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Asia Miles Gives One-Month Warning for Devaluation

Cathay Pacific flyers will soon earn more points in the air – but will also use more to redeem award flights. Asia Miles announced a major devaluation to their points system, with changes going into effect on June 22, 2018. Although the program says 20 percent more award seats will become available, premium and partner awards will increase in price.

There’s good news and bad news for Cathay Pacific flyers: They will soon earn more Asia Miles when aboard flights but will need to use more miles for premium class awards. The program published a summary of the changes to their website, which will all go into effect on June 22, 2018.

At the end of June, flyers will earn more miles on 80 percent of routes flown by Cathay Pacific and Cathay Dragon. For example: a flight in economy from Hong Kong to Shanghai will earn 2,000 Asia Miles, while a premium economy seat departing Hong Kong for New York will earn 10,010 miles. The only advertised route to lose mileage is Hong Kong-San Francisco. After June 22, flyers will earn over 300 less miles flying in business class.

Flyers who want to turn their Asia Miles for free premium cabin flights will feel the full effects of the devaluation. While most one-way awards in economy will drop in price, all business and first class award prices will increase. After the shift, a premium economy round-trip award from Los Angeles to Hong Kong will cost 90,000 Asia Miles, increasing by 18,000 miles. For a business class round trip between New York and Hong Kong, flyers will have to spend 170,000 miles, or 25,000 miles more. And a return award from London to Hong Kong and back in first class will cost 200,000 miles.

Round trip flights aboard partner airlines will increase as well. Published examples include a 10,000-mile increase between Hong Kong and Sydney aboard Qantas and a 4,000-mile increase between Dallas and Hong Kong aboard American Airlines. With some partners, like Japan Airlines, one-way premium cabin awards will disappear entirely.

However, there is some good news to the devaluation. Asia Miles promises to offer 20 percent more award seats across their network. In addition, because all awards are one-way, flyers can choose to book in a premium class in one direction and fly in a lower class of service on return.

Flyers who have Asia Miles to burn may want to consider using their reward miles sooner rather than later. All awards booked through June 21 will be priced at the current award chart, including those flights that depart after the change date.

[Photo: Shutterstock]

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cyberdoc May 25, 2018

Everyone looks only a devaluation. Consider that there is no inflation in miles flown. A slice pizza inQueens half century ago was a dime and is now $4. On the other hand I still earn the same for LGA ORD as I did in 1985.😖