CX Award Booking Query

[NoName]

Probably been discussed before but I'm looking at award flights using QF pts for MXP-BNE via HKG on CX but no availability. However there is availability for the individual flights (MXP-HKG & HKG-BNE).

If I were to make a separate booking for each will this be an issue? Does it break any CX terms? Obviously want to make sure it won’t get cancelled on me at some time after booking.

Cheers

 

[vetrade]

The problem of CX blocking connecting award flights through HKG has been discussed in the OW RTW thread, NoName. It's not a breach of any CX terms - it's just that since it's their hub they want people to have stopovers rather than transits. It seems that if one of the connecting flights is to or from Oz it's almost certain that CX will block you from connecting flights.

Your query does put another twist on it since you are proposing to have each flight on a separate PNR. Given the separate PNR possibility you propose I do not have a definitive answer but I suspect you might get away with it. I do know that for OW RTW bookings CX blocks HKG connections (by cancelling the seats) within a few days if the QF call centre does happen to try and book connecting CX flights through HKG - so in your separate PNR scenario at least you wouldn't have to wait long to see if CX blocked it.

If there is more than 24 hrs between arrival and departure (i.e. a HKG stopover rather than a transit) you can get award seats on both flights so if you were prepared to have a night in HKG you would eliminate the risk.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Probably been discussed before but I'm looking at award flights using QF pts for MXP-BNE via HKG on CX but no availability. However there is availability for the individual flights (MXP-HKG & HKG-BNE).

If I were to make a separate booking for each will this be an issue? Does it break any CX terms? Obviously want to make sure it won’t get cancelled on me at some time after booking.

Cheers

Sounds like a married segment.

Booking separate tickets won't be an issue - only that it might cost you more points and/or fees and taxes. If it is an immediate connection (same day) you can claim back your HK departure tax (at HKG on day of travel).

 

[NoName]

Thanks for the replies guys! Sounds like I will be ok so will go ahead and do it. Points are the same as its F MXP-HKG & J HKG-BNE (199k either way) but yes the taxes do look marginally higher. Thanks for the tip to claim the HKG departure tax back.

I'm guessing booking it this way will result in no CX F lounge in HKG? Only drawback I suppose.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks for the replies guys! Sounds like I will be ok so will go ahead and do it. Points are the same as its F MXP-HKG & J HKG-BNE (199k either way) but yes the taxes do look marginally higher. Thanks for the tip to claim the HKG departure tax back.

I'm guessing booking it this way will result in no CX F lounge in HKG? Only drawback I suppose.

If they are back-to-back flights arriving CX F will give you access to the F lounge before a CX J service.

You can claim your departure tax back as long as the connecting flight is 'same day'. You do that by going airside to the tax refund counter, nestled among the check-in desks.

I think you can also submit a claim if you stay airside, but they have to send you a cheque or sommit.

 

[Robert K]

If they are back-to-back flights arriving CX F will give you access to the F lounge before a CX J service.

Side question: So I'm flying LHR-HKG in CX F, and then connecting QF Y to SYD 12 hours later. I can use CX F lounge on arrival?!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Side question: So I'm flying LHR-HKG in CX F, and then connecting QF Y to SYD 12 hours later. I can use CX F lounge on arrival?!

Depends.

Arriving CX F (and as a OWE) and you're intending to leave the airport and visit Hong Kong city, you will have access to The Arrivals lounge... located under the Hong Kong Express train station.

If you are in transit only (staying airside), you'll have access to the F lounge anyway by virtue of your OWE status (if the CX F didn't get you in anyway - that's something I'm not entirely sure about).

If you want to arrive, go through transit security, use the F lounge and then depart for the city... that's not something 'recommended'. You have to get a member of CX ground staff to come collect you and take you to the immigration hall to 'hand you over'. They have to stop their assigned duties to do that and is somewhat frowned upon (although that being said, it can be done, but could be withdrawn at any time).

You can store hand luggage at The Arrivals lounge (secure), you just need to be back by 11 or 12 pm or whatever when the lounge closes to collect your things.

 

[NoName]

If they are back-to-back flights arriving CX F will give you access to the F lounge before a CX J service.

You can claim your departure tax back as long as the connecting flight is 'same day'. You do that by going airside to the tax refund counter, nestled among the check-in desks.

I think you can also submit a claim if you stay airside, but they have to send you a cheque or sommit.

Thanks for this.

It will still be either a 6hr or 13hr transit depending on which flight i go for and I don't think I will stay airside for that long. Would much prefer to go and do something for a couple of hours. In terms of accessing the F lounge does it matter whether I leave the airport or not?

 

[Kaiser]

Do CX also block connections through HKG when booked as an AA award? I've had DOH-HKG-BNE ticketed for a month now, can they still cancel the tickets?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Do CX also block connections through HKG when booked as an AA award? I've had DOH-HKG-BNE ticketed for a month now, can they still cancel the tickets?

i don't think this is an issue of 'blocked' connections... but rather married segments. If it is a married segment it shouldn't be bookable from the outset. If an agent tries to manually override that, you might get a cancelled reservation, but otherwise you'll be good to go.

If it's been ticketed for a month, by AA, I wouldn't be concerned.

 

[Kaiser]

Ok - thanks for the info!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks for this.

It will still be either a 6hr or 13hr transit depending on which flight i go for and I don't think I will stay airside for that long. Would much prefer to go and do something for a couple of hours. In terms of accessing the F lounge does it matter whether I leave the airport or not?

i think it is a bit of a grey area.

certainly if if you were in an immediate transit, or same day transit, no problem.

if you are intending to leave the airport, or have an overnight connection, the separate tickets mean your onward flight is not part of the 'same reservation'. It's worth trying for lounge access, and you'll probably get it, but CX can deny within the written rules.

In summary (CX rules only, separate to oneworld):

arriving CX F connecting to CX J -> F lounge
arriving CX F connecting to CX J 'next day' (within 24 hours and on same reservation) -> F lounge
arriving CX F connecting CX J 'next day' on separate tickets -> maybe only J lounge (but certainly try for F)