General description of the Cathay Pacific credit card
Cathay Pacific can be a world -class airline, but its US Credit Card falls. From a mediocre welcome offer to disappointing advantages, this card struggles to compete with the main travel credit cards. I would not recommend this card, even Loyal Cathay Flyers. Card qualification*: ⭐
*Card rating It is based on the opinion of the TPG editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
Cathay Pacific is one of my favorite international airlines: I have flown in both first and Executive class And they have constantly impressed me. Based in Hong Kong, the carrier serves Six American cities with a strong connectivity in Asia and the South Pacific.
But while the airline has a premium reputation, its credit card is not maintained. The Cathay World Elite Mastercard, issued by Synchrony Bank and with an annual rate of $ 99, was updated and reopened to the new applicants in April 2025. Usually, it requires a Credit score 620 or more.
Let’s enter why I think this card is not enough.
The information for the Cathay World Elite Mastercard has been independently collected by the type of points. The details of the card on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Cathay Pacific Card Card Pros and cons
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Welcome offer to Cathay Pacific credit card
The Cathay Pacific credit card currently offers (a very exact) 38,000 miles of bonus after spending $ 3,000 in the first 90 days of opening the account.
According to our May 2025 ValuationsThis welcome bonus is worth $ 494. If you want Request a general travel rewards credit card by American Express, Bilt, Capital One or Citi and transferring their rewards to the program.
Synchrony Bank does not publish Application restrictionsso it is difficult to predict your possibilities of approval. Since there is no way to verify if prequalifies, the application will probably result in hard research In your credit report.
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Cathay Pacific credit card benefits
Here is a summary of the advantages you get from the Cathay Pacific credit card:
- Priority check-in: You and your travel companions can register at the Premium Economy Check-In counter flying Cathay Pacific.
- Priority shipping: You, and only you (without travel companions) can address with the Premium Economics group when Cathay Pacific fly; You must present your physical credit card to do so.
- Benefits of World Elite Mastercard: You will enjoy jet access and offers with brands such as Instacart (until August), Peacock (until December) and Shoprunner.
- There are no foreign transaction rates: You can use your card abroad without accumulating additional charges (this is standard for most travel rewards cards).
- Pass your path to the State: Win 10 state points for every $ 5,000 spent on the card (up to a maximum of 100 state points each calendar year).
- Redemption discount: Receive a 10% discount for car rental, experience and hotels awards.
- Mile gifts and transfers: Enjoy 10% discount on rates incurred when giving or transferring miles to another member.
These are bad benefits regarding a airline credit card He is worried. The best credit cards in the airline offer access to the hall, company certificates and useful ways of spending the State.
While priority check-in and approach are useful, it will only get them with this card when a premium economic cabin is operating from the airport where it is (which is the case of all US routes, but only for approximately half of the flights inside Asia).
The state shortcut is scarce. It should spend $ 50,000 on the card in a year just to obtain a third of the silver state, which offers access to executive classrooms of Cathay Pacific, Check-in and approach.
Silver is equivalent to the state of Oneworld Ruby; If you go Oneworld statusI would recommend the previous level (Cathay Pacific Gold, which coincides with Oneworld Sapphire) at least. For that, I would need 600 state points in a year, so maximizing spending on this card would only give around 16% of the road; The rest would need to be organically earned (through flying, buying, etc.).
The terms and conditions of this card indicate that it can take up to six months so that the state points are reflected in their account after they are gone, so this card is not a reliable way to reach the elite state with the airline.
If the State is the highest priority for you, a better alternative is the Qatar Airways Privilege Club Visa Infinite Credit Card (with an annual rate of $ 499), offered by the Oneworld sapphire for the first year.
Finally, the redemption discount for car rentals, experiences and hotels, which, unlike Flight discount with a prize of 15% of Delta Air LinesIt does not apply to flights, it is not very useful because redeeming its Asian miles for reimbursements without flight offers poor value.
The information for the infinite credit card of the Qatar Airways Club Visa Infinite has been independently collected by the type of points. The details of the card on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Win miles on the Cathay Pacific credit card
As with most airline cards, it will win the largest amount of additional miles when spending directly with the airline. You will win:
- 3 miles per dollar spent on Cathay Pacific and Hong Kong Express* Flights and Purchases on board
- 2 points per dollar spent on meal (including eligible delivery services)
- 1 point per dollar spent on everything else
*Hong Kong Express is the low -cost subsidiary of Cathay Pacific, which operates exclusively on Intra Asian routes.
Based on our May 2025 ValuationsYou will receive a 3.9% return in flight purchases. Compare that with the return of more than 6% I get when I use my CHASE SAPPHIRE Reserve® (see rates and rates) for flight purchases (3 points per dollar), along with that card Strong travel protectionsAnd it is easy to see why the Cathay Pacific card falls short.
The return of 2.6% of the food pales compared to Our main recommendation for a dining cardhe American Express® Gold CardThat earns 8% in this category †, according to our valuations.
† Gase 4 points per dollar spent on restaurants in restaurants worldwide (up to $ 50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar spent for the rest of the calendar year).
In summary, this card does not have a blow to the profit department.
Redeeming miles on the Cathay Pacific credit card
Cathay Pacific is a member of OneWorld Alliance, so he can exchange his miles with carriers such as American Airlines and British Airways, as well as several non -alliance partners such as Air Canada, Latam and Lufthansa.
However, the Asia Miles program is difficult to understand. If you are new, look Our full guide for Asia Miles For all the nuances of the program and details of the esgality.
If you believe that redeeming Asia Miles is the best value to fly in Premium Cabañas with Cathay Pacific, think again. For example, a unidirectional first class flight from Los Angeles to Hong Kong requires 125,000 miles from Asia or 110,000 American Airlines Aadvantage Miles, and taxes through Aadvantage are less than a quarter of them when they are reserved with Asia Miles.
However, while reserving Cathay Pacific flights through American or Alaska Airlines, it can offer a better value, the airline releases more awards availability in their premium cabins to its own members. I reserved the previous flight in January 2025 and I had to use Asia Miles because it was not available through American or Alaska.
So, if you find an itinerary you like, my advice is to call Asia Miles at 833-933-2244 to suspend the prize for up to 72 hours. If you need more Cathay miles to cover the cost, Convert one of these rewards coins transferable to Asia Miles (which are even more valuable during a Transfer bonus promotion)
Finally, you can exchange Miles from Asia for car rentals, experiences and hotels, as well as access to the living room, but none of these options is valuable.
What cards do Cathay Pacific credit card?
Since Asia Miles is associated with all the main transferable rewards programs, except Chase, my advice is to obtain one of the following cards: instead:
To obtain additional options, see our complete list of the The best credit cards in the airline.
Related: Why transferable points and miles are worth more than other rewards
Is the Cathay Pacific credit card worth?
Cathay World Elite Mastercard is the only credit card issued by the United States that allows you to win asia miles and state points directly. However, even the frequent flyers of Cathay Pacific will have problems obtaining a substantial value of this card. My advice is to get a general Travel Rewards Credit Card and transfer your rewards to Asia Miles.
End
Cathay Pacific rises in the sky, but his credit card barely rises. Although North America is its more lucrative market Outside Asia, the airline has not been able to offer a convincing product for US consumers.
With a bad welcome bonus, disappointing travel advantages and a slow path to elite status, I would doubt the Cathay Pacific credit card even to Cathay Pacific flyers.
If you want to use miles to fly Cathay Pacific (as well as Enjoy room access During his trip), he would suggest obtaining a General Travel Rewards Credit Card and transfer your rewards to Asia Miles or other Oneworld loyalty program.
Related: How to choose a airline credit card
For the rates and rates of the Amyx Platinum, click here.
