CTrip tickets and travel
#106
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: HKG
Posts: 1,315
It appears to be an MU-only thing, perhaps Expo-related? Anyway it books into fare code X.
#107
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Bay Area
Programs: AA, Hilton, Hyatt
Posts: 544
I saw these "promo" fares as well. I think they are only showing up on the "chinese version" of Ctrip, and not the english web site (at least I didn't recall seeing the fare there)? And, the chinese site does have "fare details" next to these fares and they listed only for people w/ chinese national ID/passport. It also offer student fare as well as senior fare but not sure what ID you need to have to use these fares...
Nevertheless, Ctrip domestic fares are much better than fares available using oversea booking (said Expedia), and my hubby was able to book 2 domestic segments on it under Y500, and the english site customer service is overall good.
Nevertheless, Ctrip domestic fares are much better than fares available using oversea booking (said Expedia), and my hubby was able to book 2 domestic segments on it under Y500, and the english site customer service is overall good.
#108
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,425
domestic ticket: any reason to search beyond ctrip and elong?
I need to buy some domestic China tickets in the next couple of months. Realistically, these days, are there any better deals outside of ctrip and elong? Either with local agents or some of the less-established on-line vendors?
I need to buy like 8 tickets, so I want the best price, but I don't want to search endlessly for no reason.
Thanks.
I need to buy like 8 tickets, so I want the best price, but I don't want to search endlessly for no reason.
Thanks.
#109
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Southeast USA
Programs: various
Posts: 6,710
Sometimes local brick-and-mortar shop agents can do a bit better but rarely is it significant. For online, I've had good service through www.travelzen.com and sometimes same or better prices than the big 2, sometimes not. I have had ctrip.com advertise a ticket price then tell me they couldn't sell it to me at that price (and that was even for cash paid directly at their offices here in Beijing, with me picking up the ticket!), whereas travelzen had no problem selling me the same ticket online AND using foreign credit card for the same price. Go figure.
I have never used one of these 3 (ctrip, elong, TZ) and then had to change the ticket, so can't vouch for who's best at customer service when travel scenario changes.
I have never used one of these 3 (ctrip, elong, TZ) and then had to change the ticket, so can't vouch for who's best at customer service when travel scenario changes.
#111
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,425
Thanks. What about buying direct from the airlines? I thought I might have seen a domestic fare on Air China that I didn't see from the agencies.
It also seems like it's wise not to try to book more than about 30 days out. On the routes that I'm watching, that seems to be the "discount window."
Very different ticketing strategy from every other place I've ever flown.
It also seems like it's wise not to try to book more than about 30 days out. On the routes that I'm watching, that seems to be the "discount window."
Very different ticketing strategy from every other place I've ever flown.
#112
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,045
Thanks. What about buying direct from the airlines? I thought I might have seen a domestic fare on Air China that I didn't see from the agencies.
It also seems like it's wise not to try to book more than about 30 days out. On the routes that I'm watching, that seems to be the "discount window."
Very different ticketing strategy from every other place I've ever flown.
It also seems like it's wise not to try to book more than about 30 days out. On the routes that I'm watching, that seems to be the "discount window."
Very different ticketing strategy from every other place I've ever flown.
Re. travelzen, while they don't charge a fee for foreign cards, if you use a foreign card, you get billed in USD at an exchange rate that is ~4% higher than spot.
#113
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,425
Thanks. I guess my strategy will be to wait until "the booking window" opens (like 4 weeks in advance) and then hunt on ctrip and elong. If I find a fare I think is decent, I'll comparison shop it with the airline's own website and maybe a couple of the other online agencies.
Buying things in China (at least if you don't want to get ripped off) is usually a little harder than elsewhere.
Buying things in China (at least if you don't want to get ripped off) is usually a little harder than elsewhere.
#115
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Southeast USA
Programs: various
Posts: 6,710
More trouble than it's worth, most of the time IME. (i.e. using foreign cards online is not easy, and many of the lowest fares are only bookable online).
Re. travelzen, while they don't charge a fee for foreign cards, if you use a foreign card, you get billed in USD at an exchange rate that is ~4% higher than spot.
Re. travelzen, while they don't charge a fee for foreign cards, if you use a foreign card, you get billed in USD at an exchange rate that is ~4% higher than spot.
Last edited by jiejie; May 24, 2010 at 6:46 pm
#116
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: NYC
Programs: AS MVP Gold, BA Silver, AA Gold, Marriott Titanium, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,619
I found some fantastic fares on China Southern last year, but they required calling in the foreign credit card info within a strict time period (60 minutes, iirc) and then emailing scanned copies of the credit card and an authorization form. However this process generated etickets that allowed for OLCI and advance seat selection....which meant that most of the time spent telephoning and emailing was gained back at the airport. [These cheap fares were not available from either CTrip or eLong.]
#117
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 42,045
Interesting. Last time I used them with foreign credit card (last October)--they converted at 1.5% higher (which was acceptable to me under the circumstances of the day). But 4% surcharge is definitely more in keeping with what bricks-and-mortar agencies here charge if you want to use a foreign card.
One advantage to buying through the airlines directly is that they bill in RMB and don't assess a CC surcharge. That having been said, since this generally requires either going to and waiting around a CTO or faxing annoying forms and credit card copies, I don't think it's worth the time.
Originally Posted by jbalmuth
I found some fantastic fares on China Southern last year, but they required calling in the foreign credit card info within a strict time period (60 minutes, iirc) and then emailing scanned copies of the credit card and an authorization form. However this process generated etickets that allowed for OLCI and advance seat selection....which meant that most of the time spent telephoning and emailing was gained back at the airport. [These cheap fares were not available from either CTrip or eLong.]
BTW, I also went through the CZ fax process about a week ago because a friend needed me to pay a change fee for him. The guy that helped me was pretty cool, but I needed to fax him 3 separate times and fill out a form in order to get him all the stuff he requested (quite a bit of work for a $22 fee).
#118
Moderator: Luxury Hotels and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Palo Alto, California,USA
Posts: 17,857
I've had to refund tickets on ctrip. Moondoggie said I'd have no problem -- and he was absolutely right. They took their sufficiently well publicized RMB10 refund charge and quickly credited the rest back to my credit card.
#119
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Boston
Programs: UA 1K, SPG
Posts: 1,577
30 Day Window?
I'm booking a trip from Shanghai to Lhasa in late July and was wondering about this 30-day window. There aren't many flights to Lhasa; does it still make sense to wait until 30 days before the return flight? It's so counterintuitive to me
#120
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Shanghai and Bavaria
Programs: Spire RA, 1865 Voyager, Bonvoy Titanium, FB LP, LH SEN.
Posts: 3,104
Lhasa flights are expensive. Maybe it would make sense for you to stop in Chongqing for a day or so; Shanghai - Chongqing is cheap, Chongqing - Lhasa is one of the view Tibet routes that are sometimes heavily discounted.
30 days window is generally the rule; when on leisure trips I usually check 2 months out and then check back regularily. Also, you might want to check for the upcoming weeks and see how much they get discounted.