May 22, 2019, 7:13 am
Last edit by: JDiver
Earning American Airlines AAvantage Miles Flying CX / Cathay Pacific Airways (consolidated)
Including known issues (e.g. upgrades) with AA / CX
Including known issues (e.g. upgrades) with AA / CX
Earning AAdvantage Miles flying Cathay Pacific Airways
NOTE: Travel on Cathay Pacific and its affiliate airline counts toward qualifying for AAdvantage elite status membership. However, please refer to aa.com here for fare classes that earn AAdvantage miles, not Cathay Pacific.
AAdvantage Elite members members traveling on Cathay also enjoy:
If you fly CX as an AA codeshare / marketed flight, you will earn as if you were flying on AA.
Flying CX as CX, most discounted economy fare classes do not earn AAdvantage miles; See the chart. See Link to AAdvantage chart on earning miles and EQD flying CX.
Note: the CX website incorrectly indicates no AA miles for E fare; AA.com does and is correct
*Premium Economy fare W on a flight operated by Cathay Pacific will earn an additional 10% class of service bonus with the exception of W fares between Hong Kong and Bangkok, which will not earn a class of service bonus, and Premium Economy R or E, which earn no class of service bonus.
NOTE: Travel on Cathay Pacific and its affiliate airline counts toward qualifying for AAdvantage elite status membership. However, please refer to aa.com here for fare classes that earn AAdvantage miles, not Cathay Pacific.
- Economy / coach fares other than Y, B or H on CX do not earn AAdvantage miles
- B and H only earn fractional (75%) credit on AA
- Upgrades may book into ineligible fare classes, causing challenges getting AA to credit the originally purchased fare class
- there are a few fare classes that CX says do not earn AAdvantage miles, whereas aa.com says they will, as do members reporting their experiences here
- JFK-YVR and YVR-JFK do accrue EQ and miles on eligible fares. JFK-YVR-HKG accrues as if nonstop JFK-HKG.
AAdvantage Elite members members traveling on Cathay also enjoy:
- [*]
Flying CX as CX, most discounted economy fare classes do not earn AAdvantage miles; See the chart. See Link to AAdvantage chart on earning miles and EQD flying CX.
Note: the CX website incorrectly indicates no AA miles for E fare; AA.com does and is correct
*Premium Economy fare W on a flight operated by Cathay Pacific will earn an additional 10% class of service bonus with the exception of W fares between Hong Kong and Bangkok, which will not earn a class of service bonus, and Premium Economy R or E, which earn no class of service bonus.
Upgrading to First on CX / Cathay Pacific Airways and U, Z Fare Class Issues
Upgrading a paid Business fare to First on Cathay Pacific Airways puts the flight into fare class "Z", a class that is ineligible for AAdvantage miles accrual (as reflected on the accrual chart) because it is also an award classification for a First Class award.
Upgrading a paid Premium Economy fare to Business puts it into U class, another award fare class that earns no AA miles.
Members have recently reported success at having their upgrades acknowledged as miles-garnering (mid-June 2015).
and
Upgrading a paid Business fare to First on Cathay Pacific Airways puts the flight into fare class "Z", a class that is ineligible for AAdvantage miles accrual (as reflected on the accrual chart) because it is also an award classification for a First Class award.
Upgrading a paid Premium Economy fare to Business puts it into U class, another award fare class that earns no AA miles.
Members have recently reported success at having their upgrades acknowledged as miles-garnering (mid-June 2015).
I had the same issue. I upgraded from Biz to F using Asia Miles, but left my AA number in the reservation.
The outbound flight credited automatically without intervention.
The inbound flight did not credit and I submitted the Missing Mileage Request. That request got denied due to ineligible fare class. All I did was call the ExecPlat desk and ask for AAdvantage Customer Service, who had record of the denied claim. I explained I paid for Biz, upgraded to F, and provided them with my original ticket number (both ticker numbers were on CX stock). Call took about 5 minutes and miles (and EQM/EQP) posted to the account the next day.
The outbound flight credited automatically without intervention.
The inbound flight did not credit and I submitted the Missing Mileage Request. That request got denied due to ineligible fare class. All I did was call the ExecPlat desk and ask for AAdvantage Customer Service, who had record of the denied claim. I explained I paid for Biz, upgraded to F, and provided them with my original ticket number (both ticker numbers were on CX stock). Call took about 5 minutes and miles (and EQM/EQP) posted to the account the next day.
I just wanted to post the conclusion to my saga, that started with the brilliant idea to upgrade two CX flights in February (yes, 4 months ago).
Well, I Fedex'd a letter to the executive's office, which arrived Friday. Today, I received an email from an "executive liason" who said they agreed that "R" to "U" via an upgrade should be mileage earning and manually adjusted my account to receive credit. Account and status now reflects those flights.
So despite certain aagents and lower-level SUPs saying this is CX's problem and to go pound sand, AA actually can do something about it (albit at a higher level than a regular SUP, I assume). By the phrasing of the answer, I would say this isn't a one time exception but rather what is supposed to happen for these flights.
Godspeed to any other souls on this journey.
Well, I Fedex'd a letter to the executive's office, which arrived Friday. Today, I received an email from an "executive liason" who said they agreed that "R" to "U" via an upgrade should be mileage earning and manually adjusted my account to receive credit. Account and status now reflects those flights.
So despite certain aagents and lower-level SUPs saying this is CX's problem and to go pound sand, AA actually can do something about it (albit at a higher level than a regular SUP, I assume). By the phrasing of the answer, I would say this isn't a one time exception but rather what is supposed to happen for these flights.
Godspeed to any other souls on this journey.
Possible snail mail or FedEx to:
Suzanne Rubin
President – AAdvantage Loyalty Program, American Airlines
4333 Amon Carter Blvd
Fort Worth, TX 76155
Suzanne Rubin
President – AAdvantage Loyalty Program, American Airlines
4333 Amon Carter Blvd
Fort Worth, TX 76155
Wikipost as of 2018
ARCHIVE: Earning AA AAdvantage Miles on CX / Cathay (including Upgrade Issues)
Aug 17, 2015, 1:36 am
#121
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Up in the Air
Programs: OW Emerald
Posts: 524
I read through the thread and didn't see an answer on this. Is it possible to credit some segments of a trip to my AA and the remaining segments to CX?
Now that CX has removed Prem Econ from their Middle East and Sub-continent fleets, an Prem Econ ticket books the PE not available segments in Econ K/M/L class.
Ideally if I book the ticket I'd like to credit the Prem Econ to AA and Econ to Asia Miles since K/M/L doesn't earn miles on AA.
Now that CX has removed Prem Econ from their Middle East and Sub-continent fleets, an Prem Econ ticket books the PE not available segments in Econ K/M/L class.
Ideally if I book the ticket I'd like to credit the Prem Econ to AA and Econ to Asia Miles since K/M/L doesn't earn miles on AA.
Aug 17, 2015, 7:26 am
#122
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: country Western Australia
Programs: QF SG(LTS) - AA LTG(1MM)
Posts: 2,771
I would be very surprised if a through ticket with TransPacific (or exAustralia) in PEY did not book the economy segment into H class, which will earn miles with AA. I would also be surprised if you could book a ticket with PEY sectors exIndia/ME unless you were actually able to start your journey in the PEY cabin. There were periods of time when exCMB it depended on the day of the week with variations in the aircraft configuration.
If that is not the case, I would try for a stopover in HKG to ensure that the two segments are "separate" journeys, which would increase the likelihood that crediting the miles (separately) to different programs would actually "work the first time".
Let us know if my opinions are incorrect.
Happy wandering
Fred
If that is not the case, I would try for a stopover in HKG to ensure that the two segments are "separate" journeys, which would increase the likelihood that crediting the miles (separately) to different programs would actually "work the first time".
Let us know if my opinions are incorrect.
Happy wandering
Fred
Aug 17, 2015, 8:54 pm
#123
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: in the vicinity of SFO
Programs: AA 2MM (LT-PLT, PPro for this year)
Posts: 19,781
Might also be effective to do PE on a paid ticket and the HKG-Middle East/South Asia leg on an award...
an Prem Econ ticket books the PE not available segments in Econ K/M/L class.
Aug 17, 2015, 11:35 pm
#124
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Up in the Air
Programs: OW Emerald
Posts: 524
Well, with OneWorld, you'd have protection if you did it as two separate tickets. I'm not sure that's likely to be cost effective.
Might also be effective to do PE on a paid ticket and the HKG-Middle East/South Asia leg on an award...
You may also be able to get it to book the regular economy segments in H (although this will presumably increase the cost; it's just come up as H for me on the routes I've done, but that's coincidence rather than planning -- including an upcoming CRK-HKG.)
Might also be effective to do PE on a paid ticket and the HKG-Middle East/South Asia leg on an award...
You may also be able to get it to book the regular economy segments in H (although this will presumably increase the cost; it's just come up as H for me on the routes I've done, but that's coincidence rather than planning -- including an upcoming CRK-HKG.)
For DXB-LAX then there is a "flex" Prem Econ ticket which books in R/B. Problem is standard is only $1400 USD for standard vs $2600 USD for Flex with no mix or matching allowed.
Luckily Prem Econ to DXB is still around until Oct 1, then I'll find out whether I can part out different segments of same ticket to different frequent flier programs.
Aug 26, 2015, 12:56 pm
#125
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 127
Cathay pasific flight, aa points?
If booking class is O, do I get any points?
I have platinum status.
I think that I can use lounge and ticket including extra bag?
I have platinum status.
I think that I can use lounge and ticket including extra bag?
Aug 26, 2015, 1:00 pm
#126
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
We will merge your query into the existing thread. /Moderator
Aug 26, 2015, 11:43 pm
#127
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 127
If I want to book H, B or Y class ticket, can I do it in other web page than Cathay.com ?
You earn no AA miles on any Economy fares other than H, B or Y, but oneworld lounge and other benefits apply.
We will merge your query into the existing thread. /Moderator[/QUOTE]
You earn no AA miles on any Economy fares other than H, B or Y, but oneworld lounge and other benefits apply.
We will merge your query into the existing thread. /Moderator[/QUOTE]
Aug 27, 2015, 2:44 am
#129
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: in the vicinity of SFO
Programs: AA 2MM (LT-PLT, PPro for this year)
Posts: 19,781
H sometimes shows up on AA.com subject to availability. AA codeshares are still usually much cheaper, although H is semi-flexible (usually only a $50 change fee.) For example, for SFO-HKG-BKK, AA codeshares for this fall have been hovering around $1300, and H fares around $1700.
You can also look at Premium Economy in W,R or E they earn 1.1 RDM per mile, and 1.5 EQP (although only regular EQM), and the discount premium-economy fares in E are sometimes not much higher than H (I've seen them as low as about $1900 for SFO-HKG-BKK)
Sep 6, 2015, 4:26 pm
#130
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 2
Will I earn AA miles booking through Vayama?
Hello everyone-
I am looking to book a series of Cathay Pacific flights through Vayama. Will I be able to earn AA miles?
The Fare Basis code noted in the flight details on Vayama site is VLWSPCL.
(Not sure what this code means either).
Any help is going to be appreciated.
Thank you,
-M
I am looking to book a series of Cathay Pacific flights through Vayama. Will I be able to earn AA miles?
The Fare Basis code noted in the flight details on Vayama site is VLWSPCL.
(Not sure what this code means either).
Any help is going to be appreciated.
Thank you,
-M
Sep 6, 2015, 5:27 pm
#131
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: DEN
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy Titanium, CX DM, SQ Gold
Posts: 1,607
No, you will not earn AAdvantage miles on CX discount economy (V fare bucket), regardless of where you purchase the ticket. V is a zero earner.
Sep 6, 2015, 5:32 pm
#132
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 2
Thank you. How did you know it's Class V (first letter of the sequence?)
Sep 6, 2015, 5:34 pm
#133
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: DEN
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy Titanium, CX DM, SQ Gold
Posts: 1,607
Sep 6, 2015, 6:48 pm
#134
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: MPC,CA,MU,AF
Posts: 8,171
The question is on AA miles. I am moving the thread to the AA forum.
cxfan1960
CX CoMod
cxfan1960
CX CoMod
Sep 6, 2015, 10:55 pm
#135
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Hello everyone-
I am looking to book a series of Cathay Pacific flights through Vayama. Will I be able to earn AA miles?
The Fare Basis code noted in the flight details on Vayama site is VLWSPCL.
(Not sure what this code means either).
Any help is going to be appreciated.
Thank you,
-M
I am looking to book a series of Cathay Pacific flights through Vayama. Will I be able to earn AA miles?
The Fare Basis code noted in the flight details on Vayama site is VLWSPCL.
(Not sure what this code means either).
Any help is going to be appreciated.
Thank you,
-M
We have merged your query into the existing thread; please read the wiki (expandable) at the top of this thread.
With AA, it doesn't matter where you buy the ticket (though some of us would suggest that, unless you gain a benefit by savings, it's better to buy directly from an airline so you can deal directly with the airline in case of irregular operations, instead of having to go through an on line travel agent / OTA), it's the rules AAdvantage has for miles earning.
Example: fly that Cathay flight as an AA codeshare, it will earn as if you were flying on American: https://www.aa.com/i18n/AAdvantage/e...s/american.jsp
If you fly as Cathay, only K, B and Y in Economy, or higher fares, earn AAdvantage miles: https://www.aa.com/i18n/AAdvantage/e...hayPacific.jsp