Cathay Pacific (CX) Award Redemption, Booking and Availability (2019-2022)
Jun 22, 2019, 2:39 pm
#631
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 16
Hi,
Thanks for all your input and thought. The reason I asked is because I did see one of my friend took F class between HKG and TPE. I also understand the chance like this is rare and unlikely, but would like to know if this happened, what and how could I do. An hour flight is no big deal, but you can't never get enough with First Cabin, right? This would be my very first time to take First cabin on Cathay, so excited......
Thanks again everyone for your input.
Thanks,
Thanks for all your input and thought. The reason I asked is because I did see one of my friend took F class between HKG and TPE. I also understand the chance like this is rare and unlikely, but would like to know if this happened, what and how could I do. An hour flight is no big deal, but you can't never get enough with First Cabin, right? This would be my very first time to take First cabin on Cathay, so excited......
Thanks again everyone for your input.
Thanks,
Jun 22, 2019, 5:32 pm
#632
Join Date: Apr 2016
Programs: IHG Platinum Elite, AS MVP Gold 75K, HHonors Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 219
Hi,
Thanks for all your input and thought. The reason I asked is because I did see one of my friend took F class between HKG and TPE. I also understand the chance like this is rare and unlikely, but would like to know if this happened, what and how could I do. An hour flight is no big deal, but you can't never get enough with First Cabin, right? This would be my very first time to take First cabin on Cathay, so excited......
Thanks again everyone for your input.
Thanks,
Thanks for all your input and thought. The reason I asked is because I did see one of my friend took F class between HKG and TPE. I also understand the chance like this is rare and unlikely, but would like to know if this happened, what and how could I do. An hour flight is no big deal, but you can't never get enough with First Cabin, right? This would be my very first time to take First cabin on Cathay, so excited......
Thanks again everyone for your input.
Thanks,
Jun 22, 2019, 11:13 pm
#633
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 470
Is there a trick to searching for award space on CX between HKG-HND or HKG-NRT? Coming up empty for several dates on both QANTAS and BA sites.
Trying to book as part of a USA-HKG-Tokyo trip.
Trying to book as part of a USA-HKG-Tokyo trip.
Jun 23, 2019, 2:11 am
#634
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,384
Hi,
Thanks for all your input and thought. The reason I asked is because I did see one of my friend took F class between HKG and TPE. I also understand the chance like this is rare and unlikely, but would like to know if this happened, what and how could I do. An hour flight is no big deal, but you can't never get enough with First Cabin, right? This would be my very first time to take First cabin on Cathay, so excited......
Thanks again everyone for your input.
Thanks,
Thanks for all your input and thought. The reason I asked is because I did see one of my friend took F class between HKG and TPE. I also understand the chance like this is rare and unlikely, but would like to know if this happened, what and how could I do. An hour flight is no big deal, but you can't never get enough with First Cabin, right? This would be my very first time to take First cabin on Cathay, so excited......
Thanks again everyone for your input.
Thanks,
Jun 23, 2019, 10:57 am
#635
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
I think that the confusion here is the difference between the seats (the plane may very well have a first class cabin) and the available fare classes, and what class of service they book into.
In other words, even if there is a first class cabin with first class seats, you can't buy a first class ticket. The airline may seat business class guests there and offer them business class service, or they may leave the seats empty. But your ticket is business class, so you have no priority to be seated in a first class cabin, should it exist.
In other words, even if there is a first class cabin with first class seats, you can't buy a first class ticket. The airline may seat business class guests there and offer them business class service, or they may leave the seats empty. But your ticket is business class, so you have no priority to be seated in a first class cabin, should it exist.
Jun 23, 2019, 11:15 am
#636
Join Date: Apr 2016
Programs: IHG Platinum Elite, AS MVP Gold 75K, HHonors Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 219
Ask the agent by phone to check the whole way through (to not break it up). The availability sometimes is different that way.
Jun 23, 2019, 7:49 pm
#637
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: TX
Programs: AA ExecPlatinum
Posts: 81
Wife and I are moving from the Bay Area later this year to the DFW area. We want to take a trip to Thailand around April/May of next year and since it will be a big occasion I want to go CX 1st class using my Alaska miles via HKG and spend a couple days in HKG on the way out there. I realize this may mean I need to book a separate flight out to the West Coast to hop on said flight.
Given the recent news in HKG - should I be rethinking this entirely? For example, maybe HKG is a bad idea and it'd be better to just go business class on another carrier like JAL via Tokyo.
Also - let's assume we want to go on CX and are ok with HKG. Should I basically be booking that trip 330 days from when we want to go...which means now...?
Given the recent news in HKG - should I be rethinking this entirely? For example, maybe HKG is a bad idea and it'd be better to just go business class on another carrier like JAL via Tokyo.
Also - let's assume we want to go on CX and are ok with HKG. Should I basically be booking that trip 330 days from when we want to go...which means now...?
Jun 23, 2019, 8:57 pm
#638
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,384
Wife and I are moving from the Bay Area later this year to the DFW area. We want to take a trip to Thailand around April/May of next year and since it will be a big occasion I want to go CX 1st class using my Alaska miles via HKG and spend a couple days in HKG on the way out there. I realize this may mean I need to book a separate flight out to the West Coast to hop on said flight.
Given the recent news in HKG - should I be rethinking this entirely? For example, maybe HKG is a bad idea and it'd be better to just go business class on another carrier like JAL via Tokyo.
Also - let's assume we want to go on CX and are ok with HKG. Should I basically be booking that trip 330 days from when we want to go...which means now...?
Given the recent news in HKG - should I be rethinking this entirely? For example, maybe HKG is a bad idea and it'd be better to just go business class on another carrier like JAL via Tokyo.
Also - let's assume we want to go on CX and are ok with HKG. Should I basically be booking that trip 330 days from when we want to go...which means now...?
Jun 23, 2019, 9:41 pm
#639
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
That’s a long time from now, and to be honest if you are averse to going to a country where there is a chance of political upheaval, go look at how many coups there have been in Thailand over the last 50 years or so. You would be best sticking to Japan if you want no risk... though they do have earthquakes... maybe stay home?
Jun 23, 2019, 11:34 pm
#640
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: TX
Programs: AA ExecPlatinum
Posts: 81
That’s a long time from now, and to be honest if you are averse to going to a country where there is a chance of political upheaval, go look at how many coups there have been in Thailand over the last 50 years or so. You would be best sticking to Japan if you want no risk... though they do have earthquakes... maybe stay home?
Guess I just need to make sure I have the points and call AS to book.
Jun 24, 2019, 9:37 pm
#641
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX DM/OWE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 155
1. As I would need to redeem for me and my wife, how often have you seen 2 F seats available? Reading this thread it seems the consensus is that CX only releases 1F per flight, but one year ago, I was actually able to get 2 F from FRA-HKG 1 year ahead for this June on Asia Miles.
2. It seems a lot of people in this situation are doing 1F 1J and hoping to upgrade the J to F closer to the flight if available. I also read that ex-HKG flights can't be booked with less than 72 hours to takeoff. Does this 72 hour limitation apply to upgrading from J to F as well?
3. Not sure anyone here might know but would I be able to credit my departure and return leg to different programs (i.e. departure to CX Marco Polo, return to Alaska)? Idea is that if I reach my target tier at CX after the departure, I'd rather credit the return leg to Alaska to get more miles. I have dropped my CX membership from the return leg of my trip before, but only to credit it back to CX for the next membership year. (Found the answer)
Many thanks
Last edited by sparkj; Jun 25, 2019 at 1:55 am
Jun 24, 2019, 10:46 pm
#642
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: AS MVP, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 803
I called Alaska today and had them walk through a few searches with me. The lady I spoke to was very knowledgeable about the cathay ticketing process, and issuing last minute tickets. She did say that she had not issued a last minute, close-in ticket with Cathay in over a month (which is around the same time I noticed the close in availability disappearing).
what is incredibly maddening is that CX seems to have adopted a blanket ban on F award space. It's not like all of the space (especially ex-lax) got booked up by the error fare. Flight after flight I see with F4, F5, F6, a few days to a week before departure, and not a single one of them has space when it used to be reliably released. It's like cathay has just crossed their arms and refused to release space even when every other factor says releasing space makes sense.
Of course I don't work in RM, but it's incredibly frustrating to see not a single F seat ex-US released anywhere through the end of the year, and to have all the availability pulled a few weeks ago was a low move. I really hope somebody proves me wrong by finding an F seat somewhere, anywhere, or that CX reconsiders this strategy.
Availability returns to "normal" in 2020, and I imagine sometime in 2020 they will start releasing close-in seats again. But as of right now, all I can do is vent my frustration.
what is incredibly maddening is that CX seems to have adopted a blanket ban on F award space. It's not like all of the space (especially ex-lax) got booked up by the error fare. Flight after flight I see with F4, F5, F6, a few days to a week before departure, and not a single one of them has space when it used to be reliably released. It's like cathay has just crossed their arms and refused to release space even when every other factor says releasing space makes sense.
Of course I don't work in RM, but it's incredibly frustrating to see not a single F seat ex-US released anywhere through the end of the year, and to have all the availability pulled a few weeks ago was a low move. I really hope somebody proves me wrong by finding an F seat somewhere, anywhere, or that CX reconsiders this strategy.
Availability returns to "normal" in 2020, and I imagine sometime in 2020 they will start releasing close-in seats again. But as of right now, all I can do is vent my frustration.
Jun 24, 2019, 11:16 pm
#643
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 470
I'm only MVP so I need to book all at the same time to avoid the change fees.
Jun 26, 2019, 11:33 am
#644
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: DTW
Programs: Marriott Titanium, Delta Platinum
Posts: 18
How is your search going? I just had a look for CX PE for the first week of October and I am seeing quite a few options. While nothing directly to YYZ there are two PE seats showing as available on October 3rd to ORD. There are Nine AC flights from Chicago to YYZ on that date for $110 USD. Alternatively, 4 AA flights at $105 USD.
Don't discount flights to the West Coast either (YVR, SFO, LAX) as you can tack on a AS Flight(s) to get you to the East Coast like ORD, BOS, NYC, BWI and others.
Looking specifically at HKG-JFK there are at least 2 PE seats available; October 1st(3), 2nd(4), 3rd(2), 4th(1), 5th(1), 6th(3), 7th(5) The number in parenthesis indicates the number of flights operating that day with availability. I did not check BOS
For other Cities; October 1st(SFO(2), LAX(2)), 2nd(SFO(2), LAX(3)), 3rd(ORD, SFO), 7th(LAX)
If you end up not taking a stopover in Hong Kong consider tacking on a flight for later (next year?) to Mexico or Hawaii. Half your airfare will be paid for a future trip.
James
Don't discount flights to the West Coast either (YVR, SFO, LAX) as you can tack on a AS Flight(s) to get you to the East Coast like ORD, BOS, NYC, BWI and others.
Looking specifically at HKG-JFK there are at least 2 PE seats available; October 1st(3), 2nd(4), 3rd(2), 4th(1), 5th(1), 6th(3), 7th(5) The number in parenthesis indicates the number of flights operating that day with availability. I did not check BOS
For other Cities; October 1st(SFO(2), LAX(2)), 2nd(SFO(2), LAX(3)), 3rd(ORD, SFO), 7th(LAX)
If you end up not taking a stopover in Hong Kong consider tacking on a flight for later (next year?) to Mexico or Hawaii. Half your airfare will be paid for a future trip.
James
Jun 26, 2019, 3:24 pm
#645
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: UA, AS
Posts: 2,393
I'm based in HKG, and am researching the Alaska Mileage Plan. Seeing the incredible earn and redemption rates especially for F class, I'm thinking about crediting some of my CX J flights to Alaska. I've read most of the thread, but still got some questions hoping you guys could help me with:
1. As I would need to redeem for me and my wife, how often have you seen 2 F seats available? Reading this thread it seems the consensus is that CX only releases 1F per flight, but one year ago, I was actually able to get 2 F from FRA-HKG 1 year ahead for this June on Asia Miles.
2. It seems a lot of people in this situation are doing 1F 1J and hoping to upgrade the J to F closer to the flight if available. I also read that ex-HKG flights can't be booked with less than 72 hours to takeoff. Does this 72 hour limitation apply to upgrading from J to F as well?
3. Not sure anyone here might know but would I be able to credit my departure and return leg to different programs (i.e. departure to CX Marco Polo, return to Alaska)? Idea is that if I reach my target tier at CX after the departure, I'd rather credit the return leg to Alaska to get more miles. I have dropped my CX membership from the return leg of my trip before, but only to credit it back to CX for the next membership year. (Found the answer)
Many thanks
1. As I would need to redeem for me and my wife, how often have you seen 2 F seats available? Reading this thread it seems the consensus is that CX only releases 1F per flight, but one year ago, I was actually able to get 2 F from FRA-HKG 1 year ahead for this June on Asia Miles.
2. It seems a lot of people in this situation are doing 1F 1J and hoping to upgrade the J to F closer to the flight if available. I also read that ex-HKG flights can't be booked with less than 72 hours to takeoff. Does this 72 hour limitation apply to upgrading from J to F as well?
3. Not sure anyone here might know but would I be able to credit my departure and return leg to different programs (i.e. departure to CX Marco Polo, return to Alaska)? Idea is that if I reach my target tier at CX after the departure, I'd rather credit the return leg to Alaska to get more miles. I have dropped my CX membership from the return leg of my trip before, but only to credit it back to CX for the next membership year. (Found the answer)
Many thanks
2) See above. 2F might be availabe HKG-Europe, but not USA-HKG. I believe the 72 hour limitation would apply to switching from J to F since you are basically cancelling the J award and issuing a new F award but I am not certain. I would not count on being able to upgrade with less 72 hours to departure ex HKG.
Also, you are right, AS has some great redemption rates on CX. Almost too great and they have been that way for a long time. I would not be surprised to see the award chart devalued at some point so keep that in mind.