Cathay Pacific award cancellation fees.
Verified July 2026 · Currency: Asia Miles
TL;DR
Cathay Pacific charges a flat $120 USD cancellation fee (or 17,000 Asia Miles) for completely unused award tickets, provided cancellation is requested before ticket expiry. The previous timing-based tier structure ($90-$200) has been replaced with this flat fee. Elite status discount details should be confirmed directly with Cathay.
Fee structure
| Cabin | Timing | Fee | Elite benefit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Any time before ticket expiry (completely unused) | Any time before ticket expiry (completely unused) | $120 USD or 17,000 Asia Miles | See notes — elite discounts not confirmed for flat-fee structure | Miles redeposited minus fee; confirm Diamond/Gold discounts with Cathay directly |
| No-show / after first sector departed | No-show / after first sector departed | No refund | All members: No refund | Miles and taxes forfeited |
Partner Program Bookings
Cathay Pacific bookings through partner programs:
Important notes
- Flat $120 fee replaces previous timing-based tiers ($90/>120 days through $200/<30 days)
- Fee can be paid in cash ($120) or Asia Miles (17,000)
- Ticket must be completely unused for cancellation
- 24-hour free cancellation for bookings made more than 7 days before departure
- Waitlisted segments that don't clear are automatically refunded without fee
- Elite status discounts on the flat-fee structure need direct confirmation with Cathay
Frequently asked questions
Did Cathay Pacific change from tiered fees to a flat fee?
Yes. Cathay replaced the old timing-based tier structure (ranging from $90 for 120+ days out to $200 within 30 days) with a flat $120 USD fee (or 17,000 Asia Miles) for any completely unused ticket.
Is it better to book Cathay through Alaska Mileage Plan?
Alaska Atmos Rewards now has no award redeposit fees, while CX charges $120. Booking through Alaska can be advantageous, though you lose CX elite benefits when booking through partners.
Do mixed cabin bookings have special rules?
Yes, if you book economy and business class on the same ticket, the entire booking is subject to the higher business class cancellation policy.
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