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.
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CX blocking award availability when it's close to departure?
Mar 30, 2017, 3:38 pm
#106
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 642
So, a few hours ago, there were seats available HKG-PVG through 6 April. A few hours later a flip switched and now there is nothing until the 10th. My target date was the 8th, so I figured I would be fine for another day. Very frustrating. Same result w/ call center.
May 7, 2017, 3:11 pm
#108
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: West Coast, USA
Programs: Skywards Platinum
Posts: 3,747
For several days I have been searching for CX awards on BA.com, but sometime last week BA.com stopped showing any of the routes I was looking for. I thought it was just a particularly busy week with no availability. But, then I checked JAL.com and called AA and the flights I was interested in had award availability.
I then started checking other routes and sure enough as of yesterday the first day I can find an CX availability on a dozen random routes i checked was May 13th. Today the first day of availability is May 14th.
So, it appears blocking is on again for within 7-days of departure. Aggravating, to say the least.
I then started checking other routes and sure enough as of yesterday the first day I can find an CX availability on a dozen random routes i checked was May 13th. Today the first day of availability is May 14th.
So, it appears blocking is on again for within 7-days of departure. Aggravating, to say the least.
Last edited by whimike; May 7, 2017 at 3:16 pm
May 18, 2017, 7:35 am
#110
Join Date: Sep 2011
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 1,076
That's annoying as I had a lot of last minute reservations on CX in the past (and they have historically loaded a lot of seats at T-48h). I can now see all this availability through Qantas but there is nothing available through BA website. When I call AA, some, but not all of the flights that I see through the QF website, are available (I think this ties into another rule - that AA only sees seats on CX if there are more than 4 seats available - i.e. if 6 seats are showing on BA, AA will see 2).
Having said that, it appears that at least some of CX's availability is there when you call - I just rang BA and what they were telling me roughly corresponded to what I saw on QF's website, and I was able to book a CX flight (LHR-HKG) for tomorrow in J.
Having said that, it appears that at least some of CX's availability is there when you call - I just rang BA and what they were telling me roughly corresponded to what I saw on QF's website, and I was able to book a CX flight (LHR-HKG) for tomorrow in J.
Jun 15, 2017, 1:48 am
#111
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: a hotel room, somewhere...
Posts: 962
MH now blocked too...
well, well... seems BA has added MH along with CX to it's blocking shenanigans. i have tried KUL- CNX/PNH/BKK and nada. Royal Jordanian comes up here and there (didn't even know that 5F route), but went into mid July and didn't find a single MH flight.
One World????... as in 'one world you'll never see if you're planning on using miles'.
as someone who lives in asia part of the year, being OW Emerald *was* awesome: great lounges, super easy last minute awards to/from either HKG or KUL to everywhere. now AA is a shell of it's former self (thanks, DUI Dougy), BA Avios's only sweet spots are history, and the 'alliance' is anything but.
and this is going on during low season in SE Asia ffs. what a mess. previous year i flew just shy of 200,000 PAID miles on AA and BA. so far in 2017: ZERO.
If the reason is PRC based fraud- limit the # of people who can fly on a member's miles each year. this isn't exactly cracking nuclear fusion here- they can fix it if they *want* to.
artificially blocking empty seats isn't living up to their end of the loyalty arrangement. Avios had a pretty limited value proposition before- now it has none.
One World????... as in 'one world you'll never see if you're planning on using miles'.
as someone who lives in asia part of the year, being OW Emerald *was* awesome: great lounges, super easy last minute awards to/from either HKG or KUL to everywhere. now AA is a shell of it's former self (thanks, DUI Dougy), BA Avios's only sweet spots are history, and the 'alliance' is anything but.
and this is going on during low season in SE Asia ffs. what a mess. previous year i flew just shy of 200,000 PAID miles on AA and BA. so far in 2017: ZERO.
If the reason is PRC based fraud- limit the # of people who can fly on a member's miles each year. this isn't exactly cracking nuclear fusion here- they can fix it if they *want* to.
artificially blocking empty seats isn't living up to their end of the loyalty arrangement. Avios had a pretty limited value proposition before- now it has none.
Jun 15, 2017, 2:39 am
#112
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: UK
Programs: Mucci, BA, AF
Posts: 10,128
Are you sure that the MH flights are available?
You might want to keep in mind that they have just undergone a huge reservations system change and that is currently affecting availability to partners - yesterday a BA agent couldn't even see cash availability for a flight in February.
You might want to keep in mind that they have just undergone a huge reservations system change and that is currently affecting availability to partners - yesterday a BA agent couldn't even see cash availability for a flight in February.
Jun 15, 2017, 2:42 am
#113
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 42,930
Are you sure that the MH flights are available?
You might want to keep in mind that they have just undergone a huge reservations system change and that is currently affecting availability to partners - yesterday a BA agent couldn't even see cash availability for a flight in February.
You might want to keep in mind that they have just undergone a huge reservations system change and that is currently affecting availability to partners - yesterday a BA agent couldn't even see cash availability for a flight in February.
Jun 15, 2017, 3:29 am
#114
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,795
Are you sure that the MH flights are available?
You might want to keep in mind that they have just undergone a huge reservations system change and that is currently affecting availability to partners - yesterday a BA agent couldn't even see cash availability for a flight in February.
You might want to keep in mind that they have just undergone a huge reservations system change and that is currently affecting availability to partners - yesterday a BA agent couldn't even see cash availability for a flight in February.
Jul 10, 2017, 8:37 pm
#115
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SIN
Programs: KF, MPC, BAEC // Bonvoy, WoH, Honors
Posts: 1,462
Trying to book last minute (this week) award seats HKG-BOM-HKG on Cathay Pacific. Plenty availability searching on CX and QF websites, but completely zeroed out on BA in both Y and J. Is this a case of BA blocking the availability?
Is this region based? I live between Sweden and Hong Kong and currently have my home address set as Hong Kong in my EC account. Am I better of changing to my Swedish address? I would prefer paying any fees in SEK (as opposed to HKD) anyway.
Is this region based? I live between Sweden and Hong Kong and currently have my home address set as Hong Kong in my EC account. Am I better of changing to my Swedish address? I would prefer paying any fees in SEK (as opposed to HKD) anyway.
Jul 10, 2017, 8:44 pm
#116
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,795
Jul 10, 2017, 9:18 pm
#118
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,795
Jul 10, 2017, 10:17 pm
#120
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,795