Everything you need to know about Cathay’s frequent flyer program

Cathay Pacific is among the most recognisable airlines in Asia. After all, the Hong Kong-based carrier and Oneworld founding member has been flying for almost 80 years, with countless visits to and from Australia in that time.

And while the experience itself is certainly worth writing home about (and about to get even better in business class and premium economy), the key to getting the most out of Cathay Pacific is embracing its frequent flyer rewards program, Cathay.

Free to join, it delivers a bounty of perks including entry to the airline’s Hong Kong business class lounges at Silver, global partner lounge access at Gold, plus first class lounge access once you reach the lofty heights of Diamond status.

Lounge access kicks in from the second rung of the loyalty ladder.

Not only that, it’s your passport to earn and redeem Asia Miles on everything from flights to hotel stays and an extensive list of retail partners.

What is Cathay?

Debuted in 2022, Cathay is a rewards program uniting the carrier’s previously-separate Marco Polo Club and Asia Miles brands under a single umbrella.

Tiers are unlocked by collecting Status Points, which can be earned flying Cathay Pacific, in addition to Oneworld airlines such as Qantas (though rates when flying with partners are often lower than when flying on Cathay Pacific metal).

Think of Status Points as status credits, and Asia Miles – the spendable points earned alongside – as your frequent flyer points (even though Cathay calls them miles).

Cathay: frequent flyer membership tiers

Members begin their journey at the entry-level Green, progressing through Silver, Gold and ultimately to Diamond levels as they travel more, reaping greater benefits with each tier.

A fifth tier – dubbed Diamond Plus – is invite-only (much like Qantas’ Chairman’s Lounge), with the offering said to be reserved for the top 1% of Cathay’s Diamond members.

Status Points required for each tier are:

• Silver – 300
• Gold – 600
• Diamond – 1,200

Before diving into benefits, it should be noted Cathay’s approach to tier progression is quite different to most airlines – each time you reach a new tier, your existing Status Points balance is wiped and you start again from scratch.

That means, as a newly-minted Cathay Green member, you won’t achieve Diamond with your first 1,200 Status Points under your belt. You’d first need to qualify for Cathay Silver with 300 Status Points, then earn another 600 Status Points for Cathay Gold. 

Only then does your travel start contributing to the 1,200 Status Points to attain – and retain – Diamond. Essentially, a total of 2,100 Status Points within three years would be needed to reach Diamond for the first time. 

Cathay Pacific's distinctive tail.

To give you a rough idea of how many points you’ll earn, a one-way Sydney to Hong Kong flight on Cathay would garner up to 48 Status Points in economy, 50 in premium economy, or 85 in business class, all the more flexible fare types.

Benefits: Cathay Green tier

As a Green-level member, entitlements are rather lean, limited to:

• earning Status Points and Asia Miles
• priority online check-in up to 48 hours before travel
• free cancellation within 24 hours of booking
• the option to redeem Asia Miles on extra legroom seats and additional baggage
• complimentary two-day access to Pressreader when you fly with Cathay

Green members rake in Asia Miles at the following rates:

• 1 Asia Mile per 3 HKD when you shop with Cathay
• 1 Asia Mile per 5 HKD when you book hotels with Cathay
• 1 Asia Mile per 4 HKD when you dine at Cathay partner restaurants

Those miles can then be redeemed on Cathay Pacific, like that aforementioned extra legroom seat, or through the airline’s multiple retail partners. More on these soon.

Benefits: Cathay Silver tier

Earn 300 Status Points during 12 months and you’ll rise to Silver: easily achieved after one return Cathay Pacific business class trip to London on a J or C fare type, with a further 300 to lock in your status for another year.

Business class on the Airbus A350 is a comfortable path to achieving status.

Improving on the benefits afforded to Green members, Silver members enjoy:

• access to Cathay’s The Pier, The Wing and The Deck business class lounges in Hong Kong, when flying on flights marketed or operated by Cathay Pacific
• the ability to redeem Asia Miles for business class lounge access for companions
• 24-hour priority phone and live chat support worldwide
• 10kg special cabin baggage allowance
• lounge access on Cathay flights operated by Air New Zealand between Auckland and Hong Kong

Silver status aligns with Oneworld Ruby, giving you access to business class check-in desks whenever flying a Oneworld airline, including Qantas domestic flights in Australia.

The Noodle Bar at Cathay's The Deck business class lounge is always a popular perch.

Silver members earn Asia Miles at the following rates:

• 1 Asia Mile per 2 HKD when you shop with Cathay
• 1 Asia Mile per 4 HKD when you book hotels with Cathay
• 1 Asia Mile per 4 HKD when you dine at Cathay partner restaurants

Benefits: Cathay Gold tier

After reaching Silver status, collect a further 600 Status Points and you’ll be bumped up to Gold. That same figure again is needed to retain your membership each year.

Gold-grade members are welcomed at Cathay's Hong Kong business class lounges.

Building on the previous tier benefits, you’ll receive:

• business class lounge access with Cathay Pacific and Oneworld partners
• lounge access for one guest, when travelling on Cathay or a Oneworld partner
• one piece additional checked baggage allowance
• personalised baggage name tags
• advance seat selection and extra legroom seat reservation
• priority waitlisting for you and your companion
• guaranteed economy seat up to 72 before departure

Members earn the same number of Asia Miles as Silver.

Cathay Gold is the equivalent of Oneworld Sapphire. See the in-depth Cathay Gold guide for more info.

Benefits: Cathay Diamond tier

If Diamond status is in your sights, you can achieve this by earning by reaching Gold and then earning 1,200 additional Status Points, and stay there for another year by accruing 1,200 extra Status Points as your new membership year begins.

Diamond tier perks are first class all the way.

As you’d expect, Diamond members enjoy some glittering benefits, including:

• guaranteed premium economy and business class seat selection up to 24 hours before departure
• Cathay first class lounge access – that’s The Wing and The Pier, First – for you and up to two guests, when flying Cathay or a Oneworld airline
• 15kg special cabin baggage allowance
• additional checked baggage allowance

The equivalent of Oneworld Emerald, Cathay Diamond unlocks first and business class partner lounge access, first class priority check-in, ‘fast track’ at participating airports and more.

The Wing, First lounge in Hong Kong.

Diamond members earn the same number of Asia Miles as Silver and Gold.

See the in-depth Cathay Diamond guide for more info.

How to earn and redeem Cathay Asia Miles

Cathay’s Asia Miles reward currency can be earned through flights on Cathay Pacific and its network of global partners, in addition to dining throughout Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, plus a handful of venues in Shanghai.

Cathay-branded credit cards unlock additional status benefits.

They can also be earned via hotels, car hire, insurance and a broad net of retail partners. But really, it’s the flights that most international members will be benefiting from.

As an example, a one-way flight between Sydney and Hong Kong would nab up to 5,000 Asia Miles in Premium Economy. That’s 200 more than an Economy Flex fare, and 1,500 more than the cheapest Economy Light.

Business class passengers can rake in up to 8,500 Asia Miles, while those seated in first class receive 10,000.

Cathay's retail store at Cityplaza, Hong Kong.

Asia Miles can be redeemed in much the same way as earning – that is, on flight awards, hotel stays and shopping, in addition to concerts and entertainment. They can also be converted to other loyalty programs, including Marriott Bonvoy.

To put that into context, a one-way Cathay Pacific award flight from Sydney to Hong Kong would be 38,000 Asia Miles in Premium Economy, or 58,000 in business class.

Visit the Cathay flight reward calculator for more info.