Cathay Pacific, here's how to use points before October devaluation
In recent weeks I wrote about the bad news of the coming devaluation in the loyalty program of Cathay Pacific, the company [...]
Cathay Pacific
Oneworld
HKG
In recent weeks I have written the bad news of the Devaluation coming up in Cathay Pacific's loyalty program, the national airline of Hong Kong however. did not secretly devalue points overnight, but gave almost two months' notice, behaving in a truly fair manner toward its frequent flyers. The last day to book an award ticket before the table change is September 30.
How Cathay Pacific's award chart is changing
In this article:
The company that has Recently announced the installation of new first and business class cabins allows its members to use points very easily, there is a fixed award chart that divides award tickets by cabin and distance.
This below is the table valid until September 30
| Distance | Economy | Premium economy | Business Class | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ultra-short: 1-750 miles | 7,500 | 11,000 | 16,000 | 25,000 |
| Short: 751-2,750 miles | 10,000 | 18,000 | 25,000 | 40,000 |
| Medium: 2,751-5,000 miles | 22,000 | 30,000 | 45,000 | 70,000 |
| Long type 1: 5,000-7,500 miles | 30,000 | 40,000 | 65,000 | 100,000 |
| Long type 2: 5,000-7,500 miles | 30,000 | 45,000 | 70,000 | 110,000 |
| Ultra-long: 7,501+ miles | 42,000 | 60,000 | 85,000 | 125,000 |
From Oct. 1 Instead, the table will be as follows
Did you get your flight cancelled, miss your connection, land late?
You could get up to 600€ compensation per person
| Distance | Economy | Premium economy | Business Class | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ultra-short: 1-750 miles | 7,500 | 11,000 | 16,000 | N/A |
| Short type 1: 751-2,750 miles | 10,000 | 20,000 | 28,000 | 43,000 |
| Short type 2: 751-2,750 miles | 12,500 | 23,000 | 32,000 | 50,000 |
| Medium: 2,751-5,000 miles | 20,000 | 38,000 | 58,000 | 90,000 |
| Long: 5,001-7,500 miles | 27,000 | 50,000 | 84,000 | 125,000 |
| Ultra-long: 7,501+ miles | 38,000 | 75,000 | 110,000 | 160,000 |
On the one hand Will need fewer Asia Miles points to fly economy from Europe to Asia, with an indicative savings of 10%, but on the other hand. the same route in all other classes becomes more expensive 10 to 20%.
A halfway around the world
Unlike other programs, for tickets involving multi-class itineraries, Cathay Pacific averages award prices; choosing this option allows you to try first and business without bleeding yourself dry. For example, flying from Paris to Hong Kong in first class and then from HKG to San Francisco in business class at 103,500 Asia Miles, a perfect solution for framing a small "world tour" at a very unique price.
Cabin mix
First class on Cathay Pacific's 777/300.
Of course, traveling in different classes also makes sense by choosing to fly one leg in business class and a second leg in premium economy. For example, by flying Milan to Hong Kong in business class and continuing on to Singapore in PE for 79,700 Asia Miles. Or if you are around Southeast Asia you can detach some interesting conversions such as flying from Taiwan to Hong Kong in premium economy and from there continuing to Bangkok in biz for just under 23k asia miles.
Since the devaluation will affect all premium seats it might make sense to try to grab a ticket for next spring or summer, since they are already bookable, putting off the problem until 2025.
Business class on A330 Cathay Pacific
A business class ticket from Italy to Asia costs 65k Asia Miles points and since the entire CX long-haul fleet is also outfitted with premium economy, though not the most modern in the aviation landscape, with the old award chart allows you to fly from Malpensa to Hong Kong for only 40 thousand points, while from October 1 the same ticket will cost 10k Asia Miles more.
Wait if you want to book in economy
As mentioned Cathay Pacific's devaluation will not apply to Economy tickets so if you want to save money wait a few more weeks and then hunt for the tickets from Milan that will take you to Asia
For example, you would pay 42,000 miles right now to book a flight from New York (JFK) to Hong Kong (HKG). After October 1, you would pay only 38,000 miles.
