Which One is Best for Cathay Pacific Award Ticket Now?
Photo Credit: Cathay Pacific
Award travel opens up amazing adventures, and it doesn’t have to be complicated! Not long ago, I booked the Cathay Pacific business class tickets from Hong Kong to Rome for summer. What’s even better is the wide open availability of Cathay Pacific award seats this week from economy class, premium economy class to business class on the transpacific routes like San Francisco, Chicago and Boston from July 2025 through late January 2026.
Redeeming Cathay Pacific award miles was a breeze, but diving into partner airlines using “Avios” for award tickets redemptions opened up even more award travel possibilities. In this post, I’ll compare Cathay Pacific and “Avios” programs redemptions on these transpacific routes and reveal how the credit card points transfer bonus can be a real game-changer.
Understanding Programs: Cathay vs. “Avios” Programs
What Is Cathay Pacific “Cathay” Program?
Cathay Pacific’s loyalty program, simply known as “Cathay”, has recently boosted its award seat availability, making it easier to book long-haul business class and premium economy class tickets. As a Cathay member, you gain access to exclusive award seats that are perfect for family trips. I’ve personally scored some fantastic redemptions for my family members, including:
Los Angeles → Hong Kong: first class tickets for two
Hong Kong → Rome: business class tickets for two
London ↔ Hong Kong: round-trip in business class and first class tickets for two
Hong Kong → Sydney: business class tickets for two
Everyday Spending: Use credit cards from American Express (Amex), Chase, Capital One, Citi, Wells Fargo, and more.
Sign-Up Bonus Offers: Take advantage of attractive sign-up bonuses. Here are the credit cards with best sign-up bonus right now:
American Express Gold:Annual Fee: $325. Sign-Up Bonus: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases within the first 6 months of card membership.
American Express Platinum: Annual Fee: $695. Sign-Up Bonus: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases within the first 6 months of card membership.
Cathay vs. “Avios” Programs: Which One Should You Use?
Let’s crunch the numbers for each wide open route. Below are side-by-side comparisons of the mileage requirements (with and without a 20% bonus) and additional surcharges, so you can easily decide which option saves you the most for your next family adventure.
Boston ↔ Hong Kong
Photo Credit: Cathay Pacific
Photo Credit: British Airways
Photo Credit: Qatar Airways
Photo Credit: Finnair
Chicago ↔ Hong Kong
Photo Credit: Cathay Pacific
Photo Credit: British Airways
Photo Credit: Qatar Airways
Photo Credit: Finnair
Hong Kong ↔ San Francisco
Photo Credit: Cathay Pacific
Photo Credit: British Airways
Photo Credit: Qatar Airways
Photo Credit: Finnair
Expanding Your Itinerary: Transit In Hong Kong For Other Asia Cities
Want to explore more of Asia with your family? Using Hong Kong as a transit hub to reach your final Asian destination can be a smart move. Check out these examples:
Example 1: Chicago → Hong Kong (Transit) → Singapore
Photo Credit: Cathay Pacific
Photo Credit: British Airways
Photo Credit: Finnair
Example 2: Taipei → Hong Kong (Transit) → San Francisco
Pro-Tip: With a round-trip award redemption on the Cathay program, you can even enjoy a complimentary stopover in Hong Kong!
Photo Credit: Cathay Pacific
Photo Credit: British Airways
Photo Credit: Finnair
Tips And Recommendations
Based on the comparisons above, here are some key takeaways to help you choose the best redemption option:
Route-Specific Recommendations:
Hong Kong – San Francisco:
With a 20% Transfer Bonus: Finnair can be the best value at around 71,000 Avios (effective after bonus) plus approximately $125.20 in fees.
Without a Bonus: Cathay Pacific at 84,000 miles with a surcharge of around $180 in fees.
Hong Kong – Chicago:
With a Bonus: can be the best value at around 71,000 Avios (effective after bonus) plus approximately $125.20 in fees.
Without a Bonus: British Airways at 108,250 miles plus $125.20 in fees.
Transiting Hong Kong To Another City In Asia:
For routes like Chicago → Hong Kong (Transit) → Singapore or Taipei → Hong Kong (Transit) → San Francisco, Cathay Pacific often wins, unless the “Avios” programs transfer bonus from credit card points climbs above 30%.
General Tips For Beginners And Families
Transfer Bonuses: Leverage the current 20% points transfer bonus from Citi and Amex to maximize your “Avios” value when you spot Cathay Pacific awards on “Avios” programs.
Flexibility: Familiarize yourself with transferring points between “Avios” programs. This flexibility might unlock better award availability.
Change / Cancellation Fees: Always check (and bookmark) the fees for changes or cancellations. For example:
British Airways: $55 change fee / $55 cancellation fee
Keep a Comparison Chart Handy: Use the tables above to quickly compare award miles and additional fee differences.
Stay Flexible: If one route isn’t available (like Boston), consider nearby alternatives (like Chicago), which might even lead to a fun detour!
Set Up Alerts: Bookmark award calendars and sign up for alerts from tools like seat.aero to catch the award tickets.
Final Thoughts
Award travel is a fantastic way to create lasting memories with your loved ones while saving money. Whether you choose Cathay Pacific for exclusive award availability or harness the power of “Avios” programs with generous transfer bonuses, knowing your options means you can plan confidently and travel smart.
My take to your quick win: Bookmark this guide, set up travel alerts, and start planning your next family adventure today.
