Is there any method to choose or view which flying class code ahead of time?
#17
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau




Join Date: May 2009
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Can CX GCC do it? Not TAs only? I might have misspoken on Reddit if yes.
#18


Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Singapore
Programs: Cathay, KrisFlyer, Hyatt, Hilton, Bonvoy
Posts: 1,161
Thats true but Im a consumer, a traveler and not a Cathay shareholder. Ive been traveling with Cathay for 20 years and I think me and many travelers deserve more transparency. This is not displayed upright during checkout and definitely an inconvenience for most people.
#19
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#20
Original Poster

Join Date: Sep 2024
Posts: 76
it is indeed displayed at checkout!
I agree it is annoying that you have to click all the way through to see it. Fully aligned here.
but the idea its not displayed just isnt right. The subfare class is visible if you click on the fare terms and conditions at checkout.
I think many posters here for the purposes of checking fares and booking tickets etc wish it was visible early in the process not at the very end. Thats all
and if you want to target a specific subfare, then you might need to call ticketing instead of online . That isnt that hard. Annoying, yes agree (although not that relevant for most people honestly). but this isnt some conspiracy against consumers
I agree it is annoying that you have to click all the way through to see it. Fully aligned here.
but the idea its not displayed just isnt right. The subfare class is visible if you click on the fare terms and conditions at checkout.
I think many posters here for the purposes of checking fares and booking tickets etc wish it was visible early in the process not at the very end. Thats all
and if you want to target a specific subfare, then you might need to call ticketing instead of online . That isnt that hard. Annoying, yes agree (although not that relevant for most people honestly). but this isnt some conspiracy against consumers
#21


Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX, UA, Shangri-La, Hyatt, Starwood
Posts: 8,245
Ironically I am also annoyed by it. And it's also true, the econ fares are clearly more complicated than J and F. But I don't think it's some unethical CX anti-consumer thing as you may be implying. It's my belief that those of us on FT are in the minority of bookers. Even my secretary whose job this technically is (in reality, I like booking a lot of my own tickets), she can't be bothered with sub fareclasses as I am out of sheer interest / hobby. She has better things to worry about. The majority of the traveling public I think are better served by the more simple names CX has in plain English, even though it's annoying for us.
It might just be a difference of opinion.
#22
Original Poster

Join Date: Sep 2024
Posts: 76
Its honestly a simple fix with displaying the class code during flight selection. I dont think that will cost millions of dollars in business revenue.
#23


Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Singapore
Programs: Cathay, KrisFlyer, Hyatt, Hilton, Bonvoy
Posts: 1,161
Their own status (Elite Points) earn table is fare code-agnostic https://enrich.malaysiaairlines.com/...ning_Table.pdf
The same reason why they introduced more perks at the top. They are not after the vast majority which does not bring them the corresponding revenue
#24


Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Singapore
Programs: Cathay, KrisFlyer, Hyatt, Hilton, Bonvoy
Posts: 1,161
Honestly this is a policy and transparency issue. Life is certainly easier if you can afford to fly first class. But not the majority of travelers can. That’s why we have only a handful of first class seats on the plane. I guarantee you that the majority of travelers have never flown first or business class before. The responsibility and the “suck it up, move on with life” attitude shouldn’t be placed on the underprivileged travelers flying on the peasant class.
It’s honestly a simple fix with displaying the class code during flight selection. I don’t think that will cost millions of dollars in business revenue.
It’s honestly a simple fix with displaying the class code during flight selection. I don’t think that will cost millions of dollars in business revenue.
#25

Join Date: Jul 2025
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 41
AFAIK, CX website booking only displays the cheapest available class. I think it makes sense because if they display all the options of Discount Economy, Economy, Full Economy (three classes), and each class coming with three fare types (lite, essential, flex), there would be 9 combinations for costumers to choose. It will probably complicate things for 95% of the costumers IMO.
#26
Original Poster

Join Date: Sep 2024
Posts: 76
Not necessarily. I take "upright" to mean unethical.If that's the case, I politely disagree. What MH does above, is pushing that boundary (you don't find out until ticketed). CX shows it to you at the end. This is inconvenient but not awful, and it doesn't change the fact that if you really want to target a fareclass, you just call them or a travel agent and book that way.
Ironically I am also annoyed by it. And it's also true, the econ fares are clearly more complicated than J and F. But I don't think it's some unethical CX anti-consumer thing as you may be implying. It's my belief that those of us on FT are in the minority of bookers. Even my secretary whose job this technically is (in reality, I like booking a lot of my own tickets), she can't be bothered with sub fareclasses as I am out of sheer interest / hobby. She has better things to worry about. The majority of the traveling public I think are better served by the more simple names CX has in plain English, even though it's annoying for us.
It might just be a difference of opinion.
Ironically I am also annoyed by it. And it's also true, the econ fares are clearly more complicated than J and F. But I don't think it's some unethical CX anti-consumer thing as you may be implying. It's my belief that those of us on FT are in the minority of bookers. Even my secretary whose job this technically is (in reality, I like booking a lot of my own tickets), she can't be bothered with sub fareclasses as I am out of sheer interest / hobby. She has better things to worry about. The majority of the traveling public I think are better served by the more simple names CX has in plain English, even though it's annoying for us.
It might just be a difference of opinion.
I meant upright as in stands straight up.
Outright is actually the term that is more suitable in this context.
I get your point.
Its just annoying like you said to have to figure out all these fare subclasses. I am more tech savvy than my parents and so I can assist them now that we know how the system works.
But for the other travelers, especially the elderly and individuals that are not informed, its not as easy for them to navigate through the FF process.
Maybe its a good suggestion that I can provide to Cathay. List the sub fare class during flight selection. List the number of Asia Miles and status points that can be earned prior to checkout.
These are predetermined values and it shouldnt cost millions of dollars in revenue to display online.
With advancements in technology, life should be made easier for all classes of travelers. Ill have to call CS now to secure a certain fare class. Very tedious when you are booking multiple tickets at one time.
#27
Original Poster

Join Date: Sep 2024
Posts: 76
AFAIK, CX website booking only displays the cheapest available class. I think it makes sense because if they display all the options of Discount Economy, Economy, Full Economy (three classes), and each class coming with three fare types (lite, essential, flex), there would be 9 combinations for costumers to choose. It will probably complicate things for 95% of the costumers IMO.
I had to copy and paste your text onto another place.
Based on your reply, if thats the case, why do we have 9 different subfare classes in the first place? Whats the purpose for subdividing all the fare classes? Seems like its a type of confusopoly then if travelers are not informed.
#28
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[Replaced by https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/37377128-post35.html ]
Last edited by percysmith; Oct 17, 2025 at 3:09 am
#29




Join Date: Feb 2015
Programs: Top Tier Flyertalk Member
Posts: 866
All that effort just to chase SL for what? Lounge access and a bowl of dandan noddles?
Over the increment of paying how much more for full-economy fares over the course of a yr?
Anyways, OP hope this chart clears it up for you as you mention you fly from JFK:

Over the increment of paying how much more for full-economy fares over the course of a yr?
Anyways, OP hope this chart clears it up for you as you mention you fly from JFK:

#30




Join Date: Sep 2012
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Posts: 7,148
It may be possible to force the next highest fare class online by using another browser to make some dummy bookings that fill up the lower buckets

