Ex-TPE I Class Gone?
 

Not sure if this is refresh related or not but have been looking at some dates for TPE-HKG-SYD in J, I can see I-Class availability in Expert Flyer but CX.com will only show D-Class.

This is when I choose fixed dates and choose exactly the same flight numbers as on EF.

Any ideas? I've run through the next 6-months and nadda :(

What about choosing flexible date? Can you get the I fare price?

I tried to price AKL as well, no I class. Also Air NZ codeshare is gone, not available to choose.

Nope - I used flexible to check month by month to the end of the year

I booked one this week ex TPE. I dont think they are gone. I usually call the CX ticketing desk In TPE for these tickets.
Also, I fares are limited to one month travel, if you are booking for travel longer than that, the fares jumps to D class, which isn't that much more.

That is a relief :) is there any way to price them online?

"I" class not available all the time on all markets. You need to check periodically.

Try searching for dates further out, that will give you an I fare price.

I fare available for Sep travel to LAX

Yup - understand, have been buying them now for a couple of years, quite surprised to see intra-asia I-class not showing though for the next 6 months for places like MNL.

Since the refresh I haven't been able to get "E" fares ex-CEB via the website. But if I call the local ticketing office they give them to me.

It seems like this defeats the purpose of having country-specific version of your website like CX does. They are going to train customers to not bother using the website and clog the phone lines instead.

I don't think they have intra-Asia I class fares during summer time. At least that's the case for the past couple of years, if I remember correctly. The question is, when will they load future I fares. Also, I fares have different restrictions depending on the destination.

CX does this every year at this time but also they have been watching those naughty people in HKG who buy an I ticket starting in TPE and dont make the final leg, its easy for them to keep an eye on things as they just keep checking on FT what the latest tricks are

I am in BKK now, having purchased an I fare TPE-BKK-TPE just a couple of weeks ago. This, however, was part of an Early Bird special that they had running until the middle of June. Lots of city pairs were available during that special. I also booked an I fare for TPE-LAX-TPE for August just recently (it wasn't any bargain, but still cheaper than a D).

The I fares are out there. As others as said, you may need to call CX directly since they aren't always obvious on the website. Otherwise, keep an eye out for Early Bird specials, weekend specials, or similar deals, many of which feature I fares.

My understanding is that:
1. yes, I fares will be hard to find or unavailable during the jul/aug, except now that we're entering July there might again be some last-minute, lower fares. Not sure, but I've seen that before.

2. Even if I fare were available, CX will often hold it back from the website, and you will have to call CX TPE. Looks like they're counting on more profit from some pax not realizing "not seen on website" doesn't mean "don't exist" or "sold out".

3. I travel TPE-BKK a lot. Often, early booking will NOT net you a discount, because CX wouldn't release the I fares that early. Instead, booking closer to your travel date might do the trick.

4. CX's "early bird" promotion - at least for BKK - was a bit of a misnomer. In effect there was no special promotion to speak of. My TPE-BKK is the same price whether that promotion was on or not. In my perception at least, it seemed to vary according to ticket class, not the promotion.

6 months ago, I checked CX.com and there was no I-class available for TPE-BKK beyond new year's eve 2012. Travel agents quoted the D fare for all of 2013, with popular periods costing even more. But once we entered april & may, I think I saw the I fare return to CX.com again. So I think CX is quite proactively adjusting fares year-round to maximize profit, like any other well-run airline would be tempted to do.

In any case CX offers a great way, perhaps the best way, to travel TPE-BKK in J. I seek out the I fare, but if you compare CX to say, TransAsia's J product mix (seat/lounge/value/flight time), CX is a great deal even at D fare. TransAsia can basically go (censored) themselves for what they charge.

Corrections, addendum welcome. :P