CX availability in J SYD-HKG-JFK better than SYD-HKG

[soh]

Looking for 3 seats in J for early September 2018 from SYD to LAX or JFK. Direct to LAX is always going to be a problem for a QF bronze so a few days in HKG flying CX metal is looking more likely. I would prefer to avoid an early departure out of SYD (CX110 at 7.30am) but CX162 at 10.05am looks ideal. If I search SYD-HKG the CX 162 is never/rarely available but if I search the same dates for SYD-HKG-JFK or a few other US destinations CX162 is wide open. I really need to stop over in HKG for a couple of days with a 6 year old child. Is this simply a case of calling QF and requesting CX162 on the days I can see it available as a connection through to the US or will Cathay not release these seats on a single non connecting sector? Would QF waive the booking charge in this case?

 

[Mattg]

Your problem here is that CX uses married segments. It's most likely the case that CX162 will be available to you only if connecting within 24 hours to a North American destination.

I would say that your options are to take the earlier SYD-HKG flight, or not stop over in HKG.

Qantas will not be able to open up any seats for you as this is all done deliberately by CX. QF has no control over it.

 

[I love to travel]

Mattg is correct. Despite a month of trying to get around the married segment issue I realised you can't because it is built into their fare structure

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Looking for 3 seats in J for early September 2018 from SYD to LAX or JFK. Direct to LAX is always going to be a problem for a QF bronze so a few days in HKG flying CX metal is looking more likely. I would prefer to avoid an early departure out of SYD (CX110 at 7.30am) but CX162 at 10.05am looks ideal. If I search SYD-HKG the CX 162 is never/rarely available but if I search the same dates for SYD-HKG-JFK or a few other US destinations CX162 is wide open. I really need to stop over in HKG for a couple of days with a 6 year old child. Is this simply a case of calling QF and requesting CX162 on the days I can see it available as a connection through to the US or will Cathay not release these seats on a single non connecting sector? Would QF waive the booking charge in this case?

As others have said - married segments.

Appreciate the need for a stopover - but it's perhaps not so bad? Having to disembark, go through immigration, collect bags, get to the hotel, get unpacked. By the time you have done all that you could be 1/3 of the way to LAX already. Snuggled up in a nice bed.

 

[soh]

Thanks for the info on married segments. Didn't think it would apply on award tickets but seems to be very common. We are going to go for the earlier CX flight and have a couple of days at Disney on Lantau close to the airport. Perfect for a 6 year old kid before we need to get onto a longer sector over to LAX or JFK/EWR.