Cathay is *not* protecting into CMB
 

Although I tagged it onto "success stories" I thought it might be useful to flag FTers to the fact that Cathay (probably NAMRES) is not protecting travelers with space into CMB. My mid-July reservation has been changed to terminate in BKK. (With no notice to me, I might grumpily add.)

Cathay Told Me They Would Protect
 

I was to fly BKK-CMB-HKG on 4/22, the first day the flights resumed. I was concerned about these flights and called CX beforehand, and they told me then that if the flights didn't go I was protected. Of course, look how things can change in 10 days.....

Best to work out with RTW desk - maybe they can accomodate you and do routing change without a fee since it is involuntary.

I am in BKK, having flown CX from HKG, and now having a 7 hour wait for my Sri Lankan flight to CMB. You have to be very proactive to get CX to make alternative arrangements - and then when you think it is all settled, check, check again. Mind you, I'm traveling at what is likely the peak of the disruption, so perhaps it will all sort itself out.

I arrived in HKG on Friday night, having already had the issuing airline contact CX who booked me as above. I went to the CX desk at HKG, and was given a piece of paper with my flight info. I was told I would actually get the FIM on Sunday when I checked in. This is the piece of paper which UL needs from CX. I gave CX my hotel info, so they could contact me in case of changes.

On Saturday, I asked my hotel concierge to call UL to get my seat assignment. She learned (1) the flight had changed to 3am from 9pm (2) my seat had been canceled because CX had never given them a ticket number for me.

She spent about 3 hours working all of this out. I am now in the Emirates lounge in BKK, waiting for the UL transit desk to open, so that I can get my onward boarding card. Fingers crossed that there are no more problems.

It's difficult to know how much of this is CX's fault. While I am unhappy that I got no call about the change in schedule, the UL flight was still not properly loaded in the CX system when I checked in at Central today. The CX agent was meticulous in seeing to it that she got all the proper flight info so that hopefully my travels (and my luggage transfers) will be uneventful. It took 20 minutes or so for the CX agent to do this; it was not straightforward or simple.

All fine on an award ticket
 

I have an Aadvantage award to LAX-CMB (via NRT/HKG/BKK), departing May 20. I called CX today, and confirmed I was booked on a Sri Lankan Airlines flight from BKK, though they had no booking for getting me out of CMB. After a few minutes, I was told I was protected on the outbound Sri Lankan Airlines flight as well. Both UL flights operate, however, during the night when the airport is supposed to close beginning May 12, so I expect more uncertainty.

Back on topic (I agree with Viajero) has anyone had any contact with the CX CMB staff that would lead them to believe Cathay is or is not going to return to that market? My personal observation was that the passenger loads were always very light, but someone suggested that they did a thriving cargo business there. If so, their customers are rapidly finding other ways to get their goods to market. Cathay clearly isn't putting ultimate importance on serving the route with a daylight flight.

HKG is too far away from CMB to just have a quick turnaround. Even if its a morning departure, CX cannot justify doing a daytime run into CMB. Maybe they could turn CX713 into HKG-BKK-CMB? Would that make everyone happy?

Your suggestion is brilliant, and I believe it would indeed make everyone happy. Could you please float it by the powers-that-be at Cathay hq?

Just got an e-mail from NAMERES . My CX HKG-CMB flight for DEC. 15 is now terminating in BKK . This does not look good for the resumption of CMB service as this is 7 months down the road . Anyone else get anything like this - any other info ?

That's a good data point. At least we can make onward bookings with some confidence that we know where we're landing. It would be a nuisance to plan an exit from BKK only to have Cathay reinstate the service and insist that the trip be completed to CMB.

OTOH others have commented not too long ago that with some arm-twisting Cathay issued paper to get them to CMB on UL. My ticket still shows CMB as the final destination so I believe that's an option I could invoke, but I've planned around BKK.

(Off topic, in groping for an escape from BKK, I found the EK/UL rtw offering - one route is under USD5k in first class ex-BKK. The rules and "first class" in-flight accommodations (especially on EK, which seems to be suffering from the "we're *very special*" syndrome) will disappoint anyone who's gotten use to AONE, unfortunately. But it's cheap as dirt. And anyone looking for a nice cheap ride to the States might look at SGN-LAX on SQ. If riding J, be sure to use their 773-ER service, which offers 1-2-1 flat horizontal seats, albeit with a slightly odd design.)

Here's what I got from CXAgents.com:

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Dear CXagents user, Read more from our latest 'Newsletter'.
Due to the current security situation in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Cathay Pacific has decided to suspend all services until further notice.

Safety of passengers and crew is a top priority at Cathay Pacific and a careful assessment of the situation will be made before services are resumed.

All fares to or from Colombo are therefore withdrawn from sale until further notice.

Passengers holding reservations will have already been reprotected.

Please contact Cathay Pacific if you have any further questions.

Cathay Pacific Airways
www.cxagents.com

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While non-committal, it does sound CX may let go of CMB altogether. I still haven't heard of CX-CMB (been too busy) but if they aren't issuing any tickets from CMB, then I'm going to change my HKG-BKK to somewhere else.

The potential end of exCMB xONExs? :(
Or maybe JL/JO could start something there...*wishful thoughts*

RJ already operate from there IIRC - albeit you're straight from Asia to Europe Middle East which means you can't throw any intra-Asia sectors onto an itin???

I don't think you can since can't return to CMB from AMM (which is in "europe") and Sri Lanka isn't on the list of allowed countries for open jaw between origin and destination.

Just to clarify my post somewhat . I looked again at the e-mail from NAMRES and found another change after looking at the QF FT forum . I was also scheduled on a QF ADL-AKL flight . This service has been cancelled . They re-routed me thru MEL . The point being is that I dont know for sure which triggered the e-mail from NAMRES . One or both ? At first I assume it was just the CMB portion .

That got my attention. Cancelled like in 'we are not flying that route anymore'?