Thanks everyone, but I dont' have a problem anymore. Those cheap $700 ish tickets are gone. (the class was -0- according to the terms & condition). Now Cathay-usa.com has cheaper ones, $860, and CathayPacific.com has the same route for $970. (H and V, don't remember which is which, but both earn full miles).

Thanks for all the info. I'd never known.