My favorite mileage program, Cathay Pacific’s Asia Miles, is finally tightening up some of the best loopholes in the air.

In the airline’s words: “Driven by the tremendous product improvement on long-haul flights, First and Business Class fares have increased significantly since the current award chart was brought into use in 1999. The miles required for awards for long-haul Zones C to F will therefore be increased to keep redemption fares in line with the market fares.”

I’d like to complain, but I can’t. Those of you who’ve heeded my recommendation and become a member of this program have had it good.

The table on page 8 shows some of the changes in award redemption levels. The increases go into effect on Oct. 15, 2007.

Upgrades to Business Class

Not good: The major change here is that lower fares are no longer eligible for upgrading with some carriers. With American Airlines, Y, B, and H fares must be purchased. At times these upgradeable fares are still better in the end because Cathay doesn’t impose the $600 round-trip upgrade surcharge that AA does. You must check on a route-by route basis to see which airline’s mileage program offers the better deal.

No Change: You can still upgrade British Airways Premium Economy to Business Class (no increase in miles). Most upgradeable fares on Cathay haven’t changed, either, so no harm here.

Upgrades to First Class

American: You can still upgrade “I class” fares (heavily discounted Business Class) to Europe, which cost as little as $1,200 during Thanksgiving and Christmas. (To upgrade on AA, you’d have to purchase a much more expensive D or J fare.) It may take a few more miles but the applicable fare is always thousands less.

British Airways: You can still upgrade from the lowest Business Class fares to First, and the lowest Premium Economy fares to Business.

Six more things to note

• If you have Starwood points, go to the Asia Miles website (http://www.asiamiles.com/en/redeem/calculator/flights/ 1,,140462,00.html) and use the “flight award calculator” before transferring miles. Then compare against the operating carrier’s own award chart.
• Keep in mind that the Asia Miles program uses a flight distance award chart and British Airways a zone chart (e.g., London and Paris require the same number of miles to upgrade; Rome will cost you more miles).
• If you’re like me, you’ll plan a trip or two in advance to get the great deal before it goes up. Availability on BA from the East Coast, especially New York, is as rich as it gets. It’s been my fallback on short-notice trips a number of times.
• If you don’t book now, certainly don’t wait until midnight on Oct. 14. Hong Kong is a day ahead and these dates are based on 12:01 local time—and it has been harder and harder to get through to a reservationist, as more find out about the changes.
• If you have a hard time getting through to Cathay to determine availability for American or British Airways awards, first call these two airlines directly or go to their websites to determine availability. AA and BA both pull from the same “availability buckets” as Cathay does.
• Ironically, Asia Miles was never recommended to use for travel to Asia. It wasn’t exceptional before, and it isn’t now.

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