Waiting List for Flights

[yangry]

Hi,

My girlfriend and I are going to Hong Kong at the end of the year. When we went and book the tickets, we were given two options. One is leaving together on the 22nd (of Dec) evening. The other option is leaving on different flights 6 hours apart on the 21st.

Due to the limited amount of holiday that we have, we took the second option so we can spend one more day overseas.

I then thought about the possibility of waiting list. We were thinking that if we can be put on the waiting list for both flights, we have a high chance of flying together simply because we only need one seat on either flights.

I called Cathay Pacific and was informed that they don't deal with changes and wanted me to go back to Flight Centre. But there isn't any seats at the moment (otherwise we would've booked on the same flight), so I don't really get the point of going back to Flight Centre.

My questions is, how does waiting list work? We are happy with our current arrangement (flying separately on 21st) but would be happier if we can fly together.

Thanks,
Alan

 

[v8Statesman]

I know it is leaving it to the last minute, but if you both rock up for the earlier flight and ask the checking person nicely, they will put you on the same flight if there is room.

 

[Maca44]

If you haven't paid Flight Centre you might want to check with another Travel Agent, and they might be able to put you together. Some years ago when I got bored I did a Cert 111 course in tourism, and most of the warning we learned were about flight centre.

 

[v8Statesman]

If you haven't paid Flight Centre you might want to check with another Travel Agent, and they might be able to put you together. Some years ago when I got bored I did a Cert 111 course in tourism, and most of the warning we learned were about flight centre.

Perhaps share....In the playground

 

[yangry]

We've already booked and paid at Flight Centre. I thought about both rocking up to the airport for the first flight but then that means I can't drive to the airport (I was thinking dropping her off and come back home and leave in 6 hours).

But I've heard about people being put on the waiting list and get seats and just wondering how it works if Cathay Pacific told me flat out that they don't deal with it. Maybe I should speak to someone else at Cathay again?

Alan

 

[NM]

It depends on the rules of the fare you have purchased. Some fares allow waitlisting, some fares do not.

 

[v8Statesman]

It depends on the rules of the fare you have purchased. Some fares allow waitlisting, some fares do not.

+

Being Flight Centre, I'd suggest not

 

[Travel Guru]

If you haven't paid Flight Centre you might want to check with another Travel Agent, and they might be able to put you together. Some years ago when I got bored I did a Cert 111 course in tourism, and most of the warning we learned were about flight centre.

Come now Maca, one of your fellow board members learnt his trade at Flight Centre!!



Re the waitlist, it's definately worth waitlisting, what you'll need to do is go back to Flight Centre and ask them to waitlist a seat for both options (you on your gf flight, your gf on yours)

What happens then is that Cathay will assess over minutes, hrs, days, weeks whether they want to open up a seat in the booking class you're in thats since booked out, and if successful will HK (confirm) and you can then reissue/revalidate (depending on the rules) so you're both on it.

It's certainly not an advisable plan to bank on being able to sweet talk your way onto each other flight, especially given the lack of availability at that time of the year, but i'd definately waitlist it.

CX are only sending you back to FC out of courtesy because they're holding the booking and they're the ones who can most easily waitlist and if necessary reissue it.

Good luck with it.

TG

 

[yangry]

Thanks Travel Guru, I'll certainly give them a call tomorrow. I don't know why they didn't mention the possibility of waiting list to us when we book it.

 

[JohnK]

I'll certainly give them a call tomorrow. I don't know why they didn't mention the possibility of waiting list to us when we book it.

The most likely reason they did not mention waitlisting of flights to you is that they would spend additional time to request waitlisting for both your flights and after all time is money.