Cathay Pacific has introduced that there can be upcoming adjustments to the award charts in its Asia Miles loyalty program. Regardless of making an attempt to spin it in any other case, the adjustments are unfavorable, and premium cabin award prices are going up throughout the board.

Whereas it’s not a shift in the direction of dynamic pricing, the upcoming devaluation will make journey on Cathay Pacific and Oneworld companions dearer, in the event you’re capable of finding award area within the first place.

Upcoming Modifications to the Cathay Pacific Award Chart

Recall that there are two major award charts within the Cathay Pacific Asia Miles program: one for flights with Cathay Pacific, and one other for a Oneworld Multi-Service Award. Whereas you can too e-book flights with Oneworld accomplice airways, there isn’t a broadcast award chart.

These charts will stay in impact till September 30, 2023, and as of October 1, 2023, there can be two new award charts. 

To start, let’s check out the present award chart for flights with Cathay Pacific:

And right here’s the brand new chart that can take impact on October 1, 2023:

As you possibly can see, award pricing has gone up virtually throughout the board, and particularly for flights in premium cabins. Flights in economic system class will both stay the identical or drop barely. 

For instance, premium flights between Hong Kong and the West Coast of North America are taking a reasonably important hit with this upcoming devaluation, despite the fact that flights in economic system are dropping by a couple of thousand miles:

• Premium economic system flights are going from 45,000 Asia Miles to 50,000 Asia Miles, an 11% improve
• Enterprise class flights are going from 70,000 Asia Miles to 84,000 Asia Miles, a 20% improve
• First Class flights are going from 110,000 Asia Miles to 125,000 Asia Miles, a 14% improve

Moreover, award costs within the Extremely-long class, which incorporates something over 7,501 miles in distance flown, are rising by a fair larger margin. Whereas economic system flights are dropping by a couple of thousand miles on this class, too, all different cabin courses are rising:

• Premium economic system flights are going from 60,000 Asia Miles to 75,000 Asia Miles, a 25% improve
• Enterprise class flights are going from 85,000 Asia Miles to 110,000 Asia Miles, a 29% improve
• First Class flights are going from 125,000 Asia Miles to 160,000 Asia Miles, a 28% improve

It’s price noting that the brand new chart will cast off two totally different tiers for the Lengthy class, and the Quick class will see the introduction of Sort 1 and Sort 2 award tiers. 

Apart from flights in economic system class, each different cabin class and class is seeing a rise. In case you have Asia Miles in your account and also you’re capable of finding availability, you should definitely lock in a reserving earlier than September 30, 2023 to keep away from greater pricing when the brand new chart kicks in.

Upcoming Modifications to the Asia Miles Oneworld Multi-Service Award Chart

One other technique to redeem Cathay Pacific Asia Miles is for a bigger itinerary utilizing the Oneworld Multi-Service Award Chart, which is used when two or extra Oneworld accomplice airways are included on the identical ticket (with Cathay Pacific presumably being included as nicely).

Whereas this chart isn’t used as often because the Cathay Pacific chart, or for easy bookings with accomplice airways, it’s additionally seeing a rise in pricing.

Till September 30, 2023, the Oneworld Multi-Service Award Chart can be topic to the next costs:

As of October 1, 2023, the Cathay Pacific Asia Miles Oneworld Multi-Service Award Chart will look as follows:

As we noticed with the upcoming adjustments to flights with Cathay Pacific, Oneworld Multi-Service Awards in premium cabins are going to develop into dearer, too. 

On the decrease finish, enterprise class awards in Award zone 1 are rising from 55,000 to 60,000 Asia Miles, a 9% improve, and First Class awards on this zone are shifting from 70,000 Asia Miles to 75,000 Asia Miles, a 7% improve.

In Award zone 10, enterprise class flights are rising from 165,000 Asia Miles to 230,000 Asia Miles, a 39% improve, and First Class awards on this zone are shifting from 260,000 Asia Miles to 330,000 Asia Miles, a 27% improve.

Within the highest Award zone 13, enterprise class flights are rising from 240,000 Asia Miles to 280,000 Asia Miles, a 17% improve, and First Class awards on this tier are shifting from 345,000 Asia Miles to 380,000 Asia Miles, a 10% improve.

As soon as once more, if you could find sufficient award availability to make use of the present type of the Oneworld Multi-Service Award Chart, it’s greatest to take action earlier than September 30, 2023, as the costs are set to extend thereafter.

Cathay Pacific Award Availability Stays Low

One of many challenges of redeeming Asia Miles has been abysmal award availability on Cathay Pacific flights. Subsequently, even in the event you’re trying to redeem your Asia Miles earlier than the upcoming devaluation, you’ll doubtless run into some difficulties discovering flights for which you’ll be able to redeem factors within the first place.

Moreover, Cathay Pacific doesn’t at present supply First Class on the overwhelming majority of its long-haul routes. For those who’ve had your eye on the airline’s greatest product, you’ll be very hard-pressed to seek out an award seat.

Within the FAQ part of the devaluation announcement, Cathay Pacific tries to justify the will increase in pricing by indicating that award availability will develop into higher. 

Whether or not or no more seats develop into accessible after the devaluation stays to be seen; nonetheless, it’s unlucky that any doable enchancment to award availability will come at a better worth.

For those who’re capable of finding award availability on Cathay Pacific flights, you might need to take a look at different loyalty packages, akin to Alaska Airways Mileage Plan or American Airways AAdvantage for extra beneficial pricing. 

Conclusion

Cathay Pacific has introduced that it will likely be altering its Asia Miles reward charts later this 12 months. As of October 1, 2023, new charts will come into impact, with greater costs for premium cabins throughout the board.

It’s unlucky to see one other loyalty program undergo a devaluation this 12 months. However, award availability for Cathay Pacific flights has been abysmal ever since Hong Kong reopened earlier this 12 months, so even in the event you wished to, it’d be tough to seek out long-haul flights for which you’ll be able to redeem factors.

For those who occur to have a stash of Asia Miles sitting round, you should definitely preserve an eye fixed out for award availability and e-book earlier than September 30, 2023 to benefit from the present pricing construction.