Cathay Pacific Asia Miles - Lots of question from AA Plat on CX

There's a chance I might have to fly exJFK to PER before the end of the year for business (which would easily qualify me for EXP) so I have been doing some research on ways to get there with OW credit on AA and get upgraded (Y->J) so it's not too torturous a flight.

I don't know much about CX but they seem to be the best option as JFK-HKG-PER can be done in about 24 hours. I would probably leave Friday to arrive late Sat or early Sun, be in PER for business 2-3 days (Mon-Tues/Wed) and then return. May consider staying overnight in HKG on the way back.

I have searched and read the FAQ and other postings and have some impressions:

1) I probably need to book a W,R,E fare to upgrade to J;
2) Looking at EF, it seems those can be as low as $2100 but on the CX site more like $2800 which I don't have a problem with;
3) I can upgrade Y+ to J for 100000 Asia Miles (would have to open a MPC account to which I could transfer 1:1 Amex Membership Miles - MPC would cost nominal $ to join);
4) getting an upgrade from Y+ to J is tough (can EF show inventory???) and by no means assured (so I would have to move 100k Amex MM which, if it did not go through would be "stranded");
5) Y+ on CX seems to be a hit-or-miss proposition with equipment changes, etc so you can pay for Y+ but end up in plain ol' Y;
6) HKG-PER-HKG doesn't have Y+ on most of the flights.

So, I wanted some inputs:

1) Is there a better strategy than CX?
2) Can a J fare be bought at a reasonable price (sub $4k RT)? How?
3) Is there a way to do the upgrade where it is locked, rather than a gamble? If it can only be a gamble, what are the odds? Would QF (which I haven't researched much) provide a more "locked" approach? It seems to me that QF would require 3 flights and more time.
4) Is there an approach I am missing? Some other factors I should be considering?

Thanks all in advance.

Have yet to fly CX (will be soon) but I didn't have to join MPC to transfer my AMEX MR points to Asia Miles.

I just joined Asia Miles and made the transfer.

Not sure if you need to for any upgrade chances though.

Have yet to fly CX (will be soon) but I didn't have to join MPC to transfer my AMEX MR points to Asia Miles.

I just joined Asia Miles and made the transfer.

Not sure if you need to for any upgrade chances though.

Thanks - I hadn't realized that. As I wanted to take the miles with my AA account anyhow, MPC is not a necessity. As I want to use them for upgrade, it may still be an issue that I will have to research.

There's a chance I might have to fly exJFK to PER before the end of the year for business (which would easily qualify me for EXP) so I have been doing some research on ways to get there with OW credit on AA and get upgraded (Y->J) so it's not too torturous a flight.

I don't know much about CX but they seem to be the best option as JFK-HKG-PER can be done in about 24 hours. I would probably leave Friday to arrive late Sat or early Sun, be in PER for business 2-3 days (Mon-Tues/Wed) and then return. May consider staying overnight in HKG on the way back.

I have searched and read the FAQ and other postings and have some impressions:

1) I probably need to book a W,R,E fare to upgrade to J;
2) Looking at EF, it seems those can be as low as $2100 but on the CX site more like $2800 which I don't have a problem with;
3) I can upgrade Y+ to J for 100000 Asia Miles (would have to open a MPC account to which I could transfer 1:1 Amex Membership Miles - MPC would cost nominal $ to join);
4) getting an upgrade from Y+ to J is tough (can EF show inventory???) and by no means assured (so I would have to move 100k Amex MM which, if it did not go through would be "stranded");
5) Y+ on CX seems to be a hit-or-miss proposition with equipment changes, etc so you can pay for Y+ but end up in plain ol' Y;
6) HKG-PER-HKG doesn't have Y+ on most of the flights.

So, I wanted some inputs:

1) Is there a better strategy than CX?
2) Can a J fare be bought at a reasonable price (sub $4k RT)? How?
3) Is there a way to do the upgrade where it is locked, rather than a gamble? If it can only be a gamble, what are the odds? Would QF (which I haven't researched much) provide a more "locked" approach? It seems to me that QF would require 3 flights and more time.
4) Is there an approach I am missing? Some other factors I should be considering?

Thanks all in advance.

If you plan on flying the end of the year, chances are you might not be able to get an upgrade as that's peak travel season. You might be lucky with an op-up, but understand that CX elites will have a higher priority than AA elites.

If you plan on flying the end of the year, chances are you might not be able to get an upgrade as that's peak travel season. You might be lucky with an op-up, but understand that CX elites will have a higher priority than AA elites.

By end of year do you mean December? That won't happen as I am in Italy for a good chunk of it. It will probably be first half Sept, mid Oct or Nov.

QF is another option, although two stops via LAX and SYD, BNE or MEL. I’ve done it a few times and from memory it’s similar journey time to CX via HKG. QF also have pretty good deals on PEY from time to time.

I have searched and read the FAQ and other postings and have some impressions:

1) I probably need to book a W,R,E fare to upgrade to J;
2) Looking at EF, it seems those can be as low as $2100 but on the CX site more like $2800 which I don't have a problem with;
3) I can upgrade Y+ to J for 100000 Asia Miles (would have to open a MPC account to which I could transfer 1:1 Amex Membership Miles - MPC would cost nominal $ to join);
4) getting an upgrade from Y+ to J is tough (can EF show inventory???) and by no means assured (so I would have to move 100k Amex MM which, if it did not go through would be "stranded");


1. Yes, unless you choose to fly out some other ports where Y+ is still not implemented on some FLTs (such as SFO).
2. The difference is due to the taxes and other fees.
3. No need to join MPO as an AM account (free) is sufficient.
4. You can try to convince the agent to hold the confirmed reservation for you and then get the AMEX point transferred if it can be done quickly. EF does not show availability but if you look up the award availability on CX's website it should be close to (though may not be exactly the same as) the UG inventory. You will need to have an AM account to look that up.

1. Yes, unless you choose to fly out some other ports where Y+ is still not implemented on some FLTs (such as SFO).
2. The difference is due to the taxes and other fees.
3. No need to join MPO as an AM account (free) is sufficient.
4. You can try to convince the agent to hold the confirmed reservation for you and then get the AMEX point transferred if it can be done quickly. EF does not show availability but if you look up the award availability on CX's website it should be close to (though may not be exactly the same as) the UG inventory. You will need to have an AM account to look that up.

Thanks - that answers some of my key questions.