Cathay Pacific Gold status: everything you need to know

Among the varied mix of frequent flyer programs out there, Cathay Pacific’s is easily one of the most appealing for repeat visitors to Asia, with an extensive network and a genuinely impressive array of lounges at its Hong Kong hub.

In the middle of the eponymous program’s five status levels is Cathay Gold, which is your ticket to global lounge access across Cathay Pacific, Qantas and other Oneworld partners, plus the ability to use airport fast-track lanes.

How to earn Cathay Gold status

Earn 600 Status Points within one membership year – that’s 12 months from when you last changed status or retained your existing one – and Cathay Gold status will be yours for a further 12 months.

Cathay Green, Silver, Gold and Diamond status, plus the invitation-only Diamond Plus.

(However, there is a point to make early on. If starting from the base Green tier, you’ll actually need to earn 900 Status Points, as your balance resets once you reach Silver. From there, you’ll need to collect 600 Status Points to jump up to Gold.)

Status Points can be earned whenever flying with Cathay Pacific, as well as on all Oneworld airlines including Qantas, although earning rates when flying with partners are often lower than when flying with Cathay Pacific.

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

If this tail is a frequent sight in your travels, you need to join Cathay frequent flyer.

The number of Status Points earned on each flight is based on the distance of each flight and the fare class booked. You can work out how much your next trip could earn through Cathay Pacific’s online calculator.

As an example, a return Sydney-Hong Kong trip with Cathay Pacific would earn:

• 170 Status Points in full-fare business class
• 140 Status Points on lower-cost business class tickets

The same trip with Qantas would earn a flat 120 Status Points, meaning you’ll earn or retain your status faster by flying with Cathay Pacific when you can.

Business class travel is an express ticket to jumping up the Cathay loyalty ladder.

From Sydney to London return, Cathay awards 320 Status Points on entry-level business class fares or a much higher 380 Status Points on higher-priced business class tickets.

Based on the above, your average business class traveller would require three return trips to London or at least six return trips to Hong Kong to reach Gold status, if starting from scratch.

See our in-depth Cathay frequent flyer guide for more info. 

Cathay Gold: Lounge access

Cathay Gold is equivalent to Qantas Gold and Oneworld Sapphire status. This unlocks a raft of benefits, most notably unlimited business class lounge access whenever travelling with Cathay Pacific, Qantas and other Oneworld airlines.

On that list is access to Qantas Clubs when travelling domestically within Australia, plus Qantas International Business Lounges when heading overseas. 

Cathay's The Pier Business Lounge is among those welcoming Gold members.

Gold members can bring one guest to Cathay Pacific and partner lounges when travelling together on an eligible flight, along with any children under two years of age.

Lounge access is also available in Auckland and Hong Kong for Gold members who are travelling on Air NZ-operated flights between the two cities, when booked on a Cathay Pacific flight number.

Cathay Gold: Checked baggage limits

Cathay baggage allowances fluctuate by cabin class and origin city, though remain consistent to and from Australia, where economy passengers receive a single checked bag up to 23kg, premium economy two up to 23kg each, and business class two bags up to 32kg each.

Gold-grade members can bring one extra bag, boosting the total allowance to 46kg over two bags in economy, 69kg over three bags in premium economy, and 96kg over three bags in business class.

Note that Cathay Pacific applies the piece-concept on all flights, meaning passengers flying to the Americas will be subject to the same baggage rules as mentioned above.

Cathay Gold: Additional perks

Business class check-in and priority boarding come as standard with Cathay Gold.

Gold frequent flyers also get the benefit of free extra-legroom seats on Cathay Pacific flights, such as emergency exit row seating when stuck flying economy, but this doesn’t extend to any companions on the same booking.

Seats must be reserved 24 hours before departure.

Extra legroom seats can be yours at no additional charge.

Other preferred seating zones are instead opened up to the member and any travel companions when flying in economy on Cathay flights, as well as Air NZ-operated and CX-marketed flights between Auckland and Hong Kong.

Members get higher priority when it comes to waitlisted flights as well, and can book a full-price economy seat on a sold-out flight up to 72 hours before departure.

The benefits of Cathay Gold continue even when you aren’t flying, with members receiving a complimentary one-level room upgrade plus early check-in and late checkout at Four Seasons Hotels, subject to availability. 15% off spa treatments is also part of the deal.

This Deluxe Harbour View Room at Four Seasons Hong Kong could be yours.

Members also enjoy a complimentary room upgrade plus breakfast, early check-in and late checkout at select Swires hotels. As always, this is subject to availability.

Cathay Gold: Mid-Status Rewards

Keen travellers who go above and beyond the requirements for Gold and start getting close to Diamond territory – the next rung of the Cathay program – receive two ‘mid-status benefits’ to help make the journey a bit easier.

At 800 Status Points, you’ll be given two business class lounge passes, which can be used if you’re bringing in more guests above the limit or gifted to other people to use, even when they’re travelling without you.

These passes have to be redeemed online before airport check-in, not in the lounge, as an invitation to the lounge will be included on the traveller’s boarding pass.

Cathay's The Pier Business Lounge is among those welcoming Gold members.

At 1,000 Status Points, four single-sector upgrades will be added to your account. Upgrades are only eligible on specific fares and need to be requested up to three days before travel.

These give you or a travel companion a one-up class upgrade on ultra-short (1-750 miles) short (up to 2,750 miles) or medium-range Cathay Pacific flights of up to 3,700 miles.

The following base fares can be upgraded:

• Business: Flex, Essential and Light (fare classes J, C, D, P and I)
• Premium Economy: Flex (fare classes W and R)
• Economy: Flex and Essential (in any fare classes)

These bookable upgrades can be used for yourself or a travel companion.

Diamond status is next up at 1,200 Status Points, with these members earning another four bookable upgrades for flights of any length – even those from Hong Kong to Europe and the USA, or to Australia. 

Find out more in our in-depth Cathay Diamond status guide.