Cathay Pacific bank card overview
Cathay Pacific could also be a world-class airline, however its U.S. bank card falls flat. From a lackluster welcome provide to underwhelming perks, this card struggles to compete with the highest journey rewards bank cards. I would not advocate this card, even to loyal Cathay flyers. Card score*: ⭐
*Card score relies on the opinion of TPG’s editors and isn’t influenced by the cardboard issuer.
Cathay Pacific is certainly one of my favourite worldwide airways — I’ve flown it in each first and enterprise class and have constantly been impressed. Primarily based in Hong Kong, the provider serves six U.S. cities with sturdy connectivity throughout Asia and the South Pacific.
However whereas the airline has a premium repute, its bank card would not maintain up. The Cathay World Elite Mastercard, issued by Synchrony Financial institution and carrying a $99 annual price, was refreshed and reopened to new candidates in April 2025. It usually requires a credit score rating of 620 or greater.
Let’s get into why I consider this card falls wanting the mark.
The data for the Cathay World Elite Mastercard has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.
Cathay Pacific bank card execs and cons
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Cathay Pacific bank card welcome provide
The Cathay Pacific bank card is at the moment providing (a really actual) 38,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 within the first 90 days of account opening.
Synchrony Financial institution doesn’t publish utility restrictions, so it’s onerous to foretell your possibilities of approval. Since there isn’t any method to test when you prequalify, making use of will most definitely lead to a tough inquiry in your credit score report.
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Cathay Pacific bank card advantages
This is a rundown of the perks you get from the Cathay Pacific bank card:
- Precedence check-in: You and your journey companions can test in on the premium financial system check-in desk when flying Cathay Pacific.
- Precedence boarding: You — and solely you (no journey companions) — can board with the premium financial system group when flying Cathay Pacific; you will need to current your bodily bank card to take action.
- World Elite Mastercard advantages: You will get pleasure from concierge entry and affords with manufacturers like Instacart (by August), Peacock (by December) and ShopRunner.
- No overseas transaction charges: You should use your card overseas with out accumulating additional costs (that is normal for many prime journey rewards playing cards).
- Spend your method to standing: Earn 10 standing factors for each $5,000 spent on the cardboard (as much as a most of 100 standing factors every calendar yr).
- Redemption low cost: Obtain 10% off automobile rental, expertise and lodge awards.
- Present and switch miles low cost: Take pleasure in 10% off of charges incurred when gifting or transferring miles to a different member.
These are poor advantages so far as an airline bank card is worried. The very best airline bank cards provide lounge entry, companion certificates and useful methods to spend your method to standing.
Whereas precedence check-in and boarding are helpful, you will solely get them with this card when a premium financial system cabin is working from the airport you are at (which is the case for all U.S. routes however just for about half of flights inside Asia).
The standing shortcut is meager. You’d must spend $50,000 on the cardboard in a yr simply to get a 3rd of the best way to Silver standing, which affords entry to Cathay Pacific business-class lounges, check-in and boarding.
Silver is equal to Oneworld Ruby standing; when you’re going for Oneworld standing, I would advocate the extent above (Cathay Pacific Gold, which matches to Oneworld Sapphire) at a minimal. For that, you’d want 600 standing factors in a yr, so maxing out spending on this card would solely get you about 16% of the best way; the remainder would must be earned organically (by flying, procuring, and many others.).
This card’s phrases and situations state that it could take as much as six months for the standing factors to be mirrored in your account after they’re earned, so this card will not be a dependable method to attain elite standing with the airline.
If standing is prime precedence for you, a greater different is the Qatar Airways Privilege Membership Visa Infinite Credit score Card (with a $499 annual price), which affords Oneworld Sapphire standing for the primary yr.
Lastly, the redemption low cost for automobile leases, experiences and accommodations — which, in contrast to Delta Air Strains’ 15% award flight low cost, doesn’t apply to flights — is not very helpful as a result of redeeming your Asia Miles for nonflight redemptions affords poor worth.
The data for the Qatar Airways Privilege Membership Visa Infinite Credit score Card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.
Incomes miles on the Cathay Pacific bank card
As with most airline cobranded playing cards, you will earn probably the most bonus miles when spending straight with the airline. You will earn:
- 3 miles per greenback spent on Cathay Pacific and Hong Kong Categorical* flights and inflight purchases
- 2 factors per greenback spent on eating (together with eligible supply providers)
- 1 level per greenback spent on the whole lot else
*Hong Kong Categorical is Cathay Pacific’s low-cost subsidiary, working solely on intra-Asian routes.
Primarily based on our Might 2025 valuations, you will obtain a 3.9% return on flight purchases. Examine that to the over 6% return I get when utilizing my Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see charges and costs) for flight purchases (3 factors per greenback), together with that card’s sturdy journey protections, and it is easy to see why the Cathay Pacific card falls brief.
The two.6% return on eating pales compared to our prime suggestion for a eating card, the American Categorical® Gold Card, which earns 8% on this class†, in keeping with our valuations.
†Earns 4 factors per greenback spent on eating at eating places worldwide (on as much as $50,000 in purchases per calendar yr, then 1 level per greenback spent for the remainder of the calendar yr).
In abstract, this card doesn’t pack a punch within the incomes division.
Redeeming miles on the Cathay Pacific bank card
Cathay Pacific is a member of the Oneworld alliance, so you’ll be able to redeem your miles with carriers akin to American Airways and British Airways, in addition to a number of nonalliance companions like Air Canada, LATAM and Lufthansa.
Nevertheless, the Asia Miles program is obscure. Should you’re new to it, take a look at our full information to Asia Miles for all this system’s nuances and nitty-gritty particulars.
Should you assume redeeming Asia Miles is the best-value method to fly in premium cabins with Cathay Pacific, assume once more. For instance, a one-way first-class flight from Los Angeles to Hong Kong requires 125,000 Asia Miles or 110,000 American Airways AAdvantage miles — and the taxes by AAdvantage are lower than 1 / 4 of these when reserving with Asia Miles.
Nevertheless, whereas reserving Cathay Pacific flights by American or Alaska Airways can provide higher worth, the airline releases extra award availability in its premium cabins to its personal members. I booked the flight above in January 2025 and had to make use of Asia Miles as a result of it wasn’t out there by American or Alaska.
So, when you discover an itinerary you want, my recommendation is to name Asia Miles at 833-933-2244 to place the award on maintain for as much as 72 hours. Should you want extra Cathay miles to cowl the price, convert certainly one of these transferable rewards currencies to Asia Miles (that are much more priceless throughout a switch bonus promotion):
Lastly, you’ll be able to redeem Asia Miles for automobile leases, experiences and accommodations, in addition to lounge entry — however none of those choices are priceless.
Which playing cards compete with the Cathay Pacific bank card?
On condition that Asia Miles companions with all the most important transferable rewards packages apart from Chase, my recommendation is to get one of many following playing cards as an alternative:
For added choices, see our full record of the greatest airline bank cards.
Associated: Why transferable factors and miles are price greater than different rewards
Is the Cathay Pacific bank card price it?
The Cathay World Elite Mastercard is the one U.S.-issued bank card that lets you earn Asia Miles and standing factors straight. Nevertheless, even frequent Cathay Pacific flyers may have hassle getting substantial worth from this card. My recommendation is to get a basic journey rewards bank card and switch your rewards to Asia Miles as an alternative.
Backside line
Cathay Pacific soars within the sky, however its bank card barely lifts off. Regardless of North America being its most profitable market exterior Asia, the airline has failed to supply a compelling product for U.S. customers.
With a poor welcome bonus, disappointing journey perks and a sluggish path to elite standing, I’d hesitate to advocate the Cathay Pacific bank card to even frequent Cathay Pacific flyers.
If you need to make use of miles to fly Cathay Pacific (in addition to get pleasure from lounge entry throughout your journey), I would recommend getting a basic journey rewards bank card and transferring your rewards to both Asia Miles or one other Oneworld loyalty program.
Associated: How to decide on an airline bank card
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