Cathay Pacific’s Asia Miles is a frequent flyer program that all Kiwis should know about. Here’s why…
- Cathay Pacific is a oneworld alliance partner alongside Qantas, meaning that Asia Miles members can redeem their miles for Qantas and oneworld flights
- In many cases, redeeming Asia Miles for Qantas and oneworld flights represents better value than redeeming Qantas points through the Qantas Frequent Flyer program for the same flight
- Asia Miles is a transfer partner of the American Express Membership Rewards program in New Zealand.
This guide explores these benefits in more detail and provides some examples of where Asia Miles redemptions can be maximised. The guide also incorporates the recent Asia Miles’ June 2018 program changes, which came into effect 22 June 2018.
It’s harder to earn Asia Miles from day-to-day activities outside of credit card spend in New Zealand, but Asia Miles redemption rates are cheaper than Qantas Frequent Flyer, and as such it deserves your attention.
How useful is Asia Miles for travellers from New Zealand?
The Asia Miles program from Cathay Pacific is actually potentially far better value for redemptions, point-for-point, than Qantas and, as a result, it’s in the top four frequent flyer programs that Kiwi travellers need to be aware of.
Cathay Pacific and Qantas are both members of the oneworld alliance, meaning that Asia Miles members based in New Zealand can redeem their miles for flights with Qantas, as well as international flights on any oneworld or Cathay Pacific partner airline. This provides ample opportunities for members to use their miles.
While it’s harder to accrue Asia Miles from a wide range of sources in New Zealand, earning points from credit card spend is very doable if you have an American Express Platinum Edge or Platinum Charge.
Asia Miles redemptions generally represent better value when compared to other oneworld frequent flyer programs, and therefore it’s worth considering the program seriously, especially for Business and First class travel on Cathay Pacific and other oneworld and partner airlines.
Also worth considering is whether Asia Miles can be thought of as a usable substitute for Qantas Frequent Flyer redemptions. This is especially relevant for those who don’t want to participate in Qantas Frequent Flyer, say if you prefer to hold your points in American Express Membership Rewards, allowing for more flexibility in their future use.
Earning Asia Miles
Through credit card spend
The most available method to earn Asia Miles is from credit card spend, followed by flights from oneworld partners.
In New Zealand, this will mean having either an American Express Platinum Edge or Platinum Charge card.
Through flying and hotel stays
Earning points from flights, including from Qantas flights, is as simple as including your Asia Miles number in your reservation. Asia Miles also has a wide array of partnerships from hotel loyalty programs.
By shopping online
Asia Miles’ iShop allows you to earn points by shopping with their online retail partners after clicking through from the iShop. Find out more about the Asia Miles iShop in our guide here.
Redeeming Asia Miles
Asia Miles has followed in the footsteps of Qantas since the recent changes to their program, with redemptions on other oneworld airlines now costing more than when flying with Cathay Pacific or Cathay Dragon. Prior to the changes, Asia Miles charged the same for all oneworld airlines that flew a particular route.
However, if we take Auckland or Christchurch to Hong Kong as an example, Asia Miles still charge less, outright, for making a redemption on this particular route. As an example, Asia Miles charges 70,000 Asia Miles one-way when flying Qantas via Australia, and 65,000 Asia Miles one-way when flying Cathay Pacific direct. Compare this to 84,000 Qantas Points one-way when flying Qantas and 78,000 (Auckland) to 92,000 (Christchurch) Qantas points one-way when flying Cathay Pacific. Return costs are simply double the one-way cost.
The full award chart is here, with an easy to use points calculator also provided.
Maximising value from Asia Miles redemptions
Here are examples of some good-value redemption opportunities from New Zealand:
- Auckland and Christchurch to Hong Kong operated by Cathay Pacific: 130,000/80,000 points return in Business/Premium Economy
- Auckland to Melbourne/Sydney on Qantas: 30,000 points one-way/60,000 points return in Business
- Auckland to Los Angeles on American Airlines: 75,000 points one-way/140,000 points return in Business
Some more extensive examples below:
| Asia Miles | Qantas FF | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| one way | one way | ||
| Cathay Pacific | First Class | ||
| Hong Kong | Taipei | 25,000 | 26,000 |
| Hong Kong | Tokyo | 40,000 | 56,000 |
| Hong Kong | Bangkok | 40,000 | 38,000 |
| Hong Kong | New York | 125,000 | 144,000 |
| Qatar | Business Class | ||
| Auckland | Doha | 90,000 | 121,000 |
| British Airways | First Class | ||
| London | New York | 70,000 | 78,000 |
| London | Tokyo | 110,000 | 126,000 |
| London | Sydney | 125,000 | 192,000 |
| Cathay Pacific | Business Class | ||
| Auckland | New York | 85,000 | |
| Qantas | Business Class | ||
| Wellington | Singapore (via Melbourne) | 70,000 | 72,000 |
| Auckland | Los Angeles (via Sydney) | 90,000 | 112,000 |
| Christchurch | New York (via Sydney) | 90,000 | 128,000 |
| Queenstown | London (via Melbourne) | 90,000 | 128,000 |
| Qantas Trans-Tasman | Business Class | ||
| Wellington | Melbourne | 30,000 | 36,000 |
| Christchurch | Adelaide (via Sydney) | 30,000 | 36,000 |
| Auckland | Perth | 50,000 | 50,000 |
Read more: How to get the most out of Cathay Pacific’s Asia Miles program
How to redeem
Redemptions using Asia Miles generally need to be made over the phone, however Asia Miles also offer simpler online bookings on Cathay Pacific, Qantas, Qatar, Finnair and British Airways without having to call the Asia Miles call centre. Read our tips for booking flights using Asia Miles here.
You might also be interested in checking out our guide to the best uses of 100,000 Asia Miles.
What’s the difference between Asia Miles and the Marco Polo Club?
It’s actually quite easy: Asia Miles is Cathay Pacific’s points currency, whilst elite status is earned through Marco Polo Club. Most other loyalty programs, like Qantas Frequent Flyer and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, have them together, but Asia Miles separates them.
Through Asia Miles, you earn and redeem points to use on flights with Cathay Pacific and all of its airline partners, whether part of the oneworld alliance or not. However, you’ll only earn ‘club points’ (the same as ‘status points’ with Air New Zealand) through Marco Polo for travel with oneworld airlines.
Status with Marco Polo will give you benefits like lounge access, upgrades, priority boarding, etc. when travelling on Cathay Pacific and oneworld airlines – and even some benefits with Air New Zealand.
In terms of membership, Asia Miles is free to join for anyone aged two years or older and your miles expire after three years. Conversely, Marco Polo Club charges $100 USD/year to join, but that’s waived if you earn 100 club points each year.
Summing up: why consider Asia Miles?
With the recent changes to the program now behind us, Asia Miles continues to represent great value for Kiwi travellers looking to earn and redeem frequent flyer points for Qantas and oneworld flights.
If you have the right credit card in your wallet or purse, there are opportunities to earn Asia Miles from your everyday spend. Coupling this with the ability to make significant points savings on point-to-point and around the world flight redemptions when compared to other oneworld programs, any savvy traveller should make a serious effort to get to know the Asia Miles program.
I am booked to travel Cathy Pacific
Premium Economy , Auckland to Manchester return via Hong Kong , in April . The Auckland Hong Kong leg being on an Air NZ plane the other flights on Cathy Pacific ..
How do I make sure I get the air points I should be entitled to . And can they be Air NZ points .
If not what can they be .. ?
I am likely to fly from Dunedin to Brisbane later in the year ,could they be used for that ?
Thanks Maureen
Hi Maureen, I’ll send you an email!
Please may I have the answer also Cathay to London home from Geneva Last leg Air New Zealand.
Hi Lynne, I’m not sure what your question is?
Hi Daniel, I am confused about the relationship between Cathay Pacific, the Marco Polo Club and AsiaMiles. I have registered with AsiaMiles and I want to credit an upcoming trip on Qatar to that programme but on the Qatar ticket passenger details it lists Cathay Pacific as a miles credit option but not AsiaMiles. If I put in my AsiaMiles number alongside the CP option will that get credited, or do I have to put in a Marco Polo Club number? I can’t seem to find the answer on the websites.
Regards
Richard
Hi Richard – yep enter in your Asia Miles number and you’ll earn miles for that flight (providing it’s an eligible booking class). Marco Polo is for status only. Most programs like Qantas, Velocity and Airpoints all have status and points accrual under the same umbrella, whereas Cathay seperate them into two.
Hi, I’m travelling Tauranga/Auckland/Hong Kong/Delhi/Bombay and return on Cathay Pacific.
The domestic flights are with Air NZ, International are Premium Economy with Cathay Pacific. All have been booked via a travel agent via Cathay Pacific.
Is it better for me to use Asia Miles or Air NZ airpoints?
I (or other family members/share points) predominantly fly domestic with the odd overseas trip thrown in. Thanks for your hep and advice!
Hi Frances – do all your flights have a CX code, or an NZ code, or a mixture of both?
Hi.. our family of 4 are travelling from NZ to London via HK on Cathay Pacific. All flight numbers start with CX. We are already AirNZ airpoints members but not sure if we should claim points through AirNZ (think only claimable on the NZ-HK legs, not on entire flight?). Or is it better to join Cathay Pacific frequent flyer programme. We need to be able to redeem for domestic NZ flight, or flights over to Aus, as we have no other plans for flights in next few years. Thanks Di
Hi Diana – you can earn Airpoints Dollars for the leg between AKL-HKG, and Asia Miles or Qantas Points for the onward connection to London. The latter may require a retrospective claim, but I have been successful on this in the past – e.g. I recently flew NZ to Hong Kong and onward to Shanghai, both with CX codeshare. I earned Airpoints Dollars for the AKL-HKG leg, and then Qantas Points for the HKG-PVG leg.