Calculating refund of return only
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2012
Programs: AA, UA, DL
Posts: 138
Calculating refund of return only
I have asked for a quote for the return flight of my ticket, I have already used the first part. However the customer service has sent me a quote without any details. The original ticket was around 1200 CHF, the cancellation fee is 150 CHF, and the refund is 100 CHF.
When I look at the booking details I haveFare
: CHF 740.00
Taxes
:
CHF
58.70 CH
CHF
40.40 G3
CHF
12.70 I5
CHF
43.10 WY
CHF
41.35 AU
Carrier surcharges
:
CHF
329.20 YR
CHF
2.40 YR
Total Amount
: CHF 1267.85
I understand that the return might be cheaper, but I don't understand why the refund is only 100 CHF, I was expecting more in the range of 200-300 CHF. Can anyone explain how this is calculated? Unfortunately I can't reply to the CX email.
When I look at the booking details I haveFare
: CHF 740.00
Taxes
:
CHF
58.70 CH
CHF
40.40 G3
CHF
12.70 I5
CHF
43.10 WY
CHF
41.35 AU
Carrier surcharges
:
CHF
329.20 YR
CHF
2.40 YR
Total Amount
: CHF 1267.85
I understand that the return might be cheaper, but I don't understand why the refund is only 100 CHF, I was expecting more in the range of 200-300 CHF. Can anyone explain how this is calculated? Unfortunately I can't reply to the CX email.
#2
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2012
Programs: AA, UA, DL
Posts: 138
UPDATE: Called the contact center and they do not know how the refund is calculated and cannot point to any documentation explaining which parts of the fare are refundable. What a lack of transparency! Why does Cathay not have a refund rules somewhere on their website? I can't find anything.
#4
Join Date: May 2015
Location: WAS, SZX, HKG
Programs: AS MVP Gold 75K, CX Green
Posts: 735
Yes, when you request a refund, it works like they try to price the segments you have already flown and figure out the difference. So it is normal that you wouldn't get a lot of money back.
You may be able to just cancel the reservation (to avoid the noshow fee) and keep the ticket intact, and when you need to fly, you could give them a call to get them change it onto your preferred date (change fee will apply, and subject to the ticket's conditions)
You may be able to just cancel the reservation (to avoid the noshow fee) and keep the ticket intact, and when you need to fly, you could give them a call to get them change it onto your preferred date (change fee will apply, and subject to the ticket's conditions)
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Somewhere between 0 and 13,000 metres high
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Posts: 30,536
Indeed, CX will recalculate what you flew (or if you hadn't flown yet the cost of the ow ticket) and refund the difference between those two minus the cancellation fee. It's not so bad that you actually get a refund at all as often the balance may be negative as OW flights tend to be so much more expensive than returns.
An alternative, if you have more trips planned, would be to change the return part of your ticket to a date when you can use it in which case you'd be charged the change fee plus any difference in fare which is likely to be far less punitive unless you breach some of the original ticket conditions.
An alternative, if you have more trips planned, would be to change the return part of your ticket to a date when you can use it in which case you'd be charged the change fee plus any difference in fare which is likely to be far less punitive unless you breach some of the original ticket conditions.
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2012
Programs: AA, UA, DL
Posts: 138
Thank you folks for the feedback, that makes more sense. I thought about changing the return date but the change in fare is higher than buying another OW with other companies, and at least I can reinvest the refund in the new ticket.
But really, how come there are no documents explaining how the refund is calculated?
But really, how come there are no documents explaining how the refund is calculated?
#7
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Hong Kong, France
Programs: FB , BA Gold
Posts: 15,557
Thank you folks for the feedback, that makes more sense. I thought about changing the return date but the change in fare is higher than buying another OW with other companies, and at least I can reinvest the refund in the new ticket.
But really, how come there are no documents explaining how the refund is calculated?
But really, how come there are no documents explaining how the refund is calculated?
They reprice the ticket at the cheapest (if they are generous) OW fare, say X. Then they refund 1267.85 - X - 150.
In your case this is equal to 100.
The only additional information you could ask for is the fare bucket they have used, if you are really interested (like HLAROSW8). But you are quite lucky to get anything back, as the OW fare is often higher than the RT fare. Hence, I don't think that getting that information would help you dispute the 100.
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2012
Programs: AA, UA, DL
Posts: 138
As explained above, this procedure is standard with all airlines. No airline would provide you detailed documentation. The telephone reservation agent has no access to the detailed work done by the pricing department.
They reprice the ticket at the cheapest (if they are generous) OW fare, say X. Then they refund 1267.85 - X - 150.
In your case this is equal to 100.
The only additional information you could ask for is the fare bucket they have used, if you are really interested (like HLAROSW8). But you are quite lucky to get anything back, as the OW fare is often higher than the RT fare. Hence, I don't think that getting that information would help you dispute the 100.
They reprice the ticket at the cheapest (if they are generous) OW fare, say X. Then they refund 1267.85 - X - 150.
In your case this is equal to 100.
The only additional information you could ask for is the fare bucket they have used, if you are really interested (like HLAROSW8). But you are quite lucky to get anything back, as the OW fare is often higher than the RT fare. Hence, I don't think that getting that information would help you dispute the 100.
#9
Join Date: Nov 2017
Programs: MPC-DM, Enrich-Plat
Posts: 1,310
Thank you folks for the feedback, that makes more sense. I thought about changing the return date but the change in fare is higher than buying another OW with other companies, and at least I can reinvest the refund in the new ticket.
But really, how come there are no documents explaining how the refund is calculated?
But really, how come there are no documents explaining how the refund is calculated?
Regarding the documentation not available: These price calculations are the MOST IMPORTANT business secrets of an airline, so they are not going to publish this .....
Good luck.
#10
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Hong Kong, France
Programs: FB , BA Gold
Posts: 15,557
Bucket V is a dirt-cheap economy fare bucket. I don't think that you can buy V in one way (VLAROSW8 does not exist).
I don't know your final destination, but the one way K fare is more expensive than the return .
One way to get more information is to suscribe Expert Flyer; you can be a trial member. Then click on "fare information", include your itin and CX and you will see the fares. Then click on the third to last column for your fare.
But this is very complicated as EF only gives the base fare. You would have to reconstruct the various taxes than can be credited for the legs you don't use, as well as the carrier surcharge.
I suggest that you trust us and accept that you are getting a generous refund quote from such a cheap fare.
My personal guess is that CX is giving you a generous 100 to avoid the uncertainty of having you simply no show (and potentially lose the sale of a seat) if they announced 0.refund.
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2012
Programs: AA, UA, DL
Posts: 138
VLARRSW8 seems to be for your initial return ticket (third letter from last is R for return rather than O for a one way).
Bucket V is a dirt-cheap economy fare bucket. I don't think that you can buy V in one way (VLAROSW8 does not exist).
I don't know your final destination, but the one way K fare is more expensive than the return .
One way to get more information is to suscribe Expert Flyer; you can be a trial member. Then click on "fare information", include your itin and CX and you will see the fares. Then click on the third to last column for your fare.
But this is very complicated as EF only gives the base fare. You would have to reconstruct the various taxes than can be credited for the legs you don't use, as well as the carrier surcharge.
I suggest that you trust us and accept that you are getting a generous refund quote from such a cheap fare.
My personal guess is that CX is giving you a generous 100 to avoid the uncertainty of having you simply no show (and potentially lose the sale of a seat) if they announced 0.refund.
Bucket V is a dirt-cheap economy fare bucket. I don't think that you can buy V in one way (VLAROSW8 does not exist).
I don't know your final destination, but the one way K fare is more expensive than the return .
One way to get more information is to suscribe Expert Flyer; you can be a trial member. Then click on "fare information", include your itin and CX and you will see the fares. Then click on the third to last column for your fare.
But this is very complicated as EF only gives the base fare. You would have to reconstruct the various taxes than can be credited for the legs you don't use, as well as the carrier surcharge.
I suggest that you trust us and accept that you are getting a generous refund quote from such a cheap fare.
My personal guess is that CX is giving you a generous 100 to avoid the uncertainty of having you simply no show (and potentially lose the sale of a seat) if they announced 0.refund.
#12
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 254
I am assuming your destination is in Australia since the tax code for WY/AU are used by arrival/ departure taxes Australia. The oneway K fare (KLAROSW8) from ZRH to Australia seems to be CHF741 (from ITA Matrix) so it is basically same as the fare you have paid.
The other parts of refund include roughly half of the YQ (~CHF175), Australia departure tax (Coded AU CHF41.35), half of the Hong Kong Airport Construction Fee (G3) which is around 20CHF, and half of the Hong Kong Airport Passenger Security Charge (I5) which is around 6CHF. After adding up these components and take out the cancellation fee of 150 CHF will give you roughly 100CHF. I hope it gives you the idea how the 100CHF is determined.
The other parts of refund include roughly half of the YQ (~CHF175), Australia departure tax (Coded AU CHF41.35), half of the Hong Kong Airport Construction Fee (G3) which is around 20CHF, and half of the Hong Kong Airport Passenger Security Charge (I5) which is around 6CHF. After adding up these components and take out the cancellation fee of 150 CHF will give you roughly 100CHF. I hope it gives you the idea how the 100CHF is determined.
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2012
Programs: AA, UA, DL
Posts: 138
I am assuming your destination is in Australia since the tax code for WY/AU are used by arrival/ departure taxes Australia. The oneway K fare (KLAROSW8) from ZRH to Australia seems to be CHF741 (from ITA Matrix) so it is basically same as the fare you have paid.
The other parts of refund include roughly half of the YQ (~CHF175), Australia departure tax (Coded AU CHF41.35), half of the Hong Kong Airport Construction Fee (G3) which is around 20CHF, and half of the Hong Kong Airport Passenger Security Charge (I5) which is around 6CHF. After adding up these components and take out the cancellation fee of 150 CHF will give you roughly 100CHF. I hope it gives you the idea how the 100CHF is determined.
The other parts of refund include roughly half of the YQ (~CHF175), Australia departure tax (Coded AU CHF41.35), half of the Hong Kong Airport Construction Fee (G3) which is around 20CHF, and half of the Hong Kong Airport Passenger Security Charge (I5) which is around 6CHF. After adding up these components and take out the cancellation fee of 150 CHF will give you roughly 100CHF. I hope it gives you the idea how the 100CHF is determined.
#14
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Beijing
Posts: 349
Refund of last leg of a four leg business class trip (PEK-BCN, ZRH-PEK)
Hope there is no harm in chiming in here, otherwise happy to create a new thread, but rather similiar, so perhaps this helps others to find things in one place:
I have flown three of the four sectors of this booking. Booking class is 'I' (fare bucket: IAARRYD8). Have tried two times now to get hold of Cathay from mainland China, and waiting times are just nuts (in excess of 15 min). So it was faster to type this here, then try again. If anyone has any ideas what the change conditions are and how much I can expect to pay for change, cancellation or refund, please enlighten me. (plus change might not be possible, as I am unlikely to do this trip for a while, at lest not before the 12 months ticket validity)
I have flown three of the four sectors of this booking. Booking class is 'I' (fare bucket: IAARRYD8). Have tried two times now to get hold of Cathay from mainland China, and waiting times are just nuts (in excess of 15 min). So it was faster to type this here, then try again. If anyone has any ideas what the change conditions are and how much I can expect to pay for change, cancellation or refund, please enlighten me. (plus change might not be possible, as I am unlikely to do this trip for a while, at lest not before the 12 months ticket validity)
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Hong Kong, France
Programs: FB , BA Gold
Posts: 15,557
Hope there is no harm in chiming in here, otherwise happy to create a new thread, but rather similiar, so perhaps this helps others to find things in one place:
I have flown three of the four sectors of this booking. Booking class is 'I' (fare bucket: IAARRYD8). Have tried two times now to get hold of Cathay from mainland China, and waiting times are just nuts (in excess of 15 min). So it was faster to type this here, then try again. If anyone has any ideas what the change conditions are and how much I can expect to pay for change, cancellation or refund, please enlighten me. (plus change might not be possible, as I am unlikely to do this trip for a while, at lest not before the 12 months ticket validity)
I have flown three of the four sectors of this booking. Booking class is 'I' (fare bucket: IAARRYD8). Have tried two times now to get hold of Cathay from mainland China, and waiting times are just nuts (in excess of 15 min). So it was faster to type this here, then try again. If anyone has any ideas what the change conditions are and how much I can expect to pay for change, cancellation or refund, please enlighten me. (plus change might not be possible, as I am unlikely to do this trip for a while, at lest not before the 12 months ticket validity)