- Airline Programs
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- Airline Programs
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles: how to get started
Asia Miles can book Cathay, Qantas and oneworld flights, sometimes for fewer miles than Qantas charges. Here's how to earn and use them from Australia.
22 October 20262 min read
Sydney to Hong Kong in Cathay Pacific business class costs 60,000 Asia Miles one way. That's from any Australian city, and it's one of the simplest premium redemptions out of the country.
Asia Miles is Cathay Pacific's program, but it's useful well beyond Cathay. Here's how Australians earn miles, what they buy and the rules to know.
What is Asia Miles?
Asia Miles is the frequent flyer program of Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong's main airline. Cathay is in oneworld with Qantas, so you can use miles on Cathay, Qantas and other oneworld airlines, plus hotels and shopping. Joining is free.
How Australians earn Asia Miles
Bank points. American Express Membership Rewards, ANZ Rewards and Westpac Altitude all transfer to Asia Miles, as does pay.com.au's PayRewards. Ratios vary and changed for several banks in 2025 and 2026. Points transfer partners has the current list.
Flying. Cathay, Qantas and oneworld flights can earn Asia Miles. You can choose to credit a Qantas flight to Asia Miles instead of Qantas Frequent Flyer, though most Australians keep earning Qantas Points.
Partners. Hotels, car hire and the Asia Miles shopping portal.
The expiry rule
Miles earned since 1 January 2020 don't expire as long as you earn or redeem at least once every 18 months. That's the same principle as Qantas, and much friendlier than KrisFlyer's fixed three-year clock.
What a reward costs
| Route on Cathay | Premium economy | Business |
|---|---|---|
| Any Australian city to Hong Kong | 39,000 | 60,000 |
| Australia to Europe via Hong Kong | 119,000 |
One way. Correct as of October 2026. Taxes and charges are extra.
Asia Miles can also book Qantas and oneworld flights, and on some routes the miles price is lower than Qantas would charge in points for the same seat. It's worth comparing both programs before you transfer.
Cathay status
Cathay status runs on Status Points, earned from flying. It's separate from your miles balance.
| Tier | Status Points | oneworld |
|---|---|---|
| Green | 0 | None |
| Silver | 300 | Ruby |
| Gold | 600 | Sapphire |
| Diamond | 1,200 | Emerald |
Correct as of October 2026.
For most Australians, Cathay status matters less than Qantas status, since both give oneworld benefits and Qantas is easier to earn at home. Frequent flyer status explained covers how status works.
Why foreign airlines court Australian points collectors
Cathay flies to Hong Kong from several Australian cities, and every seat it doesn't sell is a seat it can offer as a reward. Selling miles to Australian banks turns spare seats into income, and gives Cathay a customer who might never have looked beyond Qantas.
That's why bank transfer partners keep changing: each one is a commercial deal, renegotiated as the costs move.
What I'd do to get started
- Join Asia Miles for free.
- Search Cathay award seats for your route.
- Compare the price with the same seat in Qantas Points.
- Transfer only the miles you need once the seat is there.
- Book straight away, then earn or redeem at least once every 18 months.
This guide is general information only and isn’t financial advice. It doesn’t consider your personal circumstances. Check product terms and fees before applying for any credit card. The views here are ours.
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