Last edit by: Prospero
Awards: All Cathay Pacific / CX (Including First and Business Class)
Questions, Availability, Discussion
NOTE: Multiple reports starting in June 2021 that CX is allowing only a 24 hour hold and could cancel reservations not being ticketed beyond 24 hours.
Please feel free to use this thread for questions regarding CX Economy, Premium Economy, First and Business Class award redemption using AAdvantage miles, as well as questions regarding award availability, routings and related issues. Please go to the Cathay Pacific Asia Miles Forum to discuss or ask about meals, equipment, service, etc. on CX, as there is an existing wealth of information there - and this is the American Airlines AAdvantage Forum .
AA Flight award chart for oneworld® and partner airlines
Other related threads that may be of interest:
FT Discrepancy between CX Award Search and AA availability: Discrepancy between QF and CX award search and AA availability
FT How , When to Select CX Seats on CX Award: How / when to select seat on a Cathay (CX) award / flight (consolidated)
FT Cathay Pacific Experience - Seats / Interline/ Baggage FAQs: Cathay Pacific Experience / Seats / Interline / Baggage FAQs
Also, for Rules about awards, see AA oneworld and Other Airline Partner Award information, rules (2015 on).
Expert Advice:
Only "MileSAAver" awards apply to oneworld and AA partners.
Premium Economy seats are not available with AAdvantage awards, may be soon as AA sells Premium Economy Feb 2017.
Be aware that what you see on the BA, JL, or QF sites may not be visible to the AA reservations folks. You may want to note the flight on which the F award seat is shown as "available" on those sites and if the AA agent doesn't see any availability suggest that the AA agent check that specific one again. If the AA agent still cannot see it, thank them, hang up, and call back a little later.
Sometimes CX will make flights available for award booking to CX frequent flyers, but not release the seats immediately for other oneworld frequent flyers. Usually though, the seats, if not taken by CX frequent flyers, are released after a while to other OW programs.
Although CX may release seats for award earlier, AA can book them no more than 331 days prior to departure. The awards that CX does release are available as early as 355 days prior to departure for CX and BA frequent fliers, and sometimes that means the awards you want w AA miles will be snatched up prior to the 331 day mark.
*** AA does not have a set schedule to load flights. They can load it anytime after midnight 331 days out. Most of the time it is within a couple to 12 hours of that. Other times, it can be a full day or a day and a half afterwards, especially on the weekends where there's most variability. Unlike JL award space, it is not a specific time of day.
4Keep in mind that when booking eastbound space to North America that it's one day later in HKG so that space usually becomes available 330 days in advance to North America; this is not always true, since CX has already loaded the availability a month prior to AA - it is just up to AA to load and release the seats on SABRE, so it typically ends up being 330 days out, but not necessarily.
Similarly... if you are trying to book westbound, US->HKG->Somewhere then AA may not be able to book the HKG->Somewhere segment 331 days in advance of the US->HKG flight, if it is still 332 days out in HKG. As it is the flights from US->HKG that are hardest to get, if you find a seat US->HKG at the 331 day mark when it is first available for booking through AA but cannot book the continuation, you can just put that US->HKG segment on hold with AA, then call back the next day when connecting flights will be loaded into the system to try to book the onward flight from HKG.
AA does not charge "YQ" surcharges [what they sometimes call "fuel surcharge"] on CX award segments (BA Avios does), thus the taxes and fees on your "free" ticket on CX or KA are almost always significantly less than for the same routing on BA.
There is a Hong Kong Departure Tax (HK) of $120 HKD (approx $15.50 USD) on every segment departing Hong Kong. Exemptions apply. If your ticket includes this tax and you qualify for an exemption, a refund can be applied for either in person at HKIA landside or via post to Civil Aviation Department. AA charges this tax for children under 12 years of age despite the exemption. In order to obtain a cash refund at HKIA, you will need passenger passport, passenger boarding pass, passenger ticket receipt showing the fare calculation line which will show the HK tax being charged. This receipt can be obtained at any AA counter worldwide including HKIA as well as Airport Express in-town check-in (AA check-in). As the AA counter at HKIA operates only during limited hours, Airport Express in-town check-in would be the the convenient option.
Not all CX flights offer First class; CX Business is markedly different on long haul and regionally configured aircraft.
If you're looking for multiple seats in First on a particular flight but can find only some but not all that you're looking for, take what's available in F, then take the rest of the seats you want on J (if available) on the same flight, and check back periodically to see if an F seat has opened up for award. There is no additional charge (in money, although there will be in miles) to change to an award to a higher cabin of service (e.g., J to F, Y to F, Y to J) as long as the award keeps the same origin/destination airports.
Be aware your award must conform to some rules on a) MPM (Maximum Permitted Mileage - your award routing can not exceed 125% of the most direct routing available); a useful tool is Great Circle Mapper.
The Most Significant Carrier (transpacific usually, CX in most of these posts,) must offer a non-"constructed" fare between your origin and destination (you might find an unconstructed fare between DFW and SIN, but might not from Killeen to SIN).
If you can't pick your CX seats online, either due to them being blocked or you just want to call, you need to first get the CX PNR from AAdvantage at 1-800-882-8880. Then call CX at 1-800-233-2742. Some seats that are blocked on CX website are assignable via AA reservations. Close to departure AA can even assign 2A, 2K.
Note: if the Cathay Manage booking tool doesn't appear to recognize your CX PNR, you need to enter your first name AND middle name, separated by a space, in the "First Name" field.
AAward bookings containing CX flights that are put on hold will be restricted to only 24hrs, not the usual 5 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the patterns for west coast routes?
Because LAX has 4 daily flights to HKG, it tends to be the easiest option for blocks of 3 or more J award seats. SFO and YVR only have 2 daily flights and even if 5 award seats were initially released at 355 days prior to departure, some of those may be gone by the time the 331 day mark rolls around. If you need 4 or 5 J award seats on these west coast routes, either use Avios to book at 355 days or consider routing through LAX where there may still be availability at 331 days out.
Can I visit my companion in First Class if I'm in Business Class?
"Up-cabin visits" are not permitted per CX policy, though have been granted under special circumstances. But putting crew in the awkward position of being asked to violate policy is generally frowned upon. Down-cabin visits are permitted ex-USA. However, on flights to the USA, down-cabin visits are not permitted and this rule is vigorously enforced.
Posts made in 2017 may be read in ARCHIVE: 2017 AA Awards in Cathay Pacific / CX, KA...
Posts made in 2016 may be read in ARCHIVE: AA Awards on Cathay Pacific (2016).
Posts made in 2015 may be read in ARCHIVE: AA Awards on Cathay Pacific (2015).
Posts made in 2014 may be read in ARCHIVE: Awards: CX / Cathay Pacific / (inc. F and J) - 2014.
N.B. Older posts have been moved and archived to: Cathay Pacific / CX (inc. First and Business Class) award - ARCHIVED.
Questions, Availability, Discussion
NOTE: Multiple reports starting in June 2021 that CX is allowing only a 24 hour hold and could cancel reservations not being ticketed beyond 24 hours.
Please feel free to use this thread for questions regarding CX Economy, Premium Economy, First and Business Class award redemption using AAdvantage miles, as well as questions regarding award availability, routings and related issues. Please go to the Cathay Pacific Asia Miles Forum to discuss or ask about meals, equipment, service, etc. on CX, as there is an existing wealth of information there - and this is the American Airlines AAdvantage Forum .
AA Flight award chart for oneworld® and partner airlines
Other related threads that may be of interest:
FT Discrepancy between CX Award Search and AA availability: Discrepancy between QF and CX award search and AA availability
FT How , When to Select CX Seats on CX Award: How / when to select seat on a Cathay (CX) award / flight (consolidated)
FT Cathay Pacific Experience - Seats / Interline/ Baggage FAQs: Cathay Pacific Experience / Seats / Interline / Baggage FAQs
Also, for Rules about awards, see AA oneworld and Other Airline Partner Award information, rules (2015 on).
Expert Advice:
Only "MileSAAver" awards apply to oneworld and AA partners.
Premium Economy seats are not available with AAdvantage awards, may be soon as AA sells Premium Economy Feb 2017.
Be aware that what you see on the BA, JL, or QF sites may not be visible to the AA reservations folks. You may want to note the flight on which the F award seat is shown as "available" on those sites and if the AA agent doesn't see any availability suggest that the AA agent check that specific one again. If the AA agent still cannot see it, thank them, hang up, and call back a little later.
Sometimes CX will make flights available for award booking to CX frequent flyers, but not release the seats immediately for other oneworld frequent flyers. Usually though, the seats, if not taken by CX frequent flyers, are released after a while to other OW programs.
Although CX may release seats for award earlier, AA can book them no more than 331 days prior to departure. The awards that CX does release are available as early as 355 days prior to departure for CX and BA frequent fliers, and sometimes that means the awards you want w AA miles will be snatched up prior to the 331 day mark.
*** AA does not have a set schedule to load flights. They can load it anytime after midnight 331 days out. Most of the time it is within a couple to 12 hours of that. Other times, it can be a full day or a day and a half afterwards, especially on the weekends where there's most variability. Unlike JL award space, it is not a specific time of day.
4Keep in mind that when booking eastbound space to North America that it's one day later in HKG so that space usually becomes available 330 days in advance to North America; this is not always true, since CX has already loaded the availability a month prior to AA - it is just up to AA to load and release the seats on SABRE, so it typically ends up being 330 days out, but not necessarily.
Similarly... if you are trying to book westbound, US->HKG->Somewhere then AA may not be able to book the HKG->Somewhere segment 331 days in advance of the US->HKG flight, if it is still 332 days out in HKG. As it is the flights from US->HKG that are hardest to get, if you find a seat US->HKG at the 331 day mark when it is first available for booking through AA but cannot book the continuation, you can just put that US->HKG segment on hold with AA, then call back the next day when connecting flights will be loaded into the system to try to book the onward flight from HKG.
AA does not charge "YQ" surcharges [what they sometimes call "fuel surcharge"] on CX award segments (BA Avios does), thus the taxes and fees on your "free" ticket on CX or KA are almost always significantly less than for the same routing on BA.
There is a Hong Kong Departure Tax (HK) of $120 HKD (approx $15.50 USD) on every segment departing Hong Kong. Exemptions apply. If your ticket includes this tax and you qualify for an exemption, a refund can be applied for either in person at HKIA landside or via post to Civil Aviation Department. AA charges this tax for children under 12 years of age despite the exemption. In order to obtain a cash refund at HKIA, you will need passenger passport, passenger boarding pass, passenger ticket receipt showing the fare calculation line which will show the HK tax being charged. This receipt can be obtained at any AA counter worldwide including HKIA as well as Airport Express in-town check-in (AA check-in). As the AA counter at HKIA operates only during limited hours, Airport Express in-town check-in would be the the convenient option.
Not all CX flights offer First class; CX Business is markedly different on long haul and regionally configured aircraft.
If you're looking for multiple seats in First on a particular flight but can find only some but not all that you're looking for, take what's available in F, then take the rest of the seats you want on J (if available) on the same flight, and check back periodically to see if an F seat has opened up for award. There is no additional charge (in money, although there will be in miles) to change to an award to a higher cabin of service (e.g., J to F, Y to F, Y to J) as long as the award keeps the same origin/destination airports.
Be aware your award must conform to some rules on a) MPM (Maximum Permitted Mileage - your award routing can not exceed 125% of the most direct routing available); a useful tool is Great Circle Mapper.
The Most Significant Carrier (transpacific usually, CX in most of these posts,) must offer a non-"constructed" fare between your origin and destination (you might find an unconstructed fare between DFW and SIN, but might not from Killeen to SIN).
If you can't pick your CX seats online, either due to them being blocked or you just want to call, you need to first get the CX PNR from AAdvantage at 1-800-882-8880. Then call CX at 1-800-233-2742. Some seats that are blocked on CX website are assignable via AA reservations. Close to departure AA can even assign 2A, 2K.
Note: if the Cathay Manage booking tool doesn't appear to recognize your CX PNR, you need to enter your first name AND middle name, separated by a space, in the "First Name" field.
AAward bookings containing CX flights that are put on hold will be restricted to only 24hrs, not the usual 5 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the patterns for west coast routes?
Because LAX has 4 daily flights to HKG, it tends to be the easiest option for blocks of 3 or more J award seats. SFO and YVR only have 2 daily flights and even if 5 award seats were initially released at 355 days prior to departure, some of those may be gone by the time the 331 day mark rolls around. If you need 4 or 5 J award seats on these west coast routes, either use Avios to book at 355 days or consider routing through LAX where there may still be availability at 331 days out.
Can I visit my companion in First Class if I'm in Business Class?
"Up-cabin visits" are not permitted per CX policy, though have been granted under special circumstances. But putting crew in the awkward position of being asked to violate policy is generally frowned upon. Down-cabin visits are permitted ex-USA. However, on flights to the USA, down-cabin visits are not permitted and this rule is vigorously enforced.
Posts made in 2017 may be read in ARCHIVE: 2017 AA Awards in Cathay Pacific / CX, KA...
Posts made in 2016 may be read in ARCHIVE: AA Awards on Cathay Pacific (2016).
Posts made in 2015 may be read in ARCHIVE: AA Awards on Cathay Pacific (2015).
Posts made in 2014 may be read in ARCHIVE: Awards: CX / Cathay Pacific / (inc. F and J) - 2014.
N.B. Older posts have been moved and archived to: Cathay Pacific / CX (inc. First and Business Class) award - ARCHIVED.
AA Award: Cathay Pacific / CX availability, etc. (2018-2022 archive)
#331
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,466
Couple of Questions: Currently have an itinerary from DEN-DFW-HKG-KUL-DPS Business class (AA + Cathay). We are trying to find a way to upgrade to first class and drop the HKG-KUL-DPS to HKG-DPS.
We found a way to upgrade to first and skip the KUL stop, Changes the routing to DEN-LAX-HKG-DPS. Problem is, we can't get from DEN-LAX on a Milesaver award (only "ANYTIME" is available in Economy and maybe Business).
1 .Are we able to take an Anytime award for a single leg? 1b. If so, How would it price out for miles if we took the Economy Seat (30k Anytime for just that leg, milesaver is 12.5k but unavailable) - Downgrading from first to Economy for this leg is understood if it's possible.
2. Also, if we did take the Anytime and pay extra points, can we upgrade from Economy if a milesaver business/first opens?
Thank you!!
We found a way to upgrade to first and skip the KUL stop, Changes the routing to DEN-LAX-HKG-DPS. Problem is, we can't get from DEN-LAX on a Milesaver award (only "ANYTIME" is available in Economy and maybe Business).
1 .Are we able to take an Anytime award for a single leg? 1b. If so, How would it price out for miles if we took the Economy Seat (30k Anytime for just that leg, milesaver is 12.5k but unavailable) - Downgrading from first to Economy for this leg is understood if it's possible.
2. Also, if we did take the Anytime and pay extra points, can we upgrade from Economy if a milesaver business/first opens?
Thank you!!
#333
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: BOS/MHT/PVD/BDL
Programs: Belong to Many but No Longer Loyal to Any
Posts: 880
Trying to change a segment for a CX booking in July. Flying SIN-HKG-BOS in J/F. I'm trying to get on a different flight from SIN to HKG...same date, just a couple hours later. QF,JL, BA are all showing J availability, but AA agents can't see anything. 3 calls...no dice. Any advice?
#334
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,466
Trying to change a segment for a CX booking in July. Flying SIN-HKG-BOS in J/F. I'm trying to get on a different flight from SIN to HKG...same date, just a couple hours later. QF,JL, BA are all showing J availability, but AA agents can't see anything. 3 calls...no dice. Any advice?
#335
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: So Cal
Posts: 937
Trying to change a segment for a CX booking in July. Flying SIN-HKG-BOS in J/F. I'm trying to get on a different flight from SIN to HKG...same date, just a couple hours later. QF,JL, BA are all showing J availability, but AA agents can't see anything. 3 calls...no dice. Any advice?
#336
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 114
Just to help you understand this game.
VERy few airlines release F awards many months out, well except for BA, but their F product isn't very underwhelming and not worth extra miles or Co-pay. Regarding LH F, they do not release F awards to other Star Alliance partners until 2 weeks before departure and most of the time you can get 2 tickets without much hassle. CX can be a little more difficult, they too release tickets about a week before departure. It's all a game, and if you use Expert Flyer you can find any award seats your little heart desire. Some practice and patients goes a long way.
VERy few airlines release F awards many months out, well except for BA, but their F product isn't very underwhelming and not worth extra miles or Co-pay. Regarding LH F, they do not release F awards to other Star Alliance partners until 2 weeks before departure and most of the time you can get 2 tickets without much hassle. CX can be a little more difficult, they too release tickets about a week before departure. It's all a game, and if you use Expert Flyer you can find any award seats your little heart desire. Some practice and patients goes a long way.
#337
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,536
You can set alerts on awardnexus. But you can/should set EF alerts to monitor SELLING inventory, as that helps gauge how diligent one should be in pursuit of awards, particularly once moving inside of T-14.
Jamie
#338
Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 114
OK great that makes sense. So I should set the alert for A inventory correct? (I'm interested in F availability)
#339
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,536
If youre hoping to be NOTIFIED that an award is available, use awardnexus. If you simply hope to check yourself, use QF or BA websites.
#340
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: SEA
Programs: Alaska MVPG 100K, IHG Ambassador, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 1,704
Second on this. Just read a blog post a few days ago discussing the exact same problem (forgot which blog it was). AA's call center in the US could not see award availability while BA and CX show seats were available. He called AA's Australia call center and "magically" they saw and booked the flight.
#341
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,453
Second on this. Just read a blog post a few days ago discussing the exact same problem (forgot which blog it was). AA's call center in the US could not see award availability while BA and CX show seats were available. He called AA's Australia call center and "magically" they saw and booked the flight.
#342
Join Date: Jun 2016
Programs: AA, United, Hilton, IHG, Carlson, Hyatt, SPG
Posts: 47
CX Business Award to First?
Hi all
I was able to book an award ticket with AA miles CX 830 in business. I see there is one seat available in First but we are two traveling together and we are on in years and would not want to sit in different sections.
What are the odds of upgrading with miles to First closer to date of travel? This is for a March trip. Is it possible to pay the upgraded miles now and be waitlisted?
I was sure I questioned AA about that and they said no but maybe I misunderstood.
Appreciate any advise. I am checking on BA to see if 2 seats open up. I will be traveling for 35 days prior to this return flight and not sure how I would contact American from Asia. Any advise? I will have my cell phone but would I call US American or another number?
Thanks in advance
Mystic
I was able to book an award ticket with AA miles CX 830 in business. I see there is one seat available in First but we are two traveling together and we are on in years and would not want to sit in different sections.
What are the odds of upgrading with miles to First closer to date of travel? This is for a March trip. Is it possible to pay the upgraded miles now and be waitlisted?
I was sure I questioned AA about that and they said no but maybe I misunderstood.
Appreciate any advise. I am checking on BA to see if 2 seats open up. I will be traveling for 35 days prior to this return flight and not sure how I would contact American from Asia. Any advise? I will have my cell phone but would I call US American or another number?
Thanks in advance
Mystic
#343
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: ORD [formerly] + HKG
Programs: CX Diamond, AA exExPlat, BAEC exGold, HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Starriott Titanium, GE
Posts: 2,966
You can totally ticket an F award and take a voluntary downgrade. But the short answer is no one knows if you can get a seat ultimately, and no waitlisting is allowed unless using Asia Miles (not AA).
better to ask in the AA forum.
better to ask in the AA forum.
#344
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: MPC,CA,MU,AF
Posts: 8,171
This is a AA question. I am moving this thread to the AA forum.
cxfan1960
CX CoMod
cxfan1960
CX CoMod
#345
Community Director Emerita
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anywhere warm
Posts: 33,745
I was able to book an award ticket with AA miles CX 830 in business. I see there is one seat available in First but we are two traveling together and we are on in years and would not want to sit in different sections.
What are the odds of upgrading with miles to First closer to date of travel? This is for a March trip. Is it possible to pay the upgraded miles now and be waitlisted?
I was sure I questioned AA about that and they said no but maybe I misunderstood.
What are the odds of upgrading with miles to First closer to date of travel? This is for a March trip. Is it possible to pay the upgraded miles now and be waitlisted?
I was sure I questioned AA about that and they said no but maybe I misunderstood.
If you want to travel in the same cabin, it might be best to make your peace with flying in business. CX only has 6 seats in their F cabin. The airline opens up one seat at a time. It sometimes releases an additional seat in the week before travel but this is unpredictable. CX does not permit waitlisting with AA miles.
I will be traveling for 35 days prior to this return flight and not sure how I would contact American from Asia. Any advise? I will have my cell phone but would I call US American or another number?
Enjoy your trip, whether you decide to gamble on getting both of you in F or not. It's great that you have been able to secure 2 C seats.