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
Sep 25, 2017, 3:54 pm
#1202
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 18,323
$125 per person within 60 days from departure unless MVP Gold/75K. You just need to weigh the risk of 0 award space in any cabin when it gets closer in. There are some recent reports of issues booking maxed cabin awards on CX.
Sep 25, 2017, 6:18 pm
#1203
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Posts: 92
Any truck to getting MVP Gold/75K status?
I've been seeing 2 F tickets available lately within 2-3 days from departure. Today there was 2 F available on Qantas for the 27th. Would the Alaska agent be able to see both our is that a YMMV situation?
Sep 25, 2017, 6:36 pm
#1204
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,376
Fly a bunch of miles on Alaska and Virgin America planes, or have Gold+ status in Delta/United, or Platinum+ in American and get status matched. Note that it's supposedly a one time only event. I don't think I'd burn it just to save $250 on a flight change. Note that if you aren't a US resident and you're just buying a bunch of miles to fly to Australia or South Africa, and thus you don't have status in a NA-based program, you're not going to get status matched. AC Elite 50K or better would work out of YVR.
Unlike other programs, there's no credit card trick to get status.
Unlike other programs, there's no credit card trick to get status.
Sep 26, 2017, 12:02 pm
#1205
Join Date: Jul 2012
Programs: Delta Gold, Alaska Gold 75K, LATAM Black
Posts: 3,393
Does anybody have any data points for HKG to Maldives J award availability? had no problem booking JFK HKG in F ..
I am curious if HKG MLE has the same last minute award availability like the other CX routes?
I am curious if HKG MLE has the same last minute award availability like the other CX routes?
Sep 26, 2017, 6:16 pm
#1206
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,401
Sep 26, 2017, 8:45 pm
#1207
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: YVR to SEA
Posts: 2,531
It's been a few years, but the moment it hit 14 days, my particular flight released 9 seats in business going the other direction. Not the best data point
Sep 26, 2017, 9:02 pm
#1208
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Boulder
Programs: AA Plat, CX Silver
Posts: 2,361
Note for OP: the CX arrivals lounge is fairly basic. Just a place for a quick shower or shave and maybe a cup of coffee.
Sep 26, 2017, 9:27 pm
#1209
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
Have done luggage storage here for day trips into HKG. (This way one could add to checked luggage after returning - or just store a carry on).
Sep 27, 2017, 8:51 am
#1210
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,740
It has been very overcrowded for a long time now. You would be lucky to be able to store your luggage as that facility is very small and gets full very quickly in the morning congestion time. Foods are acceptable but trying to have some would be a challenger due to no place to sit, often even the high tops are fully occupied. It definitely is not a comfortable place to spend more than necessary time.
For those have PP you would be better off to go to the Premium lounge instead.
Sep 27, 2017, 8:57 am
#1211
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 18,323
I am not sure how long ago you have used the Arrival lounge.
It has been very overcrowded for a long time now. You would be lucky to be able to store your luggage as that facility is very small and gets full very quickly in the morning congestion time. Foods are acceptable but trying to have some would be a challenger due to no place to sit, often even the high tops are fully occupied. It definitely is not a comfortable place to spend more than necessary time.
For those have PP you would be better off to go to the Premium lounge instead.
It has been very overcrowded for a long time now. You would be lucky to be able to store your luggage as that facility is very small and gets full very quickly in the morning congestion time. Foods are acceptable but trying to have some would be a challenger due to no place to sit, often even the high tops are fully occupied. It definitely is not a comfortable place to spend more than necessary time.
For those have PP you would be better off to go to the Premium lounge instead.
Last time i was first to get in and was able to grab a shower and there was still a seat when i got done. Now about an hour later, no room and when i left someone was being told the shower list was about 2 hours long. The time before i did not head for the showers first and was lucky it was only a 30 min wait.
Sep 27, 2017, 10:12 am
#1212
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: USA
Programs: Amex Plat, AA Exec, CITI Prestige, Hilton Gold, Marriot Gold and all ever changing
Posts: 218
HI everyone, I have a silly question...
I can't seem to get seating assignments for my award travel on business class. I have my confirmation code from AA, but, every time I try and call Cathay (calling 1-800-233-2742), I can not get a live person to talk to. I hear no options to be transferred to a live agent. Please assist in giving me some tips on how I can get seating assignment for myself and the family. The flight isn't till March. Thanks!
I can't seem to get seating assignments for my award travel on business class. I have my confirmation code from AA, but, every time I try and call Cathay (calling 1-800-233-2742), I can not get a live person to talk to. I hear no options to be transferred to a live agent. Please assist in giving me some tips on how I can get seating assignment for myself and the family. The flight isn't till March. Thanks!
Sep 27, 2017, 10:28 am
#1213
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: New York, NY
Programs: AA ExPl, DL PM, UA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium, probably some others
Posts: 4,075
HI everyone, I have a silly question...
I can't seem to get seating assignments for my award travel on business class. I have my confirmation code from AA, but, every time I try and call Cathay (calling 1-800-233-2742), I can not get a live person to talk to. I hear no options to be transferred to a live agent. Please assist in giving me some tips on how I can get seating assignment for myself and the family. The flight isn't till March. Thanks!
I can't seem to get seating assignments for my award travel on business class. I have my confirmation code from AA, but, every time I try and call Cathay (calling 1-800-233-2742), I can not get a live person to talk to. I hear no options to be transferred to a live agent. Please assist in giving me some tips on how I can get seating assignment for myself and the family. The flight isn't till March. Thanks!
Sep 27, 2017, 11:51 am
#1214
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,376
HI everyone, I have a silly question...
I can't seem to get seating assignments for my award travel on business class. I have my confirmation code from AA, but, every time I try and call Cathay (calling 1-800-233-2742), I can not get a live person to talk to. I hear no options to be transferred to a live agent. Please assist in giving me some tips on how I can get seating assignment for myself and the family. The flight isn't till March. Thanks!
I can't seem to get seating assignments for my award travel on business class. I have my confirmation code from AA, but, every time I try and call Cathay (calling 1-800-233-2742), I can not get a live person to talk to. I hear no options to be transferred to a live agent. Please assist in giving me some tips on how I can get seating assignment for myself and the family. The flight isn't till March. Thanks!
(Using AA as an abbreviation for Alaska Airlines when it is used for American Airlines (go look up aa.com) is generally going to confuse people. The IATA code for American is AA, Alaska is AS.)
The Cathay booking confirmation code ("booking reference") that is available on your AS booking if you log into the AS website can be used on the Cathay website to select seats. You can also get this by calling Alaska.
Sep 27, 2017, 6:48 pm
#1215
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,740
HI everyone, I have a silly question...
I can't seem to get seating assignments for my award travel on business class. I have my confirmation code from AA, but, every time I try and call Cathay (calling 1-800-233-2742), I can not get a live person to talk to. I hear no options to be transferred to a live agent. Please assist in giving me some tips on how I can get seating assignment for myself and the family. The flight isn't till March. Thanks!
I can't seem to get seating assignments for my award travel on business class. I have my confirmation code from AA, but, every time I try and call Cathay (calling 1-800-233-2742), I can not get a live person to talk to. I hear no options to be transferred to a live agent. Please assist in giving me some tips on how I can get seating assignment for myself and the family. The flight isn't till March. Thanks!
If your ticket is issued by AA, then you need to call AA to get the CX PNR. You would want to have the Operating Carrier's PNR for any partner award ticket anyway, so you can check on partner's site periodically to make sure everything is in order. Standard practice on any award booked on partners' flights.
