not allowing them to buy infant tickets unless they spend twice as much on their own tickets!
Fares vary because each of them has its own fare conditions.
Simply because you pay for a ticket does not mean you are entitled to everything.
Originally Posted by
jordanm
...I asked Roland more than 30 times to provide me with the name and phone number of his boss so I can contact them directly. Every time Roland refused, saying he is a supervisor and at best his boss would call me back.
It is practically a SOP for all call centers to monitor all calls.
Originally Posted by
jordanm
Same bottom line -- a person with no children pays $460 USD, but if he has a lap child he is not eligible for that ticket.
It is a simple logic.
A person with no children pays $460 USD because the airline will only transport that person. A person with children can still pays $460 with additional for the children.
Bottom line - unless you can show you are quoted exactly what you have claimed you need to pay to HX for the lap child, you have no case at all.
Originally Posted by
jordanm
We are strongly considering cancelling our trip, which would be heart-breaking to all of us since my wife and Henry would not be able to see their family and vice versa.
As you have said, this is really not a good time for your family to travel:
Originally Posted by
jordanm
My wife is currently studying for the medical boards, so money is tight since she does not have income.
Originally Posted by
jordanm
(1) Hong Kong Airlines discriminates against people with children by charging them twice as much for their tickets in addition to the infant tickets. The advertised fare of 4070.60HKD for adults becomes 8500HKD if you have children. Same seat and same ticket -- just it becomes twice as much if you have children.
This is where I need to make a pause.
Per your story, HX is still honoring the tickets purchased. However - in order to have a lap child, the parent will need to pay HKD$2,414, a portion based on the HKD$8,500 fare. In the absence of any contrary evidence that you are ever quoted for the lap child fare by HX, I hardly can see why HX is at faulyt.
Originally Posted by
jordanm
(2) Hong Kong Airlines does not offer transparent pricing. Where one agent might tell you an infant ticket cost 10% of the ticket price of the adult passenger, another agent might then try to charge you closer to 50% of the adult ticket price.
Your tickets are issued by a travel agency, which has the control of the tickets. I believe you should call the agency before you book the tickets.
Originally Posted by
jordanm
(3) Hong Kong Airlines does not value customer service, as illustrated by me having spent more than 50+ mins on my first call with no resolution.
Resolution? Sure. Any hard evidence on the fare price of the lap child?
Also:
1. CS is virtually non-existence in the airline industry. This actually includes all purported 5-star airlines.
2. When you can't prove that HX is at fault, how can HX resolve the issue?