Cathay Pacific Asia Miles - Booking an Asiamiles award ticket

I looked online and it appears that EWR-ORD-MSP one way with AA in economy costs 15K Asiamiles. So I called Asiamiles to try to book a flight and they told me it costs 20K Asiamiles. I can not understand why they want to charge 20K miles when calling (I called the 866 toll-free number).

Is the website incorrect and the phone rep correct? I am perplexed!

Thank you.

This is absolutely guessing. It may give you an idea.

The agent is wrong. I have confirmed the AM website do says it requires 15K.

I think the issue falls to that "ORD" connection.

The entire actual BIS is less than 1200 miles. However, maybe the system do something like 500-miles minimum on the ORD-MSP segement, which jack up the BIS to over 1200 miles.

Perhaps the agent mistook that you were booking RT?

However, maybe the system do something like 500-miles minimum on the ORD-MSP segement, which jack up the BIS to over 1200 miles.

CX does not have that.

Perhaps the agent mistook that you were booking RT?

Very likely the reason.