Key Takeaways
Asia Miles has value, but it's more complex than most programs.
- You can book partners like American and British Airways, but partner awards can be tough to find online.
- Fuel surcharges apply on many carriers, especially British Airways and Cathay itself.
- Award pricing is distance-based, not region-based, which makes it harder to plan optimal redemptions.
- Transfers from Amex, Citi, Capital One, and Bilt make miles easy to earn, but transfers can take 1–2 days.
Reward Program Ratings
Hobby Score
4.0Travel Partner Transfers
Transfers In
Transfers Out
Points Transfer Guide
Associated Alliances
Cathay Pacific associated alliance is oneworld Alliance
Visit oneworld AllianceAirlines within oneworld Alliance Alliance
How to Earn Miles
The best way to earn Cathay Pacific Asia Miles is by flying on Cathay or one of its partners. Cathay is part of the oneworld Alliance and also partners with several non-oneworld airlines. You can earn miles on all partners, though earning rates vary.
You can also earn Asia Miles with the one U.S. co-branded card, and through transfers from Amex, Bilt, Capital One, and Citi.
Earn by Flying Cathay
Cathay uses a zone-based structure to determine how many miles you earn on its flights. Your fare class and the zone you’re flying to dictate the earnings. The easiest way to check your mileage is to use the Miles and Points calculator, which also shows earnings on partner flights.
Earn by Opening Their Co-Branded Credit Card
- Cathay Pacific World Elite Mastercard: Offers a small signup bonus (30,000 miles after $3,000 spend) and limited benefits.
- The $99 annual fee may be low, but the card isn’t strong enough to justify using a 5/24 slot.
Earn by Opening Transferable Miles Cards
Amex, Bilt, Capital One, and Citi all partner with Cathay Pacific.
- All four programs transfer to Cathay at a 1:1 ratio.
- These programs have stronger signup bonuses, better perks, and more flexibility than using a 5/24 slot on the Cathay Pacific card.
Flying with Partners (alliance and non-alliance partners)
Cathay Pacific is part of the oneworld Alliance, so you can earn Asia Miles by flying on any partner airline. American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and British Airways are just a few of their many partners. All miles earned are zone-based and depend on your booking class. The best way to see what you’ll earn is through the Miles and Points calculator.
Annual Bonuses & Big Spend Bonuses
Cathay Pacific World Elite Mastercard
- Spend requirement: Earn 10 Status Points for every $5000 in eligible purchases each month, up to a maximum of 100 Status Points per calendar year.
- Our recommendation: This is not a wise use of your money. You would need to spend $50,000 to earn 100 Status Points, and Cathay requires 300 Status Points for the lowest elite tier.
Other Options to Earn
How to Redeem Miles
Redeem for Airfare
The best way to redeem Asia Miles is by booking flights on Cathay Pacific or one of its partner airlines. Cathay does not publish an official reward chart, but award pricing is distance based for both Cathay flights and partner flights.
To search for award flights, log in, hover over “Flights,” then select “Redeem with miles” under “Book your flight.” Enter your trip details and search. Partner awards will appear when available, though some partners require calling to book.
Round the World Trip on Cathay
If you want to book an around-the-world trip with miles, Cathay Asia Miles is one of the best programs to use. Their RTW option offers strong value for long, multi-segment trips. While Cathay doesn’t offer an online RTW booking tool, you can use the Oneworld multicarrier award chart to build a custom itinerary. It can be complex, but the value can be outstanding.
Parameters of putting together a round the world flight on Cathay:
- Up to five stopovers, two transfers or layovers, and two open-jaws.
- Your itinerary can cover up to 50,000 total miles.
- It must include at least three Oneworld airlines, including Cathay Pacific and at least two others.
- Your trip must also begin and end in the same city, but unlike a standard alliance RTW ticket, you do not need to fully circumnavigate the globe.
- Alliance-issued RTW tickets are far more restrictive.
To book one of these tickets:
- You must find award space for every segment
- Then call Cathay to book it
- These itineraries cannot be booked online.
- Pricing follows the multicarrier award chart.
Companion Ticket Award
Cathay also offers a Companion Ticket Award. If you buy a paid business or first class ticket on Cathay Pacific, you can use miles to book a companion in the same cabin at a discounted rate. These companion awards use a dedicated award chart and must be round trip flights.
Sweet Spots Finder
Look at the chart below to find the best sweet spots for this airline. Use the filters to find the optimal Sweet Spot for your trip and points.