Cathay Pacific Last Minute First Class Award Space is Far Worse than Usual

Cathay Pacific First Class is one of the nicest in the world.

The service is amazingly attentive, including a hand-written note to go with your meal.

The food is amazing and completely made to your specifications like when I asked for every breakfast side and nothing else on one plate.

The bed is my favorite in the air for how much longer and wider it is than most flying beds.

Not only is Cathay Pacific First Class great, but historically it has been very easy and cheap to book with American Airlines miles.

American Airlines charges only 67,500 miles

Book the Longest Flights in the World in First Class with Miles

From February 1, 2016, Emirates will fly daily between Dubai and Panama City, which will be the longest scheduled commercial flight at over 8,500 miles. The flight is blocked for 17:35 heading west. Hopefully the flight will be bookable with Alaska miles, and it will definitely be bookable with Japan Airlines miles.

I have a special interest in long flights because when I am flying an ultra-luxurious First Class, I don't want the flight to end. Eight hours--a typical transatlantic flight--are not enough.

American Airlines Miles Amazing Last Minute to Asia on Japan Airlines, Cathay Pacific Flights

American Airlines miles can get you a last second seat in economy, flat bed Business Class, or super-luxurious First Class to Asia. Partners Cathay Pacific and Japan Airlines both offer phenomenal products, routes to tons of destinations, and great award space near departure.

Right now the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® MasterCard® and CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World MasterCard® are each offering 50,000 bonus American Airlines miles after $3,000 in purchases made with your card in the first 3 months the account is open.

Cathay Pacific First Class to be Blocked with American Airlines Miles?

Cathay Pacific is considering offering more award space to its own club members than to partner airlines like American Airlines.
Cathay Pacific is to set aside more free seats for its seasoned frequent fliers, under the latest proposal to revamp the award-winning airline's loyalty scheme.
The plan is to slash the number of free air tickets available for partner airlines and to reallocate those to Cathay's own Marco Polo Club members, sources close to the ongoing review say.
Right now Cathay Pacific First Class and Business Class award space is wide open to American Airlines members if you know how

Sweet Spot: 42,500 Miles for 13 Hours of Cathay Pacific Business Class

For only 42,500 Alaska Airlines miles one way, you can fly in Cathay Pacific Business Class between Hong Kong and 10 European destinations.

Cathay Pacific Business Class Award Space is Wide Open

Aspire to Cathay Pacific Business Class.

It is one of the world's nicest Business Classes, featuring a fully flat bed on flights of up to 16 hours between the United States and Hong Kong.
It is dirt cheap at 55,000 American Airlines miles one way or 110,000 US Airways miles roundtrip. This is just 10% more than flying half the time in a far inferior product to Europe.
Award space is widely available.

How to Get to Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, Cambodia with Miles

I went to Angkor Wat this February, and I was blown away.

View from Inside Angkor Wat

The 900 year-old Hindu-turned-Buddhist temple just outside of Siem Reap, Cambodia is up there on the list of the most impressive historical sites I've visited with Machu Picchu and the Great Wall of China.

And it isn't just Angkor Wat.

When Does Cathay Pacific Open Up Its Award Space

Cathay Pacific First Class is:

awesome: full trip report
cheap: 67,500 American Airlines miles one way between the United States and East Asia
easy to book with miles

Cathay Pacific operates six-seat First Class cabins between the United States and Hong Kong, so there aren't many seats to give away, and yet Cathay Pacific manages to regularly offer one seat up to 11 months before departure on tons of flights.

Me in Cathay Pacific First Class about to catch some ZZZZs

Cathay Pacific is also one of the airlines that releases a lot of

More Cathay Pacific Flights = More Cathay Pacific Space

Cathay Pacific is a Hong Kong-based member of oneworld with a mind-blowing First Class and a top-notch business class.

Cathay Pacific First Class Bed

Cathay Pacific flies from six North American cities to Hong Kong (and from there to the rest of the world), plus Boston to Hong Kong starts in May 2015.

from gcmap.com

Cathay Pacific flies 777s between the United States and Hong Kong, which have only six First Class seats.

Trip Report: The Wing (Cathay Pacific First Class Lounge)

This is the fifth installment of a round-the-world trip report that started here. We pick up in Hong Kong.

In late February, I flew into Hong Kong International Airport for a 23 hour layover that I spent in Macau. (Don't worry, I'm going to Hong Kong proper in a few weeks!)

I flew into Hong Kong in Cathay Pacific First Class and out of Hong Kong the next day in Cathay Pacific Business Class.