Why are TPE-JFK biz fares so much cheaper ex-TPE vs ex-JFK?
Jun 24, 2012, 6:15 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: United 1K
Posts: 184
Why are TPE-JFK biz fares so much cheaper ex-TPE vs ex-JFK?
I'm pretty new to thinking about CX as my carrier between TPE and BOS, having previously been loyal to UA. However, with the current merger and increased costs necessary to score a systemwide-upgradeable ticket, I'm considering going CX or BR instead.
Looking at the CX website, it seems like fares between the US (JFK for example) and TPE are much cheaper if they originate in TPE rather than in the US. For example, for a RT business class ticket in December, a TPE-JFK ticket is ~100,000 NTD (~$3300) whereas a JFK-TPE ticket is >$7000.
This is a bit surprising to me, since I'm used to booking on UA where it seemed like getting ex-TPE vs ex-US flights were about equivalent in cost.
Is this a well-known feature/benefit to CX? If so, I will try to plan all my trips with the outbound departing from TPE
Looking at the CX website, it seems like fares between the US (JFK for example) and TPE are much cheaper if they originate in TPE rather than in the US. For example, for a RT business class ticket in December, a TPE-JFK ticket is ~100,000 NTD (~$3300) whereas a JFK-TPE ticket is >$7000.
This is a bit surprising to me, since I'm used to booking on UA where it seemed like getting ex-TPE vs ex-US flights were about equivalent in cost.
Is this a well-known feature/benefit to CX? If so, I will try to plan all my trips with the outbound departing from TPE
Jun 24, 2012, 6:52 pm
#2
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Hong Kong
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Wirelessly posted (iPhone 4: Mozilla/5.0 (Linux; U; Android 2.3.6; en-us; GT-I9210 Build/GINGERBREAD) AppleWebKit/533.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile Safari/533.1)
Please do note that exTPE are normally book into I subclass that may limit your flexibility in schedule when it comes to peak season, and you are not eligible for seat guarantee if you are MPC Diamond, other than these there's no other "catches"
The high price, some FTer mentioned to go to your nearest China town for deals (if it ever exist)
Note that on CX there's nothing call SWU but you won't need one as you will be flying J :-) Hope you enjoy CX
Originally Posted by silent129
I'm pretty new to thinking about CX as my carrier between TPE and BOS, having previously been loyal to UA. However, with the current merger and increased costs necessary to score a systemwide-upgradeable ticket, I'm considering going CX or BR instead.
Looking at the CX website, it seems like fares between the US (JFK for example) and TPE are much cheaper if they originate in TPE rather than in the US. For example, for a RT business class ticket in December, a TPE-JFK ticket is ~100,000 NTD (~$3300) whereas a JFK-TPE ticket is >$7000.
This is a bit surprising to me, since I'm used to booking on UA where it seemed like getting ex-TPE vs ex-US flights were about equivalent in cost.
Is this a well-known feature/benefit to CX? If so, I will try to plan all my trips with the outbound departing from TPE
Looking at the CX website, it seems like fares between the US (JFK for example) and TPE are much cheaper if they originate in TPE rather than in the US. For example, for a RT business class ticket in December, a TPE-JFK ticket is ~100,000 NTD (~$3300) whereas a JFK-TPE ticket is >$7000.
This is a bit surprising to me, since I'm used to booking on UA where it seemed like getting ex-TPE vs ex-US flights were about equivalent in cost.
Is this a well-known feature/benefit to CX? If so, I will try to plan all my trips with the outbound departing from TPE
The high price, some FTer mentioned to go to your nearest China town for deals (if it ever exist)
Note that on CX there's nothing call SWU but you won't need one as you will be flying J :-) Hope you enjoy CX
Last edited by ChrisLi; Jun 24, 2012 at 6:58 pm
Jun 24, 2012, 7:04 pm
#3
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The fares are different because they're different markets. In most cases, if you must/want to take a RT from NYC to Taiwan, you're not willing to instead purchase a RT ticket from Taiwan to JFK. The one exTPE is lower because that set of customers is more price sensitive, perhaps due to income levels, business rules and laws, culture and customs, demographics, etc.
Jun 24, 2012, 7:06 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: United 1K
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Wirelessly posted (iPhone 4: Mozilla/5.0 (Linux; U; Android 2.3.6; en-us; GT-I9210 Build/GINGERBREAD) AppleWebKit/533.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile Safari/533.1)
Please do note that exTPE are normally book into I subclass that may limit your flexibility in schedule when it comes to peak season, and you are not eligible for seat guarantee if you are MPC Diamond, other than these there's no other "catches"
The high price, some FTer mentioned to go to your nearest China town for deals (if it ever exist)
Note that on CX there's nothing call SWU but you won't need one as you will be flying J :-) Hope you enjoy CX
Please do note that exTPE are normally book into I subclass that may limit your flexibility in schedule when it comes to peak season, and you are not eligible for seat guarantee if you are MPC Diamond, other than these there's no other "catches"
The high price, some FTer mentioned to go to your nearest China town for deals (if it ever exist)
Note that on CX there's nothing call SWU but you won't need one as you will be flying J :-) Hope you enjoy CX
Jun 24, 2012, 7:41 pm
#5
Join Date: Jan 2008
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The seat guarantee is a Macro Polo Club Diamond Member (Top Elite Status) Benefit which denotes you can get a seat regardless of general availability, 24 hour before flight, if your booking subclass is J / C / D, better documentation can be found on the FAQ thread.
Jun 24, 2012, 8:11 pm
#6
Join Date: Nov 2007
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Ah, I don't think D is included there in my experience. Just J and C.
Jun 24, 2012, 9:12 pm
#7
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You'll see pricing disparity like this in lots of markets - even occasionally in the US, depending on what market you're looking at.
The short answer is that CX charges more for ex-JFK because JFK pax are willing to pay more to get the same ticket. Individual airfares aren't as closely connected to operational costs (fuel, pilot/FA salaries, etc) as people may think.
If you're looking for real pricing disparity, look at ex-Japan fares someday. For routes like NRT-TPE, NRT-HKG and v.v., it's not uncommon to see fares x2-3 higher ex-Japan than the reverse.
The short answer is that CX charges more for ex-JFK because JFK pax are willing to pay more to get the same ticket. Individual airfares aren't as closely connected to operational costs (fuel, pilot/FA salaries, etc) as people may think.
If you're looking for real pricing disparity, look at ex-Japan fares someday. For routes like NRT-TPE, NRT-HKG and v.v., it's not uncommon to see fares x2-3 higher ex-Japan than the reverse.
Jun 24, 2012, 10:33 pm
#8
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Jun 25, 2012, 2:26 am
#9
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The fares are different because they're different markets. In most cases, if you must/want to take a RT from NYC to Taiwan, you're not willing to instead purchase a RT ticket from Taiwan to JFK. The one exTPE is lower because that set of customers is more price sensitive, perhaps due to income levels, business rules and laws, culture and customs, demographics, etc.
Jul 7, 2012, 7:47 am
#10
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Check out this current promo: http://www.cathaypacific.com/cpa/en_...000ad21c39____
Jul 7, 2012, 8:00 am
#12
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Check out this current promo: http://www.cathaypacific.com/cpa/en_...000ad21c39____
Jul 7, 2012, 8:37 am
#13
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No! In airline lingo, "child" means < 12 years old. "Lap child" (< 24 months) is called "infant." For CX ex-Taiwan, infant is 12% of adult fare.
Jul 19, 2012, 9:40 am
#15
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Code:
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