EVA Air Website Frustration

Hi all,

My fiancee and I are traveling to Indonesia in November and I am scouting flights. I would like to travel EVA in Elite class as it is nicer than economy and we can't afford business class. I normally book via their website but I am experiencing an issue with it. We need to go open-jaw due to our itinerary. We want to fly LAX-CGK (11/21), then return DPS-LAX (12/12,13 or 14). My issue is that when you go to their website and select the "Multi" option to type in the itinerary, the Elite-class option disappears; all that is left is Economy and Business. When I select economy, it gives me an itinerary for the outbound and return with no problem. OK, you say, why not just book two one-way tickets. Well, when I attempt that, it claims there is no available fare for the return flight, no matter what class of service you pick. It is as is the flight only exists when you try to book round trip or multi. I called EVA's number and they were easily able to find the flights and book me, but they guy claimed he could only quote "published fares", which are more expensive than the web fares, and he suggested I work with a travel agent (after he got done chuckling about his own website and telling me that maybe there were just no internet fares available so the site would show nothing). The agent I normally use for flights does not have a contract with EVA. So, any ideas on how I get this done, other than doing it with EVA over the phone?

Thanks

Mike

I booked exactly what you want (mulit-city) on line for my '09 trip in Elite Class. However, like you said, trouble sometimes getting Elite to show up. I just kept trying & it eventually did show. They need to fix that I think. If you have a long connecting time in Jakarta the transit hotel is pretty good. I also found out after I arrived in Jakarta that ALL Garuda domestic flights depart from the international terminal. No need to change to domestic terminal on other side of airport as I was initially told. In Elite Class you also get 2 checked bags @ 61 lbs each vs 50 lbs in Economy.

Hi Mike,

The reason is that there is no Elite class seats on the DPS to Taipei leg of the DPS_LAX route, so it kicks the whole itinerary to Economy. I think the same thing happens with Premium Laurel if they don't have it. Plug in Premium Laurel (1st class) and see how it prices out. We got a good price via the web on 1st class. Elite=Business, Premium Laurel=1st class.

Hi Mike,

 

The reason is that there is no Elite class seats on the DPS to Taipei leg of the DPS_LAX route, so it kicks the whole itinerary to Economy. I think the same thing happens with Premium Laurel if they don't have it. Plug in Premium Laurel (1st class) and see how it prices out. We got a good price via the web on 1st class. Elite=Business, Premium Laurel=1st class.

I wish you were correct. Unfortunately, the "multi" booking utility does not offer Elite for ANY itinerary, though you can select it for round trips and one-ways on the website. Furthermore, Elite (and Evergreen Deluxe on older airframes) is a "premium economy" class, akin to the now defunct Singapore Airlines "Executive Economy" class, NOT business. Premium Laurel/Business is the upper class on these flights. I do have experience with EVA, just not in trying to book an open jaw itinerary with them. Their website booking engine could use some work. Quite frustrating.

Mike

Try these guys Mike

Manado based travel agency Safari Tours & Travel (www.manadosafaris.com). They do take

service charge.

When Air Asia pulled my flights I used them - great response.

Paul C

Try these guys Mike

 

Manado based travel agency Safari Tours & Travel (www.manadosafaris.com). They do take

service charge.

 

When Air Asia pulled my flights I used them - great response.

 

Paul C

Thanks, I'm familiar with Jeremy and his folks. Never occurred to me to book my international flights through them. I may end up booking direct through EVA unless my fiancee can find a Chinese/Taiwanese travel agent to book through.

Mike

Go to Chinatown in DC and check with the travel agents there over some Chinese food. They can usually do it for you. Sometimes my LA Little Bangkok agent beats the fares I can get online for certain destinations. I