Posted by
mixeymum
15 yrs ago
Hi I've got a helper I hired in HK after she finished her contract, done the papers etc, but she wanted to go home for hols which I agreed to and she is now in the Phils, but now I need to send her a ticket Manila to HKG to get here but the travel agents here said I should book from the Phillipines as that is where the ticket originates from...any clues anyone, I'm not keen to find an agent in the Phillipines and send out my cc details to them when I don't know them?
Please support our advertisers:
As cara says.
BTW I'm going to nitpick a bit here: Just to be clear, "MAN" is Manchester Airport. The IATA code for Manila is "MNL".
Please support our advertisers:
thanks everyone Cebu Pacific it is then appeciate your help. I went to that site ticket are only about $800HK as compared to flight centre quoting me almost $2K saying there is an extra charge for booking thru Phillipines! And I will try to make sure I book originating from Manila and not Manchester too :)
Please support our advertisers:
I double-checked with our helper because I couldn't remember. We have paid her trip on Cebu Pacific several times and they did not require a CC or passport copy from us.
Please support our advertisers:
Cebu pacific DOES require a photocopy of the credit card used and ID of the owner of the credit card. Instead of giving your helper copies of your id and credit card, what you could do is call cebu pacific office in hk and fax or email to them whatever documents they need.
Please support our advertisers:
Sometimes they ask sometimes not,the best thing you do is just erase the last 3 digit number at the back of your cc, that's what i always do..
Please support our advertisers:
Interesting to read all these comments!
I have bought on average 4 tickets a year on line from Cebu Pacific for different people over the past few years with flights originating in PI and although I initially provided copies of my credit card it was never asked for and for the past 2 years have not provided it - however the comments above re card requirement above seem to be for flights originating in HK - maybe that is the difference?
The grip I have with Cebu Pacific is that one flight I bought earlier this year had to be cancelled - they gave me what they called "a travel fund" with the balance of the money after the cancellation charge was deducted that could be spent on other Cebu Pacific flights, however I found out last week when I tried to book a ticket for myself that even though I bought and paid for the original ticket and I cancelled, it the refund has been credited to and can only be used by the "guest" who had no part in the financial transaction. I told them this was in my view theft as it was my money!!
Got absolutely nowhere! They did however offer to use my money to book a ticket in the name of "my original guest" and then for an additional "charge" to me they would ask the guest to allow it to be transfered to me!!
Back to the original question
Why not ask the helper to buy herself a ticket and then reimburse her on arrival in HK? This would solve the problem of the credit card info and a one way flight would not be too expensive or alternately just transfer the money to her "bank to bank" in World Wide House. Money is available in the PI one hour after payment here in HK.
Please support our advertisers:
good points here..cara was that only booked from HK as maryland said? and yes maybe I will ask her to buy the ticket herself, I just preferred to "take care of it" myself as 1. less hassle for the helper who lives in a village and 2. wanted to be in control of which flight/day/time was chosen or at least be informed to know I was paying for the cheapest flight available (which is what I always go on too, unless I've got little kids with me). letting the helper choose and pay is more stressful for both parties I think. Kind of like saying just cook "whatever" and "just go buy it and give us the receipt" for dinner is more stress for the helper and also employer in my experience. Maybe if it wasn't her first time here that would work out better , might do it like that in the future. thanks for the tips in any case.
Please support our advertisers:
Not sure what agents you tried, but I have before bought a Manila to HK ticket through Sally Travel in Worldwide House. I was able to pay there, in person, with my card and therefore no requirement to provide a copy of the card to the traveller. I am also sure that there was no additional surcharge for buying it in HK. It was an 800HKD job.
Please support our advertisers:
The reason why they asked copy of your cc is because in the past there's a lot of tickets purchased online using theft credit cards.. that's why better erase the last 3 digit numbers at the back of your cc if they ask a copy..
Please support our advertisers:
Mixeymum
Your concerns are easily addressed re price and time / schedule of flight
you go on line in HK and identify the information re time, day, cost and let her know which specific flight to book.
If concerns about how much will be spent if left to the helper, then follow the above process and then transfer that amount to her in PI to pay for her ticket herself (don't forget Cebu adds all sort of extras e seat booking baggage etc so allow a little extra from the quoted price) - when you check on line you can go right the way through the booking process until they ask for the payment details which will give you the exact price she will need to pay. When you reach that page just exit from the booking process.
Hope this helps
Please support our advertisers:
thanks all. I've booked thru Cebu Pacific now, and I called the office in Hk and they said in Manila there is not need to show cc/id etc, just the booking ref in her name and that's it. will let you all know if there is trouble when she boards. And, worldwide house is a good idea too, should've thought of that. Next time might just go there to buy it if there is any probs with Cebu Pacific. thanks again everyone.
Please support our advertisers:
You must be logged in to be able to reply.
Login now
Copy Link
Facebook
Gmail
Mail