Jun 26, 2016, 2:02 pm
Last edit by: BlueThroughCrimp
BA and CX have jointly blocked close in booking between HKG and Taiwan and parts of China with a minimum of 5 days before departure.
It is not sure that when this limit will be lifted and people are advised to phone up to book their flights if it is short to departure (even though it may not work)
UPDATES:
- 12/07/2016 The block has been lifted for flights to and from Taiwan.
- 28/10/2016 Looks like there is a 7 days block for flights between HKG and PEK, PVG, XIY (Xi'an), CKG (Chongqing). There may also be a 5 days block on TPE again...
- 28/10/2016 Flights to CTU and WUH still face the 7 days block afaik
- 30/11/2016 Even for TPE there is a 7 days block
- 13/12/2016 Basically everything is blocked, including TYO, LHR and so on.
- 28/02/2017 RIP redemptions to MAINLAND CHINA T-5
- 11/03/2017 Blocked all CX/KA online & phone redemptions to/from All Mainland China, TPE, Malaysia & Singapore flights 9 days from departure !
- 14/03/2017 Ok, folks. CX is blocking ON MOST award spaces for BAEC members (whether online or phone) up to 9 days prior to departure now.
- 15/03/2017 CX (or rather BA) is blocking CX/KA redemptions blocking ON MOST award spaces between HKG and USA, EU, Japan, Taiwan flights for BAEC members (whether online or phone) up to 22 days prior to departure! Each destination is inconsistent with availability. Some are not available less than 7 days, some as in the case of Japan is 22 days prior to departure.
- 11/08/2017 All CX/KA redemptions are blocked online when close to departure. While most can be booked by phone, Chinese routes may still be blocked when close to departure.
.
Unfortunately as a result of significant levels of fraudulent activity CX have removed access to redemption availability -5 days to departure until further notice. (BA Executive Club)
UPDATES:
- 12/07/2016 The block has been lifted for flights to and from Taiwan.
- 28/10/2016 Looks like there is a 7 days block for flights between HKG and PEK, PVG, XIY (Xi'an), CKG (Chongqing). There may also be a 5 days block on TPE again...
- 28/10/2016 Flights to CTU and WUH still face the 7 days block afaik
- 30/11/2016 Even for TPE there is a 7 days block
- 13/12/2016 Basically everything is blocked, including TYO, LHR and so on.
- 28/02/2017 RIP redemptions to MAINLAND CHINA T-5
- 11/03/2017 Blocked all CX/KA online & phone redemptions to/from All Mainland China, TPE, Malaysia & Singapore flights 9 days from departure !
- 14/03/2017 Ok, folks. CX is blocking ON MOST award spaces for BAEC members (whether online or phone) up to 9 days prior to departure now.
- 15/03/2017 CX (or rather BA) is blocking CX/KA redemptions blocking ON MOST award spaces between HKG and USA, EU, Japan, Taiwan flights for BAEC members (whether online or phone) up to 22 days prior to departure! Each destination is inconsistent with availability. Some are not available less than 7 days, some as in the case of Japan is 22 days prior to departure.
- 11/08/2017 All CX/KA redemptions are blocked online when close to departure. While most can be booked by phone, Chinese routes may still be blocked when close to departure.
.
CX blocking award availability when it's close to departure?
Aug 12, 2017, 2:34 am
#137
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: LAX/SFO
Programs: AS 100k, BA GGL, UA 1k, DL DM, AC SE, B6 Mosaic4, Hyatt/Hilton/Wyndham/IHG Diamond, Marriot Ti
Posts: 1,248
Can confirm. Called the US number this time. Next 5 days all mainland china destinations are zeroed out for award space. HAN/MNL/TPE/TYO all had space every day pretty much. So that's the current state. I'm not sure what the issues of fraud they're claiming. Is it people are selling tickets and booking for others with their miles? If so, and easy fix is to at least let the account holder fly. These avios were earned butt in BA metal and I would like to use this for the same butt on KA/CX.
Aug 12, 2017, 6:40 am
#138
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: HKG
Programs: BA(GGL) QF LTS CX AM, Hilton Diamond, PPL(A)
Posts: 1,654
Aug 12, 2017, 1:34 pm
#139
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2014
Programs: British Airways Executive Club Gold
Posts: 1,073
Sep 4, 2017, 4:52 am
#140
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Platinum
Posts: 484
Here is a new one. Tried to book HKG-PVG for third week of September using Avios, which is obviously not "close" yet. No availability then, but plenty of availability for both the *previous* and next weeks.
QF website does shows availability for that week.
Anyone else see this with BA, and what are the chances that availability re-opens up for that week?
QF website does shows availability for that week.
Anyone else see this with BA, and what are the chances that availability re-opens up for that week?
Last edited by Ryu2; Sep 4, 2017 at 5:01 am
Sep 4, 2017, 10:32 pm
#142
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: PVG
Programs: BA Gold, TK E+, ex AA EXP
Posts: 510
Here is a new one. Tried to book HKG-PVG for third week of September using Avios, which is obviously not "close" yet. No availability then, but plenty of availability for both the *previous* and next weeks.
QF website does shows availability for that week.
Anyone else see this with BA, and what are the chances that availability re-opens up for that week?
QF website does shows availability for that week.
Anyone else see this with BA, and what are the chances that availability re-opens up for that week?
Nov 2, 2017, 3:46 am
#143
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,801
Nov 2, 2017, 10:27 am
#144
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2014
Programs: British Airways Executive Club Gold
Posts: 1,073
Nov 21, 2017, 8:04 am
#145
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: In the sticks
Programs: VS FC Gold, BA EC Gold, Amex Centurion, EK Gold, ex-G-ATVK driver
Posts: 1,831
Before I call up BA, would it be reasonable to assume that general availability showing on CX Asia Miles reflects availability on BA?
I tried to install KVS but it's flagging a virus both in Chrome, and Windows Defender if downloaded from IE.
I tried to install KVS but it's flagging a virus both in Chrome, and Windows Defender if downloaded from IE.
Nov 21, 2017, 8:06 am
#146
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,801
Nov 23, 2017, 5:43 am
#147
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: In the sticks
Programs: VS FC Gold, BA EC Gold, Amex Centurion, EK Gold, ex-G-ATVK driver
Posts: 1,831
As a datapoint, I've been looking for the past few days for travel LHR-HKG-LHR in F on BAEC and Asia Miles for a return ticket this weekend.
Nothing until today (Thursday) when I found availability going out Friday or Saturday, and returning Sunday on Asia Miles. Still nothing on BAEC online. I picked a specific flight pair from Asia Miles, called up BAEC, and five minutes later I was booked.
Nothing until today (Thursday) when I found availability going out Friday or Saturday, and returning Sunday on Asia Miles. Still nothing on BAEC online. I picked a specific flight pair from Asia Miles, called up BAEC, and five minutes later I was booked.
Dec 6, 2017, 9:32 am
#149
Join Date: Sep 2011
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 1,076
Some other threads suggested that what you see through QF is the actual availability. That was 6 months ago and worked for me (I had to then call BAEC to book) - not sure if still correct.
Dec 6, 2017, 8:10 pm
#150
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SIN
Programs: KF, MPC, BAEC // Bonvoy, WoH, Honors
Posts: 1,464
Unfortunately QF have killed the award calendar view -- no more flexible date searches.