Singapore-based flyers have a natural affinity to Singapore Airlines’ KrisFlyer programme. For those who are starting to venture to other airlines and their frequent flyer programmes, Cathay becomes the next natural partner, given the presence and reach Cathay Pacific have within Asia.
For those who are new to Cathay: Cathay is the name of the frequent flyer programme of Cathay Pacific. This is a combination of the former Marco Polo Club and Asia Miles programme, into a singular system. There is also a major overhaul coming 1 January 2027, so in this guide, we will show how it all fits together, then points you to the deep dives on status, earning and redeeming.
In this guideUpdated Oct 2026
The Cathay guides
Here are some quick guides for those who need information fast:
What is Cathay?
Cathay is Cathay Pacific’s loyalty programme since 2022. Prior to this, Cathay ran two parallel programmes that ran side by side for years.
If you’re coming from KrisFlyer, Cathay is to Cathay Pacific what KrisFlyer is to Singapore Airlines: one membership that holds both your miles and your status.
And unlike the old Marco Polo Club, which I foolishly paid US$100 to join in my early years, the Cathay programme is now free to join.
Asia Miles vs Status Points
Like all oneworld programmes, Cathay runs a dual-currency system: Asia Miles and Status Points. When you fly, you earn both Asia Miles and Status Points, and they do completely different jobs.
- What they do
- Pay for award flights, upgrades, hotel stays and other rewards
- Where they come from
- Flights, Singapore credit cards, hotel points and other partners
- Shelf life
- Never expire, as long as there’s activity every 18 months
- KrisFlyer equivalent
- KrisFlyer miles
- What they do
- Set your tier, from Green up to Diamond Exec. They can’t be spent
- Where they come from
- Flying Cathay Pacific or any oneworld airline
- Shelf life
- Counted per calendar year (from 2027)
- KrisFlyer equivalent
- Elite miles
Where each one comes from
| Source | Asia Miles | Status Points |
|---|---|---|
| Cathay Pacific flights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Other oneworld/partner flights* | ✓ | ✓ |
| Credit card transfers | ✓ | — |
| Hotel points conversions | ✓ | — |
| Cathay credit card (Hong Kong only) | ✓ | ✓ |
From the above, one thing is clear: there is hardly any avenue to earn status points without flying, unless you are based in Hong Kong. From credit card transfers alone, you could build a big Asia Miles balance purely from card transfers and still be Green. Meanwhile, someone flying economy every week can hold Gold or Diamond with modest miles to spend.
Asia Miles expiry
Cathay utilises a rolling expiry system: your miles will not expire as long as you have any activity within 18 months. Activities include taking flights which will bank new miles, transferring miles into your account, or spending miles.
Tiers and validity
There are five tiers in the Cathay programme, ranging from the entry-level Green to an invite-only tier for select members.
In the latest changes announced in October 2025, Cathay added two new tiers: a Diamond Exec requiring 2,400 Status Points, and the invite-only Diamond Plus tier.
To achieve Silver status or higher with Cathay Pacific, you will need to accumulate the required Status Points within a single calendar year.
The Diamond Plus tier cannot be earned through Status Points, but instead, this is an exclusive, invitation-only VIP membership level reserved for the top 1% of the airline’s most loyal and highest-spending flyers.
Validity of your status
From 2027, once you have reach the number of Status Points needed, your status will be updated to reflect your new status, and you will be able to enjoy your benefits immediately. Your status will be valid for the rest of the year, as well as the whole of the following year.
Tier benefits
Here’s an overview of the benefits for each tier:
| Benefit | Silver | Gold | Diamond | Diamond Exec |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| oneworld tier | Ruby | Sapphire | Emerald | Emerald |
| Status points required | 300 | 600 | 1,200 | 2,400 |
| Cathay Business lounges | ✓ | ✓ +1 | ✓ +2 | ✓ +2 |
| oneworld Business lounges | — | ✓ +1 | ✓ +2 | ✓ +2 |
| First Class lounges (Cathay, oneworld) | — | — | ✓ +2 | ✓ +2 |
| Priority check-in and boarding | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Milestone rewards | 2 lounge passes at 450 SPs | — | — | — |
| Upgrade passes | — | — | 2 Up to Business | 4 Up to First |
| Gold companion membership | — | — | — | ✓ |
| Status Points rollover | — | Up to 300 | Up to 600 | Up to 1,200 |
| Dedicated relationship manager | — | — | — | ✓ |
In general, Gold is where it gets genuinely useful. The oneworld Sapphire tier opens up access to Business lounges across oneworld network, allowing you to use lounges operated by alliance members such as Qantas, Malaysia Airlines, Japan Airlines and Oman Air.
Diamond (oneworld Emerald) adds access to First Class lounges, including The Pier and The Wing in Hong Kong. Across the alliance, partner airlines also treat you like a Qantas Platinum or British Airways Gold member when flying with them.
New also: Diamond membership reserve
For long-time Cathay Diamond members, there’s another new perk: the Diamond membership reserve. For Cathay members who have held Diamond status for five years or more, they will receive one complimentary Diamond membership up to one year for every 6,000 Status Points they have earned since 2016 (when Status Points were first introduced).
Assuming a Cathay Diamond have consistently earned the minimum required 1,200 Status Points (or Club Points under the former Marco Polo Club) each year since 2016, they would have at least 12,000 lifetime points, which translates to complimentary Diamond membership year.
To use these complimentary years, members will have to activate the complimentary Diamond membership in their account (more details to come later). This will grant the Cathay Diamond status for up to one year without the need to first accumulate Status Points. Once a complimentary Diamond membership is activated, it will last until the end of that year. Complimentary Diamond memberships are not transferable and are for the member’s own use only.
What’s changing in 2027
Cathay announced its biggest programme overhaul in years on 15 October 2025. It takes effect on 1 January 2027.
| Until 31 Dec 2026 | From 1 Jan 2027 | |
|---|---|---|
| Membership year | Rolling 12 months from your last tier change | The calendar year, the same for everyone |
| After an upgrade | Status Points reset to zero | Points carry forward |
| Rollover | None | Up to 50% of your tier’s requirement, Gold and above |
| Highest earnable tier | Diamond, at 1,200 | Diamond Exec, at 2,400 |
| Gold and Diamond extras | Mid-status rewards at points milestones | Replaced by upgrade passes, Diamond and above |
| Long-term loyalty | — | Diamond reserve years |
No more resets
This is the biggest change, and the most overdue. Here’s the path from Green to Diamond under each set of rules, drawn to scale.
Today, your counter goes back to zero every time you move up. From 2027 nothing is wasted: earn 800 in a year and you pass Silver and Gold, with 200 already counting towards Diamond.
The catch: Gold and Diamond lose mid-status rewards
From 2027, Gold and Diamond no longer unlock lounge passes, bookable upgrades or the Gold companion card at points milestones during the year. Instead, Diamond members get two single-sector upgrade passes when they qualify, and the Gold companion moves up to Diamond Exec. Silver keeps its milestone. Anything you unlock in 2026 stays valid for 12 months from issue.
Net effect: reaching Gold or Diamond gets easier. But a Diamond member who used to collect perks at 1,400, 1,600 and 1,800 points now gets less, unless they push on to 2,400.
The 2026 transition
We’re in the transition year now, and it matters more than it looks.
- 15 Oct 2025Overhaul announcedCathay publishes the 2027 rules a year ahead.
- 1 Jan 2026Transition year startsEvery Status Point earned from here counts towards your 2027 tier.
- You are hereEvery 2026 flight still countsPoints also count towards your current membership year under the old rules.
- 31 Dec 2026Earning window closesAll memberships reset, and status earned under the old rules ends.
- 1 Jan 2027New rules go liveYour tier is set by your 2026 Status Points, with rollover applied.
- Feb 2027Reserve years awardedEligible long-term Diamond members receive their banked years.
For illustration, a Cathay member earns 1,350 across multiple flights in 2026.
In practice, your 2026 flying counts twice: towards your current membership year under the old rules, and towards your 2027 tier under the new ones.
Quick answers
Is Cathay membership free?
Yes, Cathay membership is complimentary for anyone to join. The old Marco Polo Club charged USD 100 to join.
Is the Marco Polo Club still around?
No. It was retired in August 2022 and folded into Cathay, and its members moved to the equivalent Cathay tier.
Is Asia Miles the same thing as Cathay?
Not quite. Cathay is the programme and Asia Miles is its currency. People use the two names interchangeably, which causes half the confusion.
What’s the difference between Asia Miles and Status Points?
You spend Asia Miles on rewards. Status Points decide your tier and can’t be spent. Flying earns both, while card and hotel transfers only add Asia Miles.
Do Asia Miles expire?
Not if you stay active. Miles earned since 1 January 2020 stay valid as long as you earn or redeem at least once every 18 months. Each transaction pushes the expiry date out another 18 months.
How many Status Points do I need for Silver/Gold/Diamond/Diamond Exec?
300 for Silver, 600 for Gold, 1,200 for Diamond and 2,400 for Diamond Exec, all to be earned in a single calendar year.
Under pre-2027 rules, a Green member’s counter resets at Silver, so to achieve Gold, a member will need 900 Status Points in practice. From 2027 onwards, members only need 600 SPs in a calendar year to achieve Gold.
Can I earn Cathay status without flying?
Not unless you hold a Hong Kong or US-issued Cathay cobranded credit card. For Singapore-based flyers, status comes down to flying Cathay Pacific or oneworld.
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