As flagged by Alan in Suitesmile Chat, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles has announced upcoming (minor) award rate changes, which will come into effect on 1 May 2026. The previous round of award chart changes was announced about a year ago.
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles award chart changes
From 1 May 2026, Cathay Pacific-operated flights on Asia Miles will see minor award rate changes on Premium Economy and Business Class redemptions. Members can still book existing award rates until 30 Apr 2026.
Award rates for partner airlines are not affected.
✍️ As a reminder, Cathay Pacific doesn’t officially publish most award rates on its (pointless) award chart page. Refer to my compilation of Asia Miles award charts to view all the key award rates, including for redemptions on partner airlines (will be updated when these changes go live on 1 May 2026).
| Examples (From/To Hong Kong) | Cabin Class | Miles Required (till 30 Apr) | Miles Required (from 1 May) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangkok, Shanghai, Singapore | Premium Economy | 20k | 18k |
| Business | 28k | 27k | |
| Sydney, Melbourne | Business | 58k | 60k |
| London, Los Angeles, Vancouver | Business | 88k | 91k |
| Boston, New York, Toronto | Business | 115k | 119k |
Old vs New: Cathay Pacific Asia Miles award chart
Here’s how the distance-based award chart for Cathay Pacific-operated flights looks with the newly announced changes:
| Distance (in miles) | Economy | Premium Economy | Business | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 – 750 | 7k | 11k | 16k | – |
| 751 – 2,750 (Type 1*) | 9k | 18k | 27k | 43k |
| 751 – 2,750 (Type 2**) | 13k | 23k | 32k | 50k |
| 2,751 – 5,000 | 20k | 38k | 60k | 90k |
| 5,001 – 7,500 | 27k | 50k | 91k | 125k |
| 7,501+ | 38k | 75k | 119k | 160k |
*Type 1: Any route not involving Type 2 countries.
**Type 2: Any route involving a city in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Japan, Nepal or Sri Lanka.
How will this affect Singapore-based travellers?
Singapore-based travellers will see award rate changes on a number of Cathay Pacific-operated flights to/from Singapore that fall within the affected distance bands.
From 1 May 2026, here are the award rates for Cathay Pacific flights to/from Singapore:
| To/From Singapore | Cabin Class | Miles Required (till 30 Apr) | Miles Required (from 1 May) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hong Kong, Taipei | Premium Economy | 20k | 18k |
| Business | 28k | 27k | |
| Japan, South Korea | Business | 58k | 60k |
| Milan, Frankfurt, Amsterdam | Business | 88k | 91k |
| North America | Business | 115k | 119k |
Previous Asia Miles devaluations
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles has been announcing annual award chart changes (mostly devaluations) every 12-18 months in recent years.
It’s also worth pointing out that most of the devaluations are on medium and long haul Business Class routes. We’ve also seen some award rates dropping, especially on short haul Economy and Premium Economy Class flights.
Here’s a list of previous announcements, post-COVID:
Best credit cards to earn Asia Miles
In Singapore, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles can be earned through great Miles credit cards from Citibank, HSBC, DBS, UOB and Maybank.
Here are the best credit cards to earn Asia Miles, with a bonus earn rate of 4 miles per dollar:
Earn 4 mpd on online spending and selected in-person shopping, up to S$1,000 per statement month. No minimum spending required.
Best for: Online Shopping, In-Person Shopping, Overseas, Ride-Hailing, Food Delivery, Phone Bills
More information
Key details of the Citi Rewards Card
Ease of use :
Minimum annual income:• S’porean/PR: S$30,000
• Foreigner: S$42,000Annual fee: S$196.20 (first year waived; request waiver every year)
Earn 4 mpd on online spending, selected in-person shopping and in-person overseas spending (via Amaze ), up to S$1,000 per statement month
No minimum spending
5-year miles expiry cycle
9 useful miles transfer partners
⚠️ 0.4 mpd earn rate on non-bonus spending
⚠️ Travel-related spending (e.g. flights, hotels) excluded from bonus earn rate
⚠️ In-person shopping bonus earn rate (without Amaze linkage) is MCC-sensitive
⚠️ 3.25% foreign transaction fee (save ~1% via Amaze)
⚠️ Amaze linkage for SGD spending comes with a 1% fee
Earn 4 mpd on mobile contactless (e.g. Google Pay, Apple Pay) and selected online spending, up to S$600 per category, calendar month. No minimum spending required.
Best for: Online Shopping, In-Person Shopping, Overseas, Dining, Groceries, Hotels, Public Transport, Petrol, Food Delivery
More information
Key details of the UOB Preferred Visa Card
Ease of use :
Minimum annual income:• S’porean/PR: S$15,000 – S$30,000
• Foreigner: S$40,000Annual fee: S$196.20 (first year waived; request waiver every year)
Earn 4 mpd on two bonus categories, up to S$600 per calendar month each (total S$1,200):1) Mobile Contactless (e.g. Google Pay, Apple Pay)
2) Online Spending (selected MCCs only) No minimum spending
⚠️ 0.4 mpd earn rate on non-bonus spending
⚠️ Online Spending category is MCC-sensitive
⚠️ S$5 earning block
⚠️ 2-year miles expiry term
⚠️ Only 2 useful miles transfer partners
⚠️ 3.25% foreign transaction fee
Earn 4 mpd on five bonus categories, including dining, shopping, flights, hotels and foreign currency spend, up to S$1,000 per calendar month. Minimum card spend of S$500 per calendar month required.
Best for: Online Shopping, In-Person Shopping, Overseas, Dining, Groceries, Hotels, Public Transport, Petrol, Food Delivery
More information
Key details of the Maybank XL Rewards Card
Ease of use :
Minimum annual income:• S’porean/PR: S$30,000
• Malaysian: S$45,000
• Foreigner: S$60,000Annual fee: S$87.20 (first 2 years waived; request waiver every year)
Earn 4 mpd on five bonus categories, up to S$1,000 per calendar month:1) Dine (e.g. restaurants, bakeries, food delivery)
2) Shop (e.g. apparels, departmental stores)
3) Travel (e.g. airlines, hotels, travel agencies)
4) Play (e.g. bars, cinemas)
5) Foreign Spend (e.g. almost anything in foreign currencies)
⚠️ Only available to those aged 21 – 39 years
⚠️ Minimum card spend of S$500 per calendar month required for bonus earn rate
⚠️ 0.4 mpd earn rate on non-bonus spending
⚠️ 1-year miles expiry term (no expiry with Maybank’s Rewards Infinite Programme)
⚠️ Only 3 useful miles transfer partners
⚠️ 3.25% foreign transaction fee
Earn 4 mpd on online spending, up to S$1,000 per calendar month. No minimum spending required.
Best for: Online Shopping, Flights, Hotels, Ride-Hailing, Food Delivery, Phone Bills
More information
Key details of the DBS Woman’s World Card
Ease of use :
Minimum annual income: S$80,000 (not strict)
Annual fee: S$196.20 (first year waived; request waiver every year)
Earn 4 mpd on online spending, up to S$1,000 per calendar month
No minimum spending
⚠️ 0.4 mpd earn rate on non-bonus spending
⚠️ 1-year miles expiry term
⚠️ Only 3 useful miles transfer partners
⚠️ 3.25% foreign transaction fee
Earn 4 mpd on one chosen category, up to S$1,000 per calendar month. No minimum spending required.
Best for: Online Shopping, In-Person Shopping, Overseas, Dining, Groceries, Hotels, Public Transport, Petrol, Ride-Hailing, Food Delivery
More information
Key details of the UOB Lady’s Card
Ease of use :
Minimum annual income:• S’porean/PR: S$15,000 – S$30,000
• Foreigner: S$40,000Annual fee: S$196.20 (first year waived; request waiver every year)
Earn 4 mpd on 1 chosen bonus category, up to S$1,000 per calendar month
No minimum spending
⚠️ 0.4 mpd earn rate on non-bonus spending
⚠️ Bonus categories are MCC-sensitive
⚠️ 2-year miles expiry term
⚠️ Only 2 useful miles transfer partners
⚠️ 3.25% foreign transaction fee
Earn 4 mpd on local contactless payments (e.g. PayWave, Google Pay, Apple Pay) and/or foreign currencies, up to S$1,200 per category, per statement month. Minimum category spend of S$1,000 per statement month required.
Best for: Online Shopping, In-Person Shopping, Overseas, Dining, Groceries, Hotels, Flights, Public Transport, Petrol
More information
Key details of the UOB Visa Signature Card
Ease of use :
Minimum annual income:• S’porean/PR: S$15,000 – S$30,000
• Foreigner: S$40,000Annual fee: S$218 (first year waived; request waiver every year)
Earn 4 mpd on two bonus categories, up to S$1,200 per statement month each (total S$2,400):1) Overseas (incl. online in foreign currencies)
2) Local Contactless (e.g. PayWave, Google Pay, Apple Pay), SimplyGo (Public Transport), Fuel
⚠️ Minimum category spend (not card spend) of S$1,000 per statement month required for bonus earn rate
⚠️ 0.4 mpd earn rate on non-bonus spending
⚠️ 2-year miles expiry term
⚠️ Only 2 useful miles transfer partners
⚠️ 3.25% foreign transaction fee
Earn 4 mpd on online shopping and ride-hailing, up to S$1,000 per calendar month. No minimum spending required.
Best for: Online Shopping, Ride-Hailing
More information
Key details of the HSBC Revolution Card
Ease of use :
Minimum annual income:• S’porean/PR: S$30,000 – S$65,000
• Foreigner: S$65,000Annual fee: Nil
Earn 4 mpd on selected contactless and online spending, up to S$1,000 per calendar month
Boost bonus earn rate to 8 mpd (up to S$1,200 per calendar month) with a minimum deposit of S$50,000
No minimum spending
3-year miles expiry term
7 useful miles transfer partners
Free miles transfers to frequent flyer programs
Instant miles transfers
No annual fee, ever
⚠️ 0.4 mpd earn rate on non-bonus spending
⚠️ Poor transfer ratio to KrisFlyer
⚠️ Bonus categories are MCC-sensitive
⚠️ 3.25% foreign transaction fee
Earn 4 mpd on two chosen categories, up to S$750 per category, per calendar month. No minimum spending required.
Best for: Online Shopping, In-Person Shopping, Overseas, Dining, Groceries, Hotels, Public Transport, Petrol, Ride-Hailing, Food Delivery
More information
Key details of the UOB Lady’s Solitaire Card
Ease of use :
Minimum annual income: S$120,000
Annual fee: S$414.20 (first year waived; request waiver every year)
Earn 4 mpd on two chosen bonus categories, up to S$750 per calendar month each (total S$1,500)
No minimum spending
⚠️ 0.4 mpd earn rate on non-bonus spending
⚠️ Bonus categories are MCC-sensitive
⚠️ 2-year miles expiry term
⚠️ Only 2 useful miles transfer partners
⚠️ 3.25% foreign transaction fee
