They are - clearly. But that’s not uncommon. KrisFlyer does it’s, Qantas, many other programmes. Seems reasonable.

I'm curious if there is any evidence of "clearly". How do we know if there are increased criteria for redemptions, or if this is instead some sort of blackout as people have been describing.

I'm not a DM and I have upcoming redemption flights.

Maybe they are using updated algorithms to determine availability, and offering less. Maybe they are satisfied with their loads.

You'd think if they were to make some sort of program changes they'd announce it. Why wouldn't they just raise the number of miles requested for redemption?

Lots of questions. Lots of speculation. Few solid answers.

Delete Duplicate

It's not speculation I don't think. I'm DM, when I go to book a redemption, sometimes CX puts a black label on certain flights and a little blurb of texts reads something like "Special Diamond availability only". I'm paraphrasing and that's not the exact text but the other DMs here will know exactly what I'm talking about. Also, the call center doesn't have access to this availability either, we can only get it online. IME these Diamond availability awards are all over my redemption screen. They're very clear about this system we see offering exclusive award availability only for DMs (I am unsure but seem to think GO also has extra inventory too?)

Then, I think CX also has actually explicitly stated they're releasing more seats just for higher tiered MPC members! I don't have time to go search for it but I'm pretty sure they have said that in MPC documentation or a press release or something in the last few years.

Lastly, the anecdotes. IME redemption availability is far better now than it ever has been. Of course anecdotes can be deceptive.

Practically, I would guess there is some cannibalization of award availability somewhere going on. I don't think they're actually just making 20-30pct more seats available. So what you and others are grimly noting does seem to maybe make sense.

Back when the change occured, consensus was it seemed like part of a concerted effort to increase the value of the MPC program by CX. There was a time when Alaska and AA award bookers pretty consistently owned 1 seat on every CX F flight and often 2. CX finally decided to call their partners bluff (the party line was CX desperately needed all those partner award bookings and the huge loyalty membership they owned, to fill seats), and turns out it was indeed just a bluff, the partners customers are ruthless too and will gladly just transfer credit card points to CXs own program if that's where the awards are. Said another way CX may have realized that there is more value in being the guy who runs the airline that people aspire to redeem on and why give away the value of the award program to Alaska Airlines et al when you can own that value yourself. My speculation: the CX loyalty program was an underutilized asset and is finally being used to increasingly try to drive lucrative sales of Asia Miles (selling loyalty points is a rather lucrative business, esp. if you're the central bank and there's lots of demand for your currency), and cash tickets. what better way to do that than to advertise to customers that you can get better and pretty generous award availability if you spend and fly enough to reach CXs higher status tiers. Which of course us CX loyalists are thrilled with.

FT is a pain to search but definitely discussed at length somewhere in here.

This is a great data point. Thank you.

I guess maybe it's time that this commoner start looking at other programs. I love CX and am pretty manogimous with my international travel. But I can't hit diamond. 😢

Suddenly seeing 'lots' of U class seats on AA.com and Alaskaair.com for CX award flights - in Australia/SE Asia/China - in the early March timeframe. I've tried to book about a dozen or so flight combinations - all error out on AA.com and say pick another flight. Odd - as the availability is pretty strong. It's almost like either AA or CX coded their systems to block displaying the inventory for a date range - and now it's expired (~Sept 1)...but then the alternative system (likely CX) has it's own checks and is denying confirming bookings from Sabre (AA).

I'd call this either a fluke - or developing....time will tell.

"Selected member: Exclusive access to more availability" https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/36439811-post3.html - I'm just calling them black-starred seats

Interesting

The infamous 2023 FAQ Q&A 8 https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/35390117-post4.html ? But that wasn't purported to be for the benefit of just higher tiered member.

Think you mentioned here https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/29788292-post14.html .

I remember this post where a US FTer predicted US card welcome offers/cheap miles will last forever (stephem) https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/31864729-post215.html

Has anyone seen any CTS space in J?

Can never find any

Don’t want to open a new thread.

I am looking for 4 J award.

but does not have availability.

but searching for 3 award come out with various options/combinations.
But some of these are for the same flights (as image)

I would take it that if I book 3 tickets for the first option (CX317+CX715) any other awards involving the same flights (ie CX367+CX715 or CX349+CX715)will not be available anymore ?

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...6cf643951c.png

Trying to book 2 x KIX > HKG reward tickets in J for a particular weekend in January. The three dates I'm looking at only has availability for 1 ticket.

Does anyone know if I wait until nearer the time if it's likely more tickets may be released?

Or if there is only one available now, is it likely that this will be snapped up and zero will be available nearer the time?

Note - I called up Cathay and they told me there are lots of empty seats but only 1 available for redemption - they weren't sure if more would be released or not, they said they aren't told anything.

You'll have better chance by getting hitched to a staff member and being eligible for an ID ticket by January than waiting for redemption, for ID is where last minute availability is currently being released to, not redemption.

Or try and find some KIX-HKG-XXX route and skiplag https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14R...ibextid=wwXIfr

Couple of data points and questions
 

Still a bit new at this so bear with me.

Was able to book 2 separate LAX-HKG business for 10/21/26 a few days ago for 88K miles each. Ideally would have preferred SFO-HKG but none available. Started searching for a return flight HKG-SFO for 11/11/26 and came up with no availability starting 11/9/26, about 351 days out, well within the 360 days that availability supposedly is loaded. Called Cathay to see if they were seeing the same info in their system and they confirmed nothing loaded yet for Cathay (any class) for11/9/26 and beyond and they also confirmed seeing availability for 11/8/26 which I saw online. They also confirmed that normal is up to 360 days out is loaded on a daily basis but could not tell me why nothing from 11/9/26 has not loaded yet. There are partner airline awards loaded for Economy for JAL 11/9/26 and beyond but nothing on Cathay. So I'm checking daily for the immediate future to see if anything opens up.

Hope these data points are useful for those interested.

Questions: So earlier comments might be that Cathay has some black out restrictions going on and/or limiting award availability to Marco Polo high status members. I don't have status with MP. Can anyone especially MP high status members confirm if they are seeing the same no availability for redemption for 11/9/26 and beyond or has Cathay imposed some sort of blackout for now or is just taking longer for Cathay to load inventory?

Much appreciated for any feedback.

A seat will be shown for $$$ before any seat will be shown to Diamond as black star for miles.

It's batch loading. You either check again later or sign up for Expertflyer subscription to receive flight alerts.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...f2a910140c.png

Looking up award flights i saw that from Milan or Zurich to KIX Osaka is 88k miles and frm LHR London 115k miles.Doesnt really make sence, has anyone an idea why that is so?

LHR-HKG-KIX is just over 7500 miles so it prices at 115K. MXP-HKG-KIX is under 7500 miles so stays at 88K.