Is redeeming QFF on CX a total no go in your mind at the moment?

[FlyingFiona]

In your mind, is Cathay Pacific a total no go zone, or would you fly them for a straight forward reward flight booking over a journey with two other airlines pieced together messily and expensively?

That's what I need to decide.
I'm flying from CDG-MEL at the end of July in J and am currently booked CDG-LHR-SIN with BA and then 6.5hrs hours later SIN-MEL on a very expensive SIN reward ticket.

Do I ditch what I have currently booked for the cheaper and straightforward CDG-HKG-MEL? Or do I keep what I have and thank my lucky stars I don't have to go anywhere near CX/HKG?

 

[RealtimeY]

The only problem is that their schedules aren't completely firm yet as they ramp back up. However, if you can tolerate the possibility of being rebooked a day earlier or later, or having your layover extended by a few hours, then I'd say definitely go for CX.

HKG is also fine to transit through now that they've opened back up.

 

[Pushka]

The only problem is that their schedules aren't completely firm yet as they ramp back up. However, if you can tolerate the possibility of being rebooked a day earlier or later, or having your layover extended by a few hours, then I'd say definitely go for CX.

HKG is also fine to transit through now that they've opened back up.

But may require PCR test in some countries. Even Australia?

 

[RealtimeY]

You don't need to do any testing to transit through HK. If you are going into HK, all you need is a photo of a negative RAT result taken within 24 hours, although I hear this is not really enforced either.

 

[Pushka]

You don't need to do any testing to transit through HK. If you are going into HK, all you need is a photo of a negative RAT result taken within 24 hours, although I hear this is not really enforced either.

Some countries require it of just transits. eg India but now stopped. Need to check that out.

 

[Dr Ralph]

CX cancelled all of my award bookings to the US in the last 24 hours.

These bookings were made months ago for travel later this year.

So far they've not indicated that they are willing to rebook.

This was the reason given:

"Due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and subsequent changes to our network, your flight will be cancelled."

I've spent the last 12 hours scrambling to secure alternate flights with other airlines as I'm not prepared to just sit around hoping they'll look after me. I know as an award booking I'll be their last priority.

So I'd avoid them where ever possible as they obviously aren't doing a good job of scheduling their future flight needs.

Post automatically merged: Feb 24, 2023

The only problem is that their schedules aren't completely firm yet as they ramp back up. However, if you can tolerate the possibility of being rebooked a day earlier or later, or having your layover extended by a few hours, then I'd say definitely go for CX.

100% correct. This is why my award bookings were cancelled. There is definitely no guarantee that you would be rebooked. In one of my cases (Hong Kong to Chicago) they no longer fly to that destination and would therefore need to negotiate with an alternate carrier to fulfill the original booking. We all know that this just wont happen. Especially on an award booking.

 

[M@rcoPolo]

Should still be OK if you use Asia Miles to book with other airlines eg: MH, right?

 

[FlyingFiona]

Thankfully the CX flight will be in addition to the BA/SIN ones i have now so that I can hold onto the latter until just before the date before cancelling thereby avoiding your situation Dr Ralph (glad you said though or I'd probably have cancelled them now).

 

[kamchatsky]

CX cancelled all of my award bookings to the US in the last 24 hours.

These bookings were made months ago for travel later this year.

So far they've not indicated that they are willing to rebook.

This was the reason given:

"Due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and subsequent changes to our network, your flight will be cancelled."

I've spent the last 12 hours scrambling to secure alternate flights with other airlines as I'm not prepared to just sit around hoping they'll look after me. I know as an award booking I'll be their last priority.

So I'd avoid them where ever possible as they obviously aren't doing a good job of scheduling their future flight needs.

Post automatically merged: Feb 24, 2023

100% correct. This is why my award bookings were cancelled. There is definitely no guarantee that you would be rebooked. In one of my cases (Hong Kong to Chicago) they no longer fly to that destination and would therefore need to negotiate with an alternate carrier to fulfill the original booking. We all know that this just wont happen. Especially on an award booking.

Interesting that they don't even offer to send you to lax or jfk instead

 

[Dr Ralph]

Interesting that they don't even offer to send you to lax or jfk instead

Alternate offerings have now been provided.

In bound flight now goes to Los Angeles instead of Chicago and the outbound flight now leaves from New York instead of Chicago.

How am I supposed to get between LAX and Chicago and then Chicago to New York? Why would they actually think anyone would be happy to fly to an airport more than 3500kms away from where they booked to go?

Just offensive stuff really from CX. They would have been better off just cancelling the flights entirely. At the very least they should have rebooked me coming and going from the same airport in the US, rather than on completely different coasts!

Beware those people booking with CX. You're absolutely at their mercy. Clearly thier flight schedules are very flexible.

 

[RooFlyer]

Yes I definitely would not be booking CX though Hong Kong or PRC any time soon.

 

[kamchatsky]

Alternate offerings have now been provided.

In bound flight now goes to Los Angeles instead of Chicago and the outbound flight now leaves from New York instead of Chicago.

How am I supposed to get between LAX and Chicago and then Chicago to New York? Why would they actually think anyone would be happy to fly to an airport more than 3500kms away from where they booked to go?

Just offensive stuff really from CX. They would have been better off just cancelling the flights entirely. At the very least they should have rebooked me coming and going from the same airport in the US, rather than on completely different coasts!

Beware those people booking with CX. You're absolutely at their mercy. Clearly thier flight schedules are very flexible.

Can you ask them to just add AA tag flight lax-Ord and ord-jfk? Sometimes you have to push to get what you want.

At worst you need to book domestic us cash or award fare separately

 

[kamchatsky]

Yes I definitely would not be booking CX though Hong Kong or PRC any time soon.

But if you are tied to qf/OW are there many choices? QF is stingy, QR doesn't even release seats to QF, AA are going fully dynamic awards. You really only have CX and possibly JL left.

 

[RooFlyer]

But if you are tied to qf/OW are there many choices? QF is stingy, QR doesn't even release seats to QF, AA are going fully dynamic awards. You really only have CX and possibly JL left.

oh sure, it’s a balance. But I don’t need to redeem points at the moment and certainly not Qantas points. I redeemed business sheets to Europe on Qatar a few weeks ago but that was using my Qatar and BA Avios.

 

[Dr Ralph]

Can you ask them to just add AA tag flight lax-Ord and ord-jfk? Sometimes you have to push to get what you want.

Ask who? CX? If so, how? And frankly I don't trust them not to change it again.

At worst you need to book domestic us cash or award fare separately

Already looked at this. Because of the luggage I'll have I'm looking at $4K+

 

[kamchatsky]

Ask who? CX? If so, how? And frankly I don't trust them not to change it again.

Already looked at this. Because of the luggage I'll have I'm looking at $4K+

You would have to talk to the ticket issuing carrier for it. If they are good they may do it for you. If it is QF, well....

 

[Flyfrequently]

Yes I definitely would not be booking CX though Hong Kong or PRC any time soon.

I am following this thread with interest as we have booked BC rewards CX MEL-HK then to AMS - LIS with KLM in September.
Have monitored CX 178 every day since booking and so far no cancellations or major delays
Keen to hear of other AFF's CX and KLM experiences.

 

[Pushka]

I am following this thread with interest as we have booked BC rewards CX MEL-HK then to AMS - LIS with KLM in September.
Have monitored CX 178 every day since booking and so far no cancellations or major delays
Keen to hear of other AFF's CX and KLM experiences.

I'll let you know KLM in a couple of months. I can say though that we have had plane changes (to a significantly better plane), multiple schedule changes and even a 24 flight change time but thank god both Qantas and KLM are communicating and tickets reissued before I even knew there was an issue. Hoping for no more changes.

 

[Flyfrequently]

I'll let you know KLM in a couple of months. I can say though that we have had plane changes (to a significantly better plane), multiple schedule changes and even a 24 flight change time but thank god both Qantas and KLM are communicating and tickets reissued before I even knew there was an issue. Hoping for no more changes.

Thanks @Pushka look forward to your experience.
We also have had many (? 6 +) aircraft and schedule changes. We are now back to our original booking!
Agree that Qantas and KLM particularly have been very proactive in communications and ticket reissues.

 

[DC3]

How am I supposed to get between LAX and Chicago and then Chicago to New York? Why would they actually think anyone would be happy to fly to an airport more than 3500kms away from where they booked to go?

Well, there’s an AFFer who was recently posting that SFO and LAX are both in the same city, so I guess that this is just an extension of similar comprehension. Still doesn’t help this situation, either.