Minimum stay requirement to get the lowest pricing on the HKG-TPE route?
 

Just last month when I was last in Hong Kong, I could easily search GF and see sub-US$200 rt flights on this route for stays of less than 24 hours. Now it seems that I need to stay at least a full day in Taipei in order to get the lowest pricing. Did CX just change the fare rules?

For the cheapest fares from HKG-TPE, this is what I can find in ITA Matrix; so yes, it seems like so.

I just bought two separate one way tickets. It's so stupid they have this rule

Yes, it's definitely cheaper to buy two one-ways to get a lower price. I was looking at almost US$700 for a rt! :eek::rolleyes:

If you travel to TPE quite regularly, it may make sense to buy TPE - HKG return. Even if you don’t know the date of the next trip to TPE, the change fee is quite reasonable (I think around HK$250) even on the lower priced tickets. Note though that you will probably not be able to check in at HKG unless you have your next ticket out of TPE issued.

The plot thickens... the change fee is different depending on your point of departure. I noticed it when I booked my two one way flights a few weeks ago.

HKG-TPE-HKG

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...9fe0129f24.png

And then TPE-HKG-TPE...
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...430bbbeb99.png

Change fees buying HKD is just incredibly expensive, and the jump from Essential to Flex is just bonkers (HKD900 > HKD0) , whereas the increments in TWD makes more sense and also kind of justifies the price differences.

Buying one way tickets makes all the more sense. Being based in HKG I bought a HKG-TPE and then a TPE-HKG later that evening, both on separate tickets. I noticed I got to TPE a lot earlier than I expected that evening. I asked if I could be put on an earlier flight at check in. Being on a light ticket form TPE-HKG they said it cost me TWD800 (about HKD200) which was justifiable for me. If I bought a HKG-TPE-HKG return 1) it would have costed me way more expensive plus 20 another change fee of HKD1100 at TPE...

It is common among all airlines that the change/cancel fees differ across point of sale/origin.
Frequent travelers between two points tend to buy return tickets from the cheaper origin as chater stated.

What is less usual is that you can buy two one-way ticket for cheaper than a return ticket. Could you elaborate? Or is it just that the change/cancel fee is more attractive in doing so?

A single from HKG to TPE is HK$1,452. A single from TPE to HKG is approximately HK$1,288. The total cost is therefore HK$2,740.

A same day or next day return from HKG to TPE is HK$5,403. A return 2 days later drops the price to HK$2,003.

These appear to be the minimum/maximum stay rules for fare class Q (the cheapest economy ticket) (already pointed out by CarefreeBA, but confirmed by ExpertFlyer):

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...ecb61e9e4f.png