Brunos,

I wanted to make sure the T&C I got from Expedia was consistent with what Cathay would provide. I called Cathay and got the "Expedia may take on fees and other terms and conditions to ours regarding your ticket" so I just wanted to make sure I had the correct information. I know that the fare class is AAARRVN8 for my tickets. The T&C states the same as others have posted:

"ORIGINATING VIET NAM - CANCELLATIONS ANY TIME CHARGE USD 300.00 FOR CANCEL/REFUND. ANY TIME CHARGE USD 300.00 FOR NO-SHOW. REPRICING CONDITIONS ///////////// ---------------- BEFORE DEPARTURE ---------------- RE-PRICE WITH BELOW OPTIONS AND PROVIDE THE BEST FARE TO PASSENGER - 1. IF SAME ROUTING AND BOOKING CLASS - USE ANY CX/KA HISTORICAL FARE FOR RE-PRICE AND NEW TICKET MAY BE EQUAL/HIGHER OR LOWER THAN ‡ THE PREVIOUS TICKET OR 2. IF SAME ROUTING BUT DIFFERENT BOOKING CLASS - USE ANY CX/KA HISTORICAL FARE FOR RE-PRICE AND NEW TICKET MUST BE EQUAL OR HIGHER THAN PREVIOUS TICKET OR 3. USE ANY CURRENT CX/KA FARE FOR RE-PRICE AND NEW TICKET MUST BE EQUAL OR HIGHER VALUE THAN THE PREVIOUS TICKET. --------------- AFTER DEPARTURE --------------- RE-PRICE WITH BELOW OPTIONS AND PROVIDE THE BEST FARE TO PASSENGER - 1. IF SAME ROUTING AND BOOKING CLASS - USE ANY CX/KA HISTORICAL FARE FOR RE-PRICE AND NEW TICKET MAY BE EQUAL/HIGHER OR LOWER THAN THE PREVIOUS TICKET OR 2. USE ANY HISTORICAL CX/KA FARE FOR RE-PRICE AND NEW TICKET MUST BE EQUAL OR HIGHER VALUE THAN THE PREVIOUS TICKET."
If I meet the following conditions, I interpret this to mean I have to pay the $100USD change fee, but that the fare does not change as the original purchase is a historical fare.
I am trying to figure out how I ensure "A fare availability with a Vietnam point of sale" as you state. Should I direct my correspondence to Cathay ticket offices in Vietnam? Cathay won't do anything for me as far as the ticket, other than direct me to Expedia. I appreciate your time and response. If think you are the same person that has a Hong Kong travel blog that I have also started following since booking these tickets. Thanks again.

My advice to you lot would be to accept the goodwill that Cathay Pacific has provided and move on with your travel plans that you had initially planned for when the window of opportunity was provided. Reading into all the fine prints on this ridiculously low price shows your selfishness and greed.

Move on!

The T&C clearly states: NEW TICKET MAY BE EQUAL/HIGHER OR LOWER THAN THE PREVIOUS TICKET

In this case, it would be higher so what's the issue? Please explain your rant!

@380Flyer,

Thank you for your advice. No rant here. Just trying to understand the options available. The T&C states that "any historical fare" can be used. I have a historical fare that they are honoring. B/C of that, the fare should be the same (based on my interpretation). The T&C are similar to the terms of a contract (in addition to the Contract of Carriage) which I am certain you are aware. It appears to me that Cathay doesn't want to honor the T&C. It has nothing to do with selfishness and greed. It has everyting to do with a company honoring the T&C regarding the purchase of a good or service. CX should have just not honored the tickets if they have no intention of honoring the terms. I have exactly 1 trip booked for my family of 3 and am trying to change the dates by just a few days. I am here just trying to get some friendly advice. I appreciate yours.

About three weeks after the fare was available, I changed the date of one of the flights and paid only the $99 change fee, just as is published in the A-basis fare rules, directly on the CX site.

Fare rules aren't suggestions, they are terms that both parties have to abide by, regardless of what the paid fare is. Cathay was very generous in honoring this fare, if they don't intent to honor the terms of the fare they should disclose that well in advance. Plans change, life happens, it isn't indicative of selfishness or greed if you are willing to pay what the fare terms say.

There is no reprice, according to the fare rules, if the fare class the original flight was booked in is available (only a change fee). Perhaps read the fare rules.

Thanks swbink02 for the clarification.
I agree that we should not get emotional about this mistake fare. You were lucky to get it, CX honored it and that's it. Try to get the best of it.

Going through a TA does not make life easy for you.
There have been many discussions and rumors on this thread, as well as conflicting information. I guess that you have read it carefully.
One possibility to detect if A fare bucket is available on your new itinerary is to do a dummy booking with your desired dates on CX Vietnam website. If you can get some A fare for the whole itinerary then it implies A availability. Make sure that you should get A on both the outbound and inbound, as CX will say that they need to reissue the ticket. Having A availability on the changed outbound flight but not on the same inbound flight might be a problem (eventhough you already have it). That is one trick that CX could use during repricing.
If you can get some A fare for the whole new dummy booking, then you could argue with CX. But having used a TA makes it more difficult.

BTW: I am NOT doing any travel blog.

I bought one of the Hanoi to SFO roundtrips. On my return to Hanoi, I am planning to continue to Chiang Mai on a Bangkok Airways departing 3 hours after my DragonAir flight arrives in Hanoi.

Will I be able to do this International => International transit without a Visa? Or should I be prepared to clear immigration in Hanoi, and get a Visa as well.

Even if I can do the transit in Hanoi without a Visa, will there be a Vietnam Visa check for me to board the flight in SFO?

@swbink02

I have been following this thread as I have a first class ticket SGN-JFK-SGN booked through Expedia. I'd like to change the return date if able to do so and am willing to wait until I have flown the outbound in August if need be, but the lack of clear understanding of the ability to do so with Expedia/Cathay/other espoused throughout this thread is irritating. When I try to change it on-line with Expedia, it only offers me the business class cabin without a huge fare increase (on days where A/J ex-SGN is available). I have not called Expedia yet.

Will look forward to hearing what you are able to accomplish with Expedia.

EF is not the proper place as it does not show Vietnam as point of origin (POS). That's why I mention doing a dummy booking on CX Vietnam site.
J availability is not really relevant. If you bought a mistake fare ticket, it will be issued either in I, D or possibly C.

OTA would use likely use USA POS

It was discussed somewhere. Someone suggested that CX was using a VN POO availability for these special exVN fares.

My ticket is booked on CX metal between SGN and HKG in J and A to and from JFK.

Mine are the same. Booked in J and A.