CTrip tickets and travel
#76
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,044
For an upcoming trip I've been keeping tabs on several flights using Ctrip. They do have the best prices I can find so far, however since when does a fare of 280 RMB + 50 RMB (in taxes and fees) equate to a total price of 350 RMB?
This extra charge is present to some degree on each city pair I've been looking at. Why and what is it for?
This extra charge is present to some degree on each city pair I've been looking at. Why and what is it for?
#77
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It's $3US and I'm not troubled by an additional fee, especially as the fares are significantly cheaper than full Y, but I'd sure like to know what it is.
#78
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: China
Posts: 817
¥20 is the YQ or YR surcharge charged by the airlines (same for MU, CZ, etc) on this route.
ctrip shows both charges (50/20)
#79
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Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,044
07:55 咸阳机场
09:05 双流国际机场
东方航空
MU2341
319 50/20
8.0折/H
退改签
¥500经济舱
查看所有价格
09:05 双流国际机场
东方航空
MU2341
319 50/20
8.0折/H
退改签
¥500经济舱
查看所有价格
#80
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On the 'book flight' page there is a line stating:
'total per person (all taxes and fees included): ¥350 (airfare:¥280/ taxes and fees:¥50)'.
It is this latter info that drew my inspection. If the extra ¥20 is YQ so be it, but I'm still not finding where that is stated.
#81
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Location: Shanghai
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#82
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: China
Posts: 817
its been said before, use the Chinese ctrip (of course, given you read CN, but even if you don't, its pretty straight forward). prices are better and interface is more detailed (splitting tax and YQ surcharges).
eg.
Chinese Ctrip: MU2341 10/03/31 210 RMB + 50 + 20
English Ctrip: MU2341 10/03/31 440 RMB + 70
eg.
Chinese Ctrip: MU2341 10/03/31 210 RMB + 50 + 20
English Ctrip: MU2341 10/03/31 440 RMB + 70
#83
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#84
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#85
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Seattle
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Posts: 226
Did Expedia mail you any receipts (or actual tickets) yet? If you get paper tickets, then you should be in pretty good shape (since I'm presuming you booked full Y, they are basically cash). For etickets, I'm guessing that Expedia outsources to a local agent. Chances are, communicating with this local agent would get you much further than calling Expedia. I hope your flights go smoothly.
ctrip also issued e-tickets, but charged the credit card appears to what appears be a local agent (HUACHENG XINAN) - not sure who they are...
#86
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: HKG
Posts: 1,315
#88
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Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,044
I tried to buy a ticket on MU's website this morning because their fare was y40 less than ctrip's (small potatoes, I know; but, I my goal was to score the lowest possible fare).
Though I have a Chinese bank card that would have gotten the job done, I was intent upon using my Schwab card in order to bill my client in transparent manner.
After a bit of back and forth with MU's phone people, I learned that the cheaper fare was ONLY available via flychinaeastern.com.cn (i.e. no workarounds), but that I could buy the more expensive fare from them without paying the CC surcharge.
Slightly off topic (i.e. this belongs in the "dual pricing" thread, which I'm too lazy to find), I walked into a TA yesterday with a friend who is flying SHA-TAO tomorrow and the agent told him that there was a y300 fare available only for PRC nationals, but y480 was the price for the rest of us (same as ctrip). Since the guy was born in China (and now holds US passport), I encouraged him to roll with the cheaper ticket, but he chickened out.
In any event, he'll be one of the first passengers to try out T2 tomorrow morning.
Though I have a Chinese bank card that would have gotten the job done, I was intent upon using my Schwab card in order to bill my client in transparent manner.
After a bit of back and forth with MU's phone people, I learned that the cheaper fare was ONLY available via flychinaeastern.com.cn (i.e. no workarounds), but that I could buy the more expensive fare from them without paying the CC surcharge.
Slightly off topic (i.e. this belongs in the "dual pricing" thread, which I'm too lazy to find), I walked into a TA yesterday with a friend who is flying SHA-TAO tomorrow and the agent told him that there was a y300 fare available only for PRC nationals, but y480 was the price for the rest of us (same as ctrip). Since the guy was born in China (and now holds US passport), I encouraged him to roll with the cheaper ticket, but he chickened out.
In any event, he'll be one of the first passengers to try out T2 tomorrow morning.
#89
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: HKG
Posts: 1,315
Slightly off topic (i.e. this belongs in the "dual pricing" thread, which I'm too lazy to find), I walked into a TA yesterday with a friend who is flying SHA-TAO tomorrow and the agent told him that there was a y300 fare available only for PRC nationals, but y480 was the price for the rest of us (same as ctrip). Since the guy was born in China (and now holds US passport), I encouraged him to roll with the cheaper ticket, but he chickened out.
#90
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Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,044
Circa ~1997, pricing schemes that favored PRC nationals were abolished tmk. This was the first instance I've seen of such during the past decade+. Were I to purchase a ticket of this nature, you can bet that I'd try my best to get it honored.