Dropping a leg and getting bags in HKG instead of travelling to Vietnam
#16
Join Date: Nov 2017
Programs: MPC-DM, Enrich-Plat
Posts: 1,310
Whereas a documents check at manual check-in will raise the nasty "check-in of the final leg" question. Formally, at JFK, with only check-in until HKG, access to HK is to be checked. And with a HK passport and maybe a UK passport, that could be fine, without onward journey.
Or maybe cancel the lucky ticket, being not that lucky at all. 🤕
#18
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: HKG
Programs: BA(GGL) QF LTS CX AM, Hilton Diamond, PPL(A)
Posts: 1,654
theres actually a better way to save money.
just shell out $6 - 8 for a VOA invitation letter. this is not a visa but allows you to apply for VOA upon arrival in Vietnam. Check-in agent will be happy with this letter.
Obviously will cost more and is more inconvenient than e-visa if you actually go to Vietnam. but otherwise its a cheap insurance policy.
i did this for insurance when attempting to use my abtc card for a leisure trip in SGN.
just shell out $6 - 8 for a VOA invitation letter. this is not a visa but allows you to apply for VOA upon arrival in Vietnam. Check-in agent will be happy with this letter.
Obviously will cost more and is more inconvenient than e-visa if you actually go to Vietnam. but otherwise its a cheap insurance policy.
i did this for insurance when attempting to use my abtc card for a leisure trip in SGN.
#19
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: asia
Programs: cx diamond+, Hyatt diamond, Hilton diamond
Posts: 5
just be careful on dropping the last leg - as it is breaking the rules of the ticket and has been widely reported over the years - that states roughly that all parts of the travel must be completed or the passenger risks the fare being re calculated and they poentially could request via the courts/legal means the payment difference. Its a way for poentially CX to reclaim some of the lost revenue on these error ticekts. CX is fully aware of who the travellers are and worst case scenrio is you don't want any legal issues linked to your passport when travelling thru HK in the future.
#20
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: HKG
Programs: BA(GGL) QF LTS CX AM, Hilton Diamond, PPL(A)
Posts: 1,654
just be careful on dropping the last leg - as it is breaking the rules of the ticket and has been widely reported over the years - that states roughly that all parts of the travel must be completed or the passenger risks the fare being re calculated and they poentially could request via the courts/legal means the payment difference. Its a way for poentially CX to reclaim some of the lost revenue on these error ticekts. CX is fully aware of who the travellers are and worst case scenrio is you don't want any legal issues linked to your passport when travelling thru HK in the future.
but then again, what point does it accomplish apart from wasting another bum in seat to DAD. suppose they can potentially drive incremental revenue for the return leg DAD-xHKG- original destination, unless one chooses to go DAD -> onto original destination.
#21
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 189
#22
#24
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: LON
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 3,883
You might imagine that where people manage to drop the last leg whilst a reprice is contractually possible an easy penalty for CX to impose would be to not credit (or reverse the credits) of any sectors flown to the nominated FFP.
#25
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: China
Programs: A3 G CZ S
Posts: 50
Thanks for the swift response. My connection time is 2h45m. I'm not sure what the minimum is but just did a quick search and found a flight sold by Cathay from JFK-SGN with 1h10m connection and LHR-SGN with a 1h connection, which Cathay show as short connection, so should be fine. Will report back in a few months.
If I haven't make a mistake, the MCT in HKG is 50 mins, under the situation that your luggage is through checked, otherwise a 2h connection may be needed (it could take up to 1h to get your checked luggage in rush hour in HKG in worse case)
Also, base on my previous experience with CX, it may have potential issue for you in JFK if request to check in to HKG only. Once a time I bought a return J ticket of PVG-HKG-HND, and I requested to checked to HKG only on my return trip in HND (drop the rest HKG-PVG trip and leave in HK). However, it was rejected by CX Japanese ground crew, as well as her supervisor, simply stated it was not allowed according to my fare rule.
Eventually, I got 2 boarding pass (HND-HKG and HKG-PVG) and my luggage was through checked to PVG. After landed in HKG, I went to the transit counter in HKG and requested to drop my last HKG-PVG leg, sweetly they were nice to help to took out my luggage and didn't charge me anything, and it took me around 1h to get my checked luggage after the request.
Therefore, it all depend on the CX ground crew in JFK, In best case, they will help you to get the JFK-HKG and HKG-LHR boarding pass and checked your luggage to LHR. But in worst case, they may simply rejected your request and you need figure out how to get your luggage out in HKG.
#26
Join Date: Nov 2017
Programs: MPC-DM, Enrich-Plat
Posts: 1,310
...Therefore, it all depend on the CX ground crew in JFK, In best case, they will help you to get the JFK-HKG and HKG-LHR boarding pass and checked your luggage to LHR. But in worst case, they may simply rejected your request and you need figure out how to get your luggage out in HKG.
#27
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: LHR
Programs: AAdvantage EXP
Posts: 84
just be careful on dropping the last leg - as it is breaking the rules of the ticket and has been widely reported over the years - that states roughly that all parts of the travel must be completed or the passenger risks the fare being re calculated and they poentially could request via the courts/legal means the payment difference. Its a way for poentially CX to reclaim some of the lost revenue on these error ticekts. CX is fully aware of who the travellers are and worst case scenrio is you don't want any legal issues linked to your passport when travelling thru HK in the future.
Correct. Happy to pay a few dollars to do this right. Actually flying a leg I don't need is a different story.
#28
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: LHR
Programs: AAdvantage EXP
Posts: 84
#30
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: LHR
Programs: AAdvantage EXP
Posts: 84