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
#2611
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 22
First time booking CX award here. I'm trying to book 1F+1J or 2F from MLE to SFO. Currently AS can't see the availability that BA/QF/JL sees (which seem to be normal). My question is that If I book in J and F space opens in the future, would I be able to upfare it to F? If it is possible would AS charge me for the change fee? I'm a 75K but I will book the award using my wife's account which doesn't have the status.
Thanks
Thanks
#2612
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
First time booking CX award here. I'm trying to book 1F+1J or 2F from MLE to SFO. Currently AS can't see the availability that BA/QF/JL sees (which seem to be normal). My question is that If I book in J and F space opens in the future, would I be able to upfare it to F? If it is possible would AS charge me for the change fee? I'm a 75K but I will book the award using my wife's account which doesn't have the status.
Thanks
Thanks
If there is 1F & 1J available, put your wife in F and you in J. Since they are in different cabins they will require separate PNR's, consequently, your wife won't have a fee waiver extended through your status so you want to to get her settled first.
If you find 2J reserve both on one PNR. If an F opens up, upgrade your wife first as above as you will have a fee waiver should another F open up later. The other way around your wife wouldn't and be assessed the change fee.
If an F award seat opens up you can upgrade anytime up to 3 days before departure for the points difference and a minimal difference in fees. I flew JNB-HKG//HKG-BOS in February. I upgraded HKG-BOS to F for 7500 miles and $3.85.
If either of you do get an F seat, you will both be able to access the Cathay Pacific F Lounges in HKG. Even on an award, the F passenger can guest a second passenger into the F Lounges.
I did mention up 3 days before departure. No CX bookings prior to 3 days before departure was imposed by Alaska in February. I am not 100% sure if that also applies to upgrading existing reservations. I would check with AS on that detail.
James
EDIT: The 72 hr restriction on award bookings is only on Asia to Asia awards and applies to CX, HU & JL.
Last edited by Flying for Fun; Aug 23, 2018 at 2:02 am
#2613
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,052
David
#2614
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
That is what I thought too but recall seeing something regarding the 72 hr requirement. I also wasn't sure as the OP is originating in MLE.
Upon further investigation it appears you are correct. The 72 hr restriction is only on ASIA to ASIA awards and applies to CX, HU & JL.
It is listed at #7 of the T&Cs under Asia to Asia awards.
Thanks,
James
#2615
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 22
If you are booking for you and your wife together the Agent can take the points from either or both accounts. If you are on the same reservation you will have a fee waiver with 75K for both.
If there is 1F & 1J available, put your wife in F and you in J. Since they are in different cabins they will require separate PNR's, consequently, your wife won't have a fee waiver extended through your status so you want to to get her settled first.
If you find 2J reserve both on one PNR. If an F opens up, upgrade your wife first as above as you will have a fee waiver should another F open up later. The other way around your wife wouldn't and be assessed the change fee.
If an F award seat opens up you can upgrade anytime up to 3 days before departure for the points difference and a minimal difference in fees. I flew JNB-HKG//HKG-BOS in February. I upgraded HKG-BOS to F for 7500 miles and $3.85.
If either of you do get an F seat, you will both be able to access the Cathay Pacific F Lounges in HKG. Even on an award, the F passenger can guest a second passenger into the F Lounges.
I did mention up 3 days before departure. No CX bookings prior to 3 days before departure was imposed by Alaska in February. I am not 100% sure if that also applies to upgrading existing reservations. I would check with AS on that detail.
James
EDIT: The 72 hr restriction on award bookings is only on Asia to Asia awards and applies to CX, HU & JL.
If there is 1F & 1J available, put your wife in F and you in J. Since they are in different cabins they will require separate PNR's, consequently, your wife won't have a fee waiver extended through your status so you want to to get her settled first.
If you find 2J reserve both on one PNR. If an F opens up, upgrade your wife first as above as you will have a fee waiver should another F open up later. The other way around your wife wouldn't and be assessed the change fee.
If an F award seat opens up you can upgrade anytime up to 3 days before departure for the points difference and a minimal difference in fees. I flew JNB-HKG//HKG-BOS in February. I upgraded HKG-BOS to F for 7500 miles and $3.85.
If either of you do get an F seat, you will both be able to access the Cathay Pacific F Lounges in HKG. Even on an award, the F passenger can guest a second passenger into the F Lounges.
I did mention up 3 days before departure. No CX bookings prior to 3 days before departure was imposed by Alaska in February. I am not 100% sure if that also applies to upgrading existing reservations. I would check with AS on that detail.
James
EDIT: The 72 hr restriction on award bookings is only on Asia to Asia awards and applies to CX, HU & JL.
#2616
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Texas
Posts: 76
Thanks for the reply.
I talked to Alaska customer support and apparently the past couple of days points.com has been having issues posting miles to the Alaska Mileage Plan accounts.
It has been resolved now and the points should post instantaneously.
I verified it by purchasing some more miles last night with the 50% discount on miles going on right now.
I have ticketed 1 J and 1 F ticket on different flights the same day from HKG - LAX using Alaska miles.
What would be the best strategy to upgrade the J ticket to F?
When should I start looking for F availability?
Will Expert Flyer show Cathay Pacific F award availability?
Thanks!
I talked to Alaska customer support and apparently the past couple of days points.com has been having issues posting miles to the Alaska Mileage Plan accounts.
It has been resolved now and the points should post instantaneously.
I verified it by purchasing some more miles last night with the 50% discount on miles going on right now.
I have ticketed 1 J and 1 F ticket on different flights the same day from HKG - LAX using Alaska miles.
What would be the best strategy to upgrade the J ticket to F?
When should I start looking for F availability?
Will Expert Flyer show Cathay Pacific F award availability?
Thanks!
#2617
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,052
ExpertFlyer will not show CX award inventory. But it is still useful for F because with exactly 6 seats in the F cabin you can tell from EF exactly how many remain unsold. If it says F6 then none are sold, and there is a good chance that one is available as an award. If F5 then there is a good chance that CX will release a seat at two weeks out, or randomly months out as I noted above. If F4 or F3 then 5-7 days out. If F2 then at 24 hours out, and if F1 then unlikely that they will release any... the flight will likely go out with one empty seat.
The easiest way to monitor for an award inventory release is with AwardNexus. It is not free to automate a daily search, but look for their "trip pass" option as I have found it useful and a fair price to pay. It alerted me to that 2nd F seat months from flight time and I was able to upgrade myself from J into F to join existing F that I had booked at 11 months out. In the week before flight time supplement awardnexus automated search with your own manual searches.
DAK
#2618
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
ExpertFlyer will not show CX award inventory. But it is still useful for F because with exactly 6 seats in the F cabin you can tell from EF exactly how many remain unsold. If it says F6 then none are sold, and there is a good chance that one is available as an award. If F5 then there is a good chance that CX will release a seat at two weeks out, or randomly months out as I noted above. If F4 or F3 then 5-7 days out. If F2 then at 24 hours out, and if F1 then unlikely that they will release any... the flight will likely go out with one empty seat.
DAK
DAK
Excellent analysis though and a good strategy. I don't usually start looking for CX until 4-3 months out. That seems to be a sweet spot for me.
James
#2619
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Ocean Beach
Programs: Alaska MPVG75, AAdvantage PlatPro, Hyatt Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 535
My wife was booked on CX884 HKG-LAX in F. Last week we received an email that she had been moved to J and a check showed that Cathay had downgraded aircraft. Called in to AS to ask if they could contact CX to see if they would release an F seat on the later flight. Was told to call back today to see how CX responded. So far so good, but when I contacted AS today, the agent initially told me that they had no way to contact CX and that I would simply have to wait: if an F seat was release, my wife would automatically be upgraded. Of course, I know that neither statement is true. I asked to speak to a supervisor who initially said repeated that AS could not reach out to CX. When I told her that this, in fact, had been done before for me, she changed to say that Cathay had been contacted and would not release a seat. She then rather snottily added that I could keep the business class seat or cancel the flight and take a refund. I am skeptical that Cathay was ever contacted. I'd like to follow up but am at a loss of whom to contact. Any advice? The later flight, in November, is still showing F5, so the only seat taken is my award.
#2620
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: SEA/ORD/ADB
Programs: TK ELPL (*G), AS 100K (OWE), BA Gold (OWE), Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat
Posts: 7,763
My wife was booked on CX884 HKG-LAX in F. Last week we received an email that she had been moved to J and a check showed that Cathay had downgraded aircraft. Called in to AS to ask if they could contact CX to see if they would release an F seat on the later flight. Was told to call back today to see how CX responded. So far so good, but when I contacted AS today, the agent initially told me that they had no way to contact CX and that I would simply have to wait: if an F seat was release, my wife would automatically be upgraded. Of course, I know that neither statement is true. I asked to speak to a supervisor who initially said repeated that AS could not reach out to CX. When I told her that this, in fact, had been done before for me, she changed to say that Cathay had been contacted and would not release a seat. She then rather snottily added that I could keep the business class seat or cancel the flight and take a refund. I am skeptical that Cathay was ever contacted. I'd like to follow up but am at a loss of whom to contact. Any advice? The later flight, in November, is still showing F5, so the only seat taken is my award.
#2621
Formerly richh1833
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: SYD
Programs: QF P1, BA GGL, AS GMVP
Posts: 478
Is anyone a little bit concerned about the future of CX awards with MP given the situation with AM members themselves having a difficult time booking awards? Having had a look recently, from SYD-HKG and HKG-EU are all displaying no awards T-3 days.
#2622
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Texas
Posts: 76
Does anyone know why Cathay blocks 2A and 2K on the seat map?
The flight in March I'm looking to upgrade to first class shows F5 and A5.
What are my chances of 1 first class award opening up? When can I expect it to open up?
The flight in March I'm looking to upgrade to first class shows F5 and A5.
What are my chances of 1 first class award opening up? When can I expect it to open up?
#2623
Join Date: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,834
"Upgrade" meaning redeem a first class award? No one knows what will happen seven months away. If you read the thread, you'll find lots anecdotal information regarding release of first award seats.
#2624
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,531
Bassinet seats. You can ring CX and request, agent will usually assign. Other times, not. I once had 5 award bookings in F, 1 seat for sale, and agent refused to assign either 2A or 2K, because "somebody with an infant might show up". I explained nobody in my group was pregnant, so there would be no harm in at least assigning one or the other. My logic fell on deaf ears, we had to assign at the airport. Too lazy to HUCA and with 5 seats booked it didn't really matter.
#2625
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: UA, AS
Posts: 2,393
Also, 1A and 1K are marked as preferred seats and CX will not normally assign them to non elite flyers so I was a bit surprised to be offered 1A as a non-elite flyer when calling to request seating recently. No other bookings in the cabin. I told the agent I wanted to assign a window seat and asked for 2A (since I know they will not normally put non status folks in 1A in advance) but the agent said, "you know 2A is a bassinet seat and you may have to move if it is needed later so how about I put you in 1A instead?" I said "sure" and she assigned me 1A.