Hong Kong to Singapore in business 1,000 miles cheaper, to New York 4,000 dearer: Asia Miles

For a business-class seat from Hong Kong to Singapore, the Asia Miles needed since May 2026 are 1,000 fewer than before; for New York, you pay 4,000 more. According to several frequent-flyer websites, Cathay Pacific changed its Asia Miles award prices from 1 May 2026: short-haul premium economy and business class became cheaper, while long-haul business class became more expensive.

The figures below are as of October 2026 and all come from third-party reports, including AwardWallet, Mainly Miles, The Milelion and Australian Frequent Flyer. We could not obtain Cathay's full official award chart to check each figure, so please rely on the search tool on Cathay's website before booking.

From 1 May, premium economy and business class were repriced

AwardWallet reported on 26 March 2026 that the change applied to premium economy and business class. According to the site, in the short-haul band of 751 to 2,750 miles, premium economy fell by 2,000 miles, about 10%, and business class fell by 1,000 miles, about 3.57%.

Mainly Miles gives examples from Hong Kong: to Singapore, Bangkok or Shanghai, one-way business class fell from 28,000 to 27,000 miles and premium economy from 20,000 to 18,000 miles.

Long-haul prices moved the other way. Drawing on figures from Mainly Miles, The Milelion and AwardWallet, one-way business class rose from 58,000 to 60,000 miles in the 2,751 to 5,000-mile band, which covers Hong Kong to Sydney or Melbourne; from 88,000 to 91,000 miles in the 5,001 to 7,500-mile band, for example London, Los Angeles, San Francisco or Vancouver; and from 115,000 to 119,000 miles at 7,501 miles or more, for example Boston, New York or Toronto.

In short: premium economy and business class got cheaper on short-haul routes, and long-haul business class got dearer.

AwardWallet's report does not say whether economy class was changed, so this article lists current prices only and makes no before-and-after comparison.

Old-price tickets can be used until April 2027 at the latest

Mainly Miles says award tickets issued on or after 1 May 2026 are subject to the new prices, while those issued on or before 30 April stay on the old ones. The Milelion adds that tickets booked at the old price before 11.59pm Hong Kong time on 30 April 2026 keep the old price even if travel takes place after May.

Because award tickets can be booked up to 360 days ahead, The Milelion calculates that the old price can apply to journeys departing as late as 25 April 2027. Anyone holding such a ticket who needs to make changes should first ask Cathay about the arrangements.

Current prices: one-way on Cathay's own flights

On 28 May 2026, Australian Frequent Flyer compiled one-way award prices for Cathay's own flights. They are grouped by flight distance, and the figures run in the order economy, premium economy, business and first class:

• 1 to 750 miles: economy 7,000 miles, premium economy 11,000 miles, business 16,000 miles (the chart lists no first class for this band)
• 751 to 2,750 miles: 9,000, 18,000, 27,000 and 43,000 miles
• 2,751 to 5,000 miles: 20,000, 39,000, 60,000 and 90,000 miles
• 5,001 to 7,500 miles: 27,000, 52,000, 91,000 and 125,000 miles
• 7,501 miles or more: 38,000, 78,000, 119,000 and 160,000 miles

For the 751 to 2,750-mile band, the site also lists a higher set of prices: 13,000, 23,000, 33,000 and 50,000 miles. The table above shows the lower set. Which set applies in practice should be checked against Cathay's website quote.

Economy versus business: how big is the gap?

Going by the table, business class in the short-haul band, at 27,000 miles, is exactly three times economy at 9,000 miles; premium economy at 18,000 miles is twice economy. In other words, one one-way business-class ticket from Hong Kong to Bangkok costs the same as three economy tickets.

On long-haul routes the multiples differ. In the 5,001 to 7,500-mile band, business class at 91,000 miles is about 3.4 times economy at 27,000 miles; at 7,501 miles or more, business class at 119,000 miles is about 3.1 times economy at 38,000 miles.

Premium economy in the middle is worth noting: on ultra-long-haul routes such as New York, premium economy at 78,000 miles is 41,000 miles less than business class.

Partner airline prices: reports differ

Australian Frequent Flyer says that for partner-airline business class redeemed with miles, the 5,001 to 7,500-mile band rose from 89,000 to 93,000 miles and ultra-long-haul rose from 115,000 to 120,000 miles. The Milelion says Cathay has not confirmed any change to partner awards. The two accounts differ and we could not verify either, so please check Cathay's website quote before redeeming.

Membership and Status Points: no figures here

As of 23 October 2026, we have still not been able to verify Cathay's membership arrangements, the Status Points thresholds for each tier or the earning rates on each route from official Cathay documents, so this article gives no figures on them. Readers planning to build membership status through flying should consult the membership terms on Cathay's website directly.

A miles planning checklist for Hong Kong frequent flyers

1. Check the flight distance first: award prices are banded by miles flown, and Singapore, Bangkok and Shanghai fall in the same band at the same price.
2. Consider sitting better on short-haul: in the 751 to 2,750-mile band, both premium economy and business class got cheaper, with one-way business at 27,000 miles.
3. Set aside more miles for long-haul business class: one-way is 91,000 miles on routes such as London and Los Angeles and 119,000 on routes such as New York and Toronto, both more than before the change.
4. Compare premium economy: on ultra-long-haul routes it costs 41,000 miles less than business class, which can serve as a compromise.
5. Check old-price tickets: tickets booked at the old price before 30 April 2026 apply, at the latest, to journeys departing on 25 April 2027.
6. Check partner airlines and membership separately: neither could be verified, so rely on Cathay's website.

The value of miles is set by the award chart, and the chart can change. In this round, short-haul premium economy and business class got cheaper and long-haul business class got dearer; before booking, check which band your flight distance falls into, then rely on Cathay's website quote.

Prices and details correct as of October 2026

Compiled by the F50 Editorial Team from public sources, for general reference only and not professional advice. Details are correct as of the publication date and may change.