As shared by Ansley from Suitesmile Chat earlier today, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles is devaluing its award charts in a few months’ time.
Key points to note
- Asia Miles is increasing award rates on most routes, decreasing on others
- Changes will take effect on bookings made from 1 October 2023 (12 weeks’ notice)
- You can still make bookings before 1 October 2023 to lock in the current award rates, even for travel after this date
- Fuel surcharges will still be applicable to award bookings (no change)
- Asia Miles still do not expire, as long as there is at least 1 account activity every 18 months
- Old award charts
- New award charts
Award chart changes
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles can be redeemed for flights on Cathay Pacific and its oneworld partners like Japan Airlines, Finnair and Qantas.
The frequent flyer program adopts distance-based award charts.
Flights on Cathay Pacific
Redeeming Asia Miles for flights on Cathay Pacific? Here’s how the award rates will change from 1 October 2023:
| Distance (in miles) | Economy | Premium Economy | Business | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 – 750 | 7.5k | 11k | 16k | – |
| 751 – 2,750 (type 1*) | 10k | 20k | ||
| 751 – 2,750 (type 2**) | 23k | 32k | 50k | |
| 2,751 – 5,000 | 20k | 38k | 58k | 90k |
| 5,001 – 7,500 | 27k | 50k | 84k | 125k |
| 7,501+ | 38k | 75k | 110k | 160k |
*Type 1: Includes cities such as Beijing, Kuala Lumpur, Seoul, Shanghai, and Singapore.
**Type 2: Includes all cities in Japan, Indonesia, India and Nepal.
Flights on partner airlines
In an email to members earlier today, the frequent flyer program mentioned that the amount of miles required for flights on partner airlines will be affected too. However, they have not (yet) shared the new mileage requirements for those redemptions.
How badly are Sweet Spots affected?
Asia Miles are currently great for the following award redemptions to/from Singapore:
| Region | Airline | Class | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hong Kong |  | Economy | 10k |
| Business | 25k | ||
| Milan, Zurich, Frankfurt | | Economy | 30k |
| Business | 65k | ||
| Europe |  | Economy | 35k |
| Business | 70k | ||
| Perth |  | Economy | 15k |
| Business | 30k | ||
| Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane | | Economy | 27k |
| Business | 61k |
We now know the number of miles required for award bookings on Cathay Pacific. Members will soon have to fork out an additional 3k miles for flights to Hong Kong in Business Class, while the amount of miles required for Economy Class remains the same.
For flights to certain European cities (e.g. Milan, Frankfurt and Rome), it will cost 3k fewer miles in Economy and 19k more miles in Business Class.
The big question mark, unfortunately, still remains for the sweet spots on Finnair and Qantas, which do not come with fuel surcharges. Personally, I’d be happy with a 20+% devaluation for those routes.
Related: Cheapest ways to fly between Singapore and North Asia using Miles/Points from Singapore cards
Bottom line
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles is making changes (mostly bad) to its award charts from 1 October 2023, about 5 years since its last devaluation.
I feel that is pretty generous to allow 12 weeks for members to plan and try to redeem their miles with the current award charts. Let’s wait and see how bad the partner award rates will be. Finger crossed!