Cathay Pacific Cancel Free within 24 hours of Booking - Caveats!

[stump]

Booked direct online Adelaide /Beijing return Premium Economy $2,124.65 . After I found my Beijing connection coming home was out by 2 days I cancelled my booking within 24 hours to rebook a different date home....Instead of below I was charged Cancellation fee AUD $550.00

• Refund request was made via Manage Booking within 24 hours after booking; and
• Tax and fuel surcharge will also be refunded under the 24-hour free cancellation.

I have requested a paypal refund claim and if not successful I will never use Cathy Pacific ever..

 

[oz_mark]

Did you meet the conditions of the offer? There's a few escape hatches for them

The most likely is that your Cathay number not being included

You are not eligible for booking refunds if:

• You did not add your Cathay membership number to the “Frequent flyer programme number” field on “Passenger Information” section when making your flight booking;
• The Cathay membership number was not added during the booking process or was added more than 24 hours after the flight booking;
• A frequent flyer number of another airline was entered on the “Frequent flyer programme number” field even if you signed in as a Cathay member during booking;
• The name of the passenger does not match the name registered in the Cathay membership programme membership account of the Cathay membership number added in the “Passenger Information” section during the booking process;
• Your first flight under the booking is within eight days of booking (less than 192 hours before departure);
• A discount code was applied to the booking (effective 3 Jun 2024);

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Did you meet the conditions of the offer? There's a few escape hatches for them

The most likely is that your Cathay number not being included

Good pick up, might be a good idea for pax to include a CX number for the first 24 hours in future! (change after that)

Although it is a bit of an unusual requirement, most airlines don’t have it.

 

[stump]

Did you meet the conditions of the offer? There's a few escape hatches for them

The most likely is that your Cathay number not being included

Thankyou for reply.Do you mean this number?

[td]Green member[/td] [td]174****000[/td]

 

[stump]

Did you meet the conditions of the offer? There's a few escape hatches for them

The most likely is that your Cathay number not being included

[td]

[td] [td]Your cancelled itinerary [td]Booking reference: DF9CV5 Wed, 14 Jan 2026 | CX 174 Adelaide to Hong Kong [td] [td] Departure ​ ​

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17:45 ​

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Wed, 14 Jan 2026 | CX 344 Hong Kong to Beijing

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18:50 ​

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22:15 ​

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Wed, 15 Apr 2026 | CX 331 Beijing to Hong Kong

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16:40 ​

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20:35 ​

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Wed, 15 Apr 2026 | CX 161 Hong Kong to Sydney

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21:35 ​

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08:40+1 ​

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Thu, 16 Apr 2026 | QF 735 Sydney to Adelaide

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11:55 ​

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Did you meet the conditions of the offer? There's a few escape hatches for them

The most likely is that your Cathay number not being included

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thankyou for reply.Do you mean this number?
[td]Green member[/td] [td]174****000[/td]

That’s the one. Your cathay frequent flyer number.

Perhaps give them a call. If not, escalate via email.

You should be able to do a credit card chargeback if neither of the above work, and get the full amount back. Screenshot everything to show you met the terms and conditions.

 

[stump]

That’s the one. Your cathay frequent flyer number.

Perhaps give them a call. If not, escalate via email.

You should be able to do a credit card chargeback if neither of the above work, and get the full amount back. Screenshot everything to show you met the terms and conditions.

After online conversation looks like due to misguided FREE Cancellation advertising I have lost $550 and now will re book with Singapore Airline never to make this mistake again.Im sure many will fall for the same advertising? Maybe I should start a class action against Cathy Pacific..

 

[MEL_Traveller]

After online conversation looks like due to misguided FREE Cancellation advertising I have lost $550 and now will re book with Singapore Airline never to make this mistake again.Im sure many will fall for the same advertising? Maybe I should start a class action against Cathy Pacific..

What was the reason given why you weren’t eligible?

I wouldn’t be so quick to give up on your money if you still think you met all the terms and conditions.

 

[stump]

What was the reason given why you weren’t eligible?

I wouldn’t be so quick to give up on your money if you still think you met all the terms and conditions.

I used a promo code $250 off premium economy for my ticket. It is in the fine print. I will still follow up with a paypal ANZ reversal charge..I cant be the only one this happen too. I don't see this fair trading $550 is money I cant afford to throw away..

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Oh, yes. Further to oz mark’s post above there’s a follow on section stating which fares WON’T be eligible for the 24-hour free cancellation.

The use of a discount code or voucher is clearly stated.

The discount code for the $250 off also states that the 24-hour cancellation policy won’t apply.

So it’s in both places… I was hoping it might not be as the 24-hour page would overrule the discount coupon page, but unfortunately they both match up.

 

[anat0l]

What an odd condition to put on something like this... using a voucher or discount code?

Cathay has had a number of sales recently, including for premium classes, or just for lounge access on a ferry transfer to/from the Greater Bay Area cities. So participating in one of those nukes the 24 hour refundability.... wow.

I can get the others somewhat - no CX FF, too close to departure, not booking through CX themselves - but this is weird.

 

[stump]

What an odd condition to put on something like this... using a voucher or discount code?

Cathay has had a number of sales recently, including for premium classes, or just for lounge access on a ferry transfer to/from the Greater Bay Area cities. So participating in one of those nukes the 24 hour refundability.... wow.

I can get the others somewhat - no CX FF, too close to departure, not booking through CX themselves - but this is weird.

What is the reason of 24-hour free cancellation if not to catch out customers during promo and discount advertising ?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

What is the reason of 24-hour free cancellation if not to catch out customers during promo and discount advertising ?

It applies at all other times.