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
Apr 29, 2018, 6:29 pm
#2041
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: New York, NY
Programs: AA ExPl, DL PM, UA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium, probably some others
Posts: 4,093
I had this exact same problem all week but finally managed to get BOS-HKG-BNE for March 20, all in J, for 2 people. It took almost 90 minutes and the rep had to work with her supervisor on it since shed never done it before. The two reps prior, who couldnt see the space, seemed more experienced.
Apr 29, 2018, 7:34 pm
#2042
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP, DL PM, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 2,028
Pretty interesting, as this is the first time I've personally seen it happen (though it's been reported here before, I believe). Looking at a JFK-HKG flight 2 months out. Flight is F5J9, and Cathay just released an additional award seat in F, despite the cabin not being F6 and despite it being 2 months out.
Apr 29, 2018, 8:24 pm
#2043
Join Date: Oct 2016
Programs: Alaska Gold 75K, Southwest A-List, United MileagePlus Gold, Marriott/SPG Platinum
Posts: 59
May 4, 2018, 9:12 am
#2044
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: Aeroplan, Amex AeroPlat
Posts: 977
Advice Needed
Took me three days to finish reading this very informative thread! Now I have some very interesting questions:
We need two J or F tickets DPS -HKG (stopover) - YYZ next spring. DPS- HKG (J or PE is good) date is fixed, HKG-YYZ relativey flexible.
Currently BA tool shows 2 J for DPS-HKG on the fixed date and 6 J for HKG-YYZ for most ideal dates. But this is 340+ days out.
Ideally, I will call AS as soon as the 330-day window opens- when is that exactly? For example, if my ideal travel date or earliest travel date for DPS-HKG is April 15, 2019, and HKG-YYZ is April 18, do I call on May 10, 2018?? A bit confused since flights originate in Asia and I have two flight segments. And Im generally bad with math.
IF and when Im successful with grabbing the two Js DPS-HKG at 330 day window, but HKG-YYZ not available yet, I assume I can call back to add HKG-YYZ leg? Will I have to pay ANOTHER phone booking fee or partner award fee just to add the second leg??
Next, if and when I have successfully got 2Js thru DPS-HKG-YYZ, can I call AS to change HKG-YYZ leg to HKG- US (JFK or ORD) later in F if F opens up? (We can use Avios to get US- YYZ on AA.) Will I have to pay another booking fee (before 60 days)? My current issue is that I only have 120K AS, and will get another 20K in two months. So cannot book F at 330 day window but can do 2 Js. Actually I wont even have enough miles to redeem the F seats without cancelling the J seats. Can the AS agent hold the F seats, cancel my J seats, then redeem the miles for F in one sitting?
To complicate matters- we will be ok with flying Hainan in J via China if CX fails for J and F. We will be happy to fly JL too in J or F and use Avios for positioning/ connecting. But right now the Alaska search tool does not show any availability in Hainan or JAL on the dates we want, searching leg by leg. Sigh.
Thanks!!
We need two J or F tickets DPS -HKG (stopover) - YYZ next spring. DPS- HKG (J or PE is good) date is fixed, HKG-YYZ relativey flexible.
Currently BA tool shows 2 J for DPS-HKG on the fixed date and 6 J for HKG-YYZ for most ideal dates. But this is 340+ days out.
Ideally, I will call AS as soon as the 330-day window opens- when is that exactly? For example, if my ideal travel date or earliest travel date for DPS-HKG is April 15, 2019, and HKG-YYZ is April 18, do I call on May 10, 2018?? A bit confused since flights originate in Asia and I have two flight segments. And Im generally bad with math.
IF and when Im successful with grabbing the two Js DPS-HKG at 330 day window, but HKG-YYZ not available yet, I assume I can call back to add HKG-YYZ leg? Will I have to pay ANOTHER phone booking fee or partner award fee just to add the second leg??
Next, if and when I have successfully got 2Js thru DPS-HKG-YYZ, can I call AS to change HKG-YYZ leg to HKG- US (JFK or ORD) later in F if F opens up? (We can use Avios to get US- YYZ on AA.) Will I have to pay another booking fee (before 60 days)? My current issue is that I only have 120K AS, and will get another 20K in two months. So cannot book F at 330 day window but can do 2 Js. Actually I wont even have enough miles to redeem the F seats without cancelling the J seats. Can the AS agent hold the F seats, cancel my J seats, then redeem the miles for F in one sitting?
To complicate matters- we will be ok with flying Hainan in J via China if CX fails for J and F. We will be happy to fly JL too in J or F and use Avios for positioning/ connecting. But right now the Alaska search tool does not show any availability in Hainan or JAL on the dates we want, searching leg by leg. Sigh.
Thanks!!
May 4, 2018, 9:27 am
#2045
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: SEA
Programs: Hilton/Marriott Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 2,036
Yes, that's how I made my first CX award reservation. The only new charges when you call to add the next segment will be the adjusted taxes and airport fees.
May 4, 2018, 11:36 am
#2046
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 19
Was able to pick up NRT-HKG-LAX in J with a layover in HKG starting June 1 and flying back June 5th on CX880. Then added LAX-SEA in first.
Initial breakdown of costs then add $5.60 for LAX-SEA. Wasn't too concerned on cost vs getting a seat in J a month out. Was fairly easy, first rep found the seat, took a few tries to book, and gave me confirmation code. For some reason the reservation wasn't associated to my account, so when I called for LAX-SEA the next rep said she added it but I did not see it there afterwards, so I manually added it and now it's there.
Base Fare and Surcharges $0.00
Taxes and Other Fees $84.31
Ticketing Fee (nonrefundable) $15.00
Partner Award Booking Fee (nonrefundable) $12.50
Per person total $111.81
Initial breakdown of costs then add $5.60 for LAX-SEA. Wasn't too concerned on cost vs getting a seat in J a month out. Was fairly easy, first rep found the seat, took a few tries to book, and gave me confirmation code. For some reason the reservation wasn't associated to my account, so when I called for LAX-SEA the next rep said she added it but I did not see it there afterwards, so I manually added it and now it's there.
Base Fare and Surcharges $0.00Taxes and Other Fees $84.31
Ticketing Fee (nonrefundable) $15.00
Partner Award Booking Fee (nonrefundable) $12.50
Per person total $111.81
May 4, 2018, 1:30 pm
#2047
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: YYZ, HKG, MFM
Programs: AC35K, AS MVP, WS Gold, ITA EP, Marriott Plat, Hyatt-Explorist, IHG Diamond
Posts: 2,019
CX is currently releasing less intra Asia seats to AS, I booked YYZ-HKG, and wanted to add an intra asia segment to ICN, HND/NRT, TPE during end of August, or early September. However, they could not find any availability within a week. Even BA shows at least 5 seats in Y and J. Something is not right.
May 4, 2018, 2:05 pm
#2048
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: Aeroplan, Amex AeroPlat
Posts: 977
CX is currently releasing less intra Asia seats to AS, I booked YYZ-HKG, and wanted to add an intra asia segment to ICN, HND/NRT, TPE during end of August, or early September. However, they could not find any availability within a week. Even BA shows at least 5 seats in Y and J. Something is not right.
May 4, 2018, 7:24 pm
#2049
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 18,323
CX is currently releasing less intra Asia seats to AS, I booked YYZ-HKG, and wanted to add an intra asia segment to ICN, HND/NRT, TPE during end of August, or early September. However, they could not find any availability within a week. Even BA shows at least 5 seats in Y and J. Something is not right.
May 4, 2018, 8:00 pm
#2050
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: YYZ, HKG, MFM
Programs: AC35K, AS MVP, WS Gold, ITA EP, Marriott Plat, Hyatt-Explorist, IHG Diamond
Posts: 2,019
How much fewer, you work for AS? Or are they blocking seats?
I ask her to search day by day within the last week of August and early September. She was able to see 1 business class to HND, but I am book in Y. There was more than 5 seats for the other flight departing around midnight from YYZ, but AS can not see any seats.
May 4, 2018, 8:30 pm
#2051
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Seattle
Programs: AS MVP100K, Hilton Diamond, IHG Gold
Posts: 3,215
CX is currently releasing less intra Asia seats to AS, I booked YYZ-HKG, and wanted to add an intra asia segment to ICN, HND/NRT, TPE during end of August, or early September. However, they could not find any availability within a week. Even BA shows at least 5 seats in Y and J. Something is not right.
May 5, 2018, 11:12 pm
#2052
Join Date: Nov 2007
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Platinum, Hilton Honors Diamond, Delta Gold
Posts: 4,347
I recently tried booking JFK-HKG-CAN and after several attempts of the agent not being able to book was told that HKG-CAN cannot be booked due to being a Dragonair flight (which I thought was basically the same as Cathay, only it's their name for the flights within Asia). Because time was of essence and I didn't have time to pursue it I booked JFK to HKG with the agent and the went online to book the HKG to CAN leg using a nominal amount of BA Avios. Can anyone tell me if this is the usual for AS and if not, how to get them to book Dragonair flights in the future?
May 5, 2018, 11:49 pm
#2053
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: NYC
Posts: 1,756
I recently tried booking JFK-HKG-CAN and after several attempts of the agent not being able to book was told that HKG-CAN cannot be booked due to being a Dragonair flight (which I thought was basically the same as Cathay, only it's their name for the flights within Asia). Because time was of essence and I didn't have time to pursue it I booked JFK to HKG with the agent and the went online to book the HKG to CAN leg using a nominal amount of BA Avios. Can anyone tell me if this is the usual for AS and if not, how to get them to book Dragonair flights in the future?
May 5, 2018, 11:55 pm
#2054
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: SEA
Programs: Hilton/Marriott Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 2,036
Also, Cathay Dragon isn't just their intra-Asia branding; there are plenty of Cathay Pacific flights to Asian destinations from HKG. KA is a CX subsidiary which, for some reason, isn't part of the AS/CX partnership.
May 6, 2018, 12:07 pm
#2055
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: BOS/ORH
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 18,323
AS doesn't feed Dragon flights so unless CX moves US flights to Cathay Dragon, it will never become remotely possible using AS points. If you want to use both you need to switch to AA since they are alliance partners.