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How to earn Asia Miles while travelling

From the minute you start planning to the moment you return, experience a rewarding journey beyond your imagination as you effortlessly earn Miles every step of the way.

Earn Miles every step of the way

Explore the ways you can earn Miles along your trip with our partners. Click the icons below to learn more:

Exciting itineraries guaranteed for the most Miles and fun

We have created two itineraries for the hottest travel destinations, so you can make the most of every moment and earn Miles along the way. Click here to download the itineraries.

Five-Day Trip for Two to Tokyo Earn 13,067 for your trip!

Before the trip, during the trip, after the trip.

Seven-Day Trip to London for 2 People Earn 26,431 in your trip!

Disclaimer:

# Actual mileage rewards vary among travel partners

Make the most of our earning tips for a rewarding trip

One Mile at a time: Tips to earn Miles when you travel

Disclaimer: Actual mileage rewards vary among travel partners

Accommodation

We’ve partnered with popular online travel agencies to get you great deals. Simply book your stay via their designated websites:

Click the below logos to book your stay with:

With over a million rooms to choose from among our 170+ hotel group partners, you’re sure to find the perfect place to stay while earning more Miles.

• Convert hotel points into Asia Miles (conversion rates vary among hotel partners)

• Book directly through our hotel partners to earn Miles

Click the below logos to book your stay now:

Check all hotel partners

We’ve partnered with popular online travel agencies to get you great deals. Simply book your stay via their designated websites.

Fly to all corners of the world with 20+ airline partners, and earn thousands of miles # .

Click the logos below to book your flight now:

Check all airline partners

# Actual mileage rewards may vary based on routes, cabin classes and fare classes.

Transportation

Let one of our world-leading car rental partners provide the vehicle for your next adventure.

Click the logos below to rent a car now:

Sit back, enjoy the ride and be chauffeured around your favourite city in style.

Click the below logos to book a chauffeur service now:

Click the below logo to buy tickets now:

Take the Airport Express, the fastest, most convenient transportation option to and from Hong Kong International Airport.

Travel Insurance

Enjoy comprehensive travel protection and earn Miles with eligible insurance products from our insurance partners.

Click the below logos to purchase:

Check all insurance partners

Travel Experiences

Experience everything a city has to offer with these unique local travel experiences.

Click the logos below to book a travel experience:

Currency Exchange

When you exchange currency at any designated Travelex location in Hong Kong or China, you can earn Miles at the same time:

Click the Travelex logo to learn more:

Data Roaming

Stay connected wherever your travels take you. Purchase Data Roaming Dollars from our travel partners to earn:

Click the partners as below:

A trip to Europe or Japan would be incomplete without shopping. Indulge in a little retail therapy with our shopping partners and earn:

Click the logos below to lean more:

Co-branded Credit Cards

Settle payments on your trip using any Standard Chartered Cathay Mastercard to Pay Once, Earn Twice for every single transaction:

# Actual mileage rewards vary among partners and co-branded credit cards

If you’re a Standard Chartered Cathay Mastercard – Priority Banking or Priority Private cardholder, you’ll enjoy additional travel benefits, e.g. priority check-in and boarding, free lounge passes or Marco Polo Club membership.

Settle payments on your trip using any Cathay Pacific or Asia Miles co-branded credit cards to Pay Once, Earn Twice for every single transaction:

Learn more about co-branded credit card

Writing Travel Reviews

Can’t wait to share your favourite experiences and insider tips with other travellers? Write a review in Traditional Chinese on TripAdvisor and earn:

Click the logo below to learn more:

Asia Miles Guide – How to Earn, Maximise and Redeem Asia Miles

The default frequent flyer programme for 99% of Singaporean travellers is Singapore Airlines’ KrisFlyer. That’s partly due to national pride and SQ’s strong branding, but largely because SQ serves the most destinations from Singapore (duh).

However, Cathay Pacific’s Asia Miles programme is actually a pretty strong runner-up to KrisFlyer. Look at most credit cards rewards catalogues, and you’ll see conversion to Asia Miles as an option alongside KrisFlyer miles.

So if you’re a traitor to the nation not particularly loyal to our national carrier, you might be wondering if it’s worth it to switch to Asia Miles instead.  The short answer is yes, Asia Miles is a good choice if you like travelling to Hong Kong, China and Japan .

In this article, we’ll have a look at the differences between Asia Miles vs KrisFlyer, and explain how you can earn and redeem Asia Miles effectively.

How does Asia Miles membership work?

Asia Miles is Cathay Pacific’s frequent flyer programme, and it allows you to redeem flights on Cathay Pacific, Cathay Dragon (CX’s regional airline) and over 20 partner airlines.

Since it’s essentially a rewards programme, the default way for members to earn Asia Miles is by flying with CX and their partner airlines.

Signing up for Asia Miles makes total sense if you frequently fly on Cathay Pacific and/or OneWorld alliance – for example, if you often shuttle between Singapore and Hong Kong. This Asia Miles calculator shows you how many miles you can earn with your flights.

More importantly, you can earn Asia Miles with your regular spending through credit cards and redeem flights for free.

By the way, you shouldn’t mix up Asia Miles with the other Cathay Pacific loyalty programme, Marco Polo Club . This is CX’s VIP membership programme and it has a US$100 enrolment fee. Flight redemptions are still done through Asia Miles.

Becoming an Asia Miles member, on the other hand, is totally free. You just need to fill in this form to join the club .

Which are the Asia Miles airlines?

The obvious Asia Miles airlines are Cathay Pacific and Cathay Dragon . Most Singaporeans would be happy with just these alone, because Cathay Pacific flies to many of our favourite destinations in East Asia: Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, Japan and Korea.

CX also flies to several destinations in the US and Europe. You can see a full list of Cathay Pacific destinations from Singapore here. Note that most involve a stop in Hong Kong.

Apart from the Cathay airlines, Asia Miles can also be used on the other airlines in the OneWorld alliance:

• American Airlines
• British Airways
• Japan Airlines
• Latam Airlines
• Malaysia Airlines
• Qatar Airways
• Royal Jordanian
• S7 Airlines
• Sri Lankan Airlines

There are also a few other CX partner airlines that are also on the Asia Miles programme:

• Air New Zealand
• Alaskan Airlines
• Austrian Airlines
• Bangkok Airways
• Jet Airways
• Shenzhen Airlines

KrisFlyer has a similar number of airlines to this. Apart from the main airline (CX vs SQ), the other big difference is that KrisFlyer serves Star Alliance instead of OneWorld. You can compare this list against the KrisFlyer airlines here.

Which are the best credit cards for earning Asia Miles?

While KrisFlyer miles are ubiquitous in all Singapore credit card rewards catalogues, Asia Miles isn’t available from all banks. OCBC and Standard Chartered do NOT offer Asia Miles.

That said, you can earn Asia Miles with pretty much every other bank, including DBS, UOB, Citibank and so on. Here are the banks that let you convert points to Asia Miles.

Some of the best credit cards in Singapore for earning Asia Miles are…

BOC Elite Miles Card: Currently the best miles card for overseas spending, giving you 3 miles per $1 spent overseas, the highest among the miles cards in Singapore.

UOB Preferred Platinum Visa Card

Key features.

Up to UNI$10 per S$5 spend on online shopping and entertainment

Up to UNI$10 per S$5 spend via mobile contactless payment

Earn UOB$ cashback on all purchases in-store at over 1,000 participating merchants(across all categories islandwide) and use it to offset your next purchase

At MoneySmart, we strive to keep our information accurate and up to date. This information may be different from what you see when you visit a financial institution, service provider, or specific product site. MoneySmart shall not be liable to compensate the Customer should the information is not as updated as our Partner.

UOB Preferred Platinum Card: A totally underrated card for earning miles fast with your local spending. You get 4 miles per $1 spent locally online and via contactless payment. Which is practically everything.

Citi Rewards Card

[FASTER GIFT REDEMPTION | GIVEAWAY] Get a  Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones  (worth S$589) or an  Apple iPad (9th Gen), 64GB  (worth S$508.30) or  S$420 Lendlease E-Vouchers   (can be used at 313@somerset, Jem, Parkway Parade, PLQ) or  S$300 Cash via PayNow, in as fast as 6 weeks  from meeting the S$500 spend criteria!   PLUS stand a chance to get a  Rolex Submariner 124060  (worth S$15,521) or an  Apple iPhone 15 Pro, 128GB  (worth S$1,664.25) or a  Sony PlayStation®5 (SLIM) Digital Edition  (worth S$669) when you apply through MoneySmart!  T&Cs apply .

10X Points for online purchases (for online grocery, food delivery, ride-hailing and more). Excludes mobile wallet and travel-related transactions. Bank's T&Cs apply

10X Points for shopping purchases (for department store, clothing stores and more). Bank's T&Cs apply

1X Point for all other purchases Bank's T&Cs apply

For every 10X Points Eligible Transaction charged to the Eligible Card, an Eligible Cardholder will be awarded:

(i) 1 Base Point for every S$1 of a 10X Points Eligible Transaction (“Base Points”); and

(ii) 9 Bonus Points for every S$1 of a 10X Points Eligible Transaction (“Bonus Points”).

Points shall be calculated on the amount of each 10X Points Eligible Transaction, rounded down to the nearest S$1.

Base Points are not subject to any cap. However, Bonus Points are subject to a cap of 9,000 Bonus Points per statement month.

10X Points = 4 Miles

Citibank Rewards Card: Shopaholics should love this credit card as it gives you 4 miles per $1 spent on shoes, bags and clothes, or at department stores. This applies both locally or overseas, online and offline.

If you’re expecting to spend a bomb in the coming months, it’s worthwhile to also check out which cards have welcome miles promotions for hitting a significant minimum spend. Just make sure it’s a bank that lets you change points to Asia Miles.

Are there other ways to earn Asia Miles?

As you’d know if you read my previous article on KrisFlyer miles , playing this miles game can be damn nerdy.

You know you’re turning into a serious miles chaser if you start doing the following “optimisations” to maximise your chances of earning miles…

Travel booking: You quote your Asia Miles membership number before booking hotels on Agoda, Booking.com, Hotels.com, Trip.com and other Asia Miles travel partners .

NTUC LinkPoints: You sign up for NTUC membership and start earning rewards points, not because you like fighting over fruits with the aunties at NTUC FairPrice, but because NTUC LinkPoints can be exchanged for Asia Miles .

Asia Miles iShop: Before you put anything in your shopping cart, you check the Asia Miles e-commerce site to see if your purchase is eligible for miles. Some of the best ways to earn miles are by shopping on StrawberryNet (US$1 = 5 Asia Miles), iHerb (US$1 = 3.5 Asia Miles) and Zalora (US$1 = 2.5 miles).

However, this is nowhere near as extreme as KrisFlyer miles chasing can get (earning miles on your insurance and all). The primary form of collecting Asia Miles will still be through your credit card(s).

How many Asia Miles do you need to fly?

If you’ve been kinda unimpressed with Asia Miles so far, here’s one redeeming feature it has for Singaporeans: for certain destinations, it can actually be “cheaper” to fly using Asia Miles rather than KrisFlyer miles .

I ran a few favourite destinations through the Asia Miles redemption calculator . The “prices” are for return tickets on Economy Standard (i.e. the cheapest option), with KrisFlyer miles side by side for comparison:

As you can see, it’s quite a bit cheaper to use Asia Miles to fly from Singapore to Bangkok and Singapore to Hong Kong. (Singapore to Melbourne, London or Paris are also cheaper in Asia Miles, but the difference isn’t quite as dramatic.)

If you like the idea of doing a transit in Hong Kong, it’s a good idea to also explore destinations you can fly to from there. You get a lot more options from HKG, especially destinations in Japan and China. Some highlights:

In some cases, this works out even “cheaper” than flying direct. For example, Hong Kong to Tokyo return is only 20,000 Asia Miles. Add that to the 20,000 Asia Miles spent on your return flights from Singapore to Hong Kong, and you only need 40,000 miles for a multi-city trip.

That’s actually less than the 50,000 miles it takes to fly from Singapore to Tokyo return with either Asia Miles or KrisFlyer.

What’s the Asia Miles redemption process?

If you have a particular goal destination in mind already, you should first check out the feasible flight routes using the Asia Miles redemption calculator .

(Or, if you’ve already got a bunch of miles are just want to know how you can spend them, click on the “Inspire Me” tab to see where your miles can take you.)

Either way, you’ll need to have some kind of number in mind before you convert your credit card rewards points to miles . Try to get “exact change” by only changing the denominations you need. You will also need to factor in a conversion fee (typically $25) and lead time (around a week).

After they’re credited to your account, Asia Miles expire within 3 years. So you need to use them up by redeeming an award flight before then. The flight date cannot be after the expiry date.

Flights on Cathay Pacific, Cathay Dragon and some partner airlines can be redeemed online instantly. If the flight you want can’t be done online, you need to submit a Flight Award request or call the Asia Miles Singapore hotline at 800 852 3747 (24 hours).

There are 3 types of award tickets available:

• Standard (cheapest but fewest seats, available for CX and all partner airlines)
• Choice (more expensive but more seating options, only for Cathay Pacific/Dragon)
• Tailored (most expensive with the most options, only for Cathay Pacific/Dragon)

You can also use your Asia Miles to redeem flight upgrades, extra baggage/legroom, or companion tickets (if you paid for a Business/First class ticket).

Award tickets are valid for 1 year from the date of issue. But think carefully before you commit, because it’ll cost you either money or miles to change anything. Yikes.

Did we miss out any important things you need to know about Asia Miles? Tell us in the comments!

Related Articles

How to Earn Miles and Redeem Free Flights with Singapore Airlines’ KrisFlyer

9 Best Air Miles Credit Cards in Singapore (Apr 2024)

7 Best Credit Cards in Singapore for Airport Lounge Access (2020)

Asia Miles is the loyalty program for Cathay Pacific and Cathay Dragon, and the distance-based award chart can offer good value on shorter routes and select partners, especially if you can leverage the program’s generous routing rules.

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16 Best Ways To Earn Lots of Cathay Pacific Asia Miles [2024]

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Enroll in the Cathay Member Program

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Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong’s largest airline, is a founding member of the Oneworld alliance and offers flights to destinations all around the globe. Its hub is located at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG).

In this post, we’ll show you all the ways to earn miles in the Cathay Pacific frequent flyer program, Asia Miles. Your earned miles can then be redeemed for various travel and lifestyle rewards!

Formerly 2 separate programs called Asia Miles and the Marco Polo Club, the new program simply called Cathay lets you earn redeemable miles (Asia Miles) and elite status (Status Points) in the same program.

Free memberships are available to travelers ages 2 and up, but consent is required from a parent or legal guardian for those under 18 to join.

After enrolling in Cathay, you will receive a confirmation email with an attached temporary membership card so that you can start earning Asia Miles and Status Points right away. You’ll use your membership number on any eligible activity to earn points, which are valid for 3 years from the month they are credited to the account.

Use Credit Cards To Earn Asia Miles

The Cathay Pacific Visa Signature ® card from Synchrony Bank earns Asia Miles directly. Welcome bonuses have ranged from 25,000 to 75,000 Asia Miles.

Cathay Pacific is an American Express transfer partner  at a 1:1 ratio. Transfers from Amex to Asia Miles usually take a few hours but can take up to 7 business days.

Keep in mind that there have been transfer bonuses of up to 30% from Amex, which boosts the ratio to 1:1.3.

You can earn a ton of Membership Rewards points with the following Amex cards by earning the welcome bonus and for ongoing spending:

Recommended American Express Cards (Personal)

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card ® from American Express.

Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card  is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access , hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.

• The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
• 5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
• $695 annual fee ( rates and fees )
• Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)
• Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards ® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card ® , Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
• Earn 5X Membership Rewards ® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards ® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
• $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts ® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card ® . The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card ® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card ® . Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Up Benefits are excluded.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card ® .
• $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
• $300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back in statement credits per calendar year on an Equinox membership, or an Equinox club membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you pay with your Platinum Card ® . Enrollment required. Visit https://platinum.equinox.com/ to enroll.
• $189 CLEAR ® Plus Credit: Breeze through security with CLEAR Plus at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Platinum Card ® . Learn more.
• $100 Global Entry Credit: Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck ® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card ® . Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card ® . That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• $300 SoulCycle At-Home Bike Credit: Get a $300 statement credit for the purchase of a SoulCycle at-home bike with your Platinum Card ® . An Equinox+ subscription is required to purchase a SoulCycle at-home bike and access SoulCycle content. Must charge full price of bike in one transaction. Shipping available in the contiguous U.S. only. Enrollment Required.
• Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card ® to your Resy profile.
• $695 annual fee.
• Terms Apply.
• APR: See Pay Over Time APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None
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American Express Membership Rewards

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

The American Express ® Gold Card  is a game-changer.

With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1x.

There isn’t another card on the market that offers a 1-2 punch like this. Of course, there are several other benefits of the Gold Card as well, including extra monthly dining rewards and more.

• 4x points per dollar at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
• 4x points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases; and 1x thereafter
• $250 annual fee (see rates and fees )
• No lounge access
• Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards ® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards ® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards ® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards ® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
• $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
• $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express ® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
• Get a $100 experience credit with a minimum two-night stay when you book The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel. Experience credit varies by property.
• Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• Annual Fee is $250.

Business Owner? Check out our guide to the best Amex business cards  that earn Membership Rewards.

Citi ThankYou Points transfer to Asia Miles at a 1:1 ratio. Citi transfers take around 1 business day to execute. Citi has offered a 15% transfer bonus on Asia Miles in the past, so it may be worth waiting for this.

The following Citi card earns ThankYou Points that can be transferred to all of Citi’s transfer partners:

Recommended Citi Card

Frequent flyers will enjoy 3x ThankYou Points at restaurants, gas stations, supermarkets, air travel, and hotels.

The Citi Premier ® Card is an excellent option for anyone looking for an all-around travel rewards credit card. The card helps you earn points fast with great 3x bonus categories such as restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, airfare, and hotels. Plus, it offers access to airline and hotel transfer partners, doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, and has a reasonable annual fee!

• 3x points at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, airfare, and hotel purchases
• Access to Citi transfer partners
• $95 annual fee
• Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou ® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. Plus, for a limited time, earn a total of 10 ThankYou ® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024.
• Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Other Hotels
• Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets
• Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Annual Hotel Savings Benefit
• 60,000 ThankYou ® Points are redeemable for $600 in gift cards redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com
• No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
• No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases
• APR: 21.24% - 29.24% Variable

Citi ThankYou Rewards

Capital One miles transfer to Asia Miles at a 1:1 ratio and transfers take around 36 hours.

Make sure you have a Capital One card that has the transferable miles feature. Here are our picks:

Recommended Capital One Cards

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card   is one of the most popular rewards cards on the market. It’s perfect for anyone in search of a great welcome offer, high rewards rates, and flexible redemption options.

Frequent travelers with excellent credit may benefit from this credit card that offers a lot of bells and whistles. And it offers easy-to-understand rewards earning and redemption.

• 5x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
• $95 annual fee ( rates & fees )
• Limited elite benefits
• Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
• Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
• Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck ®
• Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
• Enrich every hotel stay from the Lifestyle Collection with a suite of cardholder benefits, like a $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and more
• Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
• APR: 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)

Capital One Miles

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the premium Capital One travel rewards card on the block.

Points and miles fans will be surprised to see that the Capital One Venture X card packs quite the punch when it comes to bookings made through Capital One, all while offering the lowest annual fee among premium credit cards.

Depending on your travel goals and preferences, the Capital One Venture X card could very well end up being your go-to card in your wallet.

• 10x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
• 5x miles per $1 on flights purchased through Capital One Travel
• $395 annual fee ( rates & fees )
• Does not offer bonus categories for flights or hotel purchases made directly with the airline or hotel group, the preferred booking method for those looking to earn elite status
• Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
• Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
• Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
• Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
• Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
• Elevate every hotel stay from the Premier or Lifestyle Collections with a suite of cardholder benefits, like an experience credit, room upgrades, and more

You can  earn Marriott Bonvoy points  and transfer them to Cathay Pacific at a rate of 3:1.

Plus, for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points that you transfer, you’ll receive an extra bonus of 5,000 miles. So if you transfer 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, you’ll end up with 25,000 Asia Miles.

Marriott transfers to Cathay Pacific Asia Miles in around 10 business days, which is something you’ll need to keep in mind.

We provide an in-depth analysis of the various Marriott credit cards available.

Brex is a fintech company with an innovative product suite that’s geared towards startup founders, and its credit card offering has transfer partnerships via Brex Rewards!

Specifically, you can transfer Brex Rewards points at a 1,670:1,000 ratio to Cathay Pacific Asia Miles. These transfers process in around 1 business day.

Bilt Rewards is a niche program aimed at those who pay monthly rent. You can earn Bilt points and transfer them to Cathay Pacific at a 1:1 ratio with a minimum of 2,000 points transferred. The Bilt World Elite Mastercard ® Credit Card allows you to earn Bilt points on rent, however, it doesn’t come with a welcome bonus and it has a minimum transaction requirement, so this card won’t be for everyone.

Hot Tip: Once you’ve earned a ton of Asia Miles, you’ll want to put them to good use — make sure to read our guide on the best ways to use Asia Miles for max value . 

Cathay Pacific Asia Miles Travel Partners

Always provide your membership number when making a reservation and present it during check-in to ensure you receive the applicable Asia Miles in your account. The airline advises keeping your boarding passes and tickets until miles have been applied to your account.

Asia Miles has the following earning table for Cathay Pacific flights:

Hot Tip: Create a redemption group by nominating up to 5 friends and family members. As the principal member, you may transfer Asia Miles to group members in blocks of 5,000 with a 10,000-mile minimum. Service fees apply; see terms and conditions for more information.

Cathay Pacific is a Oneworld alliance member and has additional partner airlines. Earn Asia Miles by flying these partner airlines and crediting your Asia Miles to Cathay Pacific.

Current mileage-earning rates can be found by airline online.

Cathay Pacific also has its Asia Miles partner airlines:

• Air New Zealand
• Austrian Airlines
• Bangkok Airways
• Shenzhen Airlines
• Swiss International Air Lines

Cathay Pacific has a lot of hotel partners all over the world, making it easier than ever to earn loads of extra Asia Miles. Here’s just a sampling:

Most, if not all, of these hotel chains, have partnerships with all the applicable brands in their portfolio. Also, the earning structure is consistent across different brands in a hotel portfolio.

Earning Asia Miles with partner hotel stays is great, but it’s not the only way to get Asia Miles from hotel stays.

The hotels in the table below also allow you to convert reward points to Cathay Pacific Asia Miles!

Most of the time you’ll get more value by using hotel points for hotel stays, but there are situations where it can make sense to transfer them to Asia Miles — especially if you just need a few extra points for an award flight.

You can also use credit cards associated with hotel loyalty programs to earn reward points and then transfer those points to your Cathay Pacific Asia Miles account. For example, Hilton Honors , Marriott Bonvoy , IHG One Rewards , and World of Hyatt all have co-branded credit cards.

Rent a car with a Cathay Pacific partner or spend with a transport partner and earn lots of bonus miles. The programs may have different qualifying rentals and earning structures, so double-check with the individual links below to find out more.

Shopping for Cathay Pacific Asia Miles

The Asia Miles iShop includes online retailers in categories including fashion, home, office, and so much more.

It doesn’t cost more to shop through the iShop links, as this is just an online shopping portal, but you’re earning Asia Miles at the same time!

Making purchases through the Asia Miles iShop is simple:

• Sign in to the Asia Miles iShop website .
• Enable the “cookies” function in your browser so that Asia Miles can track your path from iShop to the merchant’s website and allocate miles.
• Click Shop Now  under the merchant’s description.
• Purchase the items you want.

You’ll receive an acknowledgment email within 5 days of purchase and another email once the merchant approves your transaction to earn miles, which can take up to 120 days. After that, Asia Miles will appear in your account within 30 days.

Special Offers From Asia Miles

Find deals from Cathay Pacific travel partners and non-travel partners worth extra Asia Miles on the Special Offers page. Check back frequently for new deals!

Purchase travel through Cathay Pacific Holidays right from the Cathay Pacific website. Check out the table below to find out how many Asia Miles you can earn when booking a personalized package.

Each package will earn different amounts of Asia Miles depending on what your Cathay elite status is and where your travels originate from.

Cathay Silver members and above will earn 1 mile for every HK$4 (or the equivalent in a foreign currency) spent on a flight + hotel packages. Silver members and above will also earn 1 mile for every HK$4 spent on hotel accommodations, while green members will earn 1 mile for every HK$5 spent on hotel accommodations.

Green members will earn the following amount of Asia Miles when purchasing flight + hotel packages:

Asia Miles partners with a number of other companies, including top-tier booking portals and online travel agencies (OTAs). Here are some other ways to earn Asia Miles for travel expenses:

Even though you might get bonus miles for your spending, be sure that you aren’t paying significantly more for the same hotel room just to earn some more Asia Miles.

Earn Asia Miles for Booking a Hotel Meeting

If you book a qualifying event at some of the participating properties that Asia Miles partners with, you can earn bonus miles. Here are some options you can use should you decide to book a hotel event or meeting:

We hope that this article has shown you how to maximize the Asia Miles you earn with Cathay Pacific in very simple ways. For an international airline based in Hong Kong, Cathay Pacific provides plenty of opportunities for members in North America to earn Asia Miles.

If you haven’t already enrolled in the Cathay loyalty program, it’s time to do it now! Then you can start racking up the miles in your Cathay Pacific Asia Miles account.

The information regarding the Cathay Pacific Airways Visa ® was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.   The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Bold ® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless ® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card ® from American Express, click here . For rates and fees of the American Express ® Gold Card, click  here . For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express ® Card, click here . For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant ® American Express ® card, click here .

Frequently Asked Questions

How do i earn cathay pacific asia miles.

There are many ways to earn Cathay Pacific Asia Miles. Earn Asia Miles by traveling on Cathay Pacific and with its airline, hotel, and car rental partners.

Also, you can earn Asia Miles by using credit cards associated with American Express Membership Rewards ,  Citi ThankYou Rewards , Capital One Miles , Brex Rewards , and Marriott Bonvoy . You can transfer points from these programs to Asia Miles.

Is there an Asia Miles earning miles calculator?

Yes. Calculate the miles you can earn on your flight with the Airline Earn Calculator .

Certain fare classes are not eligible for earning Asia Miles. For instance, you can only earn miles for fare classes Y, B, H, K, M, L, V, S, N, and Q for Cathay Pacific economy class.

Learn more about earning miles with each airline partner here .

What is the fastest way to earn Asia Miles?

The fastest way to earn Asia Miles is to fly Cathay Pacific and its Oneworld alliance partners. You can earn 25% to 150% of miles flown.

You’ll also be able to earn Asia Miles quickly by transferring credit card rewards points to Asia Miles.

Can I earn Asia Miles while dining?

There is an Asia Miles Dining program , but it is unavailable in the U.S.

What are the Asia Miles partners?

Cathay Pacific is a member of the Oneworld alliance , which includes the following airlines (each with their own Oneworld award chart):

[table id=186 /]

Asia Miles has the following non-alliance partners that you can also earn miles with:

Is there an Asia Miles credit card?

Yes, the Cathay Pacific Signature card, which is issued by Synchrony Bank.

How can I contact the Cathay Pacific Asia Miles program?

You can contact Asia Miles by logging into your account and making an inquiry through an online form. You can also start a conversation via WhatsApp with the following number +852-2747-2747.

When do Asia Miles expire?

Asia Miles are valid for 3 years from the month credited to your account.

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Cathay pacific asia miles.

Best ways to earn:

Best ways to redeem:.

Cathay Pacific, the flagship carrier of Hong Kong, is one of the world’s largest airlines. Cathay Pacific’s loyalty program, Asia Miles, is a great resource for unlocking premium discounted Cathay Pacific flights.

With Cathay Pacific being one of the founding members of the Oneworld alliance, Asia Miles can also be redeemed on a vast array of Oneworld and other airline partner flights.

In fact, the possibilities when redeeming Asia Miles are fairly expansive, including increased access to Cathay Pacific premium award space and a lucrative Oneworld Multi-Carrier Award Chart.

Earning Cathay Pacific Asia Miles

The easiest ways to earn Asia Miles are with specific credit cards, and by transferring points from partner programs.

That being said, you can also earn Asia Miles when you fly with Cathay Pacific or other eligible airline partners.

There are other, lesser-known ways of earning Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, albeit at a much slower rate by comparison.

Cathay Pacific has two co-branded cards in the US and one in Canada.

In the US, Synchrony bank offers the Cathay Pacific Visa Card and the Cathay Pacific Visa Signature Card. Both co-branded cards are identical when it comes to earning Asia Miles.

The welcome bonuses on both cards have historically fluctuated between 35,000–50,000 Asia Miles, which you earn after reaching the minimum spending requirement.

Both Cathay Pacific Visa cards come with an annual fee of $95 (USD), which is usually waived for the first year. Both cards also let you spend while you’re abroad with no foreign transaction fees.

In terms of Asia Miles, you’ll earn at the following rates with either Cathay Pacific Visa card:

• 2 Asia Miles per dollar (USD) spent on eligible Cathay Pacific purchases
• 1.5 Asia Miles per dollar (USD) spent on dining and all eligible purchases made outside the US
• 1 Asia Mile per dollar (USD) spent on all other eligible purchases

In Canada, there is now only one Cathay Pacific co-branded card. Up until Fall 2023, there was a second co-branded card issued by RBC; however, the RBC Cathay Pacific Visa Platinum was closed to new applications in September 2023, and all cardholders have been migrated to different RBC cards.

The Cathay World Elite ® Mastercard ® – powered by Neo is now the only co-branded Cathay Pacific credit card in Canada.

The card has an annual fee of $180 (CAD), and it comes with a welcome bonus of up to 30,000 Asia Miles, which is earned in two chunks, as follows:

• 15,000 Asia Miles upon activating the card
• 15,000 Asia Miles after spending $3,000 (CAD) within three months of activation

The Cathay World Elite ® Mastercard ® earns miles at the following rates:

• 2 Asia Miles per dollar (CAD) spent on eligible Cathay Pacific purchases
• 2 Asia Miles per dollar (CAD) spent on all eligible purchases outside Canada
• 1 Asia Mile per dollar (CAD) spent on all other eligible purchases

The card also offers the opportunity to earn up to 5x Asia Miles through Neo’s partners across Canada.

Transferring Points

Even though there aren’t too many Cathay Pacific co-branded credit cards, there are still several other credit cards that can be used to rack up Asia Miles, and, in fact, there are many loyalty points programs in Canada and the US that can be directly transferred to Asia Miles.

In Canada, you can transfer points from the following programs, at the rates below:

• RBC Avion: 1 Avion point = 1 Asia Mile
• American Express Membership Rewards: 1 MR point = 0.75 Asia Mile
• HSBC Rewards: 3.125 points = 1 Asia Mile (25,000 HSBC points = 8,000 Asia Miles)

In the US, you can transfer from the following programs:

• American Express Membership Rewards: 1 MR point = 1 Asia Mile
• Citi ThankYou Rewards: 1 ThankYou point = 1 Asia Mile
• Capital One Miles: 1 mile = 1 Asia Mile
• Bilt Rewards: 1 point = 1 Asia Mile
• Brex Rewards: 1,670 points = 1,000 Asia Miles

From time to time, there may also be promotions offering bonus Asia Miles when transferring from select programs. In the past, we’ve seen transfer bonuses of anywhere from 10% to 30%.

You can also transfer points from many hotel loyalty programs. The full list of hotels and how much you can earn by transferring points can be found on the Asia Miles website, but here are some of the more popular hotel chains and their transfer rates:

• Hilton Honors: 10 points = 1 Asia Mile
• Best Western Rewards: 5 points = 1 Asia Mile
• IHG One Rewards: 5 points = 1 Asia Mile
• World of Hyatt: 2.5 points = 1 Asia Mile
• Marriott Bonvoy: 3 points = 1 Asia Mile (plus a bonus of 5,000 Asia Miles for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points transferred)

Flying with Cathay Pacific

Earning Asia Miles through credit cards and transfer partners is the quickest way to grow your balance. However, you can also earn Asia Miles when you fly with Cathay Pacific and partner airlines on paid fares.

For Cathay Pacific flights, you can use Cathay Pacific’s Asia Miles calculator to determine exactly how many miles you’ll earn on your next flight.

The amount you’ll earn depends not only on your routing but also on your fare class. For example, you’ll earn different amounts of Asia Miles if you book a flight in economy flex, economy essential, or economy light.

For a paid one-way flight from Hong Kong (HKG) to New York (JFK), you can expect to earn anywhere from 3,000–9,000 Asia Miles in economy, 8,000–9,500 Asia Miles in premium economy, 11,000–12,000 Asia Miles in business, and 15,000 Asia Miles for a First Class flight.

Flying with Partner Airlines

You can also earn Asia Miles on some non-Cathay Pacific paid flights. Here are all the Cathay Pacific’s airline partners through which you can earn Asia Miles when you fly in a specific fare class:

Oneworld Partners

• Alaska Airlines
• American Airlines
• British Airways
• Japan Airlines
• Malaysia Airlines
• Qatar Airways
• Royal Air Maroc
• Royal Jordanian Airlines
• SriLankan Airlines
• Fiji Airways (Oneworld Connect partner)

Other Partners

• Air New Zealand
• Austrian Airlines
• Bangkok Airways
• S7 Airlines
• Shenzhen Airlines
• Swiss International Air Lines

The amount of Asia Miles you’ll earn is calculated based on the total length of your trip. However, not all partner airlines allow you to earn Asia Miles on all fare classes.

As an example, if you’re flying on an Air Canada paid flight, you’ll only be eligible to earn Asia Miles if your fare class is J, C, D, Z, or P. This means that you won’t be able to earn Asia Miles on any Air Canada economy tickets.

It’s also worth noting that not all partner airlines follow the same rules. You can look up your desired airline on the Asia Miles website, or by using the Asia Miles calculator that we mentioned earlier, and selecting “Other airlines” instead of “Cathay Pacific.”

Buying Cathay Pacific Asia Miles

Cathay Pacific allows you to buy Asia Miles directly, but you can only do so at the time of making an award booking, and only if you already have at least 70% of the required Asia Miles for that booking.

If you meet this criteria, you can purchase blocks of 2,000 Asia Miles for $60 (USD) until you have enough for the award flight.

Purchased Asia Miles must be redeemed immediately, and following the award redemption, your account balance may not have more than 2,000 miles remaining.

Other Ways to Earn Cathay Pacific Asia Miles

There are quite a few additional ways you can earn Asia Miles.

First, by booking travel through special links, you can earn Asia Miles on hotels and activities booked through Agoda, Trip.com, Kkday, and more.

Next, by staying at specific hotels, you can earn Asia Miles. For example, at applicable Marriott Bonvoy hotels, you can earn 2 Asia Miles per dollar spent (USD). At eligible hotels under the World of Hyatt umbrella, you can earn 500 Asia Miles per stay.

You can also earn Asia Miles when dining at specific restaurants in Hong Kong, Mainland China, and Taiwan.

Lastly, you can earn Asia Miles with some car rental companies and gas stations, and you can earn them when you shop at specific in-person stores, or by shopping online through Cathay Pacific’s online shopping portal.

Redeeming Cathay Pacific Asia Miles

While there are many ways you can redeem your Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, the most valuable way is to redeem them for flight rewards.

Cathay Pacific uses a published distance-based award chart when redeeming Asia Miles for Cathay Pacific flights.

While there isn’t an award chart for redeeming Asia Miles for partner airlines award flights, you should expect all airline partner awards to cost 5,000 miles more than their Cathay Pacific awards counterpart.

To help you figure out how many miles you’ll need for your desired route, you can easily search using Asia Miles’ dedicated search tools.

As with every airline loyalty program that has a distance-based award chart, you’ll get the most value out of your Asia Miles by redeeming them for flights that reach the upper limit of any given distance band.

For example, a one-way economy flight from Seattle to Hawaii will fall just under the 2,750-mile limit for the “Short” distance zone. This means you can expect to get great value out of a Seattle to Hawaii flight.

In fact, an economy award flight on Alaska Airlines from Seattle to Honolulu will only cost you 15,000 Asia Miles, plus a modest $22 (USD) in taxes and fees.

Additionally, there’s also great value to be found in redeeming Asia Miles for long-haul flights.

Cathay Pacific currently offers flights from Hong Kong to Vancouver and Toronto, and the one-way award pricing on these routes is as follows:

• Vancouver: 27,000 miles (economy), 50,000 miles (premium economy), 84,000 miles (business class)
• Toronto: 38,000 miles (economy), 75,000 miles (premium economy), 110,000 miles (business class)

By using Asia Miles, you’ll also have access to a lot more availability on Cathay Pacific premium flights. Cathay Pacific First Class is one of the most sought-after aviation experiences, and redeeming Asia Miles for this top-tier, world class cabin provides tremendous value.

On the lower end, a flight from Hong Kong to Tokyo is under the 2,750-miles threshold, which means a ticket in Cathay Pacific First Class will only cost 43,000 Asia Miles.

For longer flights, a Cathay Pacific First Class ticket from Hong Kong to Europe falls in the “Long” category and is bookable for 125,000 Asia Miles.

Additionally, a one-way Cathay Pacific First Class flight to Los Angeles from Hong Kong would also cost 125,000 Asia Miles.

Further, any one-way Cathay Pacific First Class flight that’s over 7,501 miles will cost 160,000 Asia Miles, no matter how much above the distance threshold it ends up being.

While you can’t add a stopover with an Asia Miles reward booking, you can add on another First Class flight if you’re flying to Hong Kong, for no extra miles.

In fact, you can even add on another flight in business class or economy class after the First Class flight and the total price may in fact decrease, as Asia Miles calculates its mileage pricing using a weighted average of the distance flown in each class of service on an itinerary.

Oneworld Multi-Carrier Award Chart

If you’re looking to put together more complicated bookings, you can take advantage of Cathay Pacific’s Oneworld Multi-Carrier Award Chart.

Under this award chart, you can have up to five stopovers, two connections or layovers, and two open-jaws.

In order to be applicable, your flights have to include at least two Oneworld alliance airlines and not include Cathay Pacific, OR have three or more Oneworld alliance airlines when one of them is Cathay Pacific.

The maximum distance range for this type of booking is 50,000 miles, calculated by adding up all of the individual segments.

The amount of Asia Miles required will be based off of the highest class booked for any single part of the itinerary. This means that if you have six economy segments and one First Class segment for a total of 12,000 miles, you’ll be charged 250,000 Asia Miles, based on the First Class segment.

Comparatively, if you were to fly the same trip but with all the segments in economy, it would only cost 95,000 Asia Miles.

The takeaway from this is that if you have a business class or First Class flight on your itinerary, you’ll want to have as many segments in the same class as possible to get the most value out of the Oneworld Multi-Carrier Award Chart.

Unfortunately, when it comes to booking using the Oneworld Multi-Carrier Award Chart, the itineraries do need to be booked over the phone.

Finally, it should be noted that the taxes and fees can be significant when booking with Asia Miles, depending on which airlines are on your itinerary.

British Airways and Qatar Airways are among the airlines that have relatively high fuel surcharges on Asia Miles bookings, while Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, American Airlines, and LATAM seem to have more moderate surcharges, and Alaska Airlines, Aer Lingus, and Air New Zealand have none.

Therefore, you can either choose exclusively from the latter set of airlines or originate your itinerary in one of the world’s jurisdictions that has regulated fuel surcharges to minimize your out-of-pocket expenses

Flight Upgrades

Cathay Pacific Asia Miles can also be redeemed for upgrades on Cathay Pacific flights. Similarly to booking award flights, there’s a published chart showing how many Asia Miles are required to upgrade from one cabin to the next.

Note that you can only upgrade directly from economy to business class if there are no premium economy seats on the plane.

Other Ways to Redeem Cathay Pacific Asia Miles

Redeeming Asia Miles for flight rewards will always be the best way to get the most value out of your miles. However, there are also other options available in case you don’t plan on flying ever again.

One option is to redeem Asia Miles for hotel stays at around 1 cent per Asia Mile.

You can also redeem Asia Miles for a lot of overpriced items through Cathay Pacific’s lifestyle awards online shop. As an example, a GoPro purchased through the shopping portal will cost you over 100,000 Asia Miles.

You can also simply transfer your Asia Miles into another loyalty program at very unfavourable rates.

Marriott Bonvoy is one such transfer option, and if you choose this redemption avenue, you’ll have to redeem at a rate of 2 Asia Miles = 1 Marriott Bonvoy point.

Cathay Pacific Asia Miles Status

Previously called the Marco Polo Club, Cathay Pacific’s elite membership program, through its four tiers, grants its most loyal customers with a slew of benefits.

All Cathay Pacific members start at the basic Green status tier. From the Green tier, you can climb to Silver, Gold, and the top-tier, Diamond.

In order to reach the higher tiers, you’ll have to earn Status Points, which can be earned by flying with Cathay Pacific as well as with partner airlines.

You can use Cathay Pacific’s Status Points calculator  to determine how many Status Points you’ll earn on your next Cathay Pacific or partner flight.

For example, a Cathay Pacific flight from Hong Kong to San Francisco would earn you anywhere from 25 to 70 Status Points, depending on the class of service you book.

You’ll need to earn 300 Status Points to reach Silver elite status, 600 to reach Gold elite status, and 1,200 to reach Cathay Pacific’s Diamond status.

Each status level comes with different benefits, and all of these benefits can be found on Cathay Pacific’s website.

As an example of these benefits, after earning 300 Status Points and reaching the Silver level, you’ll immediately have access to business class lounges, and you’ll automatically receive Oneworld Ruby status.

Oneworld Ruby status, while not amazing, does come with priority check-in, preferred or pre-reserved seating, and priority standby and wait-listing on all Oneworld alliance airlines.

Additionally, Cathay Pacific Gold will get you Oneworld Sapphire status, which grants you access to all Oneworld business class lounges, and Cathay Pacific Diamond will get you Oneworld Emerald status, giving you even more benefits, including First Class lounge access with Oneworld Airline alliance members.

Cathay Pacific Asia Miles are a great tool for unlocking some amazing business class and First Class flights at a significant discount. With a distance-based award chart, there’s a lot of value to be found, especially when flying Cathay Pacific First Class.

What’s more, Asia Miles are fairly easy to earn with transfer partners in Canada and the US, as well as co-branded credit cards offered through Neo in Canada and Synchrony bank in the US.

With some careful research and planning, there are many lucrative ways to transform your Asia Miles into highly aspirational trips on some of the world’s best airlines at a spectacular value.

Is there a way to transfer Asia Miles to Aeropan?

I haven’t been able to find a clear answer anywhere but can you combine two different airlines on a roundtrip award?

Ex.: JFK-HKG-JNB on CX JNB-DOH-YUL on QR

CX and QR is fine. Two Oneworld airlines would make the ticket a Oneworld multi-carrier award instead.

Hi Ricky, I have a suggestion: Would it be possible to indicate the duration of which the points will be valid for in the redemption section of the FFP? Eg. 3 years for Asia miles except from before 31 December 2019, etc..

So a flight YYZ to Cape Town SA YYZ to HONG KONG = 7,810 miles Hong Kong to Cape Town = 7,352 mi Total 15, 162 miles Would need 170,000 points ( 85 x 2) Business and 250,000 points (125×2) First Class

You can combine the two flights on a single one-way itinerary and pay only 85,000 miles in business. Neither the Toronto nor Cape Town routes offer First Class; if you wanted First Class you’d need to start in the US.

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Chinese migrants using Mexican IDs to travel to US

• It is thought the IDs are being made and sold by Mexican smuggling gangs
• The cards help Chinese migrants headed to the US pass police checks in Mexico
• It comes as San Diego takes over as the new epicenter of the migrant crisis
• READ MORE: Startling number of Chinese migrants crossing US southern border

Chinese migrants are using Mexican IDs to ease their passage to the US amid a huge increase in arrivals from the communist country.

The puzzling trend was revealed in new footage from the San Diego border, where the number of China nationals entering from Mexico so far this year is already more than double its total for the whole of last year.

It is thought the IDs are being made and sold by cartels so that migrants travelling to the US from Asia and elsewhere can pass checks by Mexican police as they travel through the country.

The documents are then destroyed or discarded by migrants as they cross the US border, making it harder for authorities to identify them and easing their path to asylum.

Video shows Bill Wells, Mayor of El Cajon, a city about 17 miles east of San Diego, inspecting dozens of cards left behind by Chinese nationals at a crossing point between Jacumba Hot Springs and Campo.

Wells appears baffled by the fact that the majority were issued by the Mexican government, with cardholders described as 'temporary residents', 'visitors' or 'humanitarian workers' in the central American country.

He later told DailyMail.com that these were likely being used by Chinese migrants so they could show Mexican authorities they had a reason to be in their country.

The mayor added that he was shocked by the 'sheer number' of the discarded documents he saw during his visit to the border on Friday night.

'My worst fears were validated,' he said. 'I talked to the border patrol guys, they're all ready to quit. They say it's just insanely out of control.

'They think people don't care and have no sense of how big the problem is.

'The American people really need to wake up to how significant this problem really is.'

Wells also held up a Chinese merchant marine passport that had been cut up and discarded at the border by its owner.

He explained that this was 'probably because they wanted to claim asylum and if you have a passport and ways to be tracked…you don't want to be tracked.

'You want to say you're here without anything and claim asylum.'

The cards had been collected by local gun store owner Cory Gautereaux after they had been left strewn across his property.

There were a number from south and central America as well as the Middle East, but the majority came from China.

READ MORE:  Chinese 'snakehead' gangs working with cartels to bring migrants to US

San Diego has seen more than double the amount of Chinese nationals cross its border in the first half of this fiscal year than in all of 2023.

Most fly into Tijuana before paying cartels up to $35,000 to get them to the US.

Wells also visited part of the border wall where makeshift ropes had been made out of old cloth to help migrants climb over.

He said border agents had told him that particular section was being targeted because there were no cameras there.

The mayor said that once migrants made it across the border, they would be picked up by a bus that would take them to a processing center.

From there, they would be dispatched to a transit center near San Ysidro, where they would then be released.

It comes as San Diego last month became the top region along the southern border for migrant arrivals for the first time since 1999.

Migrant arrests in San Diego reached 8,989 for the week ending April 16, according to figures the agency posted on X. Meanwhile, Tucson — which previously had been the top region for crossings — had 7,500 arrests for the week ending April 19.

Recent data shows the migrant crisis is shifting west to border states like Arizona and California amid a crack down in Texas by Republican Governor Greg Abbott.

Mexican authorities have also tightened security on their side of the Texan border.

The volume of migrants arriving is overwhelming resources in San Diego, with officials reporting that up to 1,000 people a day are being released at city train and bus stops .

Crossings in the sector rose from 31,562 in February to 33,784 in March, although this total was down slightly from the 34,371 migrants who entered San Diego in December. 

Last month, a dozen migrants zoomed into a beach in Carlsbad , a town about 30 miles north of San Diego.

The boat missed what appeared to be a surfer in the water by a few feet as it zipped by and approached the beach at very high speed.

After beaching the vessel on the sand, the migrants got out and sprinted towards the row of oceanfront houses and were picked up by waiting black SUVs.

The cars left in such haste that one woman almost fell out as it started moving before she had fully clambered into the back seats.

DailyMail.com has previously revealed that a US Border Patrol chief has warned that his agents are being overwhelmed by the number of Chinese migrants crossing the border illegally and that they could be missing Communist spies.

Chief Patrol Agent Anthony Good, of the Border Patrol’s El Paso Sector, told the Homeland Security Committee during a private hearing in September last year that his agents were 'trying their best to figure out why [individuals from other continents are] coming' but that 'information can be hidden' and 'their agendas, their ideologies, the reason for them coming could be missed'.

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You can also search for the closest airport to any city in the world or check the flying distance between airports. If you're thinking about a road trip, compare the driving time for the same route.

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Is It Safe in Moscow?

Stanislav Solntsev / Getty Images

When you visit Moscow , Russia, you’re seeing one of the world’s largest, and most expensive, capital cities . While there is a history of violent crime against foreign journalists and aid personnel in Russia, a trip to Moscow is usually safe for mainstream travelers. Most tourists in Moscow only face potential issues with petty crime, though terrorism is also a concern. Visitors should stick to the principal tourist areas and abide by the local security advice.

Travel Advisories

• The U.S. Department of State urges travelers to avoid travel to Russia because of COVID-19 and to "exercise increased caution due to terrorism, harassment, and the arbitrary enforcement of local laws."  
• Anyone exploring more of Russia should avoid "The North Caucasus, including Chechnya and Mount Elbrus, due to terrorism, kidnapping,   and   risk of civil unrest." Also, travelers should stay away from "Crimea due to Russia’s occupation of the Ukrainian territory   and   abuses by its occupying authorities."  
• Canada states travelers should use a high degree of caution in Russia due to the threat of terrorism and crime.  

Is Moscow Dangerous?

The Moscow city center is typically safe. In general, the closer you are to the Kremlin , the better. Travelers mainly need to be aware of their surroundings and look out for petty crime. Be especially careful in tourist areas such as Arbat Street and crowded places like the Moscow Metro transit system. The suburbs are also generally fine, though it is advised to stay away from Maryino and Perovo districts.

Terrorism has occurred in the Moscow area, leading authorities to increase security measures. Be more careful at tourist and transportation hubs, places of worship, government buildings, schools, airports, crowds, open markets, and additional tourist sites.

Pickpockets and purse snatching happen often in Russia, perpetrated by groups of children and teenagers who distract tourists to get their wallets and credit cards. Beware of people asking you for help, who then trick you into their scheme. Don’t expect a backpack to be a safe bag bet; instead, invest in something that you can clutch close to your body or purchase a money belt . Always diversify, storing some money in a separate location so that if you are pickpocketed, you'll have cash elsewhere. Keep an eye out for thieves in public transportation, underground walkways, tourist spots, restaurants, hotel rooms and homes, restaurants, and markets.

Is Moscow Safe for Solo Travelers?

Large cities like Moscow in Russia are overall fairly safe if you are traveling alone, and the Moscow Metro public transit is a secure and easy way to get around. But it is still a good idea to follow basic precautions as in any destination. Avoid exploring alone at night, especially in bad areas. You may want to learn some basic Russian phrases or bring a dictionary, as many locals don't speak English. However, in case you need any help, there are tourist police that speak English. Also, exploring with other trusted travelers and locals or on professional tours is often a good way to feel safe.

Is Moscow Safe for Female Travelers?

Catcalling and street harassment are infrequent in Moscow and the rest of Russia and females traveling alone don't usually have problems. There are plenty of police officers on the streets as well. Still, it serves to stick to Moscow's well-lit, public areas, avoid solo night walks, and use your instincts. Women frequenting bars may take receive some friendly attention. Females can wear whatever they want, but those entering Orthodox churches will be required to cover up. Though women in Russia are independent, domestic violence and other inequality issues take place regularly.

Safety Tips for LGBTQ+ Travelers

Russia is not known as a gay-friendly country. However, Moscow is one of the more welcoming cities with a blooming LGBTQ+ community and many friendly restaurants, bars, clubs, and other venues. Hate crimes in Russia have increased since the 2013 anti-gay propaganda law. Openly LGBTQ+ tourists in this conservative country may experience homophobic remarks, discrimination, or even violence, especially if traveling with a partner. Also, while women hold hands or hug publicly—whether romantically involved or not—men should avoid public displays of affection to prevent being insulted or other issues.

Safety Tips for BIPOC Travelers

Moscow  and other big cities in Russia have sizable populations of various cultures, so discrimination against BIPOC travelers is rarer than in other parts of the country where it can become dangerous. Some people living in Russia who are Black, Asian, Jewish, and from other backgrounds have experienced racial discrimination and violence. Tourists won't usually experience overt racism but may be the recipients of some stares. If anyone should bother you, be polite and resist being taunted into physically defending yourself.

Safety Tips for Travelers

Travelers should consider the following general tips when visiting:

• It's best not to drink the tap water. If you do, boil it before drinking, though showering is safe and the amount used to brush teeth is generally not harmful. Mineral water is widely drunk, especially at restaurants, and if you prefer not to have it carbonated ask for “ voda byez gaz” (water without gas).
• If you need emergency assistance in case of fire, terrorism, medical issues, or more, dial 112 in Russia for bilingual operators.
• Be judicious about taking photographs, especially of police or officials. This can potentially bring unwanted attention to yourself by members of law enforcement who won’t mind asking to see your passport. Also avoid snapping photos of official-looking buildings, such as embassies and government headquarters.
• Carry your passport in as secure a manner as possible. If you get stopped for any reason by the police, they can fine or arrest you if you don't have the document with you. Also, keep photocopies of your passport, the page on which your travel visa appears, and any other documents that relate to your stay in Russia.
• Use official taxis only and steer clear of illegal taxi companies, especially at night. Ask your hotel to call a reputable taxi company.

U.S. Department of State. " Russia Travel Advisory ." August 6, 2020.

Government of Canada. " Official Global Travel Advisories ." November 19, 2020.

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Moscow Travel Guide: Best Things to Do + More [2023]

· everything to know about visiting moscow, including the best things to do and how to get around. ·.

Moscow is Russia’s vibrant capital city, and it also happens to be the largest city in all of Europe. The city’s long and infamous history makes it one of the most unique places we have ever visited.

The architecture ranges from centuries-old palaces to uniform, gray concrete buildings. The people range from cold and private to warm and welcoming. Moscow is a city is strong juxtapositions, and we learned a lot during our time there.

This post will break down all you need to know about visiting Moscow, including the best things to do, how to get there, how to get around, and more.

The Best Things to Do in Moscow

1. explore the red square.

The Red Square is the heart of Moscow. Most of the city’s top attractions can be found here, including just about everything on this list. The Kremlin, St. Basil’s Cathedral, and Lenin’s Mausoleum are all located here, and the State Historical Museum and GUM are not far from here, either.

The Red Square is a common home for parades, protests, and seasonal celebrations. There are massive Christmas celebrations here, with food vendors and carnival rides set up in numbers.

2. Check Out the Ziferblat

The Ziferblat is a café in Moscow that is unlike any café we have ever been to. While most cafes charge you for your drinks and food, the Ziferblat charges you for your time.

Upon arrival, you are given a clock. When you leave, the barista calculates how much time you spent in the café and charges you accordingly. This concept was created to help visitors to be more intentional with their time, and the cafe itself is incredibly charming.

For a detailed look at everything you need to know before you visit, make sure you read my post about visiting the Ziferblat Cafe in Moscow .

3. Marvel at St. Basil’s Cathedral

St. Basil’s Cathedral is one of the most iconic churches in the world, and it was the single thing we were most excited to see while in Moscow. Built almost 500 years ago, St. Basil’s Cathedral is recognized by its colorful domes and whimsical style. The church is of the Russian Orthodox faith, and the inside is just as wondrous as the outside.

St. Basil’s Cathedral is located on the edge of the Red Square, making it incredibly convenient to visit. Entrance for non-worshippers costs 800 rubles, and tickets can be bought at the church

4. Explore the Kremlin

The Kremlin is the largest active fortress in Europe, and it is the site of most of Russia’s government affairs. In addition to government buildings, the Kremlin Complex is filled with courtyards, towers, and museums that are open to the public. If you have the time, you could spend a couple of days fully exploring all that there is to see in the Kremlin.

5. Walk Through Lenin’s Mausoleum

Vladimir Lenin is one of the most important figures in Russian history, and his body is located perfectly embalmed in a mausoleum in the Red Square. The Mausoleum is open to the public to visit, and as long as you are willing to go through a few security checks, it is easily one of the best things to do in Moscow. Its convenient location in the Red Square makes it a can’t miss attraction.

There is absolutely no photography allowed inside the Mausoleum. Do not test this rule.

6. Wander Along Arbat Street

The Arbat is a very popular street in Moscow that is lined with stores, cafes, and other touristy attractions. It is one of the oldest streets in the city, dating back to the 1400s. This street is both quaint and trendy, and there are many walking tours that introduce tourists to the neighborhood’s wonders and highlights.

7. Catch a Show at the Bolshoi Theatre

As a lover of the arts, it is hard to think of Moscow and not think of ballet. Russia has always been a top dog in the world of fine arts, and Bolshoi Theater is one of the best places to catch a performance. We were lucky enough to attend an Opera here, and it is a venue that you don’t want to miss out on if you enjoy opera, ballet, or orchestral performances.

8. Visit the State Historical Museum

The State Historical Museum is one of the most respected museums in Moscow. Despite its name, it is not really focused on the history of Russia as a nation. Rather, it contains a collection of artifacts from all throughout Russia’s history.

The museum’s collection is very broad in nature. It houses some items from indigenous tribes that used to occupy the region, pieces collected by the Romanov family, and more.

9. Wander Around GUM

GUM is an absolutely massive mall within walking distance of the Red Square. It isn’t just the size that draws visitors here; it’s the sense of luxury. The mall is so beautiful inside, much like the metro stations.

While visiting a mall might not sound like it belongs on a bucket list, this mall does. You will not want to miss out on visiting GUM while in Moscow.

10. Admire the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour

While St. Basil’s Cathedral is the most iconic church in Moscow, it isn’t the only one. The Cathedral of Christ the Saviour is absolutely stunning, with massive golden domes. It is the tallest Orthodox church in the world, and it is the seat of the Orthodox Patriarch of Moscow.

It is located just about a mile from the Red Square, just south of the Kremlin Complex. You can walk to it from the Red Square in about 20 minutes.

How to Get to Moscow

Flying to moscow.

Moscow has three major international airports: Sheremetyevo (SVO) , Domodedovo (DMO) , and Vnukovo (VKO) . All three of them are directly connected to downtown Moscow by the Aeroexpress trains, which leave every 30 minutes throughout the day. By Aeroexpress train, you can expect to get to the city center in 25-45 minutes depending on the airport that you fly into.

Sheremetyevo is the biggest and busiest of the three airports, and it is the one you are most likely to fly into – especially if you are coming from outside of Europe or the Caucus region. We flew into Sheremetyevo on a direct flight from New York City.

I usually provide backup airport options, because flying right into the city isn’t always the cheapest way to get where you’re going. Unfortunately, when it comes to Moscow, don’t really have a choice other than to fly right into Moscow. It is a very remote city, and it is usually the cheapest place to fly into in Russia as a whole.

Since Sheremetyevo is so busy, you will probably find a great flight option anyway. I wrote in  my post about finding cheap flights  that using hub airports will lead to more affordable airfare, and the same logic applies here. Even though Russia’s national airline, Aeroflot, is no longer a member of the SkyTeam Alliance, Moscow is still a major hub connecting passengers from all over the world.

READ OUR CHEAT SHEET

Train or Bus to Moscow

Trains and buses are one of the most popular ways to get around Europe. However, they’re of very little use when you’re trying to get to Moscow.

Moscow is hundreds of miles from the nearest major cities. The only major European city that can even be reached within 8 hours on the ground is St. Petersburg, and even the Baltic capitals of Riga, Vilnius, and Tallinn are over 12 hours away.

If you want to get to Moscow, the best option is almost always to fly. While the train routes to Moscow are scenic, they simply take forever.

How to Get Around Moscow

METRO | TROLLEYS | TRAMS | BUSES

Moscow has one of the most memorable metro systems in the world. Its metro lines are very deep underground, and the stations are absolutely stunning. Each station has its own unique style, but all of them contain escalators that seem to go on forever.

The system was built in an effort to showcase the power of the Soviet Union and its bright future. The plans were a form of propaganda, but they resulted in what is still one of the most visually appealing subway systems on earth.

Moscow’s metro system isn’t just pretty. It is also very useful and accessible. The system has 17 lines that connect the city and its surrounding area.

But wait; there’s more!

The Moscow metro system is also incredibly affordable, with each ride costing less than a dollar. The metro is by far the best way to get around Moscow, as it is almost impossible to beat the connection times and the low cost to ride.

Tickets can be bought at electronic, English-speaking kiosks in stations, or directly from ticket counters at certain larger stations. There are also day passes available, which are a very solid option if you plan on riding the metro several times per day.

The metro is by far the best way to get around Moscow.

In addition to the metro system, Moscow also has a network of buses, trams, and trolleys. This system is nowhere near as convenient or well-connected as the metro, though, and is likely of little use to you during your trip. There is no Uber in Moscow, but a similar app named Yandex is available if you need a ride in a pinch.

How Many Days Do You Need in Moscow?

Moscow is the biggest city in all of Europe, and it is absolutely loaded with things to do. You could spend weeks in Moscow and still find new things to do. Of course, most travelers don’t have that kind of time to spend in one place!

I recommend spending no less than three full days in Moscow, and ideally closer to five or seven.

Moscow is very spread out, and it can take some time to get from one major point to another. There are also so many places that are nice to just sit back and relax, which is hard to do when you’re in a hurry trying to cram activities into just a few days.

If you only have a week to visit Russia, I’d advise spending all of the time in one city. If you decide to split your time between Moscow and St. Petersburg, I recommend not trying to squeeze in any day trips beyond those two cities.

When Is the Best Time of the Year to Visit Moscow?

There are two different ways to approach this question. Personally, I think the best time to visit Moscow is around Christmas and New Year’s Day. While the weather will be absolutely freezing, Moscow is a surreal winter wonderland in December and January.

We were in Moscow right before Christmas. While it was very cold, you can always bundle up. Exploring the Christmas markets and pop-up ice skating rinks throughout Moscow is one of my favorite memories from anywhere I’ve traveled, and I dream of going back to do it again.

If you aren’t fond of the cold, Moscow is beautiful in the summer. It tends to get pretty cold in the shoulder seasons, so if you want warm weather, you should plan to visit in the summer. Moscow actually gets pretty warm in July and August, and there are a bunch of fantastic places to soak up the sun within the city.

The best time to visit Moscow is either around Christmas or from late May to August.

Is Moscow Safe to Visit?

While Moscow is a truly wonderful city, there’s no denying that visiting Russia comes with risks. As the country is run by an infamous communist dictator, concerns about visiting are valid. While we didn’t experience any sort of threat or negative treatment during our time in Moscow, we visited in a peaceful time.

In our experience, Russia doesn’t seem to detain normal Americans or Westerners to use as pawns. As a regular person, as long as you don’t commit any crimes, there is a slim chance you will run into any issues. However, Russia will not hesitate to enforce its laws against foreigners, and illegal behaviors will likely land you in a very compromising position.

Russia will not hesitate to enforce its laws against foreigners, and illegal behaviors will likely land you in a very compromising position.

To make matters worse, Russia has a bad reputation for gang violence. While the Russian mafia has very little interest in normal Western tourists, they won’t hesitate to pick a fight with anyone who ventures into their sphere of influence. If you seek out illegal substances or activities, you could be a target of the mafia.

If you seek out illegal substances or activities, you could be a target of the mafia.

Finally, since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, things are all very different. Russia is currently at war, and there are battles raging within 8 hours of Moscow. While it is still relatively safe to visit, that could change at any time as the war with Ukraine continues.

Is Moscow Worth Visiting?

Without a doubt, Moscow is worth visiting. It is one of the most unique major cities we have ever visited, and we hope to make it back one day. The Russian Orthodox churches are stunning, the city’s history is unlike any other, and the food is to die for.

While many visitors prefer St. Petersburg to Moscow, I think Moscow deserves a lot of hype of its own. Moscow is the beating heart of Russian culture and history, and it’s a place I highly recommend checking out if you have the chance.

That’s all we have for you about Moscow! I hope this post was helpful as you plan your trip to Russia’s capital.

Have you been to Moscow? Or is this your first time visiting? Comment below if you have anything to add to our travel guide!

Hi, I'm Greg. I'm an avid traveler who has traveled to over 50 countries all around the world with my wife and kids. I've lived in Italy, Mexico, China, and the United States, and I dream of moving abroad again in the future. With this blog, I provide my audience with detailed destination guides to my favorite places and pro-tips to make travel as stress-free as possible.

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