Ripped off by CX on a RTW?
 

I recently went to the Singapore CX office to exchange a full fare ticket (denominated in HK$) for a OneWorld RTW ticket ex-Singapore. RTW prices are 20% lower in Singapore. After waiting for 2 hours for the ticket to be issued, I was told they have to charge me the ex-HK fare because, they said, the original ticket is in HK$, so charge HK fare. I wonder whether I've been ripped off by CX.

If your first segment is out of Hong Kong, then you should pay the HKG price. If out of Singapore, you should pay the SIN price. In your case, it doesn't matter where the ticket is issued. Is it possible to refund the first ticket and just buy the RTW in SGD?

I don't think it is a deliberate attempt to rip you off but someone made a big mistake. The confusion probably arose because you were "trading-in" another ticket. It would probably have been easier to execute two separate transactions - surrender old ticket for refund and purchase new RTW.

I'm sure if you write to CX then they will refund you in full.

Darren, the first sector of the trip is from Singapore. But they charged me the HK fare because the ticket that I tendered for exchange was issued by the HK office and denominated in HK$.

They are two seperate tickets, and it sounds like someone made a mistake. If you can (and it sounds like it) then refund one and buy the other. If you can't, get a supervisor involved or contact BA or QF.

I know the CX people at the Ocean Building office. Please let me know your original first ticket's routing, fare basis, booking code and fare.

If you're trading in the first ticket in exchange for an MCO, the 'correct' way to do it is to refund the first ticket and they have to send it back to the original issuer of that ticket.

But if you're rerouting the ticket , ie hoping to exchange that full fare ticket for a RTW, then you can't really. Because they're both of different fare basis'. You'd basically have to make a booking for an entirely new ticket and get it issued instead.

Have you considered issuing the ticket from BANGKOK? Fares there are at least 15% lower than Singapore on average!

I now appreciate the difference. The thing is the original ticket was issued by an agent - what you are saying is that the agent would receive the refund and I need to buy a new RTW ticket. I know issuing the RTW ticket in Bangkok is cheaper, but if CX in Bangkok applies the same policy, then I still have to pay the HK$ fare becauase I'm exchanging a ticket.

brians - if you'd like to email me, I think I may be able to shed more light on the subject plus give you some tips on what best to do for you.