Does CX only keep D or lower premium fare to its own channel?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: BA Gold, MM Senator, FB Silver, HH Gold, Marriott Platinum, SPG Gold
Posts: 83
Does CX only keep D or lower premium fare to its own channel?
i recently started flying CX and there have been several cases already that the corporate travel agent (same for ITA Matrix as well) can only see J fare for HKG-LHR route while D fare (much cheaper than J ) is actually available on CX's own website. It seems for some reasons that CX does not release lower premium fare to external channels (in these limited cases).
I have not tried this for other routes but I am just curious (as I am new to CX) whether it is widely the case for CX to keep the lower premium fare to its own channel. thanks.
I have not tried this for other routes but I am just curious (as I am new to CX) whether it is widely the case for CX to keep the lower premium fare to its own channel. thanks.
#3
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX, UA, Shangri-La, Hyatt, Starwood
Posts: 7,708
ITA Matrix / Google Flights typically do not show discounted CX fares. Has always been the case.
However, a TA not able to find D fare means you....Need to change your travel agent.
As cxfan above mentions, web special I fares cannot be accessed by TAs, but often D fare at many ourports is almost the same anyway.
However, a TA not able to find D fare means you....Need to change your travel agent.
As cxfan above mentions, web special I fares cannot be accessed by TAs, but often D fare at many ourports is almost the same anyway.
#4
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,797
I assume your travel agent is not based in HK/Asia? Some foreign TAs cant see anything other than fully flexible fares on CX. We use a global travel agent and the London office can never see discounted CX fares, we have to ask the HK rep to do it.
#5
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: AA EXP 3MM; LH FT (*A Silver); Marriott Rewards Platinum Elite; Starwood Corporate Preferred
Posts: 782
Other option is to use the HKG version of the CX website to try and buy it that way.
#6
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: MNL / SFO / NYC
Programs: IHG Spire | Marriott Plat | UA Plat | AA Plat Pro
Posts: 533
I found that D and I fares can be booked through the correct agent not just CX...
I fares are usually only available online on OTAs when there are sales, I have never encountered a traditional TA who was able to give me an I fare since it usually books as a D fare (but the difference is sometimes just 50-100 USD based on the sub-bucket). Agreed with the others that say try a different agent or one based in the Asia-pacific region (HK, MNL, BKK, TPE).
I fares are usually only available online on OTAs when there are sales, I have never encountered a traditional TA who was able to give me an I fare since it usually books as a D fare (but the difference is sometimes just 50-100 USD based on the sub-bucket). Agreed with the others that say try a different agent or one based in the Asia-pacific region (HK, MNL, BKK, TPE).
#7
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: HKG
Posts: 1,053
I found that D and I fares can be booked through the correct agent not just CX...
I fares are usually only available online on OTAs when there are sales, I have never encountered a traditional TA who was able to give me an I fare since it usually books as a D fare (but the difference is sometimes just 50-100 USD based on the sub-bucket). Agreed with the others that say try a different agent or one based in the Asia-pacific region (HK, MNL, BKK, TPE).
I fares are usually only available online on OTAs when there are sales, I have never encountered a traditional TA who was able to give me an I fare since it usually books as a D fare (but the difference is sometimes just 50-100 USD based on the sub-bucket). Agreed with the others that say try a different agent or one based in the Asia-pacific region (HK, MNL, BKK, TPE).
Reason I'm asking is cause while my local HK agent can get me D class, he failed at booking me into I class ex-CAN. Time to change TA, or does this make sense?
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: BA Gold, MM Senator, FB Silver, HH Gold, Marriott Platinum, SPG Gold
Posts: 83
thank you guys for all your inputs - really helpful. Yes, the TA is based in London and it always quotes me with J fare even I can see D fare available on CX's website. When I challenged the quote, it showed me the screenshot of ITA Matrix, J indeed being the cheapest fare. For some reasons, this TA (and ITA Matrix in this case) just cannot get D fare (based on the conversations, I think it genuinely cannot see D fare, not because it wants to sell higher priced ticket) , which is quite annoying.
#10
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: MNL / SFO / NYC
Programs: IHG Spire | Marriott Plat | UA Plat | AA Plat Pro
Posts: 533
Bolding mine - would appreciate if you could clarify this point. Am I understanding this correctly: You are saying that there are no "traditional" TA's that will get you I fares, but OTAs might?
Reason I'm asking is cause while my local HK agent can get me D class, he failed at booking me into I class ex-CAN. Time to change TA, or does this make sense?
Reason I'm asking is cause while my local HK agent can get me D class, he failed at booking me into I class ex-CAN. Time to change TA, or does this make sense?
But I really would like to know if there are traditional TAs who can book I fares, I may just not have encountered one? Maybe an HK based one?
#11
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,797
thank you guys for all your inputs - really helpful. Yes, the TA is based in London and it always quotes me with J fare even I can see D fare available on CX's website. When I challenged the quote, it showed me the screenshot of ITA Matrix, J indeed being the cheapest fare. For some reasons, this TA (and ITA Matrix in this case) just cannot get D fare (based on the conversations, I think it genuinely cannot see D fare, not because it wants to sell higher priced ticket) , which is quite annoying.
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: CX Green, QF Platinum, BAEC Silver, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 10,780
ITA Matrix (and accordingly Google Flights) doesn't list the discount J class fares. I don't know why CX doesn't allow them to be listed because now that people are increasingly using comparison web sites, they are going to lose a lot of business that way.
#13
Suspended
Join Date: May 2006
Location: HKG
Programs: A3, TK *G; JL JGC; SPG,Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,952
ita gets restricted for some pos only. I recently checked ex fra and japan n were ok. Ex hkg wasnt
#15
Join Date: Jan 2017
Programs: Cathay Pacific, Air Astana
Posts: 102
It might be an idea to have a couple of travel agents (i.e. one in UK, one in HKG). When I've flown beyond London (I'm HKG based) sometimes I book CX HKG-LHR from HKG then use a UK travel agent to book the next leg on a cheaper BA fare than possible to get from HKG.
The booking system knows where you enquire from and so limits fare classes (same thing happens if I try to book a BA flight LHR-Africa or LGW-Carribean online from HKG - it just gives me expensive fare classes)
Sometimes splitting the booking can save quite a bit. Other times there's little difference (making the risk of a missed connection due to late originating flight not worthwhile), in which case I probably have to book the entire thing with BA (rather than HKG-LHR on CX, then LON-??? on BA)
Note: I'm talking here usually of Economy or PEY, rather than C/J/D/I - but I assume the same principle applies
The booking system knows where you enquire from and so limits fare classes (same thing happens if I try to book a BA flight LHR-Africa or LGW-Carribean online from HKG - it just gives me expensive fare classes)
Sometimes splitting the booking can save quite a bit. Other times there's little difference (making the risk of a missed connection due to late originating flight not worthwhile), in which case I probably have to book the entire thing with BA (rather than HKG-LHR on CX, then LON-??? on BA)
Note: I'm talking here usually of Economy or PEY, rather than C/J/D/I - but I assume the same principle applies