Trying to book a reasonable business class fare ex-TPE to LAX. Called up the CX TPE office and was informed there was a promotional I class fare but no stopovers were allowed and must depart by Jul 31st which wasn’t right for my travel plans.

When I use the online system (and assuming I don’t tick the stopover box), there is a D class fare available (which is only NTD10k more than the I class ‘promotion’) which according to the fare rules allows “unlimited stopovers”, rebooking allowed etc. Tried to book this fare but the TPE office claimed they do not have access to this fare and could only book I or J class.

Question 1: Since this isn’t listed as one of their internet/online specials, how come it can’t be booked with CX TPE directly?

Question 2: if I book this D class fare online, if I call up CX and change the dates so that I utilise the stopovers in HKG on both the outbound and inbound, I assume this will only incur additional HKD departure taxes?

1. Internet fares are not necessarily stated as promotions.

2. Yes and no. Yes, taxes and surcharges are calculated when you book the flights and will be higher. No, after ticketing, it will involve re-issue and possibly cost you more than just the taxes and surcharges.

Answer to 2: It does stay unlimited stopover on the fare rules, when when you try to price out an advanced search, and put a stopover on the fare, a J fare kicks in. I have tried calling Web Reservations and tried to have a stopover in Hong Kong, but they told me the that transit time cannot be more than 24 hours. So they will charge you the fare difference to J, which cost more than half that D fare... not worth it.

Did you ask them where in the fare rules did it state that stopovers were limited to 24 hours? On the I class fare where you're not allowed a stopover, you can do a "transit" in HKG but in this case a transit means a stopover of less than 24 hours (i.e. you can fly over from TPE to HKG and depart to LAX the next day). I would've thought that if the fare rules does not place any restrictions on the stopovers then I would be allowed to do so at the fare booked (other than the additional surcharges and taxes).

I am no expert in all these fare rules, but does this have anything with those HIP (higher intermediate point) rules I read about before ? i.e. yes theoretically with fares without stopover restrictions you can stopover anywhere, but if the fares at your stopover point to your destination is higher than the fares from your origin, then you need to pay the fare as if you're starting at the stopover point with a higher fare (hence the name HIP).

i.e. TPE-USA...you can stopover anywhere with the list of airlines allowed (in this case only CX I guess)...but for TPE-HKG-USA, since HKG-USA is more expensive then TPE-USA, then you need to pay the HKG-USA fares. in a hypothetical case, TPE-xxx-yyy-zzz-USA...assuming xxx-USA, yyy-USA, zzz-USA are all cheaper than TPE-USA, and that the airlines allowed by the fares fly all these routes, then you can pay the TPE-USA cheap fare and stopover at all these xxx/yyy/zzz places.

just my 2 cents...again I'm no expert in this and so might be somewhat mistaken...

Fare rules may differ even for the same booking class. If the fare rule allows stopover, you should be able to purchase the ticket with stopovers. However, changing from transit to stopover after ticket issuance is a different issue. Whenever I am uncertain whether I may stay over 24 hours, I always pay for stopover instead of transit. I don't know that was a smart move, but I have been able to avoid all problems so far.

Just quick search ex TPE class,I cant not find any D class ticket either. I class not all stopover HKG both way.

Last time I checked with my agent, transit would means same day departure HKG by 2400hrs. e.g If u take CX 531 ETA 2200 and connect with CX 836 ETD 0005 HKT, they would count it as stopover.

Changing a transit (X) to a stopover (O) is a routing change and requires ticket reissuance. Some clueless agents may let you get away with it by charging only the departure tax but that's not the rule. Since your handle says that you are a Gambler..... Beware if you do this over the phone and get away with it, you may still be denied boarding at the airport unless you pay the fare difference. It all depends on how many clueless trainees are around that day.

As mentioned by tedhl, stopovers are subject to HIP check. If you fly TPE-HKG-LAX with a stop in HKG, you must pay the higher of TPE-LAX, TPE-HKG or HKG-LAX fare. Since HKG-LAX fare is the higher one, that's what you will be charged.

Yes, that is what I meant in port #2. I would also like to mention a few items:
* Some fare does not allow changing flight number(s), even if the new flight(s) are still transit.
* In general, unless specifically prohibited, if the ticket shows O, the passenger can still depart within 24 hours (like transit), but if the ticket shows X, the passenger must depart with 24 hours.
* Changing from X to O may result in paying more than just the fare difference. The passenger may have to pay an additional penalty for the ticket re-issue.

On my last ex-TPE, I did a "next-day" transit (or a stopover I guess), but within 24 hours. You can even price it out on CX.com, the only difference was they added $120 Hong Kong departure tax, and as long as it is less than 24 hours, the D fare is still valid.

Called up CX and am now more informed about this HIP rule as mentioned by Tedhl so in effect, it makes this D class become a J class if you do a stopover in HKG.


Anyway, I can book an I class fare with a valid overnight transit (confirmed with CX TPE) so is there any real penalty/consequences if I choose to "no-show" for the final segment (HKG-TPE)?

I am amazed at how you all know the HIP rule so well. Kudos! ^

And it's 100% accurate too.

(I, too, am looking at TPE-LAX D or A fares and finding the same problem).
Not surprising, we all know ex-HKG fares to LAX are sky high.

It's called "throwaway ticketing" and technically not allowed, but what can they do? Just make sure you don't have checked baggage going all the way to TPE.

On my first ex-TPE D, I forgot to tell the LAX agents to just tag my bags to HKG instead of TPE until I was at my seat! I immediately told ISM, who did some magic, and CX delivered my bags at my home on the same day. I was so relieved at not flying to TPE and amazed at the efficiency of CX's crew and baggage people! Imagine if this were to happen at LHR...