I was trying to make a new booking of PVG-HKG today. I realised there's a new row on the ticket price that charges CNY800 for standby even on Flex ticket? I wonder if it's just that I never noticed, a new policy or a IT glitch? I

Definitely a glitch (no surprise @CX IT)
you can see that the next row says standby available for earlier flights

It has always been available, I'm sure many frequent flyers here purchase these tickets for the flexibility

I have done it last week on the flex ticket, so I was very confused when I saw it today. But yes CX IT is.....sigh (But wait till you see the BA one)

One other point is I don't get why the ticket T&Cs for Flex confine you to flights departing the same calendar day, instead of 24hrs prior.

That means CX105 cannot standby for CX135, CX237 cannot standby for CX255 etc.

Does anyone have experience doing this when booked via a partner (mine�s through AY)

Have also changed a CX Y Flex flight at LHR a few years back, having connected from an AY flight from HEL

Anyone have any experience with earlier award J flights from HKG to BKK?

Don�t think award tickets are changeable free of charge�

I've got a booking on April 22, Taipei to Hong Kong to Vancouver.

All was well until the flight changes pushed the connection time to 30 mins.

This is my third leg on my multi segment booking.

I can easily fly earlier into Hong Kong, cannot miss the Vancouver flight.

The email address on the booking goes "undeliverable", phone numbers won't work since I'm in Japan Cathay lounge now and booked in Canada. The lounge staff handed me a phone and I've been on hold with them for nearly 45 mins. App won't let me change the flight and neither will the website.

30 mins IS too little time to connect, even with only a carry on?

Easiest way to make an earlier flight change is....?

Go early to Taoyuan Airport, go to service desk and ask to board earlier flight.

I've just off with the customer service agent who informed me there are no seats at all. This is my plan by the way, just go early and ask to board earlier.

Because the only other option is the 9:05PM on the 21, and I could make my flight still on the 22, they want me to pay a change fee.

Seems ridiculous, since it's a schedule change I certainly did not make.

I would assume that Cathay would compensate me for the 9 hour delay if I did indeed miss my Vancouver flight and have to arrive much later.

I think I've been spoilt with other OneWorld alliance airlines who could make changes at the gate/lounge, and now someone who answers simply does not seem to see how this is an option that would be no fault of my own and now I'm forced to hopefully make the connection.

It's sad to see them go downhill like this, haven't flown Cathay in years, and with British Airways changing their points system, being a lifetime gold, I won't make Cathay my first choice again.

****EDIT: I just received a phone call from the Hong Kong head office. "Michelle" changed my flight to the one before, and now all is well. I was desperately changing my entire trip on this end to accomodate a 12 hour delay. Not sure if it helps anyone, but the 1-800 numbers I suppose are simple call takers, HK seems to be able to accomodate the change quite easily and quickly.

Congrats to you, somewhere down the line someone / some system in HK must have picked up that you have a 30mins connection which is definitely below their MCT; of course they'd have to reaccommodate you & enjoy the rest of your trip!

I understand the frustration.
But your flight is only in ten days.
Apparently all morning flights TPE-HKG on 22/4 are fully booked (availability in J and Y are zeroed on EF).
Hence an agent cannot find you a seat on those flights and you need Head office has to unblock a seat for you. These manual interventions might not been done within minutes but when the system reviews the situation, and 10 days ahead there is no urgency.
Glad it ends well but CX is a very reliable airline for those flight schedule changes.

This is obviously ridiculous and echos Has Cathay CS gone downhill?

Understand you were unable to reach a CX agent easily, but rest assured it is not CX's policy to make you pay in this case.

Got to SYD 6:15 for CX162 10:10

Asked for same day change for CX110 7:40 as non-CX OWE. Just to see how they react

(This is a HK$4,8xx HKG-SYD r/t dirt cheap Economy Light tix)

J check in took my case to supervisor, who called someone (I presume revenue in HK)

No, I need to call Tsuen Wan and get rebooked by 6:40. CX same day change is still effectively dead



Oh well I got a pretty good takeoff shot of CX110 B-LRU from my breakfast table at QF SYD Flounge