CX blocking award availability when it's close to departure?

Jan 6, 20, 1:25 am - Wikipost

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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.

Quote:

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)

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.

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Nov 30, 16, 3:40 pm

#61

seegs

Join Date: Feb 2011

Location: YYZ

Programs: AC, BA, Marriott, SPG

Posts: 729

This is still happening for PEK, looks like 10 days out.

Dec 5, 16, 9:44 pm

#62

frudd38

Join Date: Jan 2013

Programs: AA EP, SPG Plat

Posts: 2,271

looks like 6 days out still for TPE

Dec 5, 16, 11:05 pm

#63

reclusive46

Join Date: Jul 2012

Location: Canada

Programs: BA Gold (OWE), Star Alliance Gold, Hilton Diamond

Posts: 2,162

6 days for the LAX/HKG city pair as well.

Dec 7, 16, 9:09 am

#64

jayoxd

Join Date: Jan 2015

Location: DC

Posts: 187

So we know that there are blocks but are the award seats still technically bookable if we call? I assume we can just call blind for the day and they can see it easily enough at AA / AS?

Dec 12, 16, 6:37 pm

#65

cysyuen

Original Poster

Join Date: Dec 2014

Programs: British Airways Executive Club Gold

Posts: 1,068

I am sorry for bumping this post up again but the situation remained the same. I have written a letter to CX about this issue. I hope CX can take the lead to deal with the situation as BA simply pushed the ball to CX, saying they are the ones controlling availability.

For mobile users the CX block is on all its routes, including HKG-LHR and so on.

If BA is a person then I would have slapped her on the face

(Just kidding!)

I will twitter and phone bomb BA tomorrow and see what is up now (won't spam but will probably have a big rant as I have now lost all flexibility with Avios in Asia)

Last edited by cysyuen; Dec 12, 16 at 6:48 pm

Dec 13, 16, 9:29 am

#66

cysyuen

Original Poster

Join Date: Dec 2014

Programs: British Airways Executive Club Gold

Posts: 1,068

An update

Sorted!

Last edited by cysyuen; Dec 13, 16 at 10:14 am

Dec 13, 16, 2:09 pm

#67

jphripjah

Join Date: Jan 2009

Location: LAS

Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Spire Ambassador, Radisson Gold, Hyatt Discoverist

Posts: 3,088

Quote:

Originally Posted by reclusive46

6 days for the LAX/HKG city pair as well.

The problem with that is that CX usually releases award seats on that route 7-8 days out. If they or BA then block availability for flights within 6 days, it makes it almost impossible to book these seats.

Dec 14, 16, 10:15 pm

#68

frudd38

Join Date: Jan 2013

Programs: AA EP, SPG Plat

Posts: 2,271

Quote:

Originally Posted by cysyuen

Sorted!

Details?

Dec 15, 16, 10:10 pm

#69

Tim nice but dim

Join Date: May 2011

Location: LON, OPO

Posts: 132

Quote:

Originally Posted by frudd38

Details?

Perhaps this?

Quote:

Originally Posted by cysyuen

I will twitter and phone bomb BA tomorrow and see what is up now (won't spam but will probably have a big rant as I have now lost all flexibility with Avios in Asia)

I still see a -6 day block between HKG-TPE so no significant developments on that route yet...

Last edited by Tim nice but dim; Dec 15, 16 at 11:57 pm

Dec 17, 16, 3:21 pm

#70

frudd38

Join Date: Jan 2013

Programs: AA EP, SPG Plat

Posts: 2,271

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim nice but dim

Perhaps this?

I still see a -6 day block between HKG-TPE so no significant developments on that route yet...

Yes, "sorted" as in what? He was able to grab space via phone? They released space for him?

Dec 17, 16, 9:44 pm

#71

tomofmaine

Join Date: Nov 2001

Location: HKG, BOS

Programs: AA EXP

Posts: 583

Hmm.. this Hong Kong resident doesn't see anything sorted. I would really love to use Avios for weeeknd trips again.

Jan 15, 17, 7:41 am

#72

Matthew_22

Join Date: May 2015

Location: London

Programs: QF Platinum, BA Gold, HH Diamond, Raffles Ambassador

Posts: 152

Looks like I'm late to the (terrible) party here, as I've only just stumbled across this now.

As somebody who used to spend probably close to 75% of their avios on inter-asia CX J, typically at 24-48 hours notice, this is horrible. Have people had any luck over the phone since?

While I have no doubt mainland redemption fraud is a thorny issue, surely there has got to be a better way of combating it than this? For example, only allowing redemptions in the name of the account holder on these at-risk sectors?

It really feels like BA is getting chipped away at (/enhanced) from all sides at the moment..

Jan 15, 17, 7:53 am

#73

percysmith

Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau

Join Date: May 2009

Location: HKG

Programs: Asia Miles. Not bothering to join Marco Polo.

Posts: 17,024

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matthew_22

While I have no doubt mainland redemption fraud is a thorny issue, surely there has got to be a better way of combating it than this? For example, only allowing redemptions in the name of the account holder on these at-risk sectors?

BAEC is not alone in this http://loyaltylobby.com/2016/11/28/u...anuary-1-2017/

Jan 16, 17, 1:13 am

#74

BA Humbug

formerly mattking2000

Join Date: Nov 2012

Location: soon to be DXB!

Programs: BA|AC|AZ|SPG|H|FPC

Posts: 1,012

Trying to book HND-HKG for April 2017 today (Jan 2017)... don't see anything in the entire month on CX or KA, only the once-daily JL flight. Is this a married segment thing, a "BA IT incompetence" thing, or is this "too close to departure"?

CX shows availability on multiple days for CX/KA flights.