When is Discount Economy not Discount Economy ?

[.tim]

Trap for young players: Booked a fare marketed as "Economy Flex" with Cathay Pacific for a Singapore to Hong Kong return in Jan 2026 in an attempt to earn much needed QF Status points. I even went so far as to check the QFF Earnings Calculator that clearly said both "Economy" and "Discount Economy" on Cathay would earn points... Trouble was, the fare I was given was classed as "Q" and apparently that is not even good enough to be classed as "Discount Economy" as far as earning is concerned. Feeling deceived, angry and defrauded [and yes, I know that the earnings calculator specifically carries the warning "This information should be used as a guide only" so legally I haven't got a leg to stand on, but nevertheless ... feeling duped].

 

[moa999]

Unfortunately determining exact fare classes can be difficult with some airlines, and Cathay somewhat uniquely seems to use all letters for each Economy class -

https://flights.cathaypacific.com/en_AU/fare-classes.html

With only a handful (ML, BHK, YE) actually earning on Qantas

 

[fletty]

@burneracc made a handy tool to help with these situations: I built a free tool that calculates qantas earn rate on oneworld flights

 

[Mwenenzi]

​

tim. Welcome to posting on AFF after joining in 2013

Trap for young players: Booked a fare marketed as "Economy Flex" with Cathay Pacific for a Singapore to Hong Kong return in Jan 2026 in an attempt to earn much needed QF Status points. I even went so far as to check the QFF Earnings Calculator that clearly said both "Economy" and "Discount Economy" on Cathay would earn points... Trouble was, the fare I was given was classed as "Q" and apparently that is not even good enough to be classed as "Discount Economy" as far as earning is concerned. Feeling deceived, angry and defrauded [and yes, I know that the earnings calculator specifically carries the warning "This information should be used as a guide only" so legally I haven't got a leg to stand on, but nevertheless ... feeling duped].

Its all in the QF earning tables (different from the calculator guide),. But takes practice to determine earning to ffp. Can be hard to find in the web site.
Cathy are well know for having poor earning to partner frequent flyer programs. Not just to QF.
Cathay buy points (with SC value in the background) from QF to reward (~bribe) you for buying a flight from them. A commercail agreement between CX & QF.

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/frequent-flyer/earn-points/airline-earning-tables.html

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/frequent-flyer/earn-points/airline-earning-tables/earn-category-tables.html

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/frequent-flyer/earn-points/airline-earning-tables/earn-category-tables.html#cathay-pacific

 

[moa999]

There is a step in the CX booking process where you can press a button to show Fare class.

Eg. This random example also picking Economy Flex like the OP where one way books into V class (non-earning with QF), and the other books into L class (Discount Economy with QF) - yet both earn 25 TP with CX, the highest they offer for Economy.

But it's trial and error in finding fare classes that earn.