Issue with Cathay Avios Availability Shanghai to Tokyo via Hong Kong
Sep 25, 2017, 11:05 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: BRS
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 4,986
Issue with Cathay Avios Availability Shanghai to Tokyo via Hong Kong
Evening all,
Am banging my head against a wall! Trying to book a redemption from Shanghai to Tokyo via Hong Kong.
A search from Shanghai to Tokyo produces no results. I can find availability on each leg separately, but when I ring BA up they can’t put them together - it just shows no availability. The agents say they can’t find availability on the legs, even if they search for each leg separately.
I’ve had to make two separate bookings, CX to CX, much against my will because I value the protection of a single booking.
Is this a common problem? Are CX typically good at honouring separate tickets?
I’ve got 4 hours between flights to sway on the side of caution, especially with ATC delays!
Am banging my head against a wall! Trying to book a redemption from Shanghai to Tokyo via Hong Kong.
A search from Shanghai to Tokyo produces no results. I can find availability on each leg separately, but when I ring BA up they can’t put them together - it just shows no availability. The agents say they can’t find availability on the legs, even if they search for each leg separately.
I’ve had to make two separate bookings, CX to CX, much against my will because I value the protection of a single booking.
Is this a common problem? Are CX typically good at honouring separate tickets?
I’ve got 4 hours between flights to sway on the side of caution, especially with ATC delays!
Sep 25, 2017, 11:15 am
#2
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: Some
Posts: 5,233
Evening all,
Am banging my head against a wall! Trying to book a redemption from Shanghai to Tokyo via Hong Kong.
A search from Shanghai to Tokyo produces no results. I can find availability on each leg separately, but when I ring BA up they can’t put them together - it just shows no availability. The agents say they can’t find availability on the legs, even if they search for each leg separately.
I’ve had to make two separate bookings, CX to CX, much against my will because I value the protection of a single booking.
Is this a common problem? Are CX typically good at honouring separate tickets?
I’ve got 4 hours between flights to sway on the side of caution, especially with ATC delays!
Am banging my head against a wall! Trying to book a redemption from Shanghai to Tokyo via Hong Kong.
A search from Shanghai to Tokyo produces no results. I can find availability on each leg separately, but when I ring BA up they can’t put them together - it just shows no availability. The agents say they can’t find availability on the legs, even if they search for each leg separately.
I’ve had to make two separate bookings, CX to CX, much against my will because I value the protection of a single booking.
Is this a common problem? Are CX typically good at honouring separate tickets?
I’ve got 4 hours between flights to sway on the side of caution, especially with ATC delays!
Sep 25, 2017, 11:53 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: BRS
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 4,986
The problem is possibly the routing, flying from Tokyo to Hong Kong involves basically flying over Shanghai, so flying TYO to PVG/SHA via HKG is basically tripling the length of the journey! Are you flying via HKG for TWOV reasons? If not, JL operates lie flats to PVG (and possibly SHA?) so that should be an option if not...
But yes, I am TWOV.
Sep 25, 2017, 12:07 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: CX Green, QF Platinum, BAEC Silver, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 10,780
CX is generally good at protecting flights on separate bookings. You could ring to make a note that the bookings are connected but when you check in at Shanghai you will be able to check through for your whole journey and if there is a delay they will protect you.
Unfortunately you are flying from Shanghai which suffers terrible delays so hopefully you do have a lot of transit time in HK so you can still experience the lounge. Other advice is to get to PVG earlier and request to get out on an earlier flight. They will often allow this as they are familiar with delays.
Unfortunately you are flying from Shanghai which suffers terrible delays so hopefully you do have a lot of transit time in HK so you can still experience the lounge. Other advice is to get to PVG earlier and request to get out on an earlier flight. They will often allow this as they are familiar with delays.
Sep 25, 2017, 12:21 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: BRS
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 4,986
CX is generally good at protecting flights on separate bookings. You could ring to make a note that the bookings are connected but when you check in at Shanghai you will be able to check through for your whole journey and if there is a delay they will protect you.
Unfortunately you are flying from Shanghai which suffers terrible delays so hopefully you do have a lot of transit time in HK so you can still experience the lounge. Other advice is to get to PVG earlier and request to get out on an earlier flight. They will often allow this as they are familiar with delays.
Unfortunately you are flying from Shanghai which suffers terrible delays so hopefully you do have a lot of transit time in HK so you can still experience the lounge. Other advice is to get to PVG earlier and request to get out on an earlier flight. They will often allow this as they are familiar with delays.
Sep 25, 2017, 12:55 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Barcelona, London, on a plane
Programs: BA Silver, TK E+, AA PP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 13,033
Does Cathay offer a paid fare on that route? Probably not, given the distance and back-tracking.
Often IT systems can't price reward tickets if the operating airline doesn't actually offer a fare on that route. I would have thought BA could sort it manually though.
Often IT systems can't price reward tickets if the operating airline doesn't actually offer a fare on that route. I would have thought BA could sort it manually though.