Cathay Pacific Asia Miles - How to Maximize Asia Miles

What are considred the "best redemptions for Asia miles?

I am looking at the award chart and it looks pretty high!

I did a post on this last month, primarily for Asian destinations from HKG, you can check it here (http://hktravelblog.com/2012/06/asia-miles-short-distance-asian-award-redemptions/)

I think the best redemptions are shorter distances, but you can fly HKG to HEL which is under the 5,000 mile threshold. Details here (http://hktravelblog.com/2012/05/asia-miles-redemptions-to-europe/)

Hope this is what you're looking for.

What are considred the "best redemptions for Asia miles?

I am looking at the award chart and it looks pretty high!

Thanks for the help!

In my opinion, the best redemption is for "Companion" awards.

In my opinion, the best redemption is for "Companion" awards.

Agree^

Companion tickets are the best values, only if CX are willing to release those seats for redemption.

I have tried booking for business class companion tickets twice before but both were unsuccessful. Requests were made 3 months before travel dates.

CX is really reluctant about clearing waitlists for AM redemptions as if this is doing charity out of its pocket. I was put on a business class companion waitlist for HKG-DME-HKG for my sister. We initially planned to go late-July this year. We already have the return leg confirmed. It's only a couple of weeks away and the waitlist for the outbound leg is still standing. I can see they have lots of empty seats for sale but they just don't want to open up even one single seat for us. I tried calling MPC and requested politely but they turned me down with a big fat 'NO!'.

Turns out we changed our plan and decided to go somewhere else. CX would rather leave those seats empty and lose the opportunity costs of my paid ticket and the fuel surcharges for both of us.:td:

I've always noticed CX to be stingy on seats, and waitlisting doesn't really help. In the past when I joined a waitlist, I'd see the open inventory available online before they call me, so I don't even bother adding myself to waitlist anymore.

With regards to releasing seats, they'll do it either at random batches once every month or few months, and a few weeks before the flight CX will release a lot of seats they can't fill. Good for last minute travel actually, but not sure how many people want to leave their booking to the last few days.

I have a flight leaving on Saturday and am still calling to try to clear the waitlist for my family. 10 seats available in business and they still won't release them (and I'm told Economy is oversold!)