(Yicai Global) Aug. 31 --If one boughta ticket on the international website of Ctrip.Com International, paidin Turkish lira, thenwentto China Southern Airlines app to refund the ticket, this generateda profit of about 17 percent,according to online reports.Thus, a CNY100 (USD14.50) payment for a plane ticket in Turkish lirayieldeda refund of about CNY117 (USD17).

Turkey's currency plunged as much as 17 percent against the dollar Aug. 10 after US President Donald Trumprecentlythreatened to double the tax on Turkish steel and aluminum imports.Ctrip, which accepts the most forms of payment,was the natural venue to ply this artful dodge. The company has an international website and app that serve travelers all over the worldandtakes payment in 20-pluscurrencies.

Aticket refunded on Ctrip's website would yield thesameamount back in the currency paid, butonefrom an airlineofferedachancetoprofit.China Southern Airlinesstarted a new ticket refundpolicyin Juneletting onebe refundedon the carrier's app or its account on TencentGroup Holding's WeChat messaging and payment app, whether it wasbought from an agency outlet or platform. The airline has strict risk controlsfor large refunds, it told Yicai Global,soif the same person cancels many times andtotalrefunds reach asetsum, an alarm triggersfreezesorders, and even blacklists the offender. However, it ishardfor the airline to discover this dodge if several players seasoned in the ticket business byusingdifferentaliases.Yicai Global checked Ctrip's websiteAug. 13and found payment in lira was no longer available.Fool me once, shame on you.Fool me twice ...