Help with Getting a Reasonable Return Ticket from Taipei to Melbourne

LPennyPincher69 on 16/10/2018 - 19:58
Last edited 17/10/2018 - 22:37 by 1 other user

Hi Folks,

My first post here so please be nice. I have a first-world problem so please refrain from blasting this thread with condescending comments. I've read many posts on this forum from people who respond quite cynically with snide remarks or "you-got-what-you-deserve" kind of apathetic attitude. The reason why I decided to still try to make a post on here is because I need the insights and expertise of bargain hunters who can share their ways of exploiting or taking advantage of price errors with airline flights.

I'm a university student married to a Taiwanese girl and is trying to plan a trip back to Taiwan this Christmas to visit her parents.
Since we didn't have all the dates d departure figured out at the time of booking I impulsively went online and bought a one-way ticket from China Airline that was on FLASH sale for $456.59 at the last week of November—- I thought it was such a good deal that I bought it without thinking about the consequences and my line of thinking was that once we figured out the return date that I'll just book it once it's confirmed closer to the date of departure. A few days later, we decided to return on Christmas day but when I tried to book the ticket for just a ONE WAY ticket from TPE->MEL the cost jumped to $1024…. I was shocked. I tried to call China Airlines to see if I could exchange that Flash sale ticket for a return ticket for a price closer around the $1000 range and was denied. The person who refused to help me said that promotional ticket cannot be changed whatsoever and now I'm stuck with paying $1024 for a return ticket bringing the total cost of the round trip to $1475.

I had learned my lesson and booked my own round trip ticket for a total of $1024 from MEL->TPE and TPE->MEL on a direct flight. So my question to you guys is… Do I need to pay the price of $400 for learning my lesson to NOT buy a one way ticket during a flash sale? Or is there a way I can resolve the issue?

Can anybody help me get a price closer to $500 instead of $1000+ for a one way return ticket from Taipei to Melbourne on December 25th on flight CI-057? Since my partner needs to depart with me on the same flight, there is not much room for flexibility or booking a different flight.

What can I do to find a price error or flash sale again but this time from Taiwan's end with China Airlines?

Suggestions welcome but please keep negativity to a minimum. Comments like "you're a dumbass for impulse buying" doesn't help. Thanks

Travel

Comments

  • sky blu on 16/10/2018 - 20:15
    +5

    What can I do to find a price error or flash sale again but this time from Taiwan's end with China Airlines?

    Lol

  • FSTB on 16/10/2018 - 20:32
    +5

    Cough up the money. Your expecting us to magically come up with a pricing error for a flight on chrismas day? Get real…If such thing existed it would be on the front page already.

    • sky blu on 16/10/2018 - 20:36
      +2

      But have you checked his username?

  • PJC on 16/10/2018 - 20:47
    +4

    Can anybody help me get a price closer to $500 instead of $1000+ for a one way return ticket from Taipei to Melbourne on December 25th on flight CI-057?

    What exactly is a one way return? I admit I don't travel much these days. Oh, I think I get it now. It's a one way ticket for your return home. The total isn't a brilliant deal, but bearing in mind it is during the Christmas period, it isn't too bad either.

  • 87percent on 16/10/2018 - 21:27

    Subscribe to iwtf and hope and pray a sale comes up.

  • [Deactivated] on 16/10/2018 - 21:33
    +1

    condescending comment deleted by user

  • waterbottled on 16/10/2018 - 21:40

    cop it dude.

  • toniyellow on 16/10/2018 - 21:45
    +2

    I have a first-world problem so please refrain from blasting this thread with condescending comments. I've read many posts on this forum from people who respond quite cynically with snide remarks or "you-got-what-you-deserve" kind of apathetic attitude. The reason why I decided to still try to make a post on here is because I need the insights and expertise of bargain hunters who can share their ways of exploiting or taking advantage of price errors with airline flights.

    I've read a lot of posts that start this way, and you get what you pay for.

    Pay for help, and I'm sure they will be polite e.g.travel agent, sites like https://www.farefetch.com/ (whether they can actually find you a solution is another thing, but if they can't i'm sure they will tell you nicely)

    Free post on a bargain forum? The price of admission is having to ignore comments you don't like. Typing out 'don't be negative' is just waving a flag at a bull.

    If you are restricting yourself to only CI-057 on 25/12, that airplane has maybe 250 seats, and presumably a bunch are already sold. Trying to find one of the remaining ones at a bargain sounds impossible.

    Investigate flying at similar times but different airlines?

    Investigate just cancelling the one way ticket and buying a new round trip? Even if the flight is nonrefundable, you may be able to get a refund on airport taxes. That may or may not be worth the hassle depending on what the taxes were.

  • holdenmg on 16/10/2018 - 21:57
    +4

    Hey,

    Lowest I can see is:
    AUD 775.44 + Cashback via Cashrewards.com.au
    http://www.statravel.com.au/

    Yes, this is for:
    China Airlines CI57
    Tue, 25 Dec 2018
    9h 30m
    23:25
    TPE - Taipei Chiang Kai Shek Intl Apt, Taipei, Taiwan
    11:55 + 1 day (arrives +1)
    MEL - Melbourne Apt, Melbourne, Australia

    Student/Youth Fare
    If you are under the age of 31, a valid IYTC card will be required.
    If you are a full time student you must be in possession of a valid ISIC card and aged at least 16 years old.

    • PennyPincher69 on 16/10/2018 - 22:16

      Thank you so much for this insight. I did not know there were prices in the 700. This is for my partner who is 32 years old. She's on a student visa too but a dependent of a full time student. (so she can work full time if she wants to) Could you tell me how to get the student rate in this case?

      • holdenmg on 16/10/2018 - 22:32
        +1

        Well, have a look at:
        http://www.statravel.com.au/isic_card.htm
        http://book.statravel.com.au/staglobe/DiscountCardsRetrieve.…

        Eligibility

        If you are a current full-time student at school, college or university, aged 12 or over, you can apply for a student card with ISIC. For those between the ages of 12 and 15 please visit us in store or call us on 134 782 to book.

        The ISIC card is only for current full-time students, so you need to have the following ready when you apply:

        A document that proves that you are currently studying full-time at a recognised school, college or university.
A copy of your university or student card, which is dated and clearly indicates you are currently a full-time student.
A signed and dated letter on official university or school stationery, which states you are a full-time student.

        You will also need a proof of ID and a recent passport style photo for your application.
        Important Info
        The STA Travel ISIC Card is only available to full-time students and is valid for 12 months from date of application.
        If you are travelling on a flight which requires this card for eligibility you must carry your card with you on your flight. Faliure to do so may result in the airline refusing you boarding. ISIC cards are non-changeable and non-refundable.

        I'd suggest you (or both of you) obtain ISIC Cards through STA Travel then book flight.

      • HighAndDry on 17/10/2018 - 10:28
        +4

        Could you tell me how to get the student rate in this case?

        Holdenmg is too nice. You can obviously read English. You can also apparently navigate websites. Could you really not click through and do some reading yourself at all?

        But you might run into issues:

        She's on a student visa too but a dependent of a full time student.

        If she's not actually studying full time. Being on a student visa and being a dependent of a full time student isn't enough - she needs to be a full time student herself. I notice you didn't mention that in your comment. Note that:

        'Full-time' means 12 weeks or more of study during one academic year.

  • vinzchang on 16/10/2018 - 22:04
    +1

    take Airasia to KL or Jetstar to Singapore then transit to Melbourne

  • JJlikes2eat on 16/10/2018 - 22:46

    Look at this from another POV. Think of the $456.59 you spent as an "educational fee". That's how my mum put it. Doesn't feel so bad afterwards.

  • altomic on 17/10/2018 - 00:06
    +3

    The person who refused to help me

    OP can you give me $1000? why do you refuse to help me?!!?!!

    departing christmas taipei to singapore w/ jetstar $294

    arrive 1am boxing day.
    spend a day/night in singapore - get an airBnb for $80

    fly out 27th @11am for $204

    $500 taipei to melbourne

  • bobbified on 17/10/2018 - 08:50

    It's well known that, on full service airlines, a single ticket is almost the same price as a return ticket.

    Your only hope of getting a cheap one-way ticket is on the budget airlines. And since it's Christmas (peak season) that you want this ticket, "cheap" isn't exactly going to be cheap. But it'll be cheap relative to all the others.

    Have a look on skyscanner for your dates.

    • kerfuffle on 17/10/2018 - 08:52
      +3

      OP claims he won’t go on another flight; it has to be on the same flight as per the opening post …

      If it’s that important that you have to be on the same flight, just pay for the ticket. You can’t have it both ways

      • bobbified on 17/10/2018 - 08:56

        If it’s that important that you have to be on the same flight, just pay for the ticket. You can’t have it both ways

        I must've missed that bit about wanting to be on the same flight - but you're definitely right. If it's that important to be on the same flight, then paying for it is the only option.

      • HighAndDry on 17/10/2018 - 10:08

        OP hasn't even learnt the actual lesson. After rushing and buying a ticket that turns out to be a bad deal, he goes and does this:

        I had learned my lesson and booked my own round trip ticket for a total of $1024 from MEL->TPE and TPE->MEL on a direct flight.

        …rushing out and buying another ticket that might not be the best deal. And only after that doing research.

  • HighAndDry on 17/10/2018 - 10:07

    Since my partner needs to depart with me on the same flight, there is not much room for flexibility or booking a different flight.

    Your partner is 32, I'm sure she can find her own way home from the airport. She doesn't actually need to be on the same flight, does she?

    Comments like "you're a dumbass for impulse buying" doesn't help.

    What about: You're a dumbass for impulse buying, and then doing it again?

    • holdenmg on 17/10/2018 - 10:10
      +2

      It could be one of those Mile High Club flights, more difficult on separate flights.

      • HighAndDry on 17/10/2018 - 10:10
        +3

        If I was a guy and getting into the Mile High Club, I wouldn't be worrying about membership fees.

        • sky blu on 17/10/2018 - 10:15
          +5

          Username checks out.

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