Rare Cathay Pacific First Class Award Space Bookable With Miles

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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 moved 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 on select dates, mostly between 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 $125 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 or $12,000 cost of a paid one-way first class ticket from LA 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 available dates for 1 passenger in plain font, or 2+ passengers in bold:

JFK-Hong Kong
July 19, 21, 27

Hong Kong-JFK
July 22, 23, 25

Los Angeles-Hong Kong
April 14, 16, 17, 23
May 13, 15
July 1, 2, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27

Hong Kong-Los Angeles
March 29
May 7, 9, 10, 15, 16, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 31
June 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30
July 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25

Transfers from AMEX, Capital One, or Citi to Cathay are typically instant. You can call or chat with Cathay Pacific to hold award space.

• The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express 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. Terms apply. Read more here.
• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is offering a 150K bonus for spending $20,000 in 3 months and offers monthly credits, lounge access, and much more. Terms apply. Read more here.
• American Express® Business Gold Card is offering a 100K bonus for spending $15,000 in 3 months, monthly business credits, Walmart+ membership, up to 4 points per dollar spent with a $150K annual spend cap, and more benefits. Terms apply. Read more here.
• The Platinum Card® from American Express is offering an 80K bonus for spending $8,000 in 6 months and offers monthly 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,  monthly credits for Uber and Grubhub, and more. 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 $199 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.

Will you book any award flights in Cathay First Class?