Nov 19, 2014, 9:27 am
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)
Dec 15, 2018, 7:34 am
#751
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: PHL
Programs: AA Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 480
Just a friendly reminder that when you do go and book, remember that AA only sees Cathay availability at 330 days. So depending on when in November 2019, you might be outside that window.
Dec 16, 2018, 3:32 pm
#752
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 41
I'm planning my first international premium redemption and would really appreciate input. Me and SO would like to visit Asia next December flying out of BOS. The most logical trip seems to be CX and JL as both have direct flights to BOS. How likely would it be to book 2 in F on both? We would fly within a 2 week period starting in mid-December. No preference which airline on which leg. Have 600k+ AA miles to use. The third option I would really like to try is QR, since they're starting Qsuites to BOS in March. And of course EY apartment would be amazing. What are the most likely scenarios do you see?
Dec 16, 2018, 4:20 pm
#753
Join Date: Feb 2015
Programs: AA EXP, Hertz Gold Plus, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 338
I'm planning my first international premium redemption and would really appreciate input. Me and SO would like to visit Asia next December flying out of BOS. The most logical trip seems to be CX and JL as both have direct flights to BOS. How likely would it be to book 2 in F on both? We would fly within a 2 week period starting in mid-December. No preference which airline on which leg. Have 600k+ AA miles to use. The third option I would really like to try is QR, since they're starting Qsuites to BOS in March. And of course EY apartment would be amazing. What are the most likely scenarios do you see?
Dec 16, 2018, 6:13 pm
#754
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: DEN
Programs: DL PM, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Gold
Posts: 395
On CX, I don’t believe you’ll ever find more than 1 F that far out. For our honeymoon, I booked us 1F and 1J on CX JFK-HKG and then a few days before the flight F availability popped up and I bumped up the J to F. As other FTers will say, more F usually pops up within 14 days or so if your flight, if there is some. We flew JL F on the way back from our honeymoon and in that case I was able to book 2 F at the time of booking.
Dec 16, 2018, 6:26 pm
#755
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: NYC, LAX, HKG
Posts: 286
I'm planning my first international premium redemption and would really appreciate input. Me and SO would like to visit Asia next December flying out of BOS. The most logical trip seems to be CX and JL as both have direct flights to BOS. How likely would it be to book 2 in F on both? We would fly within a 2 week period starting in mid-December. No preference which airline on which leg. Have 600k+ AA miles to use. The third option I would really like to try is QR, since they're starting Qsuites to BOS in March. And of course EY apartment would be amazing. What are the most likely scenarios do you see?
I've done CX F (out of JFK or LAX) during holiday seasons quite a bit over the past few years. I have had good fortune to get >2 F seats last-minute most of the time, but I wouldn't count on it as a near-guarantee during holidays. Off-peak though you could get the whole F cabin to yourself (plenty of close-in award space). I started using AA for one ticket, and Asia Miles for the remaining ones for the ability to waitlist and clear before awards are released to partners. Also started ticketing 1 F and the rest J, and then waiting for space.
One time, I had 3 AA-issued F awards on CX metal but award space didn't get released close-in due to high loads. I had two companions standby at HKIA landside and they cleared onto my flight (in F) with ~40 min to departure. But that's YMMV; CX ground staff told me it was an exception since it was an AA-issued ticket.
I'm no longer familiar with JL, QR, and EY so I can't chime in there. Hope the above helps.
Last edited by mcdullhk88; Dec 16, 2018 at 6:34 pm
Dec 16, 2018, 7:22 pm
#756
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: WAS
Programs: Free Agent
Posts: 1,757
I'm planning my first international premium redemption and would really appreciate input. Me and SO would like to visit Asia next December flying out of BOS. The most logical trip seems to be CX and JL as both have direct flights to BOS. How likely would it be to book 2 in F on both? We would fly within a 2 week period starting in mid-December. No preference which airline on which leg. Have 600k+ AA miles to use. The third option I would really like to try is QR, since they're starting Qsuites to BOS in March. And of course EY apartment would be amazing. What are the most likely scenarios do you see?
Dec 16, 2018, 8:16 pm
#757
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: San Diego
Programs: Plat Pro AAdvantage, but defected to BAEC
Posts: 1,222
I was “lucky” enough to find 2 F award seats on CX for a LAX-HKG-SIN route for next September a few months ago that showed up on BA and Quantas so it is possible. I say “lucky” as it was more than 330 days out, so unable to book on AA. By the time the 330 day AA window opened up, not only had F availability disappeared, but J was also gone as well. Fortunately I was able to route through Tokyo on JAL in J for my desired dates.
Dec 17, 2018, 10:44 am
#758
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 41
Thanks for the info everyone, it's really helpful. After more discussions with the SO I think we are going to start with Japan so I'll be trying to book JAL. And as someone pointed out there is no F out of Boston so I guess I'll be looking at JFK. Wish me luck.
Dec 17, 2018, 7:57 pm
#759
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: UA, AS
Posts: 2,393
Good Luck! Book as two one-ways. Grab the outbound when available then book the return later when space opens up to lock in the F space. Know the JAL release time exactly to the minute and jump on it.
Dec 27, 2018, 9:01 am
#760
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 122
Does CX have blackout dates around Chinese New Years? Can't find any availability from HKG-Tokyo/Osaka on CX, despite inventory showing almost empty flight
Jan 1, 2019, 3:32 pm
#761
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Manhattan Beach, California
Programs: BMI Diamond Club Gold forever
Posts: 6,367
I was able to grab 4 business awards on the daytime YVR-HKG flight (CX 837) but had to put one of us on the 1am flight because 837 only had four awards available. It’s for November so hoping one more spot will open on 837 between now and then and I can move.
My question is about HKG-SGN, there was nothing available, in the past I often had to wait until t minus 30 days to find those segments, is that still true? Since these are going to pull from my EXP account I can amend them later for no charge.
My question is about HKG-SGN, there was nothing available, in the past I often had to wait until t minus 30 days to find those segments, is that still true? Since these are going to pull from my EXP account I can amend them later for no charge.
Jan 1, 2019, 4:03 pm
#762
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: New York
Programs: Marriott Gold, AA, United, Delta, Alaska
Posts: 144
I’m also curious about Intra-Asia release patterns. In my case, I’m looking for MNL-HKG on 4/6. It looks like they released up to 4/3... that’s like 92 days out? Wondering what other people’s experiences are.
Jan 1, 2019, 7:55 pm
#763
formerly RZachSmith
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: U.S.
Posts: 187
Having a similar intra-asia situation that I find odd - Looking at Cathay Dragon flights from HKT to HKG late next November. They have availability nearly every day in Sept, Oct, and up through November 7. Then it goes completely dry. Anyone have insights on if/when to expect more dates to be released? Given the consistent availability up to November 7, it seems like more of a space release oddity than availability having already been released and booked.
Jan 1, 2019, 9:17 pm
#764
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: UA, AS
Posts: 2,393
Having a similar intra-asia situation that I find odd - Looking at Cathay Dragon flights from HKT to HKG late next November. They have availability nearly every day in Sept, Oct, and up through November 7. Then it goes completely dry. Anyone have insights on if/when to expect more dates to be released? Given the consistent availability up to November 7, it seems like more of a space release oddity than availability having already been released and booked.
Cathay has this new model for releasing space and as part of that for some routes they may only release space at schedule open as part of an itinerary connecting in HKG. Then after a month or two they will open up some space on the individual segments like HKT-HKG.
You will find plenty of award space at the end of November on HKT-HKG so long as you marry it with another segment. If you search for HKT-TPE for example you find plenty of HKT-HKG connecting to HKG-TPE. I do not know if they do a rolling day by day release of the individual segments from the married restriction but they might. I have not tracked it that closely. If you already plan to pair the HKT-HKG segment with another segment then search on the Qantas website for HKT-<final destination> to see married segment availability. AA should be able to book it (I think). BA may not handle the married segments when searching on their website (but should through an agent) so if you search on BA you may not find married segment availability HKT-<final destination> - use QF for this kind of search.
Here are some crazy ideas: If you only want HKT-HKG and not beyond and you know availability will be gone by the time CX releases unmarried availability you could try booking a married segment journey like HKT-TPE and then when you get past the day where you know CX would release single segment availability, first try dropping the extra segment and if that does not work then cancel the ticket and hope the availability now shows back up bookable as an individual segment.
Jan 2, 2019, 6:01 pm
#765
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Manhattan Beach, California
Programs: BMI Diamond Club Gold forever
Posts: 6,367
I am not sure it is married segments. I have YVR-HKG and i am trying to add HKG-SGN or HKG-REP. They neither appear as standalone or when married with the YVR-HKG segment. I spent some time with an agent checking and there is indeed something odd happening post Nov 7 as we couldnt get married or unmarried segments to SGN or REP. The agent noted that there are typically around 8 economy seats available prior to Nov 7 and a scattering of biz seats but that they abruptly end on Nov 7. Guess we’ll wait.