Wide Open Cathay Pacific First Class Award Space!

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Pre-COVID, we flew in Cathay Pacific First Class many times on award bargains to Hong Kong and Vancouver.

Cathay Pacific first class features what I think is still the best seat and best bed in the sky on any airline. Service is also fantastic, as are the PJs and other amenities. Kosher meals from Asia and in Cathay first class lounges in Hong Kong are catered by London’s Hermolis, which makes by far the best kosher meals in the air. You can call The Wing lounge in Hong Kong at +852-2747-7972 or The Pier lounge at +852-2747-3939 to request kosher meals in those incredible lounges in advance. In JFK, you can order fresh Fresko kosher meals on demand at the Soho First Class lounge.

 

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But a lot has changed since pre-COVID times. Cathay Pacific permanently ended their JFK-Vancouver flight. China removed free speech from Hong Kong as it moves to bring the former British territory in line with the mainland. And Cathay Pacific stopped flying with first class on most routes, with award space completely blocked on remaining routes.

But you can now book first class award space for travel in 2025 between JFK or LA and Hong Kong. However, it won’t come cheap and it’s only available with Cathay Pacific Asia Miles. You can login here and search for award flights here.

The nonstop flight between LA and Hong Kong is 125K miles each way and the nonstop flight between JFK and Hong Kong is 160K miles each way. You can also fly to other cities in Asia via Hong Kong for similar rates. Taxes and surcharges will add about $150 each way, but it’s still a bargain compared to the $18,000 cost of a paid one-way first class ticket from JFK to Hong Kong.

But I do miss the days when I was able to book a round-the-world ticket with 16 first class flights for the cost of a one-way first class flight today. We did that in 2009, but AA killed off that award type in 2014.

Below are currently available dates for 2 passengers:

JFK-Hong Kong
January 12, 14, 17, 21, 26, 28, 31
February 2, 4, 9, 11, 14, 16, 18, 21, 23
March 4

Hong Kong-JFK
January 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31
February 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 20, 22, 26
March 1, 2, 3

Los Angeles-Hong Kong
January 16, 20, 21, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31
February 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 11, 12, 18, 21, 24, 27
March 4, 6, 7

Hong Kong-Los Angeles
January 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 28, 29, 31
February 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18, 19, 20, 25
March 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Transfers from AMEX or Citi to Cathay are typically instant, while transfers from Capital One to Cathay can take a day or 2. You can call or chat with Cathay Pacific to hold award space.

• AMEX Blue Business Plus is offering a rare bonus to earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership and offers 2 points per dollar spent on up to $50K spending annually 1 point per dollar thereafter, plus transfer points to airlines and hotels and keep AMEX points alive.  Read more here.
• AMEX Platinum Business is offering a 150K bonus for spending $20,000 in 3 months and offers over $1,000 in annual credits, lounge access, and much more. Read more here.
• AMEX Gold Business Card is offering a 100K bonus for spending $15,000 in 3 months and offers up to $240 in annual business credits, Walmart+ membership, up to 4 points per dollar spent with a $150K annual spend cap, and more benefits. Read more here.
• The Platinum Card® from American Express is offering a 80K bonus for spending $8,000 in 6 months and offers over $1,000 in annual credits, lounge access, and much more. Terms apply. Read more here.
• American Express® Gold Card is offering a 60K bonus for spending $6,000 in 6 months, 20% back in statement credits for restaurants worldwide, up to $100 back-Complete Offer: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms apply. Read more here. 
• AMEX Green Consumer Card is offering a 40K bonus for spending $3,000 in 6 months and offers up to $189 in annual CLEAR Plus® credits, $100 LoungeBuddy credit, plus transfer points to airlines and hotels and keep AMEX points alive. All information about the AMEX Green Card has been collected independently by DansDeals.

• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is offering 75,000 bonus miles for spending $4K in 3 months, plus earn 2 miles per dollar spent on every purchase, $300 annual travel credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, 10K anniversary bonus miles, Global Entry/Pre-Check, Capital One lounge access, Priority Pass Lounge membership, Hertz President's Circle status, free lounge access and status for free additional cardholders, transfer miles to airlines and hotels, 5K MLB redemptions, and more. $395 annual fee. Read more here.
• Capital One Venture X Business is offering 150,000 bonus miles for spending $30K in 3 months, plus earn 2 miles per dollar spent on every purchase, $300 annual travel credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, 10K anniversary bonus miles, Global Entry/Pre-Check, Capital One lounge access, Enhanced Priority Pass Lounge membership, transfer miles to airlines and hotels, 5K MLB redemptions, and more. $395 annual fee. Read more here.
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is offering 75,000 bonus miles for spending $4K in 3 months, plus 2 miles per dollar spent on every purchase, transfer points to airlines and hotels, 5K MLB redemptions, and more. $95 annual fee. Read more here. 
• Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card is offering 20,000 bonus miles for spending $500 in 3 months, transfer miles to airlines and hotels, 5K MLB redemptions, and more. No annual fee.
• Capital One Spark Miles for Business is offering 50,000 bonus miles for spending $4,500 in 3 months, 2 miles per dollar spent on every purchase, Global Entry/PreCheck, transfer miles to airlines and hotels, 5K MLB redemptions, and more. $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
• New offer: Capital One Spark Cash Plus is offering $2,000 cash back (convertible to 200,000 miles) for spending $30,000 in 3 months, plus get another $2,000 cash back for every $500K spent in your first year, 2% back everywhere, $40 MLB redemptions, annual fee refund when you spend $150K/year, and more. $150 annual fee.

• Citi Strata Premier℠ Card offers 70,000 points for spending $4K in 3 months, 3 points per dollar on airfare, hotels, travel agents, groceries, gas, EV charging, and dining. 10 points per dollar on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com. $95 annual fee.

• The Citi Double Cash® Card offering a rare 20K bonus for spending $1,500 in 6 months, and offers 2% cash back or 2 ThankYou points per dollar spent everywhere. If you also have a Citi Premier® Card Card you can transfer points into miles. No annual fee. Read more here.
• The Citi Custom Cash® Card offering 20K signup bonus for spending $1,500 in 6 months, offers 5 points per dollar on up to $500 in purchases in your top eligible spending category each billing cycle. This is marketed as 5% cash back, but will actually come in the form of 5 ThankYou points per dollar spent! Eligible categories include Restaurants, Gas Stations, Grocery Stores, Select Travel, Select Transit, Select Streaming Services, Drugstores, Home Improvement Stores, Fitness Clubs, and Live Entertainment. You will also get 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months. No annual fee. Read more here.
• The Citi Rewards+® Card offering 20,000 points for spending $1,500 in 3 months. This card can’t transfer points on its own, but can transfer points if you have one of the Citi cards above. This card automatically rounds up rewards earned on every purchase to the nearest 10 points, meaning you earn 10 points on a $0.50 Amazon balance reload. Earn 2 points on $6K in annual spending at supermarkets, and a 10% points rebate when you redeem points, up to a 10K points rebate per year. If you also have a Citi Premier® Card Card you can transfer points into miles and get a 10% points rebate on transferred or redeemed miles. No annual fee. Read more here.

HT: findflightsforme