Last night, in a post about the AA 25% transfer bonus, I mentioned that AA.com doesn’t show award space on all partners, such as Cathay Pacific, and doesn’t have as much availability for some partners as their Australia/New Zealand call center does.
Well today AA has added the ability to book Cathay Pacific awards on their website!
That’s very useful for the masses, though it will also mean less availability for those who knew how to search for it previously.
Cathay Pacific is famous for their wonderful first class where they offer the best bed comfort, seat comfort, and pajamas in the industry. It doesn’t offer walled-in suites or the hands-on service of Singapore and it doesn’t have onboard showers like Emirates or Etihad, but I don’t think any first class can compete with Cathay’s ultra-comfy seat and bed arrangement.
Cathay’s North American destinations include: Boston, Chicago, JFK, Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco, Seattle, Toronto, Vancouver, and Washington DC.
You can earn AA miles on card like the Citi AA Executive card and Citi AA Business Card.
You’ll want to use this link to view the legacy AA.com award booking calendar.
JFK to Vancouver nonstop availability on Cathay Pacific in first class (Sadly this route is being killed next March.)
There are better ways to book that than with 50K AA miles. For example, Alaska only charges 35K miles each way from JFK to Vancouver in first class. You can transfer increments of 60K Marriott into 25K Alaska miles. You can also earn Alaska miles with their credit card.
BA charges 51,500 Avios, but you can get 40% bonus Avios when you transfer points from AMEX, dropping the cost to under 37K AMEX points.
JFK to Hong Kong nonstop availability on Cathay Pacific in first class:
There are better ways to book that than with 110K AA miles. For example, Alaska only charges 70K miles each way.
BA charges 144,250 Avios, but you can get 40% bonus Avios when you transfer points from AMEX, dropping the cost to under 104K AMEX points.
JFK to Hong Kong nonstop availability on Cathay Pacific in business class:
There are better ways to book that than with 70K AA miles. For example, Alaska only charges 50K miles each way.
BA charges 108,250 Avios, but you can get 40% bonus Avios when you transfer points from AMEX, dropping the cost to under 78K AMEX points.
Tel Aviv to Hong Kong nonstop availability on Cathay Pacific in business class:
There are better ways to book that than with 40K AA miles. For example, Alaska only charges 30K miles each way. Or you can fly between North America and Tel Aviv with a free stopover in Hong Kong for 62.5K Alaska miles in business class or 70K Alaska miles in first class.
BA charges 77,250 Avios, but you can get 40% bonus Avios when you transfer points from AMEX, dropping the cost to under 56K AMEX points.
Not a bad way to get to the Maldives, but you may need to overnight in Male on the outbound journey:
There are better ways to book that than with 115K AA miles. For example, Alaska only charges 70K miles each way in first class with a free stopover in Hong Kong.
A better option with AA miles would be to fly Etihad Shower Class:
Cathay Pacific has the most comfortable seat and bed in the sky:
Will you redeem your AA miles for Cathay Pacific flights?
HT: Gary
I used to use this post all the time to ge to the Legacy AA.com link. Seems like they’ve killed it while I wasn’t looking. Any way to still get that? It’s so much easier to use.
does cx offer better availability for there own miles than whats available with their partners?
and whats the cost for jfk-hng with cx own miles?
Dan,
For those of us in Cleveland will have to book a domestic flight to the CX gateway if we want to use Alaska miles if that right? Thanks!
Yes.
Whose Kosher food does Cathay Pacific provide TLV-HKG and HKG-NYC? Thanks
Hermolis from HKG.
Is there a way to have the calendar only show CX availability?
Just search nonstop on routes that only they serve.
can you book CX with avios online?
Not within a week of travel though.
Yes
would you visit Vancouver between December and March?
Can go skiing in Whistler.
If your final is HKG you can boot to tokyo bussines class with a overnight stopover for just 60 k miles and get your baggage at HK saving 10k miles
Does anyone know if AA awards are already bookable on cathaypacific.com or asiamiles.com or is still only possible over the phone using asia miles?
not useful unless your destination is HKG? I am looking for 3 Biz seats from ORD to DXB to mumbai and back. I find none except for endless connections.
Cathay flies to many cities from HKG.
Search from HKG to your destination and piece an award together.
I wonder why you don’t mention booking via Asia Miles, which is sometimes much cheaper and transfer instantly from Amex points.
what about that fee that non elites on american have when booking last minute is there a workaround? do reps have the power to waive it, like with united I asked them nicely on 2 different occasions either by email or by phone and they waived it when i called up after flight was completed
okay granted that alaska is less points , but alaska points are worth more and harder to come buy with less transfer options and no bonuses.. also, If theres no availability on the search engine from ny to tlv with a stopover can i call up aa to book each leg seperatley and have them combine it into one award ticket?
Yes, but why do you need it combined into one ticket? You can book each way separately.
your saying at the airport they would link it at the counter for luggage transfer even on a long stopover more then 24 hours?
Luggage doesn’t get transferred on 24+ hour stopovers even if you have one ticket.
Luggage can get transferred on 2 tickets on shorter connections.
thank you very much
which of AA partners fly directy from NYC to BRU?
Bye bye availability.
Is only the first class bed and seat the best in the sky, or is the business class bed and seat also the best in the sky?
Business Class on CX is also excellent and better than many other airlines.
What is CA?
CX stands for Cathay Pacific.
Certainly better than most other options. Not sure if I’d call it excellent, but it is very good.
The First class bed and seat are the best in the sky.
Business class is a more standard reverse herringbone configuration. Nice and private, but not the best in the sky.
Business class on CX to/from HKG was awesome!!!!! Loved every minute of it!!! Made the loooooong flight so enjoyable!!!
Thanks! I’m fling JFK-HKG in Business Class early Sunday morning. My first time in any business class, on CX, and to Hong Kong.
Is it also bookable online thru alaska airlines ?
No.
Is there any way to travel with CP from NY-TLV?
Without a visit to Hong Kong?
With AA you would have to book it as 2 awards.
With Alaska it’s one award and discussed here:
https://www.dansdeals.com/credit-cards/highest-ever-signup-bonus-alaska-airlines-business-card-favorite-uses-alaska-miles/
2 awards means more extra miles for the second segmant , correct?
Correct.