Same day standby for an earlier flight
Do Chinese airlines provide this for free on domestic flights, specifically on China Eastern and China Southern?
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No. You have to buy a new ticket and have the original one refunded, based on its fare rules. |
Originally Posted by sinoflyer
(Post 30378539)
No. You have to buy a new ticket and have the original one refunded, based on its fare rules. Examples: 1. Ctrip (and some other OTAs) can do everything behind the scenes; e.g. if your ticket costs Y600, and the flight you want costs Y700, they simply charge you for the difference plus the change fee, if any 2. If your ticket permits changes, you can change to other flights on the same airline in the same fare class pretty effortlessly, and upfare if needed 3. Full fare tickets are really easy to negotiate with In all cases, I strongly recommend making changes over the phone or online (I prefer the phone though) rather than in person. |
But same-day tickets just hours before departure are usually though of course not always pricey. I'm sure the OP is aware of this and just wants to know if in China he can hop on an earlier flight free.
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Originally Posted by moondog
(Post 30378700)
In all cases, I strongly recommend making changes over the phone or online (I prefer the phone though) rather than in person.
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Originally Posted by sinoflyer
(Post 30379659)
My impression is that this ticket policy is fundamentally the same across all intercity modes of public transport in China (air, rail, and bus).
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Originally Posted by JPDM
(Post 30380894)
Rail has specific policies dealing with this. You can exchange for free for same day travel on the same route.
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Originally Posted by JPDM
(Post 30380894)
Rail has specific policies dealing with this. You can exchange for free for same day travel on the same route.
But vering back to topic, stand-by is really an American institution that control-infatuated China will not allow for its public. |
Originally Posted by sinoflyer
(Post 30381863)
When I mentioned “fundamentally the same,” I had in mind the fact that air, rail, and bus fares in China are all distance-based and regulated by the government. Chinese air carriers only appear to operate in a deregulated U.S.-like environment because they are allowed to discount, on a percentage-off basis, from government-published tariffs. IIRC, full fares on domestic Chinese routes are identical across all carriers competing on those routes. But vering back to topic, stand-by is really an American institution that control-infatuated China will not allow for its public. |
From my experience, both DOM Y and J prices have essentially a government controlled maximum price. Recently been looking at HRB-PEK flights around Chinese New Year, and I'm only offered the maximum price (Y is ¥1290 and J is ¥5170, pre tax). Plenty of other dates offer much cheaper fares.
I consider the system as basically a price ceiling, from which airlines can discount based on demand. |
Originally Posted by seanpodge
(Post 30411585)
From my experience, both DOM Y and J prices have essentially a government controlled maximum price. Recently been looking at HRB-PEK flights around Chinese New Year, and I'm only offered the maximum price (Y is ¥1290 and J is ¥5170, pre tax). Plenty of other dates offer much cheaper fares.
I consider the system as basically a price ceiling, from which airlines can discount based on demand. ETA: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-c...-idUSKBN1EX0G5 |
Originally Posted by moondog
(Post 30411722)
Prior to business/first deregulation, the cap was around Y1600 for PEK-HRB. I don't believe there are legal caps at all any more; I'm guessing that very few people would, in practice, pay more than $900 for 2 hours in a 737.
ETA: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-c...-idUSKBN1EX0G5 One thing that might also keep airlines honest, particularly on shorter routes, is the spread of HSR in China, which still has set prices. Harbin-Beijing is still uncompetitive, with the fastest service still just over 7 hours (vs 2 hours gate to gate). However from January 1st the Shenyang - Beijing HSR should open and cut at least two hours from that so the train will start looking more attractive. So that should keep airfares under control on this route at least. |
Originally Posted by seanpodge
(Post 30414838)
Perhaps, although when I search on Taobao, prices are still expressed as a discount from the full Y/J class fare using an x.x折 format across all airlines, so it's hardly a free market. HRB-PEK has 4-5 airlines on it depending on if the regulators consider HU and CN separate airlines or not, so maybe it's escaping market liberalisation due to being under 5 airlines on the route.
One thing that might also keep airlines honest, particularly on shorter routes, is the spread of HSR in China, which still has set prices. Harbin-Beijing is still uncompetitive, with the fastest service still just over 7 hours (vs 2 hours gate to gate). However from January 1st the Shenyang - Beijing HSR should open and cut at least two hours from that so the train will start looking more attractive. So that should keep airfares under control on this route at least. Practically speaking, I can't imagine deregulated pricing having a great deal of impact on most people. Sure, they can charge Y5,000 for PEK-HRB now, but if there are no takers, those fares might as well not exist. What's more, many routes almost never get close to full fare under the current system. |
Originally Posted by moondog
(Post 30414938)
I have a feeling that x.x折 pricing will go the way of the dodo bird within a few years when the basis becomes completely meaningless. In other words 50% off only makes sense when the basis is a known constant.
Practically speaking, I can't imagine deregulated pricing having a great deal of impact on most people. Sure, they can charge Y5,000 for PEK-HRB now, but if there are no takers, those fares might as well not exist. What's more, many routes almost never get close to full fare under the current system. |
What the full fare is only matters if you have excess luggage as the cost of excess luggage is a % of the full fare, not what you pay for the ticket.
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