Cathay

Cathay Pacific (CX) is a oneworld member based in Hong Kong (HKG). Its First and business class, along with The Pier and The Wing lounges in Hong Kong, are among the best experiences in the sky, and its network connects Hong Kong to North America, Europe, Australia, and all of Asia. This is one of the most rewarding airlines anywhere to book with miles.

Cathay Pacific

Which miles can you use to book Cathay Pacific?

Because Cathay Pacific is in oneworld, you can book its award space with partner miles, including:

  • British Airways Avios: distance-based pricing, good for shorter hops
  • American AAdvantage
  • Alaska Mileage Plan
  • Cathay Pacific Asia Miles

How to search for Cathay Pacific award space:

The easiest place to search is the British Airways website. BA displays oneworld partner availability, including Cathay Pacific, and you can search without holding any miles.

Step 1

Log in to your Executive Club account on britishairways.com. If you don’t have an account yet, signing up is free and takes a couple of minutes.

Cathay Pacific First Class

Step 2

Go to Executive Club, then Spending Avios.

British Airways Login

Step 3

Under Choose your Reward, click Book a reward flight.

Executive Club

Step 4

Enter your trip details:

  • Departure and arrival airports. For Cathay Pacific, think routes touching Hong Kong (HKG), like JFK-HKG, LAX-HKG, HKG-LHR, or HKG-NRT
  • Desired departure date
  • Select One way only. It makes mixing partners on the return much easier
  • Preferred cabin class
  • Number of passengers

Then click Get Flights.

Spending Avios

Step 5

If you get a prompt about changes to reward flight fare prices, accept the terms and click Continue. If a pop-up asks about adding a stopover, choose No, I want to continue without stopovers.

Book Flights

Step 6

Note down every Cathay Pacific flight showing award space: flight number, date, and cabin. Use the weekly date strip to scan nearby days. Cathay tends to release more premium space far in advance and again in the final two weeks.

Changes to reward flight fare

Step 7

Now book with the program your miles live in. If it’s Avios, you can finish the booking right there on ba.com. For other programs (AAdvantage, Mileage Plan, Asia Miles), check their website first, since most can book oneworld partners online now. If the flight doesn’t show, call the program and read the agent the exact flights you found. They should be able to see and book the same space for you.

Tips before you book

  • The screenshots above show an older BA site design. Menu names have shifted slightly, but the flow (log in, reward flight search, one-way results) is unchanged.
  • Alaska Mileage Plan is the classic sweet spot for Cathay premium cabins from North America, and Alaska’s site can book Cathay online.
  • The same flight often shows on aa.com too. If BA shows nothing, cross-check there before giving up.