Why is CX taking so long to implement a useful online booking service that comprises AT LEAST all oneworld carrier flights, not to mention connections to non-oneworld cities?

Yesterday I booked a CX flight on the Lufthansa website (TPE-HKG-FRA-VIE) for 20% off the price listed on CX's own website. Lufthansa is the only website I know that lets you select "Any Airline" and actually displays a reasonable price at the end of the booking process. That sort of online booking service is dearly needed in the (one)world of CX!

Actually, AA.com also does that. Some people have reported booking better fares on BA metal using AA.com than BA's own site. Ditto for UA via AA.com

Of course, sometimes Orbitz beats AA.com on AA flights.

I really envy those who are based in the U.S.

Unfortunately, I am not and don't have a proper credit card! I wish I have one.

I am not sure if AA.com can serve customers outside North America as well as LH does in Japan. Not even UA in Japan, which has invested more than AA on web technology, can compete with LH in ticketing via the Net. I really wish AA in Japan will do a bit more.

LH's web site in Japan, backed up by a highly responsive customer support team, is remarkable. They can issue SOTO intra-Europe flight tickets and send it to my home the next day, with no charge added. And I am not talking about normal fares.

I agree with mhtaipei. CX, be it the HKG site or the Japan site, is OK but not good enough. CX, however, is only the only foreign carrier in Japan that has opened their own sites for mobile Net users.

[This message has been edited by Chiangi (edited 07-31-2002).]

Good customer that I am I decided to call CX and voice my complaints over their meager online offerings. It was not my day. In (typical?) Hong Kong arrogance, I was informed by the Marco Polo hotline that their website was "well-designed, offering a wide range of services and flight combinations at reasonable prices". I was also told that it was 'unreasonable to expect CX to offer flights by other airlines on their website' like LH does.

CX would do well treat their employees to a marketing course. It really doesn't help if they are so full of themselves.

BTW, I always wondered why AA et.al. don't accept non-US credit cards. Legally their's no reason why they shouldn't. The only site that does is travelocity; I have successfully booked a ticket using a Taiwan-issued credit card.




[This message has been edited by mhtaipei (edited 07-31-2002).]