Planning to redeem Asia Miles? Find your destination's route category, then set a mileage target based on your cabin and passenger numbers. This guide focuses on Cathay Pacific-operated Asian destinations from Hong Kong.
How many miles does a one-way flight require?
These Standard Award reference figures apply from 1 May 2026 and are per person, one way.
| Route category / flight distance | Economy | Premium Economy | Business | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ultra-short: 1–750 miles | 7,000 | 11,000 | 16,000 | — |
| Short Type 1: 751–2,750 miles | 9,000 | 18,000 | 27,000 | 43,000 |
| Short Type 2: 751–2,750 miles | 13,000 | 23,000 | 33,000 | 50,000 |
| Medium: 2,751–5,000 miles | 20,000 | 39,000 | 60,000 | 90,000 |
Not every route offers every cabin, and these figures do not indicate award-seat availability on a particular date. Actual mileage requirements and seats depend on the redemption search results.
Cathay Pacific-operated destinations in Asia
Find your destination below, then match its category to the mileage chart above. The list covers direct routes from Hong Kong.
| Mileage category | Country / region | Destinations |
|---|---|---|
| Ultra-short | Chinese Mainland | Guangzhou, Haikou, Xiamen, Changsha, Fuzhou, Wenzhou, Wuhan, Hangzhou, Chongqing, Ningbo, Nanjing |
| Ultra-short | Taiwan | Taipei, Kaohsiung |
| Ultra-short | Vietnam | Hanoi |
| Ultra-short | Philippines | Manila |
| Short Type 1 | Chinese Mainland | Beijing (Capital), Shanghai (Pudong/Hongqiao), Chengdu (Shuangliu), Zhengzhou, Xi'an, Qingdao, Urumqi |
| Short Type 1 | South Korea | Seoul (Incheon) |
| Short Type 1 | Thailand | Bangkok, Phuket |
| Short Type 1 | Singapore | Singapore |
| Short Type 1 | Malaysia | Kuala Lumpur, Penang |
| Short Type 1 | Vietnam | Ho Chi Minh City |
| Short Type 1 | Cambodia | Phnom Penh |
| Short Type 1 | Philippines | Cebu |
| Short Type 2 | Japan | Tokyo (Narita/Haneda), Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka, Sapporo |
| Short Type 2 | Indonesia | Jakarta, Bali (Denpasar), Surabaya |
| Short Type 2 | India | New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad |
| Short Type 2 | Bangladesh | Dhaka |
| Short Type 2 | Nepal | Kathmandu |
| Short Type 2 | Sri Lanka | Colombo |
Destinations within the same country or region may fall into different categories. For example, Hanoi is Ultra-short while Ho Chi Minh City is Short Type 1, so check the specific city when budgeting.
How many miles would two people need for a return trip to Japan?
Using Tokyo Economy as an example, a one-way journey requires 13,000 miles per person. If both directions are redeemed at that rate, a return trip for two would require:
13,000 miles × 2 directions × 2 passengers = 52,000 miles
Check the actual mileage requirements and seats for both directions and all passengers when booking.
What else should you check?
You need award seats as well as enough miles. If suitable seats are unavailable on your preferred flight, try alternative departure and return dates.
Redemptions also involve taxes, fuel surcharges and other applicable fees. Compare the cash fare for the same itinerary with the miles and additional charges required to assess whether redemption suits your plans.
Earn miles towards your next trip with monthly rent payments
Everyday shopping is one way to earn miles, and your monthly rent can help too. Use a miles-earning credit card to pay rent through RentSmart, and eligible rent transactions can earn miles, bringing you closer to your redemption target through a regular monthly expense.
Choose your destination and cabin, then use the chart above to set a mileage goal. Your monthly rent payments can become part of preparing for your next trip.
