Offer only open to residents of Southeast Asia. Register and fly from now to 31 July 2019.
Cathay Pacific is currently running an Asia Miles promotion, offering up to 20,000 bonus Asia Miles for trips between Southeast Asia and USA.
The promotion
Current Asia Miles members will earn between 5,000 and 10,000 each way between Southeast Asia and select destinations in US.
You will receive 5,000 Asia Miles each way for economy class, 8,000 Asia Miles each way for premium economy and 10,000 Asia Miles each way for business class. There is unfortunately no bonus for first class (then again, if you can afford to buy a first class ticket, you really shouldn’t be worrying about bonus miles).
To receive the bonus miles, you must register for the promotion here, before you begin your trip. Registration of the promotion and the entire trip have to be completed before 31 July 2019. The bonus miles will be credited 6 to 8 weeks after your trip, although in reality Asia Miles usually comes in pretty quickly.
The fine print
This offer is only valid for Asia Miles members who resides in Southeast Asia, i.e. Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Residency is determined by the member’s preferred mailing address as registered with Asia Miles.
The offer is only valid for flights marketed and operated by Cathay Pacific and Cathay Dragon (i.e. has a CX or KA flight number, and is operated by Cathay Pacific and Cathay Dragon) the entire journey. If any part of your journey involves a codeshare flight, tough luck.
All miles-earning fare classes across business, premium economy and economy are eligible for this offer. Yay.
The class of travel for the bonus miles will be determined by the sector between Hong Kong and US. So if you are travelling in business from Southeast Asia to Hong Kong, and then premium economy to US, you will receive 8,000 bonus Asia Miles as opposed to 10,000.
One-way journeys and mixed class travel are allowed for this promotion. and the bonus will be awarded on a per-way basis.
So are the bonus miles worth it?
For the purpose of comparison, here are some of the usual mileage of trips to US from Southeast Asia:
One-way mileage from:
Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City)
| Destination | Cabin | Fare Class | Asia Miles earned | Bonus miles | Increase |
|
Los Angeles San Francisco Seattle | Economy | Q/N/S | 4,330 | 5,000 | 115% |
| V/L/M | 7,790 | 5,000 | 64% | ||
| K/H/B/Y | 8,650 | 5,000 | 58% | ||
| Premium Economy | E | 8,650 | 8,000 | 92% | |
| R/W | 9,950 | 8,000 | 80% | ||
| Business | I/D | 10,810 | 10,000 | 93% | |
| C/J | 11,680 | 10,000 | 86% | ||
|
Chicago Boston New York (JFK) Washington DC (IAD) | Economy | Q/N/S | 5,350 | 5,000 | 93% |
| V/L/M | 9,630 | 5,000 | 52% | ||
| K/H/B/Y | 10,700 | 5,000 | 47% | ||
| Premium Economy | E | 10,700 | 8,000 | 75% | |
| R/W | 12,310 | 8,000 | 65% | ||
| Business | I/D | 13,380 | 10,000 | 75% | |
| C/J | 14,450 | 10,000 | 69% |
One-way mileage from: Philippines, Vietnam (Hanoi)
| Destination | Cabin | Fare Class | Asia Miles earned | Bonus miles | Increase |
|
Los Angeles San Francisco Seattle | Economy | Q/N/S | 3,660 | 5,000 | 137% |
| V/L/M | 6,580 | 5,000 | 76% | ||
| K/H/B/Y | 7,300 | 5,000 | 68% | ||
| Premium Economy | E | 7,300 | 8,000 | 110% | |
| R/W | 8,400 | 8,000 | 95% | ||
| Business | I/D | 9,120 | 10,000 | 110% | |
| C/J | 9,860 | 10,000 | 101% | ||
|
Chicago Boston New York (JFK) Washington DC (IAD) | Economy | Q/N/S | 4,680 | 5,000 | 107% |
| V/L/M | 8,420 | 5,000 | 59% | ||
| K/H/B/Y | 9,350 | 5,000 | 53% | ||
| Premium Economy | E | 9,350 | 8,000 | 86% | |
| R/W | 8,400 | 8,000 | 95% | ||
| Business | I/D | 11,690 | 10,000 | 86% | |
| C/J | 12,630 | 10,000 | 79% |
So as you can see from above, the best bonus comes either when you are flying the cheapest economy fares, and if you are flying to the west coast of US (i.e. Seattle, San Francisco or Los Angeles).
For a return trip from Singapore to Los Angeles for a week in June, you will be paying S$1,584 roundtrip, and that will earn you 18,660 Asia Miles including the bonus miles, enough for a one-way premium economy award ticket from Singapore to Hong Kong or Taipei.
If you are based in Hanoi or the Philippines, you will get the best deals, with almost 100% or more bonus miles if you are booked in the cheapest economy fares, or in the premium cabins.
A sample search out of Manila to San Francisco priced the ticket at about USD825, which is a steal for 17,320 miles.
And of course, if you are a Marco Polo Club member, you will also continue to earn club points on these trips. If you are at least a Silver member, you will also enjoy lounge access each time you travel with Cathay Pacific or Cathay Dragon, even if you are travelling in economy or premium economy.
Don’t forget to register for the promotion before you travel. Register
here.
