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Plenty of Cathay Pacific First Class Award Space To/From Hong Kong and beyond to Asia
If you’ve been wanting to try Cathay Pacific’s First Class product (and why not? it’s a great product in a world of dwindling “true F” cabins to try), there’s a boatload of availability. Gary from View from the Wing flags the exact dates in this post.
You can also connect onwards to the rest of Asia or Australia or New Zealand.
Of note:
- There is a transfer bonus! Not specific to any airline, you can register here before converting from American Express, Citi, Capital One. or Bilt Rewards. (Also a good time to consider a limited time credit card offer for 100,000 points to replenish!)
- Cathay Pacific AsiaMiles has long had a quirk where more is less! If you book a First Class segment to Hong Kong and then Business onwards (since most routes own’t have F), AsiaMiles reprices the mileage due to LESS than the F segment would be alone. This is because now a % of your entire trip is at a lower class of service and they politely prorate. Taxes/fees will rise, though.
- I also got an alert from Thrifty Traveler about this deal, also with dates. You can subscribe to their alerts with $20 off using our referral link.
- This space is not being made available to oneworld partners. You’ll need AsiaMiles.
I haven’t been on Cathay Pacific in First in over a decade but have fantastic memories of it.
This picture looks like it was just yesterday, right? RIGHT? 😉
Fun fact: That was my very first 3 cabin international First Class redemption circa 2011 🙂 I’d been redeeming for Business Class for years, not knowing what I was missing out on!
Marriott Bonvoy Global Promotion
Marriott Bonvoy *finally* has a new promotion available to everyone after many months of targeted offers that mostly serve to anger those not targeted. Unfortunately, the promo available to everyone won’t feel very good when you hear that *some* people have offers for 5 elite nights from a stay of just one night, up to 2 times.
The global promo is:
From October 28, 2025, to January 10, 2026, registered Marriott Bonvoy members can earn 2,025 bonus points on up to three stays, plus an additional 2,000 bonus points on each stay with Marriott Bonvoy Outdoors.
- Registration is open here now through December 27, 2025. (I might suggest trying the general promo page link first in case you have a better offer?)
- The promotion earning period is for eligible paid nights completed between October 28, 2025, and January 10, 2026, and is applicable only to stays booked on a points-eligible rate (“Qualifying Rate”), excluding Award Redemption Stays, at properties participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
- Stays at BVLGARI, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Marriott Executive Apartments®, and owner-occupied weeks at Marriott Vacation Club®, Grand Residences by Marriott®, Marriott Grand Residence Club, Sheraton Vacation Club, Westin® Vacation Club, The Ritz-Carlton Club®, The St. Regis Residence Club®, and The Luxury Collection Residence Club® are not eligible for this promotion.
One place where Hyatt really outshines Marriott is that, in their promos, award stays count. Not with Bonvoy…
I’ll wind up getting one 2,025 bonus but certainly would not have gone out of my way to book Bonvoy for it (in the same way I wouldn’t select Hilton just for their most recent promo). Then again, I haven’t actually seen a Hyatt promo in I don’t know how long…
American Express Launches Trip Cancel Guard®
American Express has just launched this new quasi-insurance product (though it’s decidedly NOT insurance and can be bought in conjunction with actual trip insurance) which will let you claim up to 75% of the cost of a flight that you cancel within certain parameters.
You can see all the details on the Trip Cancel Guard landing page.
You have to follow some very specific parameters in that you need to add coverage within 30 days of booking and more than 5 days before a flight, the trip must be at least $300 (including taxes and fees) but less than $20,000 (not a problem on the high side!). You’ll pay 10% of the cost of the flight. If you cancel, the airline can’t issue you a voucher or the Cancel Guard is not eligible. But if the airline won’t give you anything back, you can file a claim for up to 75% of what you are out of pocket.
You can book at AmexTravel and add seamlessly (including with points) but you can also add at the Travel Guard landing page directly if you book via a third party or directly with an airline.
I think the actual utility of this is probably not so great with most US carriers offering refunds to vouchers, but if you book something somewhat speculatively (perhaps a great sale, but you are uncertain of final plans), it could make sense.
Thoughts?
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