How and when to avoid $30,127 fares - for up to TWO travelers in First Class to Hong Kong and beyond
Imagine you've been navigating the maze of airline awards, searching for that one perfect opportunity — like a prospector panning for gold in a fast-moving stream. Then, just when you’re about to set the search aside, it appears: Cathay Pacific First Class seats for TWO travelers, New York to Hong Kong. It’s a moment of triumph, like stumbling upon a secret passage in a treasure hunt — but here’s the twist: this treasure is only available for travel in July 2025 outbound, and in April, July, or August on the return.Don’t let that dim the sparkle. Award seats are like fireflies, availability blinking in and out. When they pop up, you need to be ready to catch them — because in this game of travel, even one open day can make all the difference.Think of it like chiseling away at a block of marble until you’ve sculpted the perfect trip. Especially when it comes to Asia, where securing award seats can feel as elusive as finding that fabled needle in a haystack.
If you strike gold on just one leg of the journey, simply pair it with a Business Class seat for the other direction. After all, those who treat travel like an evolving puzzle — always tweaking and refining their itineraries — have the greatest success in elevating their experience.
This isn’t just a booking though — it’s a race to the finish line. After all, First Class tickets can top $30,127, and Business Class might set you back $9,441 per person for a round-trip. So, snagging an award seat at a fraction of the price is like taking home a gold medal without even breaking a sweat.
And if Hong Kong isn’t on your radar? No problem. A positioning flight can put you right where the action is. Asia’s got plenty to offer, and the timing couldn’t be better with events like these:
Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix on April 4 to 6 in Suzuka, Japan. Racing enthusiasts can use these long-haul over-the-water flights as a jumping-off point for an experience like fireworks on New Year’s Eve. The whine of finely tuned engines screaming down straightaways, the roar of the crowd, the precision of each pit stop — it’s the ultimate rush.
Bali Kite Festival throughout July on the beaches of Bali, giant kites soar through the skies, their colorful tails dancing in the wind. This festival isn’t just about fun.
Sample connecting flights from Hong Kong to all over Asia
Here’s a look at Cathay Pacific’s First Class two-seat availability:
[table_opt id="7033" style="gray-header" header_rows="2" width="default" alignment="thcenter" heading="thcenter" rows="tdcenter" responsive="no" /]Here’s a look at Cathay Pacific’s Business Class TK seat availability
[table_opt id="7034" style="gray-header" header_rows="2" width="default" alignment="thcenter" heading="thcenter" rows="tdcenter" responsive="no" /]No Miles? No Problem
Cathay Pacific’s New York-Hong Kong route goes for 160,000 miles in First Class or 84,000 miles in Business Class from the West Coast and 110,000 miles from the East Coast, plus $80 in taxes each way. Cathay Pacific is a points-to-miles transfer partner with Amex, Capital One, and Citi. You can buy up to 500,000 points annually from Amex for 2.5 cents each and transfer them to Cathay Pacific.New York-Hong Kong First Class fares go for $30,127+ which means you save up to $21,967, or 73%, with miles. Business Class fares go for $9,441+ for a savings with miles of up to $6,611, or 70%.
Buy Cathay partner American Airlines miles when on sale: On Cathay’s New York-Hong Kong route, the First Class baseline fare goes for $30,127. You can buy up to 150,000 American Airlines miles if you need to top-off for about $3,668 when they’re on sale for about 2.4 cents each, and save up to $26,485, or 88%, on your next trip to Hong Kong. Note that taxes with the American Airlines loyalty program generally cost $67.
Or you can buy 110,000 miles for about $2,690, and save about $6,751, or 72% for Business Class.
We recommend that you only buy miles if you are confident there is availability that works for you unless you fly frequently and know you will use the miles eventually. Should availability shift, you can use those miles on a future trip.
And the best part? You didn’t pay a fortune for them. By transferring your Amex points to Cathay Pacific, you’ve unlocked a luxurious experience at a fraction of the price. Remember, sometimes all it takes is one day with available award seats. When opportunity knocks in the form of open award seats, be ready to jump.
Don't book backwards, and I'll see you up front.