Severe Overbooking???
May 8, 2015 | 11:20 pm
#31
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 6,978
I've gotten to know the WNZ manager pretty well and now he always blocked an entire row for me, at the dismay of other pax that looked at my empty row with disbelief (flight full except the two empty seats next to me), heh heh
May 13, 2015 | 9:42 am
#32
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX Marco Polo Club, Virgin Flying Club
Posts: 91
Since we are talking about blocking, it does seem as if they sometimes do it - or maybe it's just the luck of the draw (I am only GO).
I say this because of a recent experience - I had an aisle exit seat (I think it was an A320 or A321) and both middle and window seat were empty. Towards the end of boarding, the FA asked me if I minded if someone moved to sit in the window seat. I said it was no problem, but I was amazed they would ask me.
I say this because of a recent experience - I had an aisle exit seat (I think it was an A320 or A321) and both middle and window seat were empty. Towards the end of boarding, the FA asked me if I minded if someone moved to sit in the window seat. I said it was no problem, but I was amazed they would ask me.
May 13, 2015 | 12:17 pm
#33
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: CX GO (in hibernation mode), AA EXP, SPG GO, HH DM
Posts: 317
Since we are talking about blocking, it does seem as if they sometimes do it - or maybe it's just the luck of the draw (I am only GO).
I say this because of a recent experience - I had an aisle exit seat (I think it was an A320 or A321) and both middle and window seat were empty. Towards the end of boarding, the FA asked me if I minded if someone moved to sit in the window seat. I said it was no problem, but I was amazed they would ask me.
I say this because of a recent experience - I had an aisle exit seat (I think it was an A320 or A321) and both middle and window seat were empty. Towards the end of boarding, the FA asked me if I minded if someone moved to sit in the window seat. I said it was no problem, but I was amazed they would ask me.
May 14, 2015 | 7:40 am
#34
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX Marco Polo Club, Virgin Flying Club
Posts: 91
May 14, 2015 | 7:44 am
#35
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: CX GO (in hibernation mode), AA EXP, SPG GO, HH DM
Posts: 317
May 14, 2015 | 9:08 am
#36
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: NYC/SIN
Programs: CX DM, SQ KF
Posts: 2,344
I have found though, that outport staff are far less likely to be able to honour a blocking of a seat. I think this is because flights are still managed from HKG, and so they cannot liaise with a flight control manager as easily and ultimately have less control over the flight. In HKG, if the check-in agent is committed to trying to help me block a seat, they always call a flight controller.
May 14, 2015 | 10:23 am
#37
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 6,978
May 15, 2015 | 10:17 am
#38
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: YYZ
Programs: Hilton Gold, Marriott Platinum, Club Accor Gold, AC SE100K
Posts: 324
I have no idea if this helps, but the manager at YYZ does recognize me every time I fly, often greeting me by my surname before even handing over documentation. Also often times when I fly, there’s are only 5-8 GO and maybe 3 DM.
May 17, 2015 | 9:16 am
#39
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: London
Programs: AA Executive Platinum
Posts: 781
On company dime, I'm flying PEY now. But I would NEVER pay for it. And I actually feel bad for my company that pays for it. But I think CX has it and it does exactly what CX wants it to do:
1) Make money off suckers (company) that won't pay for J class but will pay for PEY class (like mine)
2) A buffer zone for oversold Y upgrades to relief J class from overcrowding.
3) Gets people that wants to use miles to upgrade to J class
From CX's perspective PEY is a win, screw the pax.
1) Make money off suckers (company) that won't pay for J class but will pay for PEY class (like mine)
2) A buffer zone for oversold Y upgrades to relief J class from overcrowding.
3) Gets people that wants to use miles to upgrade to J class
From CX's perspective PEY is a win, screw the pax.
Also if you are taking a Cathay day flight, do you really need a J-class flat bed? PEY is plenty comfortable enough.
May 17, 2015 | 9:49 am
#40
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 22,125
Creampuff where does your 30% premium come from?
For my shuttle route: Hkg-Syd, next month (two weeks before school holiday) I'm looking at HK$5.7k/13.6k/33.6k for y/PE/j return
Going the other way I see A$900/1,957/6,193
For short haul I'll survive in Y, even the 4+-hour hard shell I'm getting this Friday. PE is only a more expensive bucket of Y for short haul.
For my shuttle route: Hkg-Syd, next month (two weeks before school holiday) I'm looking at HK$5.7k/13.6k/33.6k for y/PE/j return
Going the other way I see A$900/1,957/6,193
For short haul I'll survive in Y, even the 4+-hour hard shell I'm getting this Friday. PE is only a more expensive bucket of Y for short haul.
May 17, 2015 | 11:30 am
#41
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: YYZ
Programs: Hilton Gold, Marriott Platinum, Club Accor Gold, AC SE100K
Posts: 324
I don't see the problem with PEY. It is significantly more comfortable than Y and it can cost only 30% more than Y. It can cost a lot more than 30% on top of Y, but if you aren't hell bent on a particular day then a 30-50% premium on top of a Y fare is quite achievable for a PEY ticket. OTOH if you go J, that is typically a 300-400% premium over the Y fare. It is quite a difference. Personally I don't think Dragonair J is that much better (food aside) then PEY.
Also if you are taking a Cathay day flight, do you really need a J-class flat bed? PEY is plenty comfortable enough.
Also if you are taking a Cathay day flight, do you really need a J-class flat bed? PEY is plenty comfortable enough.
May 17, 2015 | 8:41 pm
#42
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: country Western Australia
Programs: QF WP(LTS) - AA LTG(1MM)
Posts: 2,857
Creampuff where does your 30% premium come from?
For my shuttle route: Hkg-Syd, next month (two weeks before school holiday) I'm looking at HK$5.7k/13.6k/33.6k for y/PE/j return
Going the other way I see A$900/1,957/6,193
For short haul I'll survive in Y, even the 4+-hour hard shell I'm getting this Friday. PE is only a more expensive bucket of Y for short haul.
For my shuttle route: Hkg-Syd, next month (two weeks before school holiday) I'm looking at HK$5.7k/13.6k/33.6k for y/PE/j return
Going the other way I see A$900/1,957/6,193
For short haul I'll survive in Y, even the 4+-hour hard shell I'm getting this Friday. PE is only a more expensive bucket of Y for short haul.
Until Air Asia and Scoot entered the SEAsia-Perth market no one had cheap fares (even in economy) on those routes. Jetstar flights were often more expensive than Qantas. MH economy fares could/can be found at cheaper rates - but only if you are willing to forgo crediting the flight to a (any) FF program.
Happy wandering
Fred
May 17, 2015 | 9:41 pm
#43
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: LON
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 174
Example: For HKG - SYD its normally somewhere between 9.5-10k for me when using my seat guarantee for V class
5.7k is a really good fare tho (almost at fanfare levels) - can you get that for the optimised flights? (161/101 and 138)
May 17, 2015 | 10:03 pm
#44
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 22,125
Premium seats to/from Australia have an inbuilt (upward) price bias. exUSA because of the competition and the requirement for H class fares to credit to the AA program create a niche market.
Until Air Asia and Scoot entered the SEAsia-Perth market no one had cheap fares (even in economy) on those routes. Jetstar flights were often more expensive than Qantas. MH economy fares could/can be found at cheaper rates - but only if you are willing to forgo crediting the flight to a (any) FF program.
Happy wandering
Fred
Until Air Asia and Scoot entered the SEAsia-Perth market no one had cheap fares (even in economy) on those routes. Jetstar flights were often more expensive than Qantas. MH economy fares could/can be found at cheaper rates - but only if you are willing to forgo crediting the flight to a (any) FF program.
Happy wandering
Fred
HKG-LAX: HK$9,000/22,870/91,640
LAX-HKG: US$1,722/2,397/5,187
HKG-YVR: HK$10,750/23,860/50,800
YVR-HKG: C$1,739/2,840/5,818
HKG-LHR: HK$7,350/16,720/59,960
LHR-HKG: GBP696/940/5,054
Premium of PE over Y:
HKG-LAX: 154%
LAX-HKG: 39%
HKG-YVR: 122%
YVR-HKG: 63%
HKG-LHR: 127%
LHR-HKG: 35%
Only if you're ex-LHR or ex-LAX does PE start relating to the floor space premium of 38%.
Even for YVR (argubaly another upward price bias route like Aus) the premium is doubled.
And ex-HKG you might as well buy another seat. Might even have enough cash left over to pay the second YQ.
May 18, 2015 | 9:17 am
#45
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: London
Programs: AA Executive Platinum
Posts: 781
I haven't done a comprehensive survey or anything like that, but I've travelled PEY ex-HKG on regional flights and PEY ex-LHR->HKG a few times now. It's been in the 30-50% premium over Y range. Totally worth it. I wouldn't pay double for PEY though. BA and Virgin operate direct LHR HKG flights with PEY cabins, perhaps that keeps the price down on CX.
Is the CX blocked seat thing only for high status MPC or can AA members also get it?
The A$6193 SYD HKG for CX J is Cathay taking the mick. You can fly all the way to London in J for only $1000 more.
Is the CX blocked seat thing only for high status MPC or can AA members also get it?
The A$6193 SYD HKG for CX J is Cathay taking the mick. You can fly all the way to London in J for only $1000 more.