Cathay Pacific Asia Miles - Award space MEL - HKG for end of the year?

OK from 330 days out I have been looking for CX award space in late 2007. Yeah, I know, it is the beginning of summer BUT there has been no award space late Nov to early Dec for ANY class Y - F at any time. It is like they never released it! You would think at least there would be some Y seats. Something weird is going on so after 3 months I am turning to here for advice. What am I doing wrong?

1. Pick different cities; CX seems to have zeroed out certain routes for advance award bookings. They have also zeroed out some flights/dates for discount revenue bookings, so it isn't just awards that are being squeezed. CX clearly has a big capacity problem for some routes.

2. Wait until closer to flight time. CX often releases seats for awards closer to the travel date, typically less than 2 weeks before and often just a day or 2 before (helps to be flexible and need only a single seat).

3. Redeem using Asiamiles. Often seats will be released for an Asiamile request. Having CX Diamond status also makes a big difference (in part CX seems to be making a concerted effort to satisfy CX Diamond members at the expense of others).

1. Pick different cities; CX seems to have zeroed out certain routes for advance award bookings. They have also zeroed out some flights/dates for discount revenue bookings, so it isn't just awards that are being squeezed. CX clearly has a big capacity problem for some routes.It is an award using AS miles. Would not mind leaving out of SYD buy AS will not allow it. Only one of a HKG layover or open jaw. We are already flying into MEL in F. Already have HKG to SEA via YVR in F.2. Wait until closer to flight time. CX often releases seats for awards closer to the travel date, typically less than 2 weeks before and often just a day or 2 before (helps to be flexible and need only a single seat).Can't risk it. I would feel better a least having Y since I do not want to get stuck in MEL with no way to take my return flight to YVR.3. Redeem using Asiamiles. Often seats will be released for an Asiamile request. Having CX Diamond status also makes a big difference (in part CX seems to be making a concerted effort to satisfy CX Diamond members at the expense of others).No Asiamiles nor status. Very frustrating when it appears the flights are virtually empty!!! Were not even talking about the single F seat were talking about ANYTHING!
Thanks for your help!

Maybe you need to change your award to be to/from SYD or ADL, SYD has a lot more flights per day than MEL and ADL seems to be less busy; MEL is probably the worst Australian city for CX awards. Of course the AS award is much cheaper than the equivalent Asiamiles award, so CX isn't going to be bending over backwards to help you, it is up to AS.

And my concern is not a specific date or something. There are NO dates available Y - F with Asiamiles and the planes look empty way in advance. Something is strange that I do not understand. I am just afraid I am doing something wrong in my searching - like they do not allow one-way awards from MEL - HKG.

OK from 330 days out I have been looking for CX award space in late 2007. Yeah, I know, it is the beginning of summer BUT there has been no award space late Nov to early Dec for ANY class Y - F at any time. It is like they never released it! You would think at least there would be some Y seats. Something weird is going on so after 3 months I am turning to here for advice. What am I doing wrong?


I dont know where you are searching but I do know that the CX award inventory on Qantas website is absolutely incorrect.
There are seats
then when u go to book they are unavailable ..
then u call Qantas and lo and behold on dates that are not on the website they are available.
so the best bet is to call CX and ask what s available .
If they tell u they need an account number tell them that you are using a cousins and dont know the number.
I have reported this in detail on the qantas forum
Qantas is very aware that CX website is not talking to theirs correctly.

1.
2. Wait until closer to flight time. CX often releases seats for awards closer to the travel date, typically less than 2 weeks before and often just a day or 2 before (helps to be flexible and need only a single seat).

3.

Agree with all but especially 2. I was looking for rewards MEL-HKG (2 seats in F) and found they started to become available about three months out (almost to the day). Also noticed availability opens up, again, 2 weeks before and then in the days immediately prior as number_6 indicated.