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
Jul 11, 2017, 4:54 am
#856
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Little dot in Asia
Programs: AA-EP, TK-*G, HL-DM, HY-GLO, MR-LTP
Posts: 25,932
Jul 11, 2017, 4:58 am
#857
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 backtracking on EK no problem? But backtracking on CX is a no no?
Jul 11, 2017, 7:10 am
#858
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 18,323
There is no absolute way to know why somethings are allowed and some are not. Each partnership is individually negotiated so what works for one may not work for another.
For example, JL is the only partner that allows stop-over on intra-regional awards (except wholly within Japan) and CX intra-asia regional no stop-over.
The fact all the intricacies are not published is what make it possible for you to even get away with someone the stuff that will go through. Its more like if the system will price it and confirm it will work. Then hopefully AS wont come back figure it out and place a block stopping it. For instance when CX awards could be pushed through before the 330 day window which was fixed by an AS rep on FT who saw posts about it. Or like when one could get an agent to use the "old" system to force through EK awards that weren't really supposed to be available to AS.
Jul 11, 2017, 7:16 am
#859
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
When I got to the gate on a flight to Seattle, I asked the gate agent working the LAX-SEA flight if I could get on to get home because I was tired. Her colleague overheard my itinerary and said that the routing I had was probably cheaper, and I'd have to keep it. Then I said "but I'm 75k so don't I get same day changes?" She said "75k? Why didn't you tell us??? That's the first thing you should always tell us. We break all the rules for you guys." 😂
Jul 11, 2017, 3:16 pm
#860
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: Marriott Plat, Hilton Gold, UA Silver
Posts: 2,272
Ended up booking a F redemption on CX HKG to JFK. Availability showed up finally within two weeks of departure. I was the only one in the entire F cabin, so kinda silly they did not free up award space in advance of the two weeks given they had sold no seats.
Jul 11, 2017, 5:21 pm
#861
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: points traveller
Posts: 329
nice - which flight?
Jul 11, 2017, 5:44 pm
#862
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,541
You really think revenue F books far in advance?
Jul 11, 2017, 7:43 pm
#863
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 254
Hello,
I've been looking for two award J tickets to Italy from US during the summer of '18. Departure point in the US isn't really important as I'm willing to position flight to the appropriate airport. I've basically given up on finding AA, AF, KLM inventory, and I'm not willing to pay BA's fees.
So now I'm focused on going the long way around on Cathay. I seem to have no issue finding inventory from the US to HKG, but finding the HKG to Italy (any airport) seems to be non-existent. Should I assume that this is just a case of summer inventory to popular European destinations being very slim, or is there something else I'm missing?
I'm using the BA website to search.
thanks
I've been looking for two award J tickets to Italy from US during the summer of '18. Departure point in the US isn't really important as I'm willing to position flight to the appropriate airport. I've basically given up on finding AA, AF, KLM inventory, and I'm not willing to pay BA's fees.
So now I'm focused on going the long way around on Cathay. I seem to have no issue finding inventory from the US to HKG, but finding the HKG to Italy (any airport) seems to be non-existent. Should I assume that this is just a case of summer inventory to popular European destinations being very slim, or is there something else I'm missing?
I'm using the BA website to search.
thanks
Jul 11, 2017, 8:30 pm
#864
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,767
Not only that, the passengers with revenue tickets often change plans last minute.
When we boarded our HKG-LAX flight earlier this year, the FA told us we could sit anywhere we liked as no other passenger this flight. I thought there was one other passenger. The FA confirmed that was, right up till the morning but the passenger changed plan.
When we boarded our HKG-LAX flight earlier this year, the FA told us we could sit anywhere we liked as no other passenger this flight. I thought there was one other passenger. The FA confirmed that was, right up till the morning but the passenger changed plan.
Jul 11, 2017, 8:37 pm
#865
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,767
Hello,
I've been looking for two award J tickets to Italy from US during the summer of '18. Departure point in the US isn't really important as I'm willing to position flight to the appropriate airport. I've basically given up on finding AA, AF, KLM inventory, and I'm not willing to pay BA's fees.
So now I'm focused on going the long way around on Cathay. I seem to have no issue finding inventory from the US to HKG, but finding the HKG to Italy (any airport) seems to be non-existent. Should I assume that this is just a case of summer inventory to popular European destinations being very slim, or is there something else I'm missing?
I'm using the BA website to search.
thanks
I've been looking for two award J tickets to Italy from US during the summer of '18. Departure point in the US isn't really important as I'm willing to position flight to the appropriate airport. I've basically given up on finding AA, AF, KLM inventory, and I'm not willing to pay BA's fees.
So now I'm focused on going the long way around on Cathay. I seem to have no issue finding inventory from the US to HKG, but finding the HKG to Italy (any airport) seems to be non-existent. Should I assume that this is just a case of summer inventory to popular European destinations being very slim, or is there something else I'm missing?
I'm using the BA website to search.
thanks
Try HKG-ZRH which is reportedly having the lightest traffic. DUS too.
Jul 11, 2017, 8:46 pm
#866
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 254
Thanks. I have found ZRH inventory, but I'm trying my best not to have to position on both ends (especially if I'm going the "wrong" way around the globe). Both FCO and MXP are non-existent.
Jul 11, 2017, 9:20 pm
#867
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 18,323
Just go with BA. Yes the fuel surcharge stinks but you pay double for CX since US to Europe is 2 awards (so 4 one way awards for 2 people). Or just pay cash for the tickets. Well unless you have so many miles you don't know what to do with them.
Jul 11, 2017, 10:00 pm
#868
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 254
That's a hard pill to swallow. BA biz is terrible in my experience so paying them for the experience and burning miles is unappealing. I do have a fair amount of miles but it's all the extra time spent flying that is unappealing about cx.
Jul 11, 2017, 10:12 pm
#869
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
Surprised there is a fair bit of F inventory floating around; guess it's due to their YQ
Jul 11, 2017, 11:32 pm
#870
Join Date: Nov 2010
Programs: IHG Platinum
Posts: 1,066
Why are these routings not valid?
CGK-HKG-YVR (stopover)-SEA-LAX (this one I could probably see why as YVR is not the hub for both CX and AS).
CGK-HKG-LAX (stopover)-SEA-PDX or CGK-HKG-LAX (stopover)-PDX-SEA (why can't I layover PDX on the way to SEA or vice versa?)
In the end, I had to choose either CGK-HKG-LAX (stopover)-SEA or CGK-HKG-LAX (stopover)-PDX.
However, I'm glad to be able to do the YVR stopover on my way back from JFK-YVR (stopover)-HKG.
CGK-HKG-YVR (stopover)-SEA-LAX (this one I could probably see why as YVR is not the hub for both CX and AS).
CGK-HKG-LAX (stopover)-SEA-PDX or CGK-HKG-LAX (stopover)-PDX-SEA (why can't I layover PDX on the way to SEA or vice versa?)
In the end, I had to choose either CGK-HKG-LAX (stopover)-SEA or CGK-HKG-LAX (stopover)-PDX.
However, I'm glad to be able to do the YVR stopover on my way back from JFK-YVR (stopover)-HKG.