Jun 28, 2017, 8:46 pm
Last edit by: eponymous_coward
Cathay Award Guide Using Alaska Airlines Miles
Note: Cathay flights cannot be booked using alaskaair.com. Mileage requirements in chart form available on alaskaair.com.
Routing Rules:
North American Gateway Cities:
Western
Vancouver
San Francisco
Los Angeles
Seattle (Spring 2019)
Eastern (Can not be used if traveling to west coast)
Boston
Chicago
New York (JFK & EWR)
Toronto
Washington
Award Chart Links*:
Asia
Australia
Europe
India/Middle East
North America
Anyone with 90 posts and 90 days can edit the wiki. Everyone else if you want something added to the wiki please comment in the thread.
Note: Cathay flights cannot be booked using alaskaair.com. Mileage requirements in chart form available on alaskaair.com.
Request your Partner Award reservation on Cathay Pacific by calling Alaska Airlines Reservations at 1-800-252-7522 (TTY: Dial 711 for Relay Services) 5:00 a.m. - Midnight (PT), daily.
- If it's not on the award chart, it's not allowed. For example EUROPE is To/From HKG only.
- Stopover are only allowed on any CX award for North America awards as destination or origin. For instance: intra-Asia awards do not get a stopover. It must be a North America->Somewhere or Somewhere->North America award to qualify for a stopover.
- The only awards that do not break at HKG are intra-Asia or North American ones. For instance, Australia-Europe/Middle East/Asia outside of HKG will be two awards (breaking at HKG). The AS award chart can be misleading about this and give you the impression you can fly an award like Australia/Europe-ICN, but the chart for these award types will show "Hong Kong".
- One stop-over allowed on one way award. You can build open jaw and other advanced routings by booking multiple one way awards. Please note change fee rule below.
- Allegedly stop-over only in Hong Kong, but some have posted success in other enroute cities such as YVR or SEA.
- As of 5 June 2018 changes/cancellations made to a booking will incur a $125 fee which is waived for MVPG/MVPG75K. Bookings made prior to 5 June will be allowed one complimentary change or cancellation for up to 60 days prior to date of travel.
- Awards can be booked 330 days in advance.
- Cathay and Alaska (or an Alaska flight operated by SkyWest/Horizon on behalf of Alaska) are the only airlines allowed on a Cathay award. No other partner airlines may be used on a single award (e.g. American, JAL, Emirates).
North American Gateway Cities:
Western
Vancouver
San Francisco
Los Angeles
Seattle (Spring 2019)
Eastern (Can not be used if traveling to west coast)
Boston
Chicago
New York (JFK & EWR)
Toronto
Washington
Award Chart Links*:
Asia
Australia
Europe
India/Middle East
North America
Anyone with 90 posts and 90 days can edit the wiki. Everyone else if you want something added to the wiki please comment in the thread.
Cathay Pacific (CX) Award Redemption, Booking and Availability 2017 and Later
Dec 10, 2017, 7:04 am
#1516
Join Date: Nov 2010
Programs: IHG Platinum
Posts: 1,066
CX doesn't fly YVR to BOS. Are you confusing BOS with JFK? 
You would need to go:
CGK-HKG-YVR CX
YVR-SEA/PDX-BOS AS
You may, in fact, be able to get a stopover in the CX gateway if all that are involved after your stopover are AS flights. I've been successful getting stopovers when only AS segments are involved in the stopover while on CX awards (in fact, I've had nine month stopovers in SEA).
What you won't be able to do is fly CGK-HKG-YVR(stop)-JFK all on CX (or connect at JFK to AA/DL going to BOS, AS only allows one partner per redemption and themselves, and AS doesn't fly JFK-BOS). The only place they will let you take a stopover on CX metal is HKG.
You would need to go:
CGK-HKG-YVR CX
YVR-SEA/PDX-BOS AS
You may, in fact, be able to get a stopover in the CX gateway if all that are involved after your stopover are AS flights. I've been successful getting stopovers when only AS segments are involved in the stopover while on CX awards (in fact, I've had nine month stopovers in SEA).
What you won't be able to do is fly CGK-HKG-YVR(stop)-JFK all on CX (or connect at JFK to AA/DL going to BOS, AS only allows one partner per redemption and themselves, and AS doesn't fly JFK-BOS). The only place they will let you take a stopover on CX metal is HKG.
Some people have mentioned that looking for space ex-YVR is hard. At least for March 2018, I have been able to find ample space ex-YVR on all 3 flights six months in advance, albeit J space being harder to find on Sat and Sun.
Dec 10, 2017, 2:35 pm
#1517
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 18,323
CGK-HKG-YVR(stop)-JFK should be possible. I have the other way around ticketed JFK-YVR (stop)-HKG-CGK.
Some people have mentioned that looking for space ex-YVR is hard. At least for March 2018, I have been able to find ample space ex-YVR on all 3 flights six months in advance, albeit J space being harder to find on Sat and Sun.
Some people have mentioned that looking for space ex-YVR is hard. At least for March 2018, I have been able to find ample space ex-YVR on all 3 flights six months in advance, albeit J space being harder to find on Sat and Sun.
Dec 10, 2017, 3:58 pm
#1518
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,763
The rule is whether the partner can be booked online or not, phone ticket fee is charged. You can keep calling and try your luck but if the agent is doing his / her job, the fee should not be waived. The ONLY situation is when a partner is bookable online but somehow you keep getting an error yet an agent could book it - then there is some merit to ask for waiver of the $15.
This is not AS rule. AA does not charge phone ticketing fee on partners cannot be booked online, starting about 2 years ago. AS continues to charge the phone booking fee whether the partner can be booked online or not. If you dont get charged, you are lucky because the agent did not do his/her job. If you are charged, that is the rule.
Dec 10, 2017, 11:04 pm
#1519
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
Yes.
The rule is whether the partner can be booked online or not, phone ticket fee is charged. You can keep calling and try your luck but if the agent is doing his / her job, the fee should not be waived. The ONLY situation is when a partner is bookable online but somehow you keep getting an error yet an agent could book it - then there is some merit to ask for waiver of the $15.
This is not AS rule. AA does not charge phone ticketing fee on partners cannot be booked online, starting about 2 years ago. AS continues to charge the phone booking fee whether the partner can be booked online or not. If you dont get charged, you are lucky because the agent did not do his/her job. If you are charged, that is the rule.
The rule is whether the partner can be booked online or not, phone ticket fee is charged. You can keep calling and try your luck but if the agent is doing his / her job, the fee should not be waived. The ONLY situation is when a partner is bookable online but somehow you keep getting an error yet an agent could book it - then there is some merit to ask for waiver of the $15.
This is not AS rule. AA does not charge phone ticketing fee on partners cannot be booked online, starting about 2 years ago. AS continues to charge the phone booking fee whether the partner can be booked online or not. If you dont get charged, you are lucky because the agent did not do his/her job. If you are charged, that is the rule.
James
Dec 11, 2017, 10:07 am
#1520
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 18,323
I have done two recent CX redemptions and I wasn't charged a booking fee on either of them. I never asked for a wavier and there was no mention of there being a fee that was waived. The first redemption was done through the Phoenix centre and the second through the Boise centre. I called with specific flights and in both instances I was booked within 5 minutes.
James
James
Dec 11, 2017, 12:49 pm
#1521
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: YVR
Posts: 640
Just a data point. I was hoping to score two USA-HKG-SE Asia awards with a stopover over the Christmas season coming up in a few weeks. I had been scouring availability on both British Airways and Qantas tools. A few times BA showed availability and Qantas did not, when I called in Alaska could not see it either. However every time I was able to see Qantas availability Alaska Mileage Plan was also showing the same as Qantas.
Ended up with the perfect flights myself and wish everyone finding CX availability luck as well!
Ended up with the perfect flights myself and wish everyone finding CX availability luck as well!
Dec 11, 2017, 4:19 pm
#1522
Join Date: Aug 2013
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold
Posts: 917
We had F coming in, connecting to a HKG-DPS flight the next morning at 10am because that was the only way to connect. We presented our BPs from the day before as well as the BPs to DPS, telling the receptionists they were on the same reservation same ticket. We were graciously let in the Wings. Not saying it is the rule, but does not hurt to try.
Dec 11, 2017, 6:36 pm
#1523
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,763
Dec 11, 2017, 6:39 pm
#1524
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,763
I have done two recent CX redemptions and I wasn't charged a booking fee on either of them. I never asked for a wavier and there was no mention of there being a fee that was waived. The first redemption was done through the Phoenix centre and the second through the Boise centre. I called with specific flights and in both instances I was booked within 5 minutes.
James
James
Dec 11, 2017, 6:43 pm
#1525
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,763
Our flight was served by a 747 then, and the nose section was not used normally but we were allowed to keep our 1A and 1K seats. There were also a young couple in the F section middle row. F&B though, was the same as in the J section - Inedible pork chop - so tough that the knife could not cut into it I kid you not. I rang up the FA and just showed her with actual cutting... She quickly apologized and brought me some steamed fish instead. Can't believe someone in CX forum started a thread claiming CX was better than QR or ME3 for that matter...
Dec 12, 2017, 6:21 pm
#1526
Join Date: May 2008
Location: "the world is my country"
Programs: Alaska 100K (aka OWS)
Posts: 811
I'm happy to pay the booking fee for the great deal of flying the family business class from SEA-DPS for 50k each way. Especially after paying out of the nose for the just-average BA J award with their crazy big taxes. 6 peeps to Bali this June with CX, all business and first. Thanks Alaska!
Dec 12, 2017, 7:09 pm
#1527
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
I'm happy to pay the booking fee for the great deal of flying the family business class from SEA-DPS for 50k each way. Especially after paying out of the nose for the just-average BA J award with their crazy big taxes. 6 peeps to Bali this June with CX, all business and first. Thanks Alaska!
Couldn't agree more, I booked CD J YVR-HKG//HKG-DPS in January for 50K each. YVR-HKG on the A350. I also booked CX J JNB-HKG//HKG-BOS in February for 62.5K each. Both were booked about 4-5 months out.
For an 8.5 hour flight I refuse to use BA YVR-LHR or beyond with the ridiculous fees. I can fly BA economy for about the same amount as a premium award and get EQM & RDM for the money I would have to spend anyway. I know some would argue that there are less fees and taxes on some routes and if you connect through London but for an average/sub-par experience I am not willing.
James
Dec 17, 2017, 7:01 pm
#1528
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: SFO
Programs: Delta Diamond Medallion, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 32
This is a bit old, but I wanted to share my experience in case anyone has a similar question in the future. In April I booked a LAX>HKG>TPE award in F. I was able to reschedule the HKG>TPE leg after flying LAX>HKG, although I had to pay a change fee as this was before I reached MVP Gold. The (incredibly nice) AS agent seemed to think this was 100% allowed, although it took him about an hour of working with CX to get the change confirmed.
Last edited by viviandarkbloom; Dec 17, 2017 at 7:12 pm
Dec 17, 2017, 7:05 pm
#1529
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: SEA, FLL, Martha’s Vineyard
Programs: AS MVPGold75K, Hilton Gold, IHG Platinum, Pan Am million-miler
Posts: 2,019
This is a bit old, but I wanted to share my experience in case anyone has a similar question in the future. In April I booked a LAX>HKG>TPE award in F. I was able to reschedule the HKG>TPE leg after flying LAX>HKG, although I had to pay a change fee as this was before I reached MVP Gold. The (incredibly nice) AS agent seemed to think this was 100% allowed, although it took him about an hour of working with CX to get the change confirmed.
Dec 17, 2017, 10:11 pm
#1530
Join Date: Aug 2013
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold
Posts: 917
That too, the HKG-DPS has no F service.
Our flight was served by a 747 then, and the nose section was not used normally but we were allowed to keep our 1A and 1K seats. There were also a young couple in the F section middle row. F&B though, was the same as in the J section - Inedible pork chop - so tough that the knife could not cut into it I kid you not. I rang up the FA and just showed her with actual cutting... She quickly apologized and brought me some steamed fish instead. Can't believe someone in CX forum started a thread claiming CX was better than QR or ME3 for that matter...
Our flight was served by a 747 then, and the nose section was not used normally but we were allowed to keep our 1A and 1K seats. There were also a young couple in the F section middle row. F&B though, was the same as in the J section - Inedible pork chop - so tough that the knife could not cut into it I kid you not. I rang up the FA and just showed her with actual cutting... She quickly apologized and brought me some steamed fish instead. Can't believe someone in CX forum started a thread claiming CX was better than QR or ME3 for that matter...
I fly up front almost entirely for the bed. Second is for the better ground service, and a distant third is the opportunity to sample absurdly overpriced wine and liquor. Food is rarely exciting on any airline, regardless of how they plate it or set the table, but it is usually edible. So Cathay is more than acceptable to me.