Last edit by: eponymous_coward
Cathay Award Guide Using Alaska Airlines Miles
Note: Cathay flights cannot be booked using alaskaair.com. Mileage requirements in chart form available on alaskaair.com.
Routing Rules:
North American Gateway Cities:
Western
Vancouver
San Francisco
Los Angeles
Seattle (Spring 2019)
Eastern (Can not be used if traveling to west coast)
Boston
Chicago
New York (JFK & EWR)
Toronto
Washington
Award Chart Links*:
Asia
Australia
Europe
India/Middle East
North America
Anyone with 90 posts and 90 days can edit the wiki. Everyone else if you want something added to the wiki please comment in the thread.
Note: Cathay flights cannot be booked using alaskaair.com. Mileage requirements in chart form available on alaskaair.com.
Request your Partner Award reservation on Cathay Pacific by calling Alaska Airlines Reservations at 1-800-252-7522 (TTY: Dial 711 for Relay Services) 5:00 a.m. - Midnight (PT), daily.
- If it's not on the award chart, it's not allowed. For example EUROPE is To/From HKG only.
- Stopover are only allowed on any CX award for North America awards as destination or origin. For instance: intra-Asia awards do not get a stopover. It must be a North America->Somewhere or Somewhere->North America award to qualify for a stopover.
- The only awards that do not break at HKG are intra-Asia or North American ones. For instance, Australia-Europe/Middle East/Asia outside of HKG will be two awards (breaking at HKG). The AS award chart can be misleading about this and give you the impression you can fly an award like Australia/Europe-ICN, but the chart for these award types will show "Hong Kong".
- One stop-over allowed on one way award. You can build open jaw and other advanced routings by booking multiple one way awards. Please note change fee rule below.
- Allegedly stop-over only in Hong Kong, but some have posted success in other enroute cities such as YVR or SEA.
- As of 5 June 2018 changes/cancellations made to a booking will incur a $125 fee which is waived for MVPG/MVPG75K. Bookings made prior to 5 June will be allowed one complimentary change or cancellation for up to 60 days prior to date of travel.
- Awards can be booked 330 days in advance.
- Cathay and Alaska (or an Alaska flight operated by SkyWest/Horizon on behalf of Alaska) are the only airlines allowed on a Cathay award. No other partner airlines may be used on a single award (e.g. American, JAL, Emirates).
North American Gateway Cities:
Western
Vancouver
San Francisco
Los Angeles
Seattle (Spring 2019)
Eastern (Can not be used if traveling to west coast)
Boston
Chicago
New York (JFK & EWR)
Toronto
Washington
Award Chart Links*:
Asia
Australia
Europe
India/Middle East
North America
Anyone with 90 posts and 90 days can edit the wiki. Everyone else if you want something added to the wiki please comment in the thread.
Cathay Pacific (CX) Award Redemption, Booking and Availability – 2017 and Later
#661
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,341
It's hard to figure out because the AS award pages on the website were (re)designed so poorly, but Cathay Pacific isn't being discussed. There are no blackout dates on CX awards. Note that carriers are being discussed in alphabetical order.
It's hard to tell which airline IS being discussed. Probably KE (they have about a third of the year blacked out), maybe EK?
It's hard to tell which airline IS being discussed. Probably KE (they have about a third of the year blacked out), maybe EK?
Last edited by eponymous_coward; May 24, 2017 at 9:23 am
#662
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,050
Hey folks
Apologies if this is already answered. Did a quick search but didn't find a definitive recent answer.
On this page https://www.alaskaair.com/content/mi...rd-charts.aspx if I choose US->Asia it shows the terms:
"8. Excludes Hong Kong. The following blackout dates apply for travel between North America and Asia in 2017: Jan 1, Jan 26 - 31, May 12 - Jun 30, Jul 14 - Aug 19, Sep 30 - Oct 10, Dec 8 - Dec 31"
Just want to be clear. By "Excludes Hong Kong" does this mean during the above dates:
Hoping it is #1 .
Thanks!
Apologies if this is already answered. Did a quick search but didn't find a definitive recent answer.
On this page https://www.alaskaair.com/content/mi...rd-charts.aspx if I choose US->Asia it shows the terms:
"8. Excludes Hong Kong. The following blackout dates apply for travel between North America and Asia in 2017: Jan 1, Jan 26 - 31, May 12 - Jun 30, Jul 14 - Aug 19, Sep 30 - Oct 10, Dec 8 - Dec 31"
Just want to be clear. By "Excludes Hong Kong" does this mean during the above dates:
- I can book award travel to HKG, but I cannot book travel to say NRT? or
- I can book award travel to NRT but not HKG?
Hoping it is #1 .
Thanks!
DAK
#664
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: Hilton Diamond, IHG Spire Ambassador, Radisson Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 3,621
Interesting. I just booked a one way award from BKK-HKG-LAX, travel in September. The HKG-LAX leg is CX898.
It's a first class award, 70,000 miles, stopping for two days in Hong Kong. Taxes were about $82 (does that sound right?) plus $12.50 for partner award.
She told me there would be a $15 phone booking fee but then waived it when I asked nicely.
It's a first class award, 70,000 miles, stopping for two days in Hong Kong. Taxes were about $82 (does that sound right?) plus $12.50 for partner award.
She told me there would be a $15 phone booking fee but then waived it when I asked nicely.
#665
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,341
Interesting. I just booked a one way award from BKK-HKG-LAX, travel in September. The HKG-LAX leg is CX898.
It's a first class award, 70,000 miles, stopping for two days in Hong Kong. Taxes were about $82 (does that sound right?) plus $12.50 for partner award.
She told me there would be a $15 phone booking fee but then waived it when I asked nicely.
It's a first class award, 70,000 miles, stopping for two days in Hong Kong. Taxes were about $82 (does that sound right?) plus $12.50 for partner award.
She told me there would be a $15 phone booking fee but then waived it when I asked nicely.
"Hong Kong – Los Angeles eff 29OCT17 Reduce from 4 to 3 daily, CX898/897 cancelled"
#666
Join Date: May 2003
Location: PDX USA
Programs: AS MVPG, AA, BA, SPG Gold, HHonors Gold, Hyatt Platinum, IHG, Hertz 5*
Posts: 690
Does that mean you're redeeming an extra 27,500 miles for the DPSHKG segment as an intra-Asia award, on top of the 70k for HKGJFK?
#667
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 18,323
Hey folks
Apologies if this is already answered. Did a quick search but didn't find a definitive recent answer.
On this page https://www.alaskaair.com/content/mi...rd-charts.aspx if I choose US->Asia it shows the terms:
"8. Excludes Hong Kong. The following blackout dates apply for travel between North America and Asia in 2017: Jan 1, Jan 26 - 31, May 12 - Jun 30, Jul 14 - Aug 19, Sep 30 - Oct 10, Dec 8 - Dec 31"
Just want to be clear. By "Excludes Hong Kong" does this mean during the above dates:
Hoping it is #1 .
Thanks!
Apologies if this is already answered. Did a quick search but didn't find a definitive recent answer.
On this page https://www.alaskaair.com/content/mi...rd-charts.aspx if I choose US->Asia it shows the terms:
"8. Excludes Hong Kong. The following blackout dates apply for travel between North America and Asia in 2017: Jan 1, Jan 26 - 31, May 12 - Jun 30, Jul 14 - Aug 19, Sep 30 - Oct 10, Dec 8 - Dec 31"
Just want to be clear. By "Excludes Hong Kong" does this mean during the above dates:
- I can book award travel to HKG, but I cannot book travel to say NRT? or
- I can book award travel to NRT but not HKG?
Hoping it is #1 .
Thanks!
It's hard to figure out because the AS award pages on the website were (re)designed so poorly, but Cathay Pacific isn't being discussed. There are no blackout dates on CX awards. Note that carriers are being discussed in alphabetical order.
It's hard to tell which airline IS being discussed. Probably KE (they have about a third of the year blacked out), maybe EK?
It's hard to tell which airline IS being discussed. Probably KE (they have about a third of the year blacked out), maybe EK?
#668
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: HNL <-> BOS
Posts: 382
I would always hold out hope, but in my experience the furthest out I ever claimed a CX F award (aside from the edge of the booking window) was 11 days when the flight was F6. My best luck has been between T-11 days and T-4 hours, with most clustered around T-3 days. Good luck!
EDIT: My CX travel is exclusively in August, and my greatest success is JFKHKG early in the month. HKGJFK towards the end of the month is tougher due school return, I've never succeeded in getting 4 awards in that direction, only 2 and the second of those usually inside of 24 hours (hence the need to break the award, as referenced above). Hope this clarification helps - Jamie
EDIT: My CX travel is exclusively in August, and my greatest success is JFKHKG early in the month. HKGJFK towards the end of the month is tougher due school return, I've never succeeded in getting 4 awards in that direction, only 2 and the second of those usually inside of 24 hours (hence the need to break the award, as referenced above). Hope this clarification helps - Jamie
Side note, I called AS partner desk this morning and asked the same question regarding changing the second leg of an itinerary once I start my trip and the rep said that it isn't a problem as long as it is a few hours from departure. Will have to call back and ask the same question in a month or two to get more DP.
Also mentioned that since the itinerary (ICN-HKG F and HKG-LAX J) is already an 'F ticket,' there would not be a change fee even inside of 60 days. I've had two reps tell me the same thing now, the other being the one that booked the itinerary.
#669
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,517
So while I technically haven't done it with AS, your price points are correct and the advice is hopefully still valuable.
Last edited by jamienbaker; May 25, 2017 at 4:57 am
#671
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: CPT
Programs: BA BD SA
Posts: 4,467
Apologies if my questions have obvious answers - the discussion is (understandably) very weighted to US based flyers and I am having difficulty finding answers. (Not being able to look at CX availability on the AS web site doesn't help...)
I am looking to travel Japan/HKG/JNB/CPT. Which of those 3 legs could I get onto a single award? If it includes the first two I assume from what I've read that I won't be able to sop over in HKG?
Thanks in advance.
I am looking to travel Japan/HKG/JNB/CPT. Which of those 3 legs could I get onto a single award? If it includes the first two I assume from what I've read that I won't be able to sop over in HKG?
Thanks in advance.
#672
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 18,323
Apologies if my questions have obvious answers - the discussion is (understandably) very weighted to US based flyers and I am having difficulty finding answers. (Not being able to look at CX availability on the AS web site doesn't help...)
I am looking to travel Japan/HKG/JNB/CPT. Which of those 3 legs could I get onto a single award? If it includes the first two I assume from what I've read that I won't be able to sop over in HKG?
Thanks in advance.
I am looking to travel Japan/HKG/JNB/CPT. Which of those 3 legs could I get onto a single award? If it includes the first two I assume from what I've read that I won't be able to sop over in HKG?
Thanks in advance.
Hong Kong to JNB is another.
Stop-over is only allowed on CX awards to/from North America
#673
Join Date: May 2003
Location: PDX USA
Programs: AS MVPG, AA, BA, SPG Gold, HHonors Gold, Hyatt Platinum, IHG, Hertz 5*
Posts: 690
That's the concept. I've done it with AA and BA currency several times, though technically have yet to do it with AS. It's primarily relevant when you're taking a long layover, as that increases the likelihood that F awards are released between the short-haul and long-haul segments (such as when I take a HKG layover after landing from DPS).
So while I technically haven't done it with AS, your price points are correct and the advice is hopefully still valuable.
So while I technically haven't done it with AS, your price points are correct and the advice is hopefully still valuable.
Thanks again!
#674
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,517
Thanks. Advice is good and helpful. In our situation, if any additional seats open up, that should happen before we begin our return itinerary. That said, our return has a stop in HKG of 3 days, so there is a chance your concept might be employed. We are thinking of shortening that stop at the very end (moving the second return HKGUSA segment up by 1,2 or 3 days), which would necessitate the need to use your strategy, assuming CX didn't open up more seats ahead of T-3 days.
Thanks again!
Thanks again!