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Cathay Pacific (CX) Award Redemption, Booking and Availability – 2017 and Later

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Old Jun 28, 2017, 8:46 pm
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
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.

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.
Routing Rules:
  • 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.
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Cathay Pacific (CX) Award Redemption, Booking and Availability – 2017 and Later

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Old Jan 6, 2018, 7:37 am
  #1636  
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Originally Posted by eponymous_coward


Yes. Without MVPG+ status you may be charged a $125 change fee.

Similarly, I have no MVP status but a 70K First Class Award NRT-HKG-JFK. If first availability opens up on the HND to HKG flight (if this happened it would likely be within a few days of travel) will AS make the change or will I have to pay fee even though it is Tokyo it is Haneda not Narita?
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Old Jan 6, 2018, 7:39 am
  #1637  
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Originally Posted by BOStonTravels
Similarly, I have no MVP status but a 70K First Class Award NRT-HKG-JFK. If first availability opens up on the HND to HKG flight (if this happened it would likely be within a few days of travel) will AS make the change or will I have to pay fee even though it is Tokyo it is Haneda not Narita?
You will be assessed a fee as they’ll have to re-issue the ticket. Sorry. I know how much easier it is to fly out of HND.
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Old Jan 6, 2018, 7:46 am
  #1638  
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Originally Posted by Edgerfly


You will be assessed a fee as they’ll have to re-issue the ticket. Sorry. I know how much easier it is to fly out of HND.
Thanks for the heads up, that is too bad that AS dont allow for a free switch if first class award availability opens up since we are already paying the first class mileage. Totally agree, HND is so much easier (and nicer) than flying out of NRT.
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Old Jan 6, 2018, 12:00 pm
  #1639  
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
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Originally Posted by jamienbaker


Book a lengthy layover in each direction. HKG lounges are worth making time for. If able, book 2A, but that usually requires calling in. Best seat on the plane.
Do you call Cathay direct or go through Partners Desk?
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Old Jan 6, 2018, 12:05 pm
  #1640  
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Originally Posted by Edgerfly


You will be assessed a fee as they’ll have to re-issue the ticket. Sorry. I know how much easier it is to fly out of HND.
Originally Posted by BOStonTravels
Thanks for the heads up, that is too bad that AS dont allow for a free switch if first class award availability opens up since we are already paying the first class mileage. Totally agree, HND is so much easier (and nicer) than flying out of NRT.
AS does not charge if its same airport and you are already on an F award, it would be the airport change that causes the fee. Also to be aware, theres been a few posts recently of reservations getting screwed up on last minute changes.
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Old Jan 6, 2018, 12:10 pm
  #1641  
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Originally Posted by Brianblanco

Do you call Cathay direct or go through Partners Desk?
To have a long layover? Alaska

To select seats? Cathay.
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Old Jan 6, 2018, 12:12 pm
  #1642  
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Originally Posted by CDKing
Also to be aware, theres been a few posts recently of reservations getting screwed up on last minute changes.
I did not see anything about last minute changes and reservations getting messed up. Is it exclusive to cathay or all awards? Also what did happen?
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Old Jan 6, 2018, 3:20 pm
  #1643  
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Originally Posted by Edgerfly


I did not see anything about last minute changes and reservations getting messed up. Is it exclusive to cathay or all awards? Also what did happen?
It could just be reissuing in general but here's a couple CX related

Flawed partner award reticketing & how to help agents avoid them

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/alaska-airlines-mileage-plan/1885496-help-award-seats-availability.html
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Old Jan 7, 2018, 3:13 am
  #1644  
 
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Originally Posted by jamienbaker
Book a lengthy layover in each direction. HKG lounges are worth making time for. If able, book 2A, but that usually requires calling in. Best seat on the plane.
Thanks, will try...when I went online to choose my seats, most were blocked already...guess I get no love without oneworld status! Still, I will take my Alaska 75k, even though I live in Asia.
I booked connections that give me about 3 hours in HKG, each way...I've been to most of the CX lounges in HKG - I imagine they are awesome when not overflowing with people, but I've not had such luck thus far the half a dozen times I've flown through there. Same with the new AA Flagship at LAX - a few days ago that place was uncomfortably full (it was 10:30pm, ahead of most of the trans-Pac flights).
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Old Jan 7, 2018, 4:19 am
  #1645  
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Originally Posted by ralph4878
Thanks, will try...when I went online to choose my seats, most were blocked already...guess I get no love without oneworld status! Still, I will take my Alaska 75k, even though I live in Asia.
I booked connections that give me about 3 hours in HKG, each way...I've been to most of the CX lounges in HKG - I imagine they are awesome when not overflowing with people, but I've not had such luck thus far the half a dozen times I've flown through there. Same with the new AA Flagship at LAX - a few days ago that place was uncomfortably full (it was 10:30pm, ahead of most of the trans-Pac flights).
Just got out of Pier F (coming home on AA 192 though). I try not to come to airports early, but for CX lounges I will make an exception. Pier F was mellow and not overcrowded, I was the only one in the day suites while I chilled for my flight. The lamb shank was pretty good.
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Old Jan 7, 2018, 2:36 pm
  #1646  
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
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Quick one -

Have 2 seats, 1 J and 1 F, for JFK to HKG in May, and of course want to upgrade one when availability opens up (hopefully) closer to the date of departure. I thought at some point here I saw the exact dates for starting to get the close in 1st availability, but now can't find it. Is it simply start searching 14 days before and just keep at it?

Also, someone mentioned a few pages back that BA can't search 7 days in? I wasn't aware of this, but if that's true, then what? Qantas or just call Alaska each day and have them search?

Thanks guys!
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Old Jan 7, 2018, 4:39 pm
  #1647  
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
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Originally Posted by yurch10
Quick one -

Have 2 seats, 1 J and 1 F, for JFK to HKG in May, and of course want to upgrade one when availability opens up (hopefully) closer to the date of departure. I thought at some point here I saw the exact dates for starting to get the close in 1st availability, but now can't find it. Is it simply start searching 14 days before and just keep at it?

Also, someone mentioned a few pages back that BA can't search 7 days in? I wasn't aware of this, but if that's true, then what? Qantas or just call Alaska each day and have them search?

Thanks guys!
It’s not formulaic. If flight is F5 a seat may be released at T-14. If F2 might be day before or even day of. You should be monitoring revenue inventory as part of your effort.

BA useless at T-6. QF or call AS.
yurch10 likes this.
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Old Jan 7, 2018, 6:34 pm
  #1648  
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
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Originally Posted by jamienbaker


It’s not formulaic. If flight is F5 a seat may be released at T-14. If F2 might be day before or even day of. You should be monitoring revenue inventory as part of your effort.

BA useless at T-6. QF or call AS.
Yeah, I've been making dummy bookings on Google Flights and Cathay's website as well, and it still looks like 5 seats are left (think that's an accurate way of doing it?). Guess I'll keep checking BA and Qantas until a week out, then switch to Qantas and calling in.

Thanks!
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Old Jan 7, 2018, 6:48 pm
  #1649  
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
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Originally Posted by yurch10
Yeah, I've been making dummy bookings on Google Flights and Cathay's website as well, and it still looks like 5 seats are left (think that's an accurate way of doing it?). Guess I'll keep checking BA and Qantas until a week out, then switch to Qantas and calling in.

Thanks!
easier to get expertflyer. You can get an email each time a seat is sold (or refunded).
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Old Jan 7, 2018, 8:02 pm
  #1650  
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Join Date: Dec 2006
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Originally Posted by yurch10
Yeah, I've been making dummy bookings on Google Flights and Cathay's website as well, and it still looks like 5 seats are left (think that's an accurate way of doing it?). Guess I'll keep checking BA and Qantas until a week out, then switch to Qantas and calling in.

Thanks!
Also note, once BA shows space, there tends to be a 12-24 hour delay until AS sees it as well (once it's released).
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