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
Feb 13, 2018, 3:27 pm
#1711
Join Date: Jul 2012
Programs: Delta Gold, Alaska Gold 75K, LATAM Black
Posts: 3,393
“ yes there has been a restriction put onto booking awards with those partners. This is mainly to prevent fraudulent activity. Unfortunately, the terms are very strict and as of right now there will not be exceptions. However, it is a very new process so I am sure there will be revisions at some point. “
DMed Alaska on Twitter
DMed Alaska on Twitter
Feb 13, 2018, 5:27 pm
#1712
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: TPA
Programs: DL Diamond, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,256
Are you expletive kidding me! I'm flying BOS-HKG this Thursday in J on CX and was hoping to upgrade to F... Guess that isn't happening. Watch, F will be available tomorrow too.
Feb 13, 2018, 5:33 pm
#1713
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NYC
Programs: AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTT, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,636
Feb 13, 2018, 5:36 pm
#1714
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
Highly doubt this kind of abuse is the reason. If Alaska is actually processing a refund on a ticket without checking e-ticket coupon status, they got a bigger issue than merely refunding award tickets as you would be able to do the same with a revenue ticket. There are well-established IATA rules for interline e-tickets and if AS is not following them, shame on them.
Agent is making up the part of losing hundreds of dollars up because Alaska was always footing the CX bill. The part they are losing if passenger refunded was an accounting entry for the AS miles which they could always claw back from the member account.
The "abuse" is probably buying miles last minute and redeeming them immediately thereafter; not flying and refunding.
Agent is making up the part of losing hundreds of dollars up because Alaska was always footing the CX bill. The part they are losing if passenger refunded was an accounting entry for the AS miles which they could always claw back from the member account.
The "abuse" is probably buying miles last minute and redeeming them immediately thereafter; not flying and refunding.
I have a feeling that since this policy is new if you’re Gold or 75K, and you have good sweet talking persuasion abilities, you could get an agent to move you from J to F if it opens. Obviously it can’t hurt to try.
Feb 13, 2018, 5:51 pm
#1715
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP, DL PM, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 2,028
This is the first I’ve seen of this. The entire month of March there is no availability in F from HKG-any North American city. I found only one to ORD on March 20th that I snagged. Thr only other one I saw I think was HKG-JFK/BOS(?) March 28th. Usually you can at least find a few days to a few different cities but there is literally zilch the whole month (thus far anyway). Is this because of Chinese New Year or something?
Feb 13, 2018, 9:11 pm
#1716
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Thousand Oaks, Ca., USA
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat; Bonvoy Titanium Lifetime Elite;Hyatt Globalist; HHonors Diamond; United Silver
Posts: 8,314
Not sure it will matter, but perhaps a ton of Twitter complaints might make a difference.
I've twitted mine.
I've twitted mine.
Last edited by beachfan; Feb 13, 2018 at 9:33 pm
Feb 14, 2018, 2:37 pm
#1718
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
Also consistency in what the phone agents can see regarding availability is bizarre now. Usually there was at least some conformity with what AS agents saw, even if it didn't line up with the QF tool, and what OW agents saw, but even that is changing. I was looking for availability to change my departure date from SIN-HKG. I had one agent tell me nothing was available even after giving her specific flights. I called back second agent (who sounded very nice and friendly) told me she could see premium economy but not J (this was for any flight March 16-18) and nothing was aligning with the Qantas tool. Very weird because usually agents tell you availability that does not align with the QF tool, but the AS agents are all usually consistent in what THEY ALL see in their availability.
On my third attempt, the agent very quickly and easily saw availability on the 16th on the 6:50am flight in J. Strange because now calling multiple times will be beneficial.
On my third attempt, the agent very quickly and easily saw availability on the 16th on the 6:50am flight in J. Strange because now calling multiple times will be beneficial.
Feb 14, 2018, 9:14 pm
#1719
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend, Moderator, Information Desk, Ambassador, Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: FAI
Programs: AS MVP Gold100K, AS 1MM, Maika`i Card, AGR, HH Gold, Hertz PC, Marriott Titanium LTG, CO, 7H, BA, 8E
Posts: 42,953
Also consistency in what the phone agents can see regarding availability is bizarre now. Usually there was at least some conformity with what AS agents saw, even if it didn't line up with the QF tool, and what OW agents saw, but even that is changing. I was looking for availability to change my departure date from SIN-HKG. I had one agent tell me nothing was available even after giving her specific flights. I called back second agent (who sounded very nice and friendly) told me she could see premium economy but not J (this was for any flight March 16-18) and nothing was aligning with the Qantas tool. Very weird because usually agents tell you availability that does not align with the QF tool, but the AS agents are all usually consistent in what THEY ALL see in their availability.
On my third attempt, the agent very quickly and easily saw availability on the 16th on the 6:50am flight in J. Strange because now calling multiple times will be beneficial.
On my third attempt, the agent very quickly and easily saw availability on the 16th on the 6:50am flight in J. Strange because now calling multiple times will be beneficial.
Feb 14, 2018, 11:24 pm
#1720
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: YVR to SEA
Posts: 2,535
Without 72 hour availability, am I able to book 3 j CX from YVR to HKG and perhaps to JNB ? Been out the loop for a while. Would prefer to book ten months or eleven months out, but do they usually just release two seats?
Feb 14, 2018, 11:34 pm
#1721
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
So use the BA or QF tool and type in the amount of passengers and then find out how many award seats are available. Also if it has to be Vancouver then ok. But I would consider another city to connect in. Vancouver usually has the least availability with LAX or JFK having the most availability, generally speaking.
Feb 16, 2018, 11:46 am
#1722
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 272
I just booked a J ticket for my parent, but there is a 8 hours lay over at SFO. They landed around 8:55pm at night and the next flight don't board until 5am in the morning. Is there any lounge they can use during those hours? or any hotel in the airport? I don't want them to leave the airport because I affair they will get lost. They do not speak a lot of English, any advice? thank you!
Feb 16, 2018, 12:17 pm
#1723
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,387
I just booked a J ticket for my parent, but there is a 8 hours lay over at SFO. They landed around 8:55pm at night and the next flight don't board until 5am in the morning. Is there any lounge they can use during those hours? or any hotel in the airport? I don't want them to leave the airport because I affair they will get lost. They do not speak a lot of English, any advice? thank you!
Feb 16, 2018, 3:16 pm
#1724
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,053
SFO does not have airside 24 hour lounges or an airside/landside airport hotel- any hotel stay would have your parent leaving the airport. I would strongly recommend you either change the itinerary or use another option (buy a cash ticket that doesn't have a bad layover, even if it's in Y) if you think they're not capable of handling an extended layover. In the end, saving money on a J ticket by using AS miles but having a layover they can't handle isn't really improving the flying experience for your parent.
Feb 16, 2018, 3:21 pm
#1725
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
Yes but a longer layover they’ll have to find the hotel bus. They’ll have to get to the hotel. They’ll have to check in. Theyll have to ask when the bus goes back and the usual questions. If their English is really that poor it may not be a good idea.
A shorter layover with a paid ticket might be a good idea.
A shorter layover with a paid ticket might be a good idea.