Issues With Classic Awards on CX Metal

[NoName]

Not sure if this should be posted here or in the CX forum.

I am looking at booking a classic award using QFF points on CX from SIN-LAX with the HKG-LAX leg in F but am having some trouble with the system not allowing me to choose certain flight options.

As an example, looking around 27/28 Sep 2015, if I search the SIN-HKG & HKG-LAX legs individually I can see J seats available for pretty much every flight of the day from SIN-HKG & fairly good F seat availability for most of the flights from HKG-LAX. However, if I simply search SIN-LAX I get much more limited flight options and when I search the trip as a multi-city search I lose F availability altogether.

Is this something that could be sorted out by calling QF to make the booking? Or will I need to make a separate booking for each leg? Or will neither of these options work?

 

[SQ421]

Not sure if this should be posted here or in the CX forum.

I am looking at booking a classic award using QFF points on CX from SIN-LAX with the HKG-LAX leg in F but am having some trouble with the system not allowing me to choose certain flight options.

As an example, looking around 27/28 Sep 2015, if I search the SIN-HKG & HKG-LAX legs individually I can see J seats available for pretty much every flight of the day from SIN-HKG & fairly good F seat availability for most of the flights from HKG-LAX. However, if I simply search SIN-LAX I get much more limited flight options and when I search the trip as a multi-city search I lose F availability altogether.

Is this something that could be sorted out by calling QF to make the booking? Or will I need to make a separate booking for each leg? Or will neither of these options work?

Airlines handle fare bucket availability in mysterious ways, esp. with married segments. Your easiest option is to book the SIN-xHKG-LAX flight combination offered in J and F and then call to move the SIN-HKG segment to another flight with award availability.

 

[knasty]

I just had a look at 27/9 and it gives 12 options of CX J to HKG then F to LAX. What flights do you want?

 

[NoName]

Individually all HKG-LAX sectors seem to have F availability but combined with the SIN-HKG leg it seems only a couple do and less options available for SIN-HKG when booked this way as opposed to individually.

Not sure what flights I will want at this stage or what dates. 27/28 Sep 15 was just an example. Im wanting to know what my options are to get the flights I want if this situation happens when I actually go to book.

Will SQ421's suggestion definitely work? How about if I book each sector individually?

 

[SQ421]

Will SQ421's suggestion definitely work? How about if I book each sector individually?

You could book each sector individually as well. Just make sure you leave enough time in HKG to cater for delays. If you are checking bags, CX will be able to check them through to LAX on separate tickets.

 

[knasty]

I agree with SQ421 the 'married' results tend to produce the most logical options which minimizes transit whilst meeting MCT but I see 12 options on that day where a Sin-LAX query brings up J to HKG then F to LAX so you're pretty spoiled for choice as it is! I see how multi city somewhat malfunctions with the.second leg. If you are not displayed a valid combo you could call and try to get the fee waived on that basis, no harm as you can always hang up if they won't do it.

 

[vetrade]

CX do put hurdles in the way when it comes to booking connecting award flights e.g for YVR - HKG - MEL, you'll usually find award seats available for both legs but they won't let you book both together as connecting flights unless you have more than 24 hrs in HKG. So if you're happy to have a stopover in HKG to do some shopping etc you'll probably get award seats for both flights. Probably the only other way to get around it is to use another OW airline for one of the legs (if you can)

P.S. It won't help to use the QF call centre - they won't be able to over-ride CX's block on the combo flights.

 

[knasty]

Not necessarily. I have had AA book connections with 23 hour stopover by manually combining the 2 flights in one award; it's just the system didn't show it as an option because there were a number of more logical ie. Shorter transit options available

 

[NoName]

If CX puts these hurdles in the way that you mention, is there the possibility of any issue if I go to book the two legs individually on seperate tickets to get around the problem? They won’t come back later and cancel one or both of the bookings because there’s not a 24hr layover for example?

 

[vetrade]

If CX puts these hurdles in the way that you mention, is there the possibility of any issue if I go to book the two legs individually on seperate tickets to get around the problem? They won’t come back later and cancel one or both of the bookings because there’s not a 24hr layover for example?

You won't have any problems on separate bookings - the problem only arises if you try and combine the 2 flights on the one award booking.

 

[vetrade]

Not necessarily. I have had AA book connections with 23 hour stopover by manually combining the 2 flights in one award; it's just the system didn't show it as an option because there were a number of more logical ie. Shorter transit options available

Was that for CX flights? ASAIK this is a particular problem which arises if you fly both legs on CX and want to transit via HKG.

 

[knasty]

Yep. Wanted to fly Syd-HKG-BKK with overnight in HKG but <24hr transit to be one award. Rang AA and they couldn't see what I wanted as a single combination but I knew there was U class available on both so they selected each individually and the system then matched them up as one award. In my case it wasn't a CX imposed obstacle it was just a limitation of the booking system for an 'illogical' connection.

 

[jsoprano]

Don't want to hijack the thread but also have a question regarding availability of CX seats using QFF points:

I am looking for flights FRA-HKG in F in October 2015, specifically Sat 10 Oct or Sun 11 Oct. These dates may not have opened up yet because it's too far in the future, but I am monitoring every day on the QFF booking engine. Anyway, what I observed is from 19 Sep onwards there seems to be no F availability on weekends at all, however almost every Saturday and most Sundays before the 19th are available. Is there any reason for this?

 

[knasty]

Cathay shows availability up to the 12th October. i saw the same as you - midweek availability but not on those weekends.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Not sure if this should be posted here or in the CX forum.

I am looking at booking a classic award using QFF points on CX from SIN-LAX with the HKG-LAX leg in F but am having some trouble with the system not allowing me to choose certain flight options.

As an example, looking around 27/28 Sep 2015, if I search the SIN-HKG & HKG-LAX legs individually I can see J seats available for pretty much every flight of the day from SIN-HKG & fairly good F seat availability for most of the flights from HKG-LAX. However, if I simply search SIN-LAX I get much more limited flight options and when I search the trip as a multi-city search I lose F availability altogether.

Is this something that could be sorted out by calling QF to make the booking? Or will I need to make a separate booking for each leg? Or will neither of these options work?

I have had this issue before with Qantas, again originating in SIN. Individual segments were showing available, but not the entire journey.

I called QF reservations, they acknowledged there was a problem, and made the booking for me.

They waived the assistance fee as it was a problem with their booking engine.

 

[Danger]

CX do put hurdles in the way when it comes to booking connecting award flights e.g for YVR - HKG - MEL, you'll usually find award seats available for both legs but they won't let you book both together as connecting flights unless you have more than 24 hrs in HKG. So if you're happy to have a stopover in HKG to do some shopping etc you'll probably get award seats for both flights. Probably the only other way to get around it is to use another OW airline for one of the legs (if you can)

P.S. It won't help to use the QF call centre - they won't be able to over-ride CX's block on the combo flights.

Exactly my experience. Plenty of availability point-to-point but not on a through ticket. This was a booking with AA miles.

Not necessarily. I have had AA book connections with 23 hour stopover by manually combining the 2 flights in one award; it's just the system didn't show it as an option because there were a number of more logical ie. Shorter transit options available

I've had this result as well as 'we can't do it' response.

CX certainly does seem to love married segments.

 

[jsoprano]

Just another observation and asking for some experience how to solve this:

I am still looking for 2 F seats on CX from Europe to HKG in October 2015. Now I checked ZRH-HKG on a particular day but no availability. then I checked what comes up when looking for TXL-HKG (expected AY in J, or BA via LHR), but to my surprise: AB to ZRH in Y, then CX to HKG in F.... the same flight on the same day that is not available when searching for ZRH-HKG alone. How is that possible?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Just another observation and asking for some experience how to solve this:

I am still looking for 2 F seats on CX from Europe to HKG in October 2015. Now I checked ZRH-HKG on a particular day but no availability. then I checked what comes up when looking for TXL-HKG (expected AY in J, or BA via LHR), but to my surprise: AB to ZRH in Y, then CX to HKG in F.... the same flight on the same day that is not available when searching for ZRH-HKG alone. How is that possible?

phantom availability? you might need to call QF and ask them what they can 'see'.

 

[jetpack]

Just another observation and asking for some experience how to solve this:

I am still looking for 2 F seats on CX from Europe to HKG in October 2015. Now I checked ZRH-HKG on a particular day but no availability. then I checked what comes up when looking for TXL-HKG (expected AY in J, or BA via LHR), but to my surprise: AB to ZRH in Y, then CX to HKG in F.... the same flight on the same day that is not available when searching for ZRH-HKG alone. How is that possible?

Looks like an error of some sort. When you select the flights you'll get this error. EDIT: I see now that this error means nothing as it just says not all sectors are in First.

Please review the following items

• The requested cabin class is full or not available in at least one of the options listed below. (5003 UI)

When you search by multi-city, the F flights no longer appear as an option.

 

[jsoprano]

Looks like an error of some sort. When you select the flights you'll get this error.

When you search by multi-city, the F flights no longer appear as an option.

Ah, I see. Thanks. however, regardless of this error message on the top, it seems one can still book it. Not sure what will happen when I try. I'll probably give them a call later today.