Cathay Pacific Business Class Upgrades to Asia Save Up to $4,123, 54%

March 2017
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  • Low cost mileage upgrades—starting at 30,000 round-trip—and no co-pay
  • Even if you have few or zero miles, it’s possible to get an upgrade
  • Great availability from eight cities
  • Earn “elite credit,” if that’s your thing

Crazy-low Business Class fare sales occur to Asia less frequently than to most other places, and advance-purchase fares usually start at $4,000 to $7,000+, even on very competitive routes such as Tokyo and Seoul. That’s why a mileage upgrade is often the way to go when flying to Asia.

Cathay Pacific is a prime example. The lowest Business Class fare to Hong Kong is currently $7,640 from New York and $5,418 from Los Angeles.

Six Reasons Why I like Cathay Pacific Upgrades

Reason #1: Costs About Half the Miles

The airline offers mileage upgrades at 30,000 (LAX) to 45,000 (NYC) round-trip. Other carriers can charge nearly double that. It costs even fewer miles if you figure in the miles earned (16,000 to 18,000) on the trip. Your net cost to upgrade can drop to as low as 14,000 miles.

Reason #2: $0 Co-Pay

In addition to paying in miles, American and United charge an $1,100 co-pay. Cathay Pacific doesn’t.

Upgrade Survey: Using Miles on Cathay Pacific to Hong Kong

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Reason #3: Great Availability

See chart below for mileage upgrade space with Cathay Pacific to see what I mean:

Sweet Redeem Survey: Cathay Pacific Upgrade to Business Class

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Reason #4: Great for Business Travelers

When your company or client is covering the cost, upgradeable Premium Economy fares are reasonable—generally around $2,300 from most U.S. gateways.

Reason #5: Great for Elite-Status Seekers

Elites shouldn’t think about free mileage awards because they don’t earn elite credit. The solution: Go for an upgrade, and if you’re in American’s AAdvantage program, booking Cathay’s “R” fare (the upgradable Premium Economy code) nets you 100% base award miles, 1.5 Elite Qualifying Points per mile, and 20% Elite Qualifying Dollars.

Reason #6: Asia Miles Are Easy to Get

No Cathay Pacific Miles? No Problem.

Transfer Starpoints to Asia Miles (25,000 to 40,000 required), or Amex or Citi Points to Asia Miles (30,000 to 45,000 required).

Cathay Pacific Business Class
[["U.S. Departure City","Business Class Fare","Upgradable (Premium Economy) Fare*","Miles Needed for Upgrade Round-Trip","Cost to Purchase Transferable Points from Amex","Savings When Using Asia Miles (If You Buy Amex Points)"],["Boston","$7,640","$2,392","45,000","$1,125","$4,123 \/ 54%"],["Chicago","$6.263","$2,392","45,000","$1,125","$2,746 \/ 44%"],["Los Angeles","$5,418","$2,258","30,000","$750","$2,410 \/ 45%"],["New York","$7,640","$2,392","45,000","$1,125","$4,123 \/ 54%"],["San Francisco","$5,120","$2,238","30,000","$750","$2,132 \/ 42%"]]
<small>*Sample Premium Economy fares do not require an advance purchase or minimum stay; maximum stay is 12 months; fare valid Monday through Thursday now through May 23 and Aug. 15 through Dec. 9.</small>
[["Departure Cities","<span style=\"color: #800000;\"><strong>Availability to Hong Kong<\/strong><\/span>","#colspan#","#colspan#","<span style=\"color: #800000;\"><strong>Availability from Hong Kong<\/strong><\/span>","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["#rowspan#","Handful","Hopeful","Hooray","Handful","Hopeful","Hooray"],["Boston","March, April, June","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">July<\/span>","July, <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Aug. to Jan.<\/span>","March, May, June, <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">July<\/span>","July","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Aug. to Jan.<\/span>"],["Chicago","March, Aug., <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Nov.<\/span>","Sept., <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Dec.<\/span>","Nov., Dec., <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Jan.<\/span>","March, Aug.","Nov., <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Dec.<\/span>","Sept., Dec., <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Jan.<\/span>"],["Los Angeles","Aug., Oct., <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Dec.<\/span>","Sept.,<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\"> Jan.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">March, Nov., <\/span>Dec., Jan.","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">March, <\/span>Aug.,<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\"> Dec.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Nov., Jan.<\/span>","March, Sept. to Jan."],["New York (Newark)","March","Aug.","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Sept. to Jan.<\/span>","","Aug.","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Sept. to Jan.<\/span>"],["New York (JFK)","March, July","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Aug., Sept., <\/span>Oct.","Aug., Sept., <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Nov. to Jan.<\/span>","March, July","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Sept.<\/span>","Aug. to Oct., <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Nov. to Jan.<\/span>"],["San Francisco","Aug. to Oct.","Nov., Dec.,<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\"> Jan.<\/span>","Jan.","","Aug.","Sept. to Dec., <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Jan.<\/span>"],["Toronto","","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Oct.,<\/span> Nov.","March, <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Sept., <\/span>Oct., <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Dec., Jan.<\/span>","March","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Sept., Oct.,<\/span> Nov., <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Dec.<\/span>","Sept., Oct., Dec., <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Jan.<\/span>"],["Vancouver","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Oct.<\/span>","Sept., Dec. ","Oct., <span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Nov., Jan.<\/span>","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Oct.,<\/span> Dec.","Sept.","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Oct., Nov., Jan.<\/span>"]]
<small>Months in black at least one seat available; <strong><span style="color: #6699cc;">in blue at least two seats.</span></strong> Handful: Our most recent research shows that award space is available 4 to 8 days during the months indicated. Hooray: Our most recent research shows that award space is available 9 to 12 days during the months indicated. Hooray: Our most recent research shows that award space is available for 13 days or more during the months indicated.</small>