Ctrip is getting pricier
#31
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: PEK and BOS
Programs: BA - Blue
Posts: 4,531
Take a look at EC261. I'm certainly no apologist for European regulation in any sector - but in this instance EC 261 would very sensibly grant a passenger travelling in Europe and probably on any European airline anywhere in the world the protection of a rebooking on the next available (and no cheating, available means available not airline preferred available) flight and a hefty chunk of cash compensation, plus as relevant to the time delay sustenance and reasonable quality hotel accommodation.
In these circumstances Chinese airlines as you have referenced would have to cease issuing fantasy schedules.
In these circumstances Chinese airlines as you have referenced would have to cease issuing fantasy schedules.
To go back on-topic, I agree this is incredibly frustrating, and I would be furious. However, again, I'm not sure local regulations are on your side. Perhaps they should be, although as mentioned, that might actually drive the LCC competitors under...which would be self-defeating.
tb
#32
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,055
I'm currently posting from a Super 8 in Shanghai, which I booked via Ctrip. I also stayed at a 168 last November using Ctrip.
In both cases, the Ctrip rate was cheaper than the rate afforded to the highest level VIP cards that these chains offer (you need to pay around Y200 for the cards).
On a semi-related note, I booked a plane ticket on Travelzen yesterday because Ctrip's website was being annoying. While they don't tack on a fee for using foreign credit cards, their exchange rate between CNY and HKD was about 3% higher than spot.
In both cases, the Ctrip rate was cheaper than the rate afforded to the highest level VIP cards that these chains offer (you need to pay around Y200 for the cards).
On a semi-related note, I booked a plane ticket on Travelzen yesterday because Ctrip's website was being annoying. While they don't tack on a fee for using foreign credit cards, their exchange rate between CNY and HKD was about 3% higher than spot.
#33
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: EWR
Posts: 56
just booked a flight from NKG-CSX on 1/30, flight on ctrip was 760RMB, i bought direct from the Shenzhen airlines for 720RMB. 40RMB difference not a huge deal.
annoying thing about booking from the airline directly though- had to use a Chinese credit card, didnt accept foreign cards or chines ATM cards.
annoying thing about booking from the airline directly though- had to use a Chinese credit card, didnt accept foreign cards or chines ATM cards.
#35
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,055
Just give it time, and they'll start charging it again (it's been on and off for as long as I can remember... I gather they get a ton of charge backs).
#36
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Philly
Programs: Marriott, IHG PC, AAA
Posts: 2
For air travel I have not seen much of a difference between elong and ctrip. qunar often has a lower price but they come back too often the next day and say sold out- fare no longer available so I have stopped using them.
I find a bigger difference on hotels among these websites. Ctrip's English site will not offer certain hotels which they have on the Chinese site stating there is a restriction that they cannot accept foreign guests. I have booked these same hotels on elong and no problem arriving foreign passport in hand. Pricing is generally though not always the same between the sites. Sometimes one site or the other has a special price so it pays to check.
I find a bigger difference on hotels among these websites. Ctrip's English site will not offer certain hotels which they have on the Chinese site stating there is a restriction that they cannot accept foreign guests. I have booked these same hotels on elong and no problem arriving foreign passport in hand. Pricing is generally though not always the same between the sites. Sometimes one site or the other has a special price so it pays to check.
qunar.com is fake. My friend booked a hotel reservation using this website. As it turned out, the reason why the hotel reservation was so cheap was that because it was free in the first place. When he checked in at the Holiday Inn, he was asked if he was travelling with the member. My friend did not know what member the front desk was talking about. He later found out that an IHG member booked the reservation using his points then added my friend's name in the reservation, while my friend paid qunar for the booking. The whole reservation was bogus. My friend ended up paying for his room because the hotel would not accept his reservation. Apparently, this has been going on a while. Who knows, they could be doing the same thing with airline reservation.
#37
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,055
#38
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: EWR
Posts: 56
So, it's only applicable if you use the app to purchase the ticket, if you buy it off their website or use their phone service, they still charge the 3% fee.
#39
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,055
I haven't been charged the fee for any website bookings so far this year (I use the Chinese site, but I'm not sure if this matters).
#40
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: BRS; PVG
Programs: BA Gold, A3 *G, EY Gold, AZ CFP (ST E+). Hilton Gold
Posts: 271
Also it helps if you understand Chinese
Last edited by hawklx; Feb 13, 2014 at 7:28 pm
#41
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 10,232
Pricing Difference
Was researching a trip for the upcoming Qingming festival from PVG to BKK and searched using Ctrip's English site for business class seats. They offered MU flights for 5000+ taxes. Looked again on their normal (Chinese) site and the exact same flights, in business class were 3500+ taxes.
I haven't seen this before from Ctrip but if they start this BS I'll have to look for another online travel agent. Complete fraud imho. Beware to those of you using the English language site.
I haven't seen this before from Ctrip but if they start this BS I'll have to look for another online travel agent. Complete fraud imho. Beware to those of you using the English language site.
#42
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: China
Posts: 817
Was researching a trip for the upcoming Qingming festival from PVG to BKK and searched using Ctrip's English site for business class seats. They offered MU flights for 5000+ taxes. Looked again on their normal (Chinese) site and the exact same flights, in business class were 3500+ taxes.
I haven't seen this before from Ctrip but if they start this BS I'll have to look for another online travel agent. Complete fraud imho. Beware to those of you using the English language site.
I haven't seen this before from Ctrip but if they start this BS I'll have to look for another online travel agent. Complete fraud imho. Beware to those of you using the English language site.
#43
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,055
Can't speak for flights, but occasionally hotels will show cheaper rates on the English site versus the Chinese one. Sometimes these will be for rates Ctrip books through other travel agents, and therefore they don't always go through (prepaid amount deducted from credit card and then refunded if rate no longer available), but they do work once in a while.
On the English site, they are now tacking a "service charge" onto hotel bookings (seems to be around 15%, but I couldn't tell for sure because they quote it in straight up RMB). And, they also wanted a credit card guarantee for a 2p arrival (very un Ctrip style).
I tried a second time on the Chinese site, and didn't encounter either of these issues, but I decided to refrain from booking out of principle.
#44
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: China
Posts: 817
I was just trying to book some hotels for next week on Ctrip because I've gotten good results from them during the past 6 months on this front, but ran into a mild shocker that suggests a "ream the foreigner" plan may well be in the works.
On the English site, they are now tacking a "service charge" onto hotel bookings (seems to be around 15%, but I couldn't tell for sure because they quote it in straight up RMB). And, they also wanted a credit card guarantee for a 2p arrival (very un Ctrip style).
I tried a second time on the Chinese site, and didn't encounter either of these issues, but I decided to refrain from booking out of principle.
On the English site, they are now tacking a "service charge" onto hotel bookings (seems to be around 15%, but I couldn't tell for sure because they quote it in straight up RMB). And, they also wanted a credit card guarantee for a 2p arrival (very un Ctrip style).
I tried a second time on the Chinese site, and didn't encounter either of these issues, but I decided to refrain from booking out of principle.
I haven't been charged any "service charge" as far as I know....
#45
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: PEK
Programs: CA Gold, EY Silver HHons Diamond
Posts: 374
Can't speak for flights, but occasionally hotels will show cheaper rates on the English site versus the Chinese one. Sometimes these will be for rates Ctrip books through other travel agents, and therefore they don't always go through (prepaid amount deducted from credit card and then refunded if rate no longer available), but they do work once in a while.
I am guessing this is for some sort of cultural reasons?