Hi all

I'm in the process of booking a couple of round-trips PVG-BKK.

First of all, can I say that the KA website is bringing up some good fares compared to the CX site (same flights).

Secondly, and this is where I need your input.

I'm looking at a V class fare which the FARE RULES say is non-changeable (as per the excert below).


CHANGES
CHANGES NOT PERMITTED.
NOTE -
REFUND FOR CANCELLATION AND NO SHOW:
CNY500 REFUND CHARGE ON TOTALLY UNUSED TICKET.
TICKET VALIDITY LESS THAN 1Y, PARTIAL REFUND IS
NOT ALLOWED. FOR PARTIALLY USED 1Y TICKET, REFUND
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE FARE PAID AND THE
APPLICABLE OW FARE AND LESS CNY500 REFUND CHARGE.
NO REFUND FOR TICKET USED NOT IN SEQUENCE.
REBOOKING AND REROUTING :
REBOOKING: PERMITTED.



So I ring KA and ask for a fare which permits me to date change. They give me the same V class fare and say it is fully flexible (within V class availability).

Who is right? Or am I confusing 'rebooking' with 'changes' - so changes to origin / destination are not allowed, but rebooking for different dates is ok?

Thirdly... I am trying to book flexibility into my return ticket in case I need to stop in Hong Kong. How can I do this over the net?

I am given options for BKK-HKG-PVG, but I suspect this won't allow a stop-over. If i use the multi-engine booking tool and try and book BKK-HKG and then HKG-PVG as two sectors on the same day it won't allow me to. (And I really do want to keep them on the same day at this stage because it is a Friday and will 99% be travelling on those flights.)

With thanks in advance

lme ff

Yes, rebooking for different dates and flights can be done any time before departure.

On the issue with stopovers, does the fare allow any at all?

Yes it does allow stopovers, you can do it on different days. Problem is the day I want is a friday so better to keep it on that day than make it for a thursday and change later...

Usually if a fare allows stopovers then when you click on the fare (instead of going to the online booking page directly) there would be a box for you to check "make a stopover". Are you seeing this option?

The fare itself is not offered until the very end after all flights have been selected, then I have to complete all the name and passenger details even before I can see the fare rules.

I know thee facility you mean, where CX advertises a list of fares on the home page that you can then select, but this fare is not available that way.

Interestingly CX will allow a same day booking with two segments (eg BKK-xHKG-PVG, but KA won't. KA will allow a through booking BKK-oHKG-PVG only).


Regards

lme ff

UPDATE: in the end I had to ring KA because it wouldn't accept my overseas credit card. I booked 1 N fare and 1 V fare (the latter because I want flexibility longer than 1 month and it also gets miles).

Was assured both fares allow stops (this has now been artificially added in to the second ticket so I can take the stop later if I need it) and both tickets are 'fully flexible' (within fare class availability) with no charge or penalty for change (or rebooking as they mean).

So all up pretty good!