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What is Asia Miles?
Asia Miles is the frequent flyer program of Cathay Pacific, headquartered in Hong Kong and part of the oneworld alliance. The program offers flexible redemption options on Cathay Pacific and over 20 airline partners, including Qatar Airways, American Airlines, and British Airways. Asia Miles uses a distance-based award chart, making it especially attractive for short-to-medium haul premium cabin redemptions.
In 2025, Cathay continues to enhance Asia Miles with expanded availability, enhanced online booking for partners, and new elite perks through the Cathay Membership tier system.
Key changes to Asia Miles in 2025
- Updated Award Chart: Introduced in late 2024, the new distance-based chart retains transparency but increases pricing for ultra-long-haul routes (e.g. JFK–HKG).
- Cathay Membership Enhancements: Silver and Gold members now enjoy priority award access, increased baggage allowance, and faster check-in at select airports.
- Improved Partner Booking: As of Q1 2025, you can book more oneworld and non-alliance partners (like Air Canada and Lufthansa) online, without calling the service center.
- More Miles for Cash Tickets: Earn more Asia Miles when flying Cathay or partners on revenue tickets, especially in premium cabins and higher fare buckets.
- No Fuel Surcharges: Most Cathay and partner flights booked with Asia Miles now exclude fuel surcharges, improving value significantly.
How many Asia Miles for a flight?
Asia Miles uses a zone-based distance chart with five distance bands. Here are sample one-way redemptions:
| Distance Band | Economy (Miles) | Business (Miles) | First (Miles) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–750 miles | 7,500 | 16,000 | N/A |
| 751–2,750 miles | 10,000–20,000 | 25,000–45,000 | 50,000+ |
| 2,751–5,000 miles | 27,000 | 61,000 | 87,000 |
| 5,001–7,500 miles | 33,000 | 75,000 | 110,000 |
| 7,501+ miles | 43,000+ | 90,000+ | 125,000+ |
Example redemptions: 61,000 miles for Business Class from Hong Kong to Sydney, 45,000 miles for Business Class from Tokyo to Hong Kong, or 90,000 miles for Business Class from Europe to Asia.
How much are Asia Miles worth?
The estimated average value of an Asia Miles mile is between 1.2 and 2.0 cents (USD) per mile, although in some cases it can exceed 3 cents. The value varies depending on the route, class of service, and whether the miles were earned while flying or transferred from credit card programs. The best value is found by booking Business or First Class flights in advance on medium- to long-haul routes, especially with Cathay Pacific or partners such as Qatar Airways and Japan Airlines. The worst value is usually found on shorter routes in Economy Class or when redeeming miles for non-airline products or services.
Key features of Asia Miles
- Tiers and Elite Status: Cathay Membership has four tiers: Green, Silver, Gold, and Diamond
- What We Love: Great availability on Cathay flights, online booking for many partners, distance-based sweet spots (especially 751–2,750 miles in Business)
- Exclusive Perks: Priority award seats for elites, no fuel surcharges, upgrades with miles available on select tickets
- Best Redemptions: Cathay Pacific Business Class to Tokyo (25k miles), Qatar Qsuite to Europe (75k miles), British Airways First Class to London (125k miles)
- Award Release Dates: Cathay opens awards 360 days in advance, though some partners vary. Read our full guide here.
Airlines You Can Book Using Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
Alaska (AS)
American Airlines (AA)
British Airways (BA)
Cathay Pacific (CX)
Finnair (AY)
Iberia (IB)
Japan Airlines (JL)
Japan Airlines (JL)
Japan Airlines (JL)
Japan Airlines (JL)
LATAM (LA)
Malaysia Airlines (MH)
Qantas (QF)
Qatar Airways (QR)
Royal Jordanian (RJ)
S7 Airlines (S7)
SriLankan Airlines (UL)
The best time to book your next flight with Cathay Pacific Asia Miles
Know when airlines and frequent flyer loyalty programs release new award seats. Find the best time to book hard to get redemptions.
Ultimate Guide to Award Release Dates