Despite numerous devaluations over the years, the Cathay frequent flyer program is still worth a look. You can still redeem some awards at a lower cost than other programs, which is handy if you have transferrable points in programs such as American Express Membership Rewards.

With 100,000 Asia Miles up your sleeve, here’s what you could do.

1. When you think Qantas, consider Cathay

Cathay’s redemption rates are sometimes cheaper than Qantas Frequent Flyer, depending on the route and cabin class. If you have the choice of earning Qantas Points or Asia Miles (Cathay’s points currency), you may reach your goal quicker with the latter. The difference isn’t always huge but can add up over time. Here are a few examples:

Perth-Brisbane or Melbourne-Bali (or up to 2,750 miles flown)

EconomyBusiness
Qantas Points18,000 pts (PER-BNE)
20,300 pts (MEL-DPS)
41,500 pts (PER-BNE)
57,000 pts (MEL-DPS)
Asia Miles15,000 miles33,000 miles

Sydney-Singapore (or up to 5,000 miles flown)

EconomyPremium EconomyBusinessFirst
Qantas Points25,200 pts51,300 pts68,400 pts102,600 pts
Asia Miles27,000 miles43,000 miles63,000 miles100,000 miles

Sydney-Los Angeles (or up to 7,500 miles flown)

EconomyPremium EconomyBusinessFirst
Qantas Points41,900 pts81,300 pts108,400 pts162,800 pts
Asia Miles40,000 miles55,000 miles89,000 miles135,000 miles

Melbourne-London or Sydney-New York (or 7,501+ miles flown)

EconomyPremium EconomyBusinessFirst
Qantas Points55,200 pts108,400 pts144,600 pts216,900 pts
Asia Miles47,000 miles80,000 miles115,000 miles170,000 miles
Qantas B787
Qantas Business Class is a good use of Asia Miles.

Note that the main partner Cathay doesn’t have access to (where Qantas does) is Emirates. Conversely, Cathay members can earn and redeem miles on select Star Alliance airlines like Air Canada and Lufthansa, which Qantas members cannot.

Bringing it back to 100,000 Asia Miles, you could fly:

  • Perth-Brisbane or Melbourne-Bali three times in Business Class one-way
  • Sydney-Singapore one-way in Qantas or British Airways First Class
  • Sydney-Los Angeles return in Economy or one-way in Business
  • Melbourne-London return in Economy or one-way in Premium Economy

2. Fly to Hong Kong one-way Premium Economy and return in Business for 96,000 miles

Cathay has an extensive network from Australia. From 28 October 2024, there’ll be four daily flights out of Sydney, three from Melbourne, 11 weekly flights from Perth and ten weekly flights from Brisbane.

In Premium Economy, expect wider seats, more legroom and an enhanced food and beverage experience from Economy. A one-way award from Australia to Hong Kong is only 38,000 Asia Miles.

Business Class is now 58,000 miles one-way, so you’d need to stretch your budget to 116,000 miles for a return trip. Or, simply compromise and fly one-way Premium Economy and one-way Business for 96,000 Asia Miles!

Chair in Cathay Pacific Airbus A350 Business Class
Settle back and relax in Cathay Airbus A350 Business Class. [Photo by Chris Chamberlin]

3. Fly to Europe/US in Premium Economy for 75,000 miles (or stretch to Business for 110,000 miles)

If you want to go the distance, you can soar all the way to Cathay’s USA and European destinations from Australia for only 75,000 Asia Miles + fees and taxes. This is the highest distance bracket of Cathay’s award chart, so you can’t pay more than that for a one-way flight in Premium Economy.

Cathay Pacific Airbus A350 Premium Economy Class
With an added leg rest, Cathay’s Airbus A350 Premium Economy Class makes for a pleasant flight.

Of course, if your budget allows, we recommend you scrape together 110,000 Asia Miles to get you Business Class for the entire journey. This option is harder to find but represents better value for your Asia Miles.

Fees and taxes are around A$420 from Perth to London via Hong Kong.

4. Fly American Airlines Business Class from Sydney to Los Angeles for 89,000 miles one-way

It can be very difficult to find award space in Business Class on any airline on nonstop flights between Australia and the US. However, if you are lucky enough to come across availability in Qantas or American Airlines Business Class, you’ll save over 19,400 points by redeeming an award through Cathay (89,000 miles) rather than Qantas (108,400 points).

American Airlines 772 Business Class
American Airlines 777 Business Class

6. Fly to Doha in a Qatar Airways Qsuite from 89,000 miles one-way

The Qsuite is arguably the world’s best Business Class product, and we are lucky to have it flying from Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide. From Sydney and Perth, there’s the Airbus A380 Business Class instead.

Qatar 777-300 Qsuites
Qatar Airways Qsuite

You’ll pay 89,000 miles for one-way Business Class redemption from Perth, Adelaide or Melbourne. However, Sydney and Brisbane departures cost 115,000 miles, so you might as well fly all the way to Europe at that price.

Note that access to Qatar Airways redemptions may be limited to 119 days in advance when using Asia Miles.

7. Upgrade any Cathay flight (subject to availability)

With 100,000 Asia Miles, you could upgrade any Cathay flight up to Premium Economy, Business or First Class – subject to availability and the ‘one class’ upgrade rule. For Australia/Hong Kong flights, it costs:

  • 21,000 Asia Miles to upgrade from Economy to Premium Economy
  • 29,000 Asia Miles to upgrade from Premium Economy to Business

On the upper end of the scale, it costs 96,000 Asia Miles to upgrade from Business to First Class on Cathay’s ultra-long flights to destinations such as New York JFK.

An upgrade to Premium Economy under the previous rates (this is now 21,000 Asia Miles).

Summing up

Cathay is one of our top five frequent flyer program recommendations for travellers in Australia (along with Qantas, Velocity, KrisFlyer and Qatar Airways/British Airways’ programs with Avios).

That’s partly due to their favourable medium- and long-haul redemption rates, especially compared to Qantas Frequent Flyer. In fact, the most you can pay for a one-way Cathay Business flight anywhere in the world (with up to two sectors, e.g. Sydney-Hong Kong-London) is 110,000 miles.

The current rates are a bit higher than before, but even then, Asia Miles still offers decent value across the board.

What has been your best-value redemption with Asia miles? We’d love to hear about it in the comments.

Supplementary images courtesy of Cathay.



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How to get the most out of 100,000 Asia Miles was last modified: July 30th, 2024 by Brandon Loo