Pick a deal from CX’s saver fares

BANGKOK 25 August – Cathay Pacific Airways’ online sales campaign Smart Saver is back featuring selected destinations in Europe and Asia.

However, not all of the promotional fares are up to scratch and on some European routes, the saver fares are especially difficult to secure because flights are heavily booked during the summer months.

Smart Saver to Europe and Smart Saver to Asia, were launched mid-July and are good for travel ex-Bangkok until 30 September. There are discounted fares for both business class and economy classes available to seven cities in Europe and eight in Asia.

For European destinations, Smart Saver fares have seat availability on flights to Amsterdam, London and Moscow on certain days, but are almost impossible to book for Paris, Rome, Frankfurt and Milan.

Business deals are Bt107,220 to Amsterdam; Bt112,270 to London and Bt85,695 to Moscow. As for Paris, Rome, Frankfurt and Milan, it’s easier to find fares at Bt210,780, Bt174,310, Bt154,335 and Bt196,185 respectively. All destinations require a flight to Hong Kong to connect with the services to Europe.

Compared to other full service carriers operating non-stop flight out of Bangkok to Amsterdam, CX’s fare is slightly higher than KLM, which quotes Bt106,020, but China Airlines has the best deal at Bt77,800.

However, CX’s  business fare to London is cheaper than British Airways by around Bt23,000 (BA, Bt136,650) and if a stop in Hong Kong is fine then the traveller has a bargain.

Shopping around pays off though with Etihad Airways selling the same services ex-Bangkok at Bt100,250. The only downside is a connection at a Middle East hub. If there are delays it can sometimes mean a long stay at the airport as a visa is required to go into Abu Dhabi.

As for Moscow business-class fare, Aeroflot understandably sells the cheapest fare at around Bt78,100, but most travellers tend to avoid that airline thanks to its poor  in-flight service reputation. THAI has only its top booking class fare available at Bt122,760.

Looking at economy-class fares, the CX Smart Saver fares are very scarce except for Moscow, Bt32,395. To other destinations, fares start from Bt44,420 to Amsterdam, Bt44,305 to London, Bt52,435 to Paris, Bt49,970 to Rome, Bt41,905 to Frankfurt and Bt41,270 to Milan.

As for Smart Saver to Asia, there are still available seats across the network during the promotional period.

Business promotional fares are: Bt21,950 to Hong Kong; Bt15,070 to Singapore; Bt31,835 to Beijing; Bt35,425 to Seoul; Bt25,200 to Mumbai; Bt25,695 to Delhi and Bt Bt24,720 to Colombo.

Economy-class fares: Bt10,050 to Hong Kong; Bt7,270 to Singapore; Bt15,435 to Beijing; Bt17,925 to Seoul; Bt12,000 to Mumbai; Bt13,195 to Delhi and Bt10,320 to Colombo.

There are no seats available in the discount category on the service to Busan, although it appears in the Smart Saver to Asia list. Only the Bt84,235 business class and Bt30,860 economy fares are available.

Compared to  fares offered by other carriers, CX’s Hong Kong fares are not the lowest by a long way. THAI matches frequencies daily and its Fly with Us fares are much lower at Bt21,335 for business class and Bt9,635 for economy.

However, its Singapore fares are the cheapest (Bt7,270) of all full-service carriers flying from Bangkok, due to its single daily departure. THAI sells at Bt17,575, in business class and Bt8,070 in economy, while Singapore Airlines sells at Bt32,750 and Bt13,330 respectively.

CX’s Colombo business fare is about Bt2,000 cheaper than Bt26,195 of Sri Lankan Airlines but almost identical in economy class.