Cathay Pacific Business Class Travel to Hong Kong Now Available for 85,000 Points (Expired Award)
Cathay Pacific Business Class Awards to Hong Kong: A Comprehensive Guide
Travel enthusiasts planning a trip to Hong Kong in the first half of 2026 have an exciting opportunity to experience business class on Cathay Pacific at attractive prices. Here's a breakdown of the key facts and best strategies for redeeming miles for this offer.
Availability and Redemption Rates
The award availability for this offer is primarily seen from the West Coast and some East Coast cities, particularly from JFK. Solid availability for 1-2 seats per flight in business class on Cathay Pacific can be found during this period.
From West Coast airports such as Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco (SFO), expect to pay approximately 85,000 to 88,000 miles per one-way ticket, plus around $106-$159 in taxes and fees. However, from East Coast airports like New York City (JFK) and Boston, redemption costs rise to about 115,000 miles per one-way ticket due to the longer distance.
Booking Channels
The best availability is found when booking directly via the Cathay Pacific loyalty program, which offers the widest access to Cathay awards. Additionally, some award seats for Cathay Pacific flights can be found through partner programs, notably Finnair Plus, which offers competitive redemption pricing.
Timing to Book
Cathay Pacific releases award seats typically about 330 to 360 days before departure. For your travel window (March to July 2026), it's recommended to start checking availability as early as August-September 2025 to maximize chances. Award availability is dynamic and can change daily, so locking in awards early is advisable, even if plans are tentative.
Flight Durations and Value
Flight times are about 15.5 hours from San Francisco (SFO) and 16+ hours from Los Angeles (LAX) to Hong Kong (HKG). Cash fares for these business class seats are often above $4,500, making redemption with miles highly cost-effective.
In summary, your best current options for Cathay Pacific business class awards to Hong Kong from the U.S. coasts in early to mid-2026 involve booking soon via Cathay’s own program or partners like Finnair. West Coast departures cost fewer miles and have more availability, while East Coast departures cost more miles but still have decent availability, especially from JFK. Monitoring weekly availability and booking as early as possible (near 11-12 months out) will give the best chance to secure awards at the lowest mileage rates.
[1] Source: Roame.Travel [2] Source: Finnair Plus [3] Source: Cathay Pacific [4] Source: One Mile at a Time [5] Source: The Points Guy
- Cathay Pacific's business class awards offer an enticing opportunity for travel to Hong Kong in the first half of 2026, with competitive pricing and strategic redemption options for travel enthusiasts.
- Notably, award seats for business class on Cathay Pacific are plentiful from West Coast airports such as Los Angeles and San Francisco, requiring around 85,000 to 88,000 miles per one-way ticket, plus taxes and fees.
- East Coast cities like New York and Boston have slightly higher redemption costs, amounting to approximately 115,000 miles per one-way ticket, but still offer good availability, specifically from JFK.
- Direct bookings via the Cathay Pacific loyalty program offer the best availability and widest access to award seats, but partner programs like Finnair Plus also provide competitive redemption pricing for Cathay Pacific flights.
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