Redemption on Hong Kong Airlines

[Ansett Nostalgic]

This has been restored with Velocity Points but only available over the phone. Two questions:

1. What is the best way to search for availability?

2. Is it possible to redeem all HX routes, or only between Australia and HK? e.g. HX have some flights from HKG to Japan, can I redeem those?

 

[AIRwin]

2. Is it possible to redeem all HX routes, or only between Australia and HK? e.g. HX have some flights from HKG to Japan, can I redeem those?

Velocity members can redeem Points for flights across the Hong Kong Airlines network:

Hong Kong Airlines

Earn Points with Hong Kong Airlines when you travel in an eligible fare class with a HX flight number and operated by Hong Kong Airlines or Virgin Australia. You can also earn Status Credits and redeem Reward Seat. Learn more now.

www.velocityfrequentflyer.com

 

[Ansett Nostalgic]

Velocity members can redeem Points for flights across the Hong Kong Airlines network:

Hong Kong Airlines

Earn Points with Hong Kong Airlines when you travel in an eligible fare class with a HX flight number and operated by Hong Kong Airlines or Virgin Australia. You can also earn Status Credits and redeem Reward Seat. Learn more now.

www.velocityfrequentflyer.com

Thanks for confirming. But how to search for availability?

 

[Hadun]

Thanks for confirming. But how to search for availability?

Did you end up finding anything? Just had a quick look on the website and couldn't see anything for either last minute or a year out. Does that mean you have to call up to check available dates as well as to make a booking? Hope they're not also clicking and scrolling day-by-day in that case lol.

 

[AIRwin]

Thanks for confirming. But how to search for availability?

"Reward Seats on Hong Kong Airlines must be booked through our Membership Contact Centre."

 

[prelude]

Very weird situation, I called yesterday just to check availability on HX, they had availability across the three days I was looking at, I called again this afternoon to book, they said they had availability but were unable to confirm the tickets and to try call again later. I called this evening and they said that there was no availability across all three days.

The contact centre suggested that all the award seats have been snapped up, but looking at the EF seat maps, there has been no changes in J cabin at all. I'm wondering if the loads on these flights are poor and they're considering some changes... They're already planning to cut back to 4/week in late October.

 

[ElizaB]

I just booked 2 seats with Hong Kong Airlines (YVR-HKG), the first time I called the lady knew what she was doing, said there was 9 seats avaliable, the second time a few days later the man was very confused and said he couldnt tell me seats (he said try online). Just hang up and call again until you speak to someone who knows whats happening. After you book confirm seat selection via their live chat.

 

[prelude]

An addition data point on the above, I had the same exact experience. I called a total of 5 times:

1st time - guy knew exactly knew he was doing, was a call to just get availability and taxes
2nd time - clueless lady, said she could see availability and couldn't book, asked a supervisor (not sure if this was true) and said seats were unconfirmed and not bookable
3rd time - guy said couldn't see any availability
4th time - guy was very very good, understood exactly what I wanted, got to taxes but unfortunately call disconnected
5th time - clueless lady, initially insisted on the call centre booking fee, I explained HX is not bookable online, she asked me what I saw when I entered on the booking portal, I had to explain that the website specifically says HX is not bookable online, half-way through booking, asked again why I couldn't book online, by some miracle completed the booking

I should also note that once booked, you have to call the HX call centre to assign seats as you cannot use a VA assigned ticket number to manage the booking online.

 

[tassie6]

Great data points. Do you mind noting the taxes/fees you paid and on what routes?

 

[ElizaB]

Yes sorry I meant that I confirmed seat selection via online chat because I didn't want to be randomly assigned a seat. You can use the WhatsApp Chat to talk to Hong Kong Airlines and it was super easy, the lady was fantastic to chat to and let me know all my seat options. My husband and I like a window seat each rather than sitting together in the middle haha.
Our flights were 100,000 points each (14hr 15min flight) YVR-HKG, there was 7 - 9 seats available for every day I asked about. Taxes were $67.70 each. A pretty good deal I think.
I asked about some HKG to YVR flights which also had amazing availability. Sadly I was charged the call centre booking fee of $70 each, didn't know I could avoid it, as I said the guy that booked them in the end was clueless.

 

[prelude]

Sadly I was charged the call centre booking fee of $70 each, didn't know I could avoid it, as I said the guy that booked them in the end was clueless.

I would push for a refund directly though Velocity - it says explicitly on their website that the call centre booking fee doesn't apply for partner airlines unavailable via online booking.

Great data points. Do you mind noting the taxes/fees you paid and on what routes?

I booked HKG-SYD in J - $122.53 in taxes. Although HX isn't exactly the most desirable airline, the availability during peak season and low taxes make it worth it in my opinion.