Covid-19 coronavirus - effect on Cathay Pacific
Feb 25, 2020, 10:31 am
#826
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: TPE / HSZ
Programs: CX GO (=SPH), IHG Diamond Amb, Hertz 5*, Accor, Hilton, National
Posts: 6,436
Taiwan has yesterday posted a further restriction for travellers from certain regions, who have to undergo self health management (https://www.cdc.gov.tw/En/Bulletin/D...eBQ?typeid=158).
This might end in further reductions regarding any flight continuing from TPE to Japan (if not already cancelled)
This might end in further reductions regarding any flight continuing from TPE to Japan (if not already cancelled)
Feb 25, 2020, 3:09 pm
#827
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 409
The issue is coronavirus, not a country or a city or an airport. The latest news is the outbreak in South Korea. The virus is of most concern for the old and the young so waiting until after the virus subsides wouldn't be a bad option. Travel is stressful. Regardless, the current pricing wouldn't indicate a huge benefit to advance purchase of tickets. Wait and see.
No way to predict where this is going in May as eight+ weeks from now is an *eternity* in this situation. This whole situation was barely a blip on the radar eight weeks ago. My only advice would be that you and they are likely going to need to be flexible and I would consider refundable fares and/or "any reason cancellation" trip insurance. Also Cathay might almost be a safer bet at this point since they have already taken the hit. Given the situation in South Korea and Japan, their airlines may soon be doing what Cathay has already done. Good luck.
Feb 25, 2020, 8:37 pm
#828
Join Date: Sep 2008
Programs: A3 *G, AA exePlat, AS MVP 75k Gold, JL sapphire, UA silver
Posts: 4,035
The issue is coronavirus, not a country or a city or an airport. The latest news is the outbreak in South Korea. The virus is of most concern for the old and the young so waiting until after the virus subsides wouldn't be a bad option. Travel is stressful. Regardless, the current pricing wouldn't indicate a huge benefit to advance purchase of tickets. Wait and see.
Feb 26, 2020, 9:49 am
#829
Join Date: Dec 2011
Programs: United, Delta
Posts: 55
On Feb 20 flew Cathay Pacific MNL- HGK, then HGK- LAX. (CX882) No issues transiting HGK, only a temperature check, no issues entering the USA. Connected to LAX WiFi and used Mobile Passport to clear Immigration and Customs.
Feb 26, 2020, 2:12 pm
#830
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Anywhere I need to be.
Programs: OW Emerald, *A Gold, NEXUS, GE, ABTC/APEC, South Korea SES, eIACS, PP, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 16,046
Been there recently and no different than usual entry procedures and screening.
There are noticeably more ICA staff than usual now (especially given there are fewer passengers going through Changi...)
There are noticeably more ICA staff than usual now (especially given there are fewer passengers going through Changi...)
Feb 26, 2020, 6:37 pm
#831
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,761
According to https://www.facebook.com/fabianselec...type=3&theater, MLE will still have flights till end of the month while IAD indeed is gone. Not sure where he got the information, which looks internal.
Feb 28, 2020, 6:45 am
#834
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,293
Feb 29, 2020, 12:34 am
#835
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 2,276
CX have updated the inventory for April/May.
reservations are closed for the following destinations
Male
Barcelona
london Gatwick
milan
Rome
Tel Aviv
a lot of other routes have only some days opened for reservations. There should be more updates these few days.
reservations are closed for the following destinations
Male
Barcelona
london Gatwick
milan
Rome
Tel Aviv
a lot of other routes have only some days opened for reservations. There should be more updates these few days.
Feb 29, 2020, 6:57 pm
#836
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Orange County, CA, USA
Programs: AA (Life Plat), Marriott (Life Titanium) and every other US program
Posts: 6,411
I am waiting for call from Amex Travel (Expedia) to answer question. But I am concerned about how this is going to work. I have a paid round-trip business class flight from LAX-HKG-SGN in about 2 weeks. We have decided to move our trip to November. As I read the HKG waiver we can make a change to any other flight for no fee. But all the business class fares on Cathay, for the next year (even out to 2021) have gone up by about $1,500 from what we paid. The "cancellation fee" is $800 per ticket, which I am hoping to avoid. But when I try to change dates (no change in routing) are they going to tell me that there is a "difference in fare" of $1,500 per ticket? Because that seems to be true everywhere on their system (I also looked at India, for example).
Feb 29, 2020, 7:54 pm
#837
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,761
I am waiting for call from Amex Travel (Expedia) to answer question. But I am concerned about how this is going to work. I have a paid round-trip business class flight from LAX-HKG-SGN in about 2 weeks. We have decided to move our trip to November. As I read the HKG waiver we can make a change to any other flight for no fee. But all the business class fares on Cathay, for the next year (even out to 2021) have gone up by about $1,500 from what we paid. The "cancellation fee" is $800 per ticket, which I am hoping to avoid. But when I try to change dates (no change in routing) are they going to tell me that there is a "difference in fare" of $1,500 per ticket? Because that seems to be true everywhere on their system (I also looked at India, for example).
Mar 1, 2020, 1:39 am
#838
Suspended
Join Date: Apr 2011
Programs: RIP
Posts: 506
FWIW flew DPS-HKG 25 Feb almost full plane. No cancellations at the time on DPS flights. We seemed to be the only people at all in immigration. Shot my hand held temp scanners, incl the two small kids, who can always get fever for whatever reason.
Very smooth transfer with shuttle to Marriott skycity. 5 min trip, and the only ones on the bus. Late arrival but still only us in clulb lounge. A few people for BF, which was moved to restaurant. A couple others only on shuttle back to airport. We were the only people in amex centurion lounge for hours. Then HKG-LHR probably had 20% load even if the prior flight was cancelled (the one we were booked on).
We had about 30+ seats for us self in the back of the plane (Yes I know).
Very smooth transfer with shuttle to Marriott skycity. 5 min trip, and the only ones on the bus. Late arrival but still only us in clulb lounge. A few people for BF, which was moved to restaurant. A couple others only on shuttle back to airport. We were the only people in amex centurion lounge for hours. Then HKG-LHR probably had 20% load even if the prior flight was cancelled (the one we were booked on).
We had about 30+ seats for us self in the back of the plane (Yes I know).
Mar 1, 2020, 11:49 am
#839
Join Date: May 2015
Location: WAS, SZX, HKG
Programs: AS MVP Gold 75K, CX Green
Posts: 735
It appears that a UK-based Chinese employee has tested positive in Shenzhen after traveling on LHR-HKG CX250/27Feb. The Guardian article is below. Basically the employee has been in the UK since late December so he either caught the virus in the UK or during the transit to Hong Kong. The aircraft, B-KQU flew to SFO afterward and now it appears that it is grounded in HKG. Now that there are more and more countries with presumed community spread, I wonder how would CX operations be affected?
Guardian Article
Guardian Article
Mar 1, 2020, 3:28 pm
#840
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,761
"A statement from the Guangdong health commission late on Sunday said authorities in Shenzhen had declared an “imported case” of the coronavirus after the man tested positive. It is unclear whether or not he became infected in the UK, but Chinese authorities said two of the patient’s colleagues in the UK had reported coughs and fever."
I think IATA had their doctor said it's very hard to get infected on a plane?
And even it it happens it's only within a one passenger radius (i.e. 8 more at most), due to how air ventilation works on planes?
CX's subsidiary UO has transported subsequently confirmed cases before, there's been no outbreak on that plane.
See whether any outbreak in this CX250 case.
I think IATA had their doctor said it's very hard to get infected on a plane?
And even it it happens it's only within a one passenger radius (i.e. 8 more at most), due to how air ventilation works on planes?
CX's subsidiary UO has transported subsequently confirmed cases before, there's been no outbreak on that plane.
See whether any outbreak in this CX250 case.
