Cathay Pacific First (777-300ER, being phased out): Six seats per cabin in a 1-1-1 layout (open suites, no doors); One of the widest fully flat beds, with Bamford bedding. From 110,000 miles one-way with American Airlines AAdvantage (US-Hong Kong one-way, Cathay First). Checked 2026-11-01.
What you get
- Six seats per cabin in a 1-1-1 layout (open suites, no doors)
- One of the widest fully flat beds, with Bamford bedding
- The Pier First and The Wing First lounges in Hong Kong
Aircraft: 777-300ER. US airports with this product: JFK, LAX. Only JFK and LAX still have First (InsideFlyer, Jun 2026; TPG, Mar 2025). Cathay's other US routes (BOS, DFW, ORD, SFO, SEA) top out at Business. The Aria Suite retrofit removes First from each 777-300ER it converts, so a First flight can swap to a no-First aircraft.
On the ground
- The Pier, First and The Wing, First, Hong Kong (Cathay official)
Book it with points
One-way prices as researched on 2026-11-01. A dash means no 2025–2026 source confirmed a number.
| Program | Example | Miles, one-way | Taxes and surcharges | Transfer from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LAX-HKG one-way, First (Standard award) | 125,000 | moderate (~$50-150 per our award chart; an independent scanner reports a fuel-surcharge increase in Aug 2026, unverified) | Amex, Capital One, Citi, Bilt, Wells Fargo | |
| US-Hong Kong one-way, Cathay First | 110,000 | low | Citi |
- Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, LAX-HKG one-way, First (Standard award)JFK-HKG (7,501+ mi band) is 160,000. Amex transfers at 1:0.8 since 2026-03-01; others 1:1. Higher 'Choice'/'Tailored' award tiers exist.
- American Airlines AAdvantage, US-Hong Kong one-way, Cathay FirstAAdvantage partner chart: 110,000 First from the US to Asia outside Japan/Korea (Prince of Travel, Feb 2026). Partner access to Cathay First is limited (InsideFlyer, Jun 2026: 'restricted partner bookings').
Finding a seat: First award space is scarce, especially for two travelers, and mostly bookable with Asia Miles (InsideFlyer Jun 2026; View from the Wing 2024).
Before you transfer
- Product is being retired as 777-300ERs get Aria Suites; a new First is planned only for the 777-9 (expected 2027 or later).
- Asia Miles awards are for the member and registered nominees only (independent source; verify).
- 2026-03-01: Amex MR to Asia Miles cut to 5:4 (our transfer table / our award chart).
- 2026-05-01: Asia Miles long-haul Business +3-4k; long-haul First reported 155,000 to 160,000 for 7,501+ mi (crazy4points; partly single source).
Questions
How do I book Cathay Pacific first class with points?
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles: 125,000 miles one-way (LAX-HKG one-way, First (Standard award)), transfer from Amex, Capital One, Citi, Bilt, Wells Fargo. American Airlines AAdvantage: 110,000 miles one-way (US-Hong Kong one-way, Cathay First), transfer from Citi.
Is Cathay Pacific first class award space easy to find?
First award space is scarce, especially for two travelers, and mostly bookable with Asia Miles (InsideFlyer Jun 2026; View from the Wing 2024).
Which lounge comes with Cathay Pacific first class?
The Pier, First and The Wing, First, Hong Kong (Cathay official)
Does flying first class change the climate cost?
The footprint is the seat, not the currency. A first-class seat takes more of the aircraft per person than economy. Paying with points emits the same as paying cash for that same seat.
Is this up to date?
Researched 2026-11-01. Routes, products and award prices change. Confirm the seat on the program's site before you transfer points.
Sources: insideflyer.com, thepointsguy.com, flights.cathaypacific.com, viewfromthewing.com, crazy4points.com, princeoftravel.com, mytravelr.com
Is Cathay Pacific first open for your dates?
Tell Points or Cash where and when. It checks award space, the cash fare and which of your points to transfer.
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