CX - SIN to HKG...Why so expensive?

[ArseneV]

As a QFF I do my best to fly the OneWorld airlines as much as possible but for this route it seems stupid.

CX from HKG to SIN and vice versa totals up to around $1500 +.
While the same flight on SQ is around $600.

Perhaps this is why Cathay are posting a loss lately? What the?

Does anyone know if I could fly QF MEL - HKG with a stopover in SIN? I think the fee is normally $200 or so?

Thanks

 

[browski]

Maybe that CX price you were looking at is in Hong Kong Dollars.
Also, Not sure which $200 fee you are asking about.
Anyway, maybe you should consider the Jetstar Asia Flex fares between SIN and HKG. You can probably get them for $700 return (at least on the dates i checked) and get FF points, Status Credits and Qantas Club Lounge access.

 

[ArseneV]

Maybe that CX price you were looking at is in Hong Kong Dollars.
Also, Not sure which $200 fee you are asking about.
Anyway, maybe you should consider the Jetstar Asia Flex fares between SIN and HKG. You can probably get them for $700 return (at least on the dates i checked) and get FF points, Status Credits and Qantas Club Lounge access.

No, it was Australian.

With the $200 fee - On the QF site, after you pick a flight and review the flight details it mentions if stopovers are allowed or not. I was wondering that if i booked a one-way flight could I choose a stopover in Singapore?

The JetFlex fares look good.

 

[docjames]

Does anyone know if I could fly QF MEL - HKG with a stopover in SIN? I think the fee is normally $200 or so?

Thanks

QF metal does not operate SIN-HKG - you may be able to codeshare onto CX though.

Try a multi-segment itinery on qantas.com as see what it spits out for you.

 

[Flashback]

Keep in mind also, that one way fares will be pricier than a return, e.g. a one way will not simply be half of the return fare.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

What is the CX return fare SIN/HKG? Could possible be cheaper to buy tis and not utilise the return than paying through the roof for a one way.

Or what points to you need to do a f/flyer redemption SIN/HKG - again check points needed for both one way and return so you could use it in the future.

Browski's suggestion seems a good one about buying a tkt on 3K (SIN/HKG/SIN) then just buying a return tkt MEL/SIN/MEL.

Oz

 

[ArseneV]

Hi (Flashware and Docjames),

The multi-segment program cannot help in this situation at all i'll have to go through an agent. I assume though that if I did stopover then the flight between SIN - HKG would be with Jetstar.

Just priced a dummy return flight between SIN & HKG and it was $800!

 

[Shano]

From ExpertFlyer:

SYD-HKG return....

[U][B]TAXES/FEES NOT INCLUDED[/B][/U]                                        
ADULT FARES                                                    
     CX    FARE   FARE     C  AP  MIN/    SEASONS...... MR GI DT
           AUD    BASIS             MAX                        
  3  QF  1545.00R MKSSA1   M    |   /12M  03APR9-23APR9 R  EH  
                                                               
SPECIFIED          ROUTE: 0614                                 
MEL(QF/BA)SYD/MEL/BNE/ADL-HKG                                  
MEL-HKG                                                        
MEL-SYD-HKG                                                    
[COLOR=Red]MEL-SIN(CX)HKG                                                 [/COLOR]
MEL(QF/BA)SYD/MEL-BKK/MNL(CX)HKG                               
MEL-BKK(CX)HKG                                                 
MEL-SYD/MEL-HKG                                                
MEL-BKK/MNL(CX)HKG

The fare rules state that two free stopovers permitted for a round trip.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

So am I right in guessing that work is paying for you to fly MEL/HKG/MEL and you must use their corporate travel agent?

If that's the case what's to stop you departing earlier or staying later on the HKG trip if it's exactly the same fare and not costing your company any extra $$$.

Then just buy a separate ticket either on CX or a JetFlex fare on 3K (in order to earn ff points and SC) HKG/SIN/HKG.

I wouldn't tell the agent too much as they'll just want to create obstacles for you ie apply the KISS principle (keep it simple stupid). As long as your employer is happy for you to extend before or after then the agent has no choice other than go along with it.

Just make damn sure that you take extra care to allow enough time for flight connections when booking your SIN/HKG flight on 3K connecting with your agents booking on QF HKG/MEL. You don't want any mishaps.

Unlike Europe where you could flying MEL/LON/MEL and stopover say in SIN on the way over and HKG on the way back and not pay anymore for your airfare, most fares to Asia are different where you pay for every sector you fly unless you are on some whizz bang nett fare on GA or BI where it differs from the norm.

Oz

 

[ArseneV]

I probably should've stated my original plan clearly from the beginning.

At first, I was amazed at how expensive the CX fare between SIN & HKG is one-way, especially since other carriers can do it for a lot less.
However, if you book a return fare with CX it becomes cheaper than a one-way fare.

I am also curious that if I book a one-way flight between MEL & HKG, will I be able to get a stopover in SIN and will it be free or not?

So far, i'm assuming that if I did book the MEL - HKG flight with a stopover in SIN, then the flight between SIN - HKG will be with 3K?
However, from Shano's post it now looks as if it could be with CX?

This is not work related.

 

[Shano]

If you book that particular QF fare as MEL-SIN-HKG, then MEL-SIN will be on QF and SIN-HKG will be on CX.

 

[Evan]

Just to make a general note, the SIN-HKG route is never cheap, even if the plane is empty, they charge what the market will tolerate and with little real competition that just the way it it.

Corp fares using either SQ or CX on this route can be upto 5 times cheaper i have noticed ! crazy i know but just the way it is it seems.

E