Vietnam to US mistake fare discussion - 2019 Cathay New Year's gift
#167
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: ...
Programs: CX DM / SQ PPS / VN Platinum
Posts: 1,078
As a very frequent ex-SGN flyer, it looks like D and I class has been decimated on the SGN to HKG route (which impacts pricing for everything ex SGN). Flights I priced a 10 days ago at 4k and 5k respectively are now 12k and 16k. Flights that last year were reliably 1.2k are now 2.5k. I desperately hope this is just temporary while they figure out their issues out, and not that case that they have depleted D and I for better part of a year.
#168
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: DCA/IAD/WAS
Programs: MAR AMB, WOH Explorist, AA EXP, UA 2P
Posts: 2,138
#169
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Hong Kong, France
Programs: FB , BA Gold
Posts: 15,555
You have my full sympathy and appreciation for your comments.
Luckily, I seldom fly from HKG to USA, but I believe that CX decision will seriously backfire. In exchange for a brief (and extremely expensive) publicity stunt, they are going to inconvenience a lot of regular customers in the coming months. I doubt that there would have been much complain tif they cancelled the tickets issued on the error fare, as this is a common occurrence (HX case seems to me irrelevant as this is a small airline facing tremendous issues). But the impact on regular customers to USA will be muted but potentially damaging.
One major impact affecting me is flights to/from VN. I often go to DAD (and SGN/HAN). No more discount I, D or even C, nor awards.
BTW: I feel that some comments from HKG-based posters have been misinterpreted. I believe no one accused anyone who took advantage of this error fare. I, like others, am happy for them that they could take advantage of the US blogs to book these tickets. Similarly, you cannot fault CX frequent flyers (e.g. holding high status in MPC) based in HKG from being upset with CX.
Luckily, I seldom fly from HKG to USA, but I believe that CX decision will seriously backfire. In exchange for a brief (and extremely expensive) publicity stunt, they are going to inconvenience a lot of regular customers in the coming months. I doubt that there would have been much complain tif they cancelled the tickets issued on the error fare, as this is a common occurrence (HX case seems to me irrelevant as this is a small airline facing tremendous issues). But the impact on regular customers to USA will be muted but potentially damaging.
One major impact affecting me is flights to/from VN. I often go to DAD (and SGN/HAN). No more discount I, D or even C, nor awards.
BTW: I feel that some comments from HKG-based posters have been misinterpreted. I believe no one accused anyone who took advantage of this error fare. I, like others, am happy for them that they could take advantage of the US blogs to book these tickets. Similarly, you cannot fault CX frequent flyers (e.g. holding high status in MPC) based in HKG from being upset with CX.
Last edited by brunos; Jan 3, 2019 at 9:00 am
#170
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: JFK/EWR/SFO/LAX/YYZ <-> HKG, PEK, CKG
Programs: CX, Hyatt
Posts: 155
Have been following the discussion on the sidelines but besides the mentioned impact on redemption and upgrade certs, to add salt to wound for elites like us, I suspect some people who bought multiple tickets will obtain the same hard earned statuses as ours, enjoy same benefits and potentially further lowering our waitlisting chances.
#171
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Posts: 1,470
Have been following the discussion on the sidelines but besides the mentioned impact on redemption and upgrade certs, to add salt to wound for elites like us, I suspect some people who bought multiple tickets will obtain the same hard earned statuses as ours, enjoy same benefits and potentially further lowering our waitlisting chances.
#172
Join Date: Jun 2016
Programs: CX
Posts: 19
Let my two bookings expire after all....
I was among the first to discover the mistake fares while looking for some other fares / destinations on New Year's Eve. I tried to make two bookings and accomplished - as a Marco Polo Club member the booking are still on hold for the next two or three hours. In the meantime I have done some research about flights getting to and from Hanoi around my two dates, getting through visa regulations, checking possible ways to transit through HAN-airport without applying for visa etc. I have found out that the regular fares in economy class from ZRH to HAN have risen steadily over the past two days. After all I let my two bookings expire without issuing the tickets. It is not worth the nuisance. My goal is to fly to Boston or JFK to visit my relatives. Just doing this flying from ZRH via Vietnam does not make any sense. Although First Class on Cathay is nice, no doubt about it, I finally decided to book a cheaper BA-ticket (roundtrip economy class sells for under 300 USD) and spend a bearable 6.30 hours in a cramped seat than spending more than 40 hours for the entire journey (one way) of which only a fraction will be in a comfortable bed. So there will be four more seats available over March and June which can be redeemed by hard-earned miles or full-paying passengers. Cathay is playing fair so I will do the same. Eventually I am going to be in a situation myself where I am glad to redeem miles for a nicer seat on a CX-flight. And if it turns out that there will not be any availability for a loyal customer like me, I would be puzzled as well, to say it nicely. And yes: I guess lots of other ticket-holders will cancel their purchases as well, just because of the same reasons.
#173
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 6,752
My friend said it was good advertising to honor the fares. I countered that it wasn't, because it is too expensive an ad campaign. And most of these passengers wouldn't have bought premium class tickets anyway (or cannot afford to).
But in terms of the name, reputation, that might be something. Because maybe some passengers will come into money later, and remember how Cathay did something nice for them once, before they made it ...
But in terms of the name, reputation, that might be something. Because maybe some passengers will come into money later, and remember how Cathay did something nice for them once, before they made it ...
However, two things can be true at the same time: (1) those who bought these fares got a great deal, and should feel good about the value they've captured; (2) those HKG flyers who are "captive" or those who (like myself) may have their HKF - JFK routes adversely affected, while bearing NO ill-will towards the first group, may rightfully feel a tad aggrieved. In either case, it's only for a part of 2019, and there are other options, though, admittedly, none as convenient as CX from HKG to NA.
#174
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Stockholm
Programs: SQ, SK, QR
Posts: 386
CX is indeed heavily restricting F inventory, though I'm not sure that's entirely intentional. When I was on the yield team in RM, there was a mechanism that automatically pushes the inventory upwards, or gates a certain fare class when there is usually high demand. I suspect that the strong restriction on A is a result of such mechanism kicking in, and availability should normalize in the next few weeks once the system picks up on the lack of demand
#175
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Benicia, California, USA
Programs: AA PLT,AS,UA PP,J6,FB,EY,LH,SQ,HH Dmd,Hyatt Glbl,Marriott Plat,IHG Plat,Accor Gold
Posts: 10,820
CX is indeed heavily restricting F inventory, though I'm not sure that's entirely intentional. When I was on the yield team in RM, there was a mechanism that automatically pushes the inventory upwards, or gates a certain fare class when there is usually high demand. I suspect that the strong restriction on A is a result of such mechanism kicking in, and availability should normalize in the next few weeks once the system picks up on the lack of demand
#176
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Cairns, Australia
Posts: 924
CX is indeed heavily restricting F inventory, though I'm not sure that's entirely intentional. When I was on the yield team in RM, there was a mechanism that automatically pushes the inventory upwards, or gates a certain fare class when there is usually high demand. I suspect that the strong restriction on A is a result of such mechanism kicking in, and availability should normalize in the next few weeks once the system picks up on the lack of demand
#177
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Stockholm
Programs: SQ, SK, QR
Posts: 386
CX is indeed heavily restricting F inventory, though I'm not sure that's entirely intentional. When I was on the yield team in RM, there was a mechanism that automatically pushes the inventory upwards, or gates a certain fare class when there is usually high demand. I suspect that the strong restriction on A is a result of such mechanism kicking in, and availability should normalize in the next few weeks once the system picks up on the lack of demand
#179
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: LA/NY/CHI
Programs: AA EXP, AS 100K, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Plat
Posts: 1,876
As a very frequent ex-SGN flyer, it looks like D and I class has been decimated on the SGN to HKG route (which impacts pricing for everything ex SGN). Flights I priced a 10 days ago at 4k and 5k respectively are now 12k and 16k. Flights that last year were reliably 1.2k are now 2.5k. I desperately hope this is just temporary while they figure out their issues out, and not that case that they have depleted D and I for better part of a year.
#180
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: CX Green, QF Platinum, BAEC Silver, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 10,780
As a very frequent ex-SGN flyer, it looks like D and I class has been decimated on the SGN to HKG route (which impacts pricing for everything ex SGN). Flights I priced a 10 days ago at 4k and 5k respectively are now 12k and 16k. Flights that last year were reliably 1.2k are now 2.5k. I desperately hope this is just temporary while they figure out their issues out, and not that case that they have depleted D and I for better part of a year.
During the New Years event I saw that SGN-LAX was pricing at around 2k in J but weren’t bookable after availability had been withdrawn. I’m wondering if this is a standard fare from SGN to LAX and whether it will come back once things normalise.