No refundable economy ticket?
Dec 17, 2017, 3:47 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Bangkok
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Titanium, BAEC Silver, TK Miles & Smiles Elite
Posts: 2,208
No refundable economy ticket?
I'm about to book an economy flight on Cathay HKG-LHR and there are three fare classes quoted on the web site: Save, Core and Standard. The only difference appears to be the ability to pre-book seats and upgrade with miles.
All three have identical HKD1800 cancellation charge.
Does Cathay really not sell 100% refundable tickets? IIRC there used to be such a thing in the airline world. Cheap tickets were fixed and not refundable but full fare tickets were refundable and reservations could be moved up to the moment of departure. Does such a flexible ticket not exist any more? Certainly cannot book it on their web site.
Thanks.
All three have identical HKD1800 cancellation charge.
Does Cathay really not sell 100% refundable tickets? IIRC there used to be such a thing in the airline world. Cheap tickets were fixed and not refundable but full fare tickets were refundable and reservations could be moved up to the moment of departure. Does such a flexible ticket not exist any more? Certainly cannot book it on their web site.
Thanks.
Dec 17, 2017, 10:02 pm
#2
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYZ/MGA
Programs: AA 1MM Lifetime Gold, AA Platinum, WS Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 7,607
I book trans Pacific flights on CX in J and while my TA has found full fare fully refundable tickets e.g. J fare basis) , the D or I fares with $100-$200 penalties are so much cheaper (less than 1/2 the cost, saving US$4,000+) than the ticket that it would make no sense to pay for full fare J. I have to imagine Y is similar.
So HKD1,800 might be the fee but the alternative might be a full fare Y ticket that costs more than even a business class ticket with a change/refund fee smaller than the fare difference.
But they do have YIF fares, no penalties on Expert Flyer. The cost is unbelievable.
So HKD1,800 might be the fee but the alternative might be a full fare Y ticket that costs more than even a business class ticket with a change/refund fee smaller than the fare difference.
But they do have YIF fares, no penalties on Expert Flyer. The cost is unbelievable.
Dec 19, 2017, 5:13 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Bangkok
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Titanium, BAEC Silver, TK Miles & Smiles Elite
Posts: 2,208
Thanks ricktoronto. I was just surprised that the T&Cs on all the fares offered seems pretty much identical with prices from ~HKD5000 to HKD15000. Little incentive for anyone to book at the higher fares especially if you have OneWorld status.
Dec 19, 2017, 8:21 pm
#4
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYZ/MGA
Programs: AA 1MM Lifetime Gold, AA Platinum, WS Gold, Marriott Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 7,607
I think there is an IATA rule that all airlines have to offer full fare Y J F so often they are priced to make it obvious there are better deals than full fare, by making the small fee plus the lower fare much less than a full fare old fashioned "Y" ticket. Making that even more than mostly refundable J (e.g in D or I).
The bottom line is that it's really not relevant - your HKD1,800 fee - if the alternative is a fare that lacks that fee but costs HKD30,000 more.
The bottom line is that it's really not relevant - your HKD1,800 fee - if the alternative is a fare that lacks that fee but costs HKD30,000 more.
Dec 19, 2017, 8:36 pm
#5
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: TPE / HSZ
Programs: CX GO (=SPH), IHG Diamond Amb, Hertz 5*, Accor, Hilton, National
Posts: 6,437
I'm about to book an economy flight on Cathay HKG-LHR and there are three fare classes quoted on the web site: Save, Core and Standard. The only difference appears to be the ability to pre-book seats and upgrade with miles.
All three have identical HKD1800 cancellation charge.
Does Cathay really not sell 100% refundable tickets? IIRC there used to be such a thing in the airline world. Cheap tickets were fixed and not refundable but full fare tickets were refundable and reservations could be moved up to the moment of departure. Does such a flexible ticket not exist any more? Certainly cannot book it on their web site.
Thanks.
All three have identical HKD1800 cancellation charge.
Does Cathay really not sell 100% refundable tickets? IIRC there used to be such a thing in the airline world. Cheap tickets were fixed and not refundable but full fare tickets were refundable and reservations could be moved up to the moment of departure. Does such a flexible ticket not exist any more? Certainly cannot book it on their web site.
Thanks.
Code:
FQHKGLHR-CX«
HKG-LON CXR-CX WED 20DEC17 HKD
9W 0/ 0/ 3 AA 0/ 0/14 AC 0/ 0/ 4 AF 0/ 0/ 5 AI 0/ 0/ 3
BA 2/ 0/ 0 BR 0/ 0/ 6 CA 0/ 0/ 4 CX 3/ 0/ 0 EK 0/ 0/ 8
EY 0/ 0/ 3 GA 0/ 0/ 1 JL 0/ 0/10 KE 0/ 0/ 1 KL 0/ 0/ 6
LH 0/ 0/11 LY 0/ 0/ 1 MH 0/ 0/ 7 MU 0/ 0/ 2 NZ 0/ 0/ 2
OZ 0/ 0/ 1 PR 0/ 0/ 1 QR 0/ 0/ 4 SA 0/ 0/ 2 SQ 0/ 0/15
SU 0/ 0/ 1 TG 0/ 0/ 6 UA 0/ 0/ 1 UL 0/ 0/ 2 VN 0/ 0/ 1
VS 1/ 0/ 3 HX 0/ 0/ 2 BI 0/ 0/ 1
//SEE FQHELP FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE NEW FARE DISPLAYS//
SURCHARGE FOR PAPER TICKET MAY BE ADDED WHEN ITIN PRICED
CX HKGLON.EH 20DEC17 MPM 8163
V FARE BASIS AP FARE-OW FARE-RT BK SEASON MINMAX RTG
1 BEE12MCX - 26090 B‡ --- -/12M EH01
2 BEE6M - 31780 B‡ --- -/ 6M EH01
3 Y2RTCX - 34230 Y‡ --- -/12M EH01
4 W2RTCX - 39050 W‡ --- -/12M EH01
5 YRT - 39440 Y‡ --- -/12M EH01
6 RRT - 42590 R‡ --- -/12M EH01
7 Y2OWCX - 23970 Y‡ --- -/12M EH01
8 WRT - 49290 W‡ --- -/12M EH01
9 W2OWCX - 27340 W‡ --- -/12M EH01
10 YOW - 27620 Y‡ --- -/12M EH01
11 ROW - 29820 R‡ --- -/12M EH01‡
RD3*16«
V FARE BASIS AP FARE-OW FARE-RT BK SEASON MINMAX RTG
3 Y2RTCX - 34230 Y‡ --- -/12M EH01
PASSENGER TYPE-ADT AUTO PRICE-YES
FROM-HKG TO-LON CXR-CX TVL-20DEC17 RULE-CXAA IPREUAS/4
FARE BASIS-Y2RTCX SPECIAL FARE DIS-E VENDOR-ATP
FARE TYPE-XEX RT-REGULAR EXCURSION
HKD 34230 MPM E27OCT17 D-INFINITY FC-Y2RTCX FN-21
SYSTEM DATES - CREATED 26OCT17/2311 EXPIRES INFINITY
16.PENALTIES
CANCELLATIONS
BEFORE DEPARTURE
CANCELLATIONS PERMITTED FOR CANCEL/REFUND.
CHILD/INFANT DISCOUNTS APPLY.
NOTE - TEXT BELOW NOT VALIDATED FOR AUTOPRICING.
NOTE 1-IN THE EVENT OF NO-SHOW ON A CANCEL/REFUND
TICKET CHARGE USD0 - CANCEL/REFUND FEE
USD0 PLUS NO-SHOW FEE USD0
CHILD/INFANT DISCOUNTS APPLY
NOTE 2 - THE LOCAL ADMINISTRATION/
SERVICE/HANDLING FEE MAY
APPLY IN ADDITION TO NOTE 1 ‡
MD«
‡
AFTER DEPARTURE
CANCELLATIONS PERMITTED FOR CANCEL/REFUND.
CHILD/INFANT DISCOUNTS APPLY.
NOTE - TEXT BELOW NOT VALIDATED FOR AUTOPRICING.
NOTE 1-IN THE EVENT OF NO-SHOW ON A CANCEL/REFUND
TICKET CHARGE USD0 - CANCEL/REFUND FEE
USD0 PLUS NO-SHOW FEE USD0
CHILD/INFANT DISCOUNTS APPLY
NOTE 2 - THE LOCAL ADMINISTRATION/
SERVICE/HANDLING FEE MAY
APPLY IN ADDITION TO NOTE 1
CHANGES
ANY TIME
CHANGES PERMITTED FOR REISSUE.
CHILD/INFANT DISCOUNTS APPLY.
ANY TIME
CHANGES PERMITTED FOR REVALIDATION.
CHILD/INFANT DISCOUNTS APPLY.
NOTE - TEXT BELOW NOT VALIDATED FOR AUTOPRICING. ‡
MD«
NOTE 1-IN THE EVENT OF NO-SHOW ‡
PERMITTED AT USD0-REROUTING FEE USD0
PLUS NO SHOW FEE USD0 OR
PERMITTED AT USD0-REBOOKING FEE USD0
PLUS NO SHOW FEE USD0
NOTE 2 -GENERAL INFO FOR REROUTING/REBOOKING
TO TKTD FLT FOR THIS FARE ARE AS BELOW
1- REISSUE EQUALS TO REROUTING
2- REVALIDATION EQUALS TO REBOOKING
3- CHANGE OF AIRPORT WITHIN ONE CITY
DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AS REROUTING
4- CHANGE MUST BE MADE WITHIN TKT VALIDITY
5- THE CHANGE FEE APPLIES PER TRANSACTION
PER PERSON
6- INFANT WITHOUT SEAT - NO CHANGE FEE
7- CHILD/INFANT WITH SEAT -
DISCOUNT APPLIES TO CHANGE FEE
8- WHEN THE NEW ITINERARY RESULTS
IN A HIGHER FARE -
COLLECT FARE DIFFERENCE -AND-
COLLECT CHANGE FEE IF APPLICABLE
9- WHEN THE NEW ITINERARY RESULTS
IN A LOWER FARE- ‡
MD«
REFUND FARE DIFFERENCE -AND- ‡
COLLECT CHANGE FEE IF APPLICABLE
10- IF CHANGE TO 1ST FLT CPN-
- USE ANY CURRENT CX/KA
FARE FOR REPRICE
NEW TKT MUST BE EQUAL OR HIGHER
VALUE THAN PREVIOUS TKT
AND MEASURE ADVANCE PURCHASE
FROM TKT REISSUE DATE
11- IF NO CHANGE TO 1ST FLT CPN-
RE-PRICE ALL FARES BELOW AND PROVIDE
THE BEST RESULT TO PAX
A- USE A HISTORICAL TICKETED FARE
THAT DIFFERS ONLY IN
SEASONALITY/DAY OF WEEK
FOR REPRICE
NEW TKT MAY BE EQUAL/HIGHER OR
LOWER VALUE THAN PREVIOUS TKT
B- USE ANY HISTORICAL CX/KA
FARE FOR REPRICE
NEW TKT MUST BE EQUAL OR HIGHER
VALUE THAN PREVIOUS TKT
12- WHEN THIS FARE IS COMBINED ‡
MD«
WITH ANOTHER FARE- ‡
A- CHARGE THE HIGHEST CHANGE FEE
OF ALL FARE COMPONENTS WITHIN
ALL CHANGED PRICING UNITS
B- IF THE TICKETED FARE ON ANY
CHANGED FLIGHT COUPON DOES
NOT ALLOW REFUND THEN THE FARE
DIFFERENCE IS NOT REFUNDED
NOTE 3 - THE LOCAL ADMINISTRATION/
SERVICE/HANDLING FEE MAY
APPLY IN ADDITION TO ABOVE NOTES
.
Dec 23, 2017, 6:27 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Bangkok
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Titanium, BAEC Silver, TK Miles & Smiles Elite
Posts: 2,208
I have learnt something. Actually, I've never bought anything but the cheapest return in economy or business before and I'm not paying for this ticket but I have to produce a receipt for an economy flight and two boarding passes to be refunded so I was looking for an interesting workaround to maximise my return. I also want the tier points as I'm transitioning to Marco Polo from Enrich this year. So I've just bought the ticket and will get my tier points and the cost refunded. Haven't lost anything. Thanks for the insight.
Dec 24, 2017, 9:55 am
#7
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: TPE / HSZ
Programs: CX GO (=SPH), IHG Diamond Amb, Hertz 5*, Accor, Hilton, National
Posts: 6,437
I have learnt something. Actually, I've never bought anything but the cheapest return in economy or business before and I'm not paying for this ticket but I have to produce a receipt for an economy flight and two boarding passes to be refunded so I was looking for an interesting workaround to maximise my return. I also want the tier points as I'm transitioning to Marco Polo from Enrich this year. So I've just bought the ticket and will get my tier points and the cost refunded. Haven't lost anything. Thanks for the insight.
Dec 24, 2017, 11:40 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Bangkok
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Titanium, BAEC Silver, TK Miles & Smiles Elite
Posts: 2,208
I mean that I will be reimbursed for an economy ticket with the receipt showing an economy fare type and two boarding passes from the same flights. I am travelling. I was considering buying the most expensive (to get the receipt), cancelling it and getting the refund and then buying either a cheaper economy return or the cheaper premium economy on the same flight.
But given the HKD1800 cost of cancelling a ticket I can’t be bothered.
This is a work benefit and if I don’t use it then I lose it (and the associated miles) so I’ve booked a family lunch in London on Saturday 20th. Fly from HKG to LHR Friday night and back Saturday night having lunch with my family and accruing tier points that will get me to silver in May. Desperate times.
But given the HKD1800 cost of cancelling a ticket I can’t be bothered.
This is a work benefit and if I don’t use it then I lose it (and the associated miles) so I’ve booked a family lunch in London on Saturday 20th. Fly from HKG to LHR Friday night and back Saturday night having lunch with my family and accruing tier points that will get me to silver in May. Desperate times.