Cathay Pacific Asia Miles - Does CX release more award seat close in?

I am looking to book a J award in August.

Of course, there is no award availability given that August is high season.

Do CX release more award seat when the flight is closing in? Say, 1 week or even 2 days before the flight?

( The seat map is still showing plenty of open seats on the flight )

yes they do.

Yes, but it depends on load.

The seat map is not a good way of judging load, as many passengers may not have selected a seat yet or they are not eligible for seat pre-booking.

You can check loads using a website like ExpertFlyer (paid) or FlightStats (free).

http://www.flightstats.com/go/FlightAvailability/flightAvailability.do

Yes they do... LOVE Cathay award generosity ^:)

CX can release seats if available, even at the last moment. However, August is peak. Flights are often overbooked depending on destinations. It is better to secure an upgradable economy seat, then upgrade if available. At least you can make it to the destination. The catch is that you may be paying a more expensive ticket if not upgraded.

You can check loads using a website like ExpertFlyer (paid) or FlightStats (free).

http://www.flightstats.com/go/FlightAvailability/flightAvailability.do

Thank you for the link.
Flight Stats shows J/9 C/9 D/9 I/9 for the flight I want

If they do release more seats later, in general, would it be for Asia Miles / MCP members only? Or would I be able to book those seats with AA miles?

Thanks again!

I have been tracking F award availability for CX for a July flight. It appears that all unused F space EXCEPT one seat are released to partners at T minus 5 to 8 days. The final space seems to be released to partners at T minus 1 day. i don't know if the same is true for J space but thought this info might be helpful.

Thank you for the link.
Flight Stats shows J/9 C/9 D/9 I/9 for the flight I want

If they do release more seats later, in general, would it be for Asia Miles / MCP members only? Or would I be able to book those seats with AA miles?

Thanks again!

Asia Miles and MPC members who are waitlisted will get those seats first. And any leftover might then be released in the general pool for other FFP members.

Thank you for the link.
Flight Stats shows J/9 C/9 D/9 I/9 for the flight I want

If they do release more seats later, in general, would it be for Asia Miles / MCP members only? Or would I be able to book those seats with AA miles?

Thanks again!
I have had very good luck with booking a sub-optimal route on AA, then switching to CX when the open up availability a week or two before the flight (free routing changes!). But then again, I've never tried it during a peak season.

I have been tracking F award availability for CX for a July flight. It appears that all unused F space EXCEPT one seat are released to partners at T minus 5 to 8 days. The final space seems to be released to partners at T minus 1 day. i don't know if the same is true for J space but thought this info might be helpful.

I've found it easier to get CX F last minute than J. I think last minute J as snapped up by corporations.

corporate travellers dont wait til the last minute just to snap up a cheap fare... The fact that they're in the office at a certain date is much more important than playing a waiting game where they decide to see whether a seat opens up.

Also, corporations let employees keep the miles they earn on travel

By "last-minute J", I meant revenue J get snapped up by companies. CX knows that so my impression is that getting an award F seat last minute is greater than getting an award J.

By "last-minute J", I meant revenue J get snapped up by companies. CX knows that so my impression is that getting an award F seat last minute is greater than getting an award J.

6 F awards on SFOHKG tomorrow. 4 available on each flight on the 22nd. Why bother looking for J if F is this easy to score?

I have been tracking F award availability for CX for a July flight. It appears that all unused F space EXCEPT one seat are released to partners at T minus 5 to 8 days. The final space seems to be released to partners at T minus 1 day. i don't know if the same is true for J space but thought this info might be helpful.

This has also been my experience in past years, always US-originating in August. It is how I've been able to get a family of four into F on the 77W. Though in my limited experience, it is usually T-3 when the final space is released to partners.

6 F awards on SFOHKG tomorrow. 4 available on each flight on the 22nd. Why bother looking for J if F is this easy to score?

4 available in F JFKHKG tomorrow. OK, I need to get back to work, or fly to HKG. I can't decide which.

I have seen 7/9, or 8/9 on the SFO-HKG route. This actually got me worry that it would go the way YYZ-HKG did, or at least one flight would be J/Y+/Y flight.

Make sense to book F using AA miles, not so much with BA Avios (2x Coach miles for Business, 3x miles for F) , especially with CX's nicer new J product

unfortunately I am neither able to find seats on either the SYD or the FRA route :(

I have seen 7/9, or 8/9 on the SFO-HKG route. This actually got me worry that it would go the way YYZ-HKG did, or at least one flight would be J/Y+/Y flight.


First of all, nice info everyone.
I encountered same problem, how much they charge you for taking both J/Y?

my plan is
1. HKG > LAX > YVR > HKG or
2. HKG > YVR > LAX > HKG
I can see lot of seats are now open for redeem in both cities.
But normally only F for YVR and J for LAX
if I claim HKG > YVR in F
and then LAX > HKG in J
how much miles will they charge me per person? if you mix your classes.

The real answer is not to plan specific dates but to plan a specific time period within a larger time period. For example, one week between October 1-15.

This has actually worked very well for me in years past. If I am visiting friends, I just find out a 2-4 week period that they will be home.

CX F or J will open up at least 2-3 days a week 5-10 days before departure, except for prime time (Christmas, Ramadan, etc).

First of all, nice info everyone.
I encountered same problem, how much they charge you for taking both J/Y?

my plan is
1. HKG > LAX > YVR > HKG or
2. HKG > YVR > LAX > HKG
I can see lot of seats are now open for redeem in both cities.
But normally only F for YVR and J for LAX
if I claim HKG > YVR in F
and then LAX > HKG in J
how much miles will they charge me per person? if you mix your classes.

Are you using AM to redeem? In your case, one-way J + one-way F (175k mi) is slightly less than round-trip F (180k mi). You can also include the AS segment into the award.

I have seen 7/9, or 8/9 on the SFO-HKG route. This actually got me worry that it would go the way YYZ-HKG did, or at least one flight would be J/Y+/Y flight.

Completely agree. Last nights 0120 departure JFKHKG had 4 available. I'm planning to redeem awards this September for next August, I certainly hope JFK doesn't go the way of YYZ and see F cabin(s) withdrawn. Not terribly worried about it, but your exact thought passed through my mind as I realized what a mistake it was to go to Europe instead of Asia this month.

Btw, August 2013 strategy is to book 2 in F, 2 in J, then start monitoring for additional F awards at T-14.

Are you using AM to redeem? In your case, one-way J + one-way F (175k mi) is slightly less than round-trip F (180k mi). You can also include the AS segment into the award.

Yes using my AM :)
Thanks for the info, hope I can nail the tix in last 48hrs ;)

The real answer is not to plan specific dates but to plan a specific time period within a larger time period. For example, one week between October 1-15.

This has actually worked very well for me in years past. If I am visiting friends, I just find out a 2-4 week period that they will be home.

CX F or J will open up at least 2-3 days a week 5-10 days before departure, except for prime time (Christmas, Ramadan, etc).

It also depends on gateways.

Take US gateways, LAX does not see much last minute release. YVR also is hard to come by. ORD is a hit or miss also. However JFK is fair game, and SFO is downright unbelievably available.

If one can fly at the drop of a hat, one can always find F from JFK or SFO - the issue actually is more about HOW to get from your home airport to the gateway when there often has no Saaver award seats for the domestic route(s).

Yes, that is true.

I am a west coaster,so I usually used AS and AS miles to get to a CX west coast gateway.

It also depends on gateways.

Take US gateways, LAX does not see much last minute release. YVR also is hard to come by. ORD is a hit or miss also. However JFK is fair game, and SFO is downright unbelievably available.

If one can fly at the drop of a hat, one can always find F from JFK or SFO - the issue actually is more about HOW to get from your home airport to the gateway when there often has no Saaver award seats for the domestic route(s).

I'm JFK based, and usually fund with AA miles. My decision is whether to book JFKHKG nonstop and obsess over whether additional F seats will be released, or book JFKSFO/SFOHKG with significantly greater probability of F on the 744. Issue with that is it introduces connection risk in the summer (weather, not to mention 767-200s), and extends elapsed time (flying with kids who are comfortable with the JFKHKG nonstop though I've never pushed their travel day longer than that). It also slightly reduces caviar time :)

Considering I routinely hire a chase van to follow me on the drive to JFK in case we have an accident, the idea of building in a gratuitous connection seems pretty high risk to me.

Safe travels - Jamie

Just a quick follow up.
I nailed 3x J class HKG>YVR for 9th Aug just 2 hours ago. (36hrs before flight depart) I've been checking website like every 20mins since Monday morning

... crazy experience.

Just a quick follow up.
I nailed 3x J class HKG>YVR for 9th Aug just 2 hours ago. (36hrs before flight depart) I've been checking website like every 20mins since Monday morning

... crazy experience.

I listed every J seat on the outbound and return last night:

HKG-YVR 1 seat in J for the next year

7 Aug
8 Aug
10 Aug (F)
11 Aug (F)
12 Aug
14 Aug (F)
19 Aug (F)
26 Aug (F)
13 Sep (F)
14 Sep (F)
18 Sep (F)
20 Sep (F)
9 Oct
10 Oct (F)
11 Oct (F)
12 Oct (F)
27 Oct (F)
7 Nov
9 Nov
14 Nov (F)
17 Nov (F)
19 Nov (F)
21 Nov (F)
24 Nov (F)
4 Dec (F)
18 Dec (F)
17 Jan (F)
18 Jan (F)
29 Jan (F)
30 Jan (F)
13 Feb (F)
18 Feb (F)
27 Feb
3 Mar (F)
4 Mar (F)
5 Mar (F)
7 Mar
8 Mar (F)
12 Mar
14 Mar
19 Mar (F)
20 Mar
21 Mar
22 Mar (F)
28 Mar (F)
29 Mar (F)
31 Mar (F)
2 Apr (F)
3 Apr (F)
4 Apr
6 Apr (F)
8 Apr (F)
9 Apr (F)
10 Apr (F)
11 Apr
12 Apr (F)
14 Apr (F)
16 Apr (F)
17 Apr (F)
18 Apr (F)
20 Apr (F)
21 Apr (F)
23 Apr
24 Apr (F)
25 Apr (F)
29 Apr (F)
30 Apr
1 May
2 May (F)
6 May (F)
7 May
8 May
9 May
11 May (F)
13 May (F)
21 May
22 May
23 May
28 May
29 May
30 May
2 Jun (F)
3 Jun (F)
4 Jun
5 Jun
6 Jun
8 Jun (F)
9 Jun (F)
10 Jun (F)
11 Jun (F)
12 Jun
13 Jun (F)
15 Jun (F)
16 Jun (F)
17 Jun (F)
18 Jun (F)
19 Jun
20 Jun (F)
22 Jun (F)
23 Jun (F)
24 Jun (F)
25 Jun
26 Jun
27 Jun
28 Jun (F)
1 Jul (F)
2 Jul
3 Jul
4 Jul (F)
5 Jul (F)
6 Jul (F)
7 Jul
8 Jul (F)
9 Jul (F)
10 Jul
11 Jul
12 Jul (F)
14 Jul
15 Jul (F)
17 Jul (F)
18 Jul (F)
19 Jul (F)
20 Jul (F)
21 Jul
22 Jul (F)
23 Jul
24 Jul
25 Jul
26 Jul (F)
27 Jul (F)
28 Jul (F)
29 Jul (F)

YVR-HKG 1 seat in J for the next year

7 Aug
8 Aug
9 Aug (F)
10 Aug (F)
11 Aug (F)
12 Aug (F)
5 Sep (F)
21 Sep (F)
25 Jan
28 Jan
29 Jan
31 Jan
6 Feb
28 Feb
6 Mar
11 Mar
12 Mar
13 Mar
17 Mar (F)
19 Mar
20 Mar
21 Mar
22 Mar
25 Mar
26 Mar
29 Mar
31 Mar (F)
1 Apr (F)
9 Apr
10 Apr
11 Apr
12 Apr
16 Apr
17 Apr
18 Apr
19 Apr
20 Apr (F)
22 Apr
23 Apr
24 Apr
25 Apr
26 Apr
27 Apr (F)
29 Apr
30 Apr
1 May
2 May
3 May
4 May (F)
6 May
7 May
8 May
9 May
10 May
11 May (F)
13 May
14 May
15 May
16 May
17 May
18 May (F)
20 May (F)
21 May
22 May
23 May
25 May (F)
27 May
28 May
29 May
30 May
1 Jun (F)
3 Jun
4 Jun
5 Jun
6 Jun
8 Jun (F)
10 Jun
11 Jun
12 Jun
13 Jun
14 Jun
15 Jun (F)
16 Jun (F)
17 Jun
18 Jun
19 Jun
20 Jun
21 Jun
22 Jun
24 Jun
25 Jun
26 Jun
27 Jun
28 Jun
29 Jun (F)
1 Jul
2 Jul
3 Jul
4 Jul
5 Jul
6 Jul
8 Jul
9 Jul
10 Jul
11 Jul
12 Jul
13 Jul (F)
15 Jul
16 Jul
17 Jul
18 Jul
19 Jul
20 Jul (F)
22 Jul

There's good availability in this and 12th month, with spotty availability in between (very spotty if you don't have the miles for F).

BTW is there an easier way to do this than to play with Marco Polo site week by week? Is EF or KVS any help with year-long one-seat searches?

Yes ... I'm trying to redeem OW J for YYZ-HKG over New Year's and seems everything is waitlisted around that stretch.

I'm getting ready to book IAD-gateway-HKG-DPS for an August 2013 trip for a family of 4 using AA miles. I am resigned to the fact that I will likely have to buy 2 J and 2 F, then my goal would be to pay the difference in AA miles to move the 2 J passengers into F as well when/if more seats open. Some questions: (sorry, CX noob here, I'm usually a *A flyer)

After initial purchase (assuming 2F+2J), do I bother tracking F availabilty for the next year? Or is it safe to assume I've grabbed the only F seats to be released prior to the +/- t-14 day window?

To make the morning DPS connection convenient, I think I need to use either LAX/SFO/JFK as my gateway; does one of these cities offer a higher probability of last minute F over the others? (generally speaking, of course)

Many of these flights seem to offer 4 J seats; is it worth the hassle to go for F seats? tips?

many thanks.

I'm getting ready to book IAD-gateway-HKG-DPS for an August 2013 trip for a family of 4 using AA miles. I am resigned to the fact that I will likely have to buy 2 J and 2 F, then my goal would be to pay the difference in AA miles to move the 2 J passengers into F as well when/if more seats open. Some questions: (sorry, CX noob here, I'm usually a *A flyer)

After initial purchase (assuming 2F+2J), do I bother tracking F availabilty for the next year? Or is it safe to assume I've grabbed the only F seats to be released prior to the +/- t-14 day window?

To make the morning DPS connection convenient, I think I need to use either LAX/SFO/JFK as my gateway; does one of these cities offer a higher probability of last minute F over the others? (generally speaking, of course)

Many of these flights seem to offer 4 J seats; is it worth the hassle to go for F seats? tips?

many thanks.

If you're redeeming CX flights using AAdvantage miles, it is best if you ask your question over at the AA forum : http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/american-aadvantage/990738-cathay-cx-first-class-awards-questions-availability-business-applicable-also.html?highlight=cx

NightTripper: SO and I did LAX-HKG-DPS in May. Originally booked LAX-SFO-HKG-DPS as only 1F seat out of LAX. Recall that CX used to fly a 747 from SFO with 9 F seats so 2 F's were available but it is now a 777 with only 6 F seats. You may need to book 2 thru SFO and 2 thru LAX if you want F seats for all. In my case there was always 1 F from LAX but second F opened 44 days out. YMMV Good luck.

Quick update: 1 week to the date I wanted, the whole week's flights are all opened up.

Got the date and the flight I wanted. Thanks for the information everyone!

Quick update: 1 week to the date I wanted, the whole week's flights are all opened up.

Got the date and the flight I wanted. Thanks for the information everyone!

Thanks for this ray of hope!

I'm currently holding (using AA miles) DCA-ORD-HKG return in C but am hoping for F to open up (either ORD or JFK) as we get closer to travel! I'm on KVS checking three or four times a day at least. ^

CX can release seats if available, even at the last moment. However, August is peak. Flights are often overbooked depending on destinations. It is better to secure an upgradable economy seat, then upgrade if available. At least you can make it to the destination. The catch is that you may be paying a more expensive ticket if not upgraded.

How about late-December and early-January for last-minute openings... Christmas season?

I am looking at 2F and 2J.

Thanks in advance. :)

How about late-December and early-January for last-minute openings... Christmas season?

I am looking at 2F and 2J.

Thanks in advance. :)

Christmas season is peak ^2

How about late-December and early-January for last-minute openings... Christmas season?

I am looking at 2F and 2J.

Thanks in advance. :)
Last year lots of F/Js during Christmas season. I ended up with 4F but I was only looking for flights from JFK to HKG. We wanted to fly on Dec 23rd but grabbed Dec 26 flights J/F as they popup from JL/BA/AA sites and kept moving the dates until all the seats ended on Dec 23rd two days before departure and same flight and we took seats 1A/2A, 1K/2K. Next time we will probably try 1K/2K and 1D/2D and have a better PJ party :D BTW, I started looking every day starting Dec 12 so it was a lot of work with lots of help from people on this forum.

Considering I routinely hire a chase van to follow me on the drive to JFK in case we have an accident, the idea of building in a gratuitous connection seems pretty high risk to me.

You are a very risk-averse traveler! ;) Out of curiosity, if this scenario happened, would you just abandon your car at the side of the road and then just deal with it when you return to the U.S.? Or do you hire a driver to take you to the airport, as well as a chase van?

Given your approach, I agree with your reluctance to book a connection. SFO is one of the most delay-prone airports in the U.S.; after a couple of close calls connecting there (e.g., coming on UA from LAX or SNA, which is virtually certain to be delayed), I avoid it if time is of the essence, especially if I am not on a paid J/F ticket.

You are a very risk-averse traveler! ;) Out of curiosity, if this scenario happened, would you just abandon your car at the side of the road and then just deal with it when you return to the U.S.? Or do you hire a driver to take you to the airport, as well as a chase van?

Given your approach, I agree with your reluctance to book a connection. SFO is one of the most delay-prone airports in the U.S.; after a couple of close calls connecting there (e.g., coming on UA from LAX or SNA, which is virtually certain to be delayed), I avoid it if time is of the essence, especially if I am not on a paid J/F ticket.

Yeah, I take some heat for this. For whatever reason, some posters have gotten very angry about this, there were numerous threads on the AA board (related to CX awards) that the monitor needed to remove.

Family of four, 60 miles north of JFK. We hire an SUV to take us + bags, and a second SUV (empty) to follow 4-5 miles back for the duration of the trip, though 2nd SUV peels off when we arrive JFK T7. I know that they follow, because once (only once) we needed their assistance. Massive traffic due 18 wheeler got lodged under a rail track and blocked all southbound lanes - we were stuck BIG TIME. We ordered chase SUV to take back roads, then head north in opposing lane, we crossed grassy median with bags and got in chase vehicle, then took side streets to a point BELOW the accident and resumed from there.

In addition to tracking all US bound CX tails (particularly those bound for JFK which will turn our departing flight), chase vehicle and monitoring LIVE ATC en route are absolutely mandatory.

I threw back the JFKSFO awards I was holding on AA, connecting in SFO would only make sense if we positioned the night before, but my schedule doesn't allow that.

Safe travels - Jamie