AwardWallet receives compensation from advertising partners for links on the blog. Terms Apply to the offers listed on this page. The opinions expressed here are our own and have not been reviewed, provided, or approved by any bank advertiser. Here's our complete list of Advertisers.
This promotion has ended; please review current/active promotions.
American Express is currently offering a transfer bonus to Asia Miles — Cathay Pacific's loyalty program. This offer is targeted to certain members, and no end date is listed for this promotion.
Often overlooked, Asia Miles can provide fantastic value — particularly on select Oneworld partner redemptions. Let's take a look at the details of this promotion and some of the opportunities it could present.
Asia Miles Transfer Bonus Key Terms
- No registration is required.
- If you're targeted, the transfer bonus rates appear in the Membership Rewards points transfer area.
- Transfer Amex Membership Rewards at a 1,000:1,200 ratio, or a 20% bonus on Asia Miles transfers.
- There is no end date listed in the terms of the promotion.
- Points conversions are non-reversible, non-refundable, and non-transferable.
- There is no limit to the number of points you can convert to Asia Miles through this promotion.
- However, the bonus is only valid for one transfer, so make sure to maximize that transfer.
- See this link for the full terms and conditions.
Transfers should be immediate. As the points come from the bank side, your points and the bonus points should show up together. Based on previous transfers from Amex, miles should immediately post to your Asia Miles account.
Lucrative Asia Miles Redemption Options
Asia Miles utilizes a distance-based award chart for Cathay Pacific flights, partner-operated flights, and multi-stop itineraries operated by Oneworld partners. At first glance, it's difficult to decipher where the sweet spots might be. But after tinkering with the award calculator tool a bit, you're likely to find some fun idiosyncrasies. Plus, Asia Miles includes the ability to search award space much further in advance than other programs.
Let's take a look at a few of our favorite Asia Miles redemptions to see what they'd look like with a 20% transfer bonus.
Los Angeles to Hong Kong in Cathay Pacific Business Class
One of the best ways to use Asia Miles is (unsurprisingly) for award redemptions on Cathay Pacific flights.
For example, a one-way business class award from Los Angeles to Hong Kong typically requires 70,000 Asia Miles. That's an easy number to remember as it's the same number of miles required when booking the flight with AA miles.
If you're targeted for a 20% transfer bonus, you can now book this flight for as little as 58,333 Membership Rewards points. But, you have to transfer in blocks of 1,000 points. So, you'll need to transfer 59,000 Amex points to Asia Miles for this redemption.
Fly Qatar Qsuite from Perth to Atlanta
Another quirk of the Asia Miles program is that the award chart tops out at journeys of 7,500 miles or more. Translation: you can book an itinerary that's twice that distance for the same price.
This peculiarity lends itself great to redemptions on Qatar Airways, as it favors ultra-long-haul flights on a route network that stretches across the globe. With Asia Miles, it's even possible to book a one-way Qatar itinerary from Perth to Atlanta via Doha—a journey of over 13,000 miles!
If you're going to fly for that long, you may as well do it in style. That's why I'd recommend opting for business class. Both segments are currently operated by aircraft featuring Qsuite, arguably the best business class product in the sky.
This ultra-mega-long haul itinerary goes for 90,000 Asia Miles. But with a 20% bonus, you could book this once-in-a-lifetime redemption for only 75,000 Membership Rewards.
Chicago to Syndey via Japan
Getting to Australia from the U.S. can be tough when it comes to award availability. A common remedy for this is to route yourself through Asia first, opening the door for much more award availability.
Besides Cathay Pacific, one of the best airlines to do this with is Japan Airlines (JAL for short). It's known for a great onboard product, often making premium-class travelers thankful for the extra travel hours.
Chicago to Sydney is another redemption that falls firmly in the top tier of Asia Miles' award chart. That means it costs 90,000 miles in business class.
With a 20% transfer bonus, that drops the price to 75,000 miles. Not bad for nearly 24 hours in an incredible product.
Bottom Line
Targeted members can transfer American Express Membership Rewards to Cathay Pacific's Asia Miles with a 20% transfer bonus. There is no end date on this promotion, so it's anyone's guess when the offer could end.
The bonus is on the bank's end, so all of the points should show up in your Asia Miles account instantly. There are several great redemption options that become even sweeter with this 20% transfer bonus.
Were you targeted for this transfer bonus? What do you plan to book with it?
The comments on this page are not provided, reviewed, or otherwise approved by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
I wish Chase would actually do this as ofteen a s Amex does
This combined with the SQ bonus running currently should see me through next year’s travel!
CX’s schedule will remain VERY pared down in the years to come.
There are some fair deals with several of the airlines. However, the travel time and having to go through Doha on one of them, can really be tiresome. Of course, if one does not mind the long travel time, then it can definitely be worth it.
Considering the low bonus and the fact that you do not reedem the mails directly with the ariline (the same as Multiplus with LATAM for example), i would definitely would not go with it.
If this third party happens to change the terms without notice, you may find yourself in (sort of) troubles.
70,000 Asia miles on Cathay Pacific LAX-HKG in business… or 70,000 Alaska miles for the same route, but in First class… (50,000 AS in business).
Looks like all the FF programs are trying to bring in cash by offering transfer bonuses. Asia Miles have now joined Krisflyer in offering a 15% transfer bonus
No. At this point, there isn’t much prospect for intercontinental travel in 2021.
Cathay Pacific is worldwide recognized as one of the best airlines. This point transfer seems really good for their customers.
This is a great deal! I got a targeted 10% transfer bonus.
Seems like a low bonus, would not go out of my way.