Cathay Fanfare economy now booking into O Class ? No Club Points...
Nov 28, 2016, 11:45 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 33
Cathay Fanfare economy now booking into O Class ? No Club Points...
Hi all,
Booked a fanfare economy ticket earlier and it booked into O class not the normal Q class. Meaning no more club points. Checking again all this week's economy fanfare destinations book into O class. Does this mean the end of earning club points with fanfare economy tickets ?
I thought this was one of the benefits brought in during the April 2016 MPC changes that Q class fanfare tickets were now eligible for club point whereas before they weren't.
Have I missed any announcement or is this a mistake on the website ?
Thanks,
bluebird3000
Booked a fanfare economy ticket earlier and it booked into O class not the normal Q class. Meaning no more club points. Checking again all this week's economy fanfare destinations book into O class. Does this mean the end of earning club points with fanfare economy tickets ?
I thought this was one of the benefits brought in during the April 2016 MPC changes that Q class fanfare tickets were now eligible for club point whereas before they weren't.
Have I missed any announcement or is this a mistake on the website ?
Thanks,
bluebird3000
Nov 29, 2016, 12:13 am
#2
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: Lowly CX & IHG
Posts: 382
Just used the wayback machine and found they silently changed "Get Asia Miles ... for every fanfares booking" to "Get Asia Miles ... for every fanfares booking on Business and Premium Economy Class". In fact, you can find the old image of that line from the image address by changing 201611 to 201610.
Meanwhile, before I read this post, I checked some HKG-Europe advance fares and found what used to be O class is now Q class (maybe with ~HK$100 difference). Well I always thought of trying fanfares because they are much of a bargain than the most discounted advance fares, paying less and earning something. Now there's less incentive to go fanfares.
Meanwhile, before I read this post, I checked some HKG-Europe advance fares and found what used to be O class is now Q class (maybe with ~HK$100 difference). Well I always thought of trying fanfares because they are much of a bargain than the most discounted advance fares, paying less and earning something. Now there's less incentive to go fanfares.
Nov 29, 2016, 12:27 am
#3
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: country Western Australia
Programs: QF SG(LTS) - AA LTG(1MM)
Posts: 2,776
If the Asia Miles requirement of Hong Kong residency was correct (for mileage credit) then the change for most of us will be "not much".
But then Golds and DMs don't use Fanfares (or do they?)
Happy wandering
Fred
But then Golds and DMs don't use Fanfares (or do they?)
Happy wandering
Fred
Nov 29, 2016, 12:27 am
#4
Join Date: Feb 2016
Programs: BA Gold/Hilton Gold/Marriott Platinum Elite
Posts: 24
O class and Q class has been switched from today. You will not be able to earn anything from fanfare economy class as it changes to O class, but you can earn miles if you book flights which are previously O class by today as they change to Q class (for example the companion TPE fare).
Also, places such as PEK and TPE will now have business C class selling from today, but the price is not much different from J class (probably reduce the pressure of overbooking by guaranteed seat).
Also, places such as PEK and TPE will now have business C class selling from today, but the price is not much different from J class (probably reduce the pressure of overbooking by guaranteed seat).
Nov 29, 2016, 12:54 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 33
The 10 club point earning rate on these regional fanfare economy tickets was small but it was an nice enhancement added as part of the April MPC changes. Premise being MPC giving something small back to economy travellers while taking away a large chunk of club point earning for long haul.
I wouldn't dream of trying to make gold / diamond exclusively with fanfares but it was a nice extra when you were travelling around 10-15 fanfare trips per year.
I wouldn't dream of trying to make gold / diamond exclusively with fanfares but it was a nice extra when you were travelling around 10-15 fanfare trips per year.
Nov 29, 2016, 1:18 am
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 33
There's quite a few MPC and other oneworld elites booking fanfares including myself. I know as I bump into them in the F lounges and then on the plane. You'd be surprised... If you can get on the website early enough on the Tuesday you can get some good weekend getaways. i was in Phnom Penh 2 weeks ago, going to Penang this weekend, Taichung and Qingdao in Jan. Its only a small amount of tier points but was a nice little extra... Its bad of cathay to bring in a small enhancement during April only to take it away a few months later.
Nov 29, 2016, 2:25 am
#9
Join Date: Feb 2016
Programs: BA Gold/Hilton Gold/Marriott Platinum Elite
Posts: 24
A friend of travel agent told me earlier today, and I check several destinations lowest fares and it is true.
Nov 29, 2016, 2:58 am
#10
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: SFO/HKG
Programs: ex-UA 1K, AA EXP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 535
I don't see why an elite member WOULDN'T consider a fanfare, especially if they were paying out of their own pocket. Seems more like nickle and diming from Cathay City.
You could say they're factoring in the possibility that one could previously obtain DM status simply by purchasing fanfares...but you'd have to do A LOT of flying to get 1200 tier points on fanfares (at least 120 round trips). And you could even argue the revenue that CX from 120 round trips could justify DM status. If anything, you'd be filling up seats on a plane that CX has trouble filling so that CX can then later charge more money for those who actually need to fly on that plane.
You could say they're factoring in the possibility that one could previously obtain DM status simply by purchasing fanfares...but you'd have to do A LOT of flying to get 1200 tier points on fanfares (at least 120 round trips). And you could even argue the revenue that CX from 120 round trips could justify DM status. If anything, you'd be filling up seats on a plane that CX has trouble filling so that CX can then later charge more money for those who actually need to fly on that plane.
Nov 29, 2016, 9:21 am
#11
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: HKG
Programs: CX DM, SPG Pt, Le Club Accor GO, Shangri-La GC Jade
Posts: 1,327
And just checked that C is now the Business Flex for PEK... Can't choose J fare unless you uncheck "Flexible on travel days" on CX.com... BUT.... Did a dummy booking price check...
J: HK$11,260 + HK$382 tax = HK$11,642; Fare rules: Full flex as before
C: HK$11,260 + HK$382 tax = HK$11,642; Fare rules: No show penalty HK$1,000, Cancellation charge HK$800 before flight, No refund after flight <- I won't call this flexible....
I'd call this "Enhance"......
Jan 17, 2020, 1:49 am
#13
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 205