Last year there was good news from Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific, with confirmation that the carrier was eliminating fuel surcharges on almost all its flights, including on award tickets, cutting the cash component of redemptions using Asia Miles on its services from 1st May 2020.
Back then, the jet fuel price was near record lows, at around US$200 per metric tonne in Asia for those paying the ‘pump price’, but today it’s a different story.
Fuel prices have increased significantly, to over US$500 per metric tonne, practically making their way back to levels seen one year ago before the impact of COVID-19 on demand caused such a significant oversupply.
Cathay Pacific has reintroduced fuel surcharges
The bad news is that Cathay Pacific has found it necessary to reintroduce fuel surcharges on all tickets issued from 1st February 2021, with another increase in store from 1st March 2021.
Asia Miles redemptions are no exception, with the applicable fuel surcharge for the sector(s) in your itinerary now added to the other compulsory taxes and fees, typically levied by airport operators.
What’s the impact?
Good news is that Cathay Pacific’s fuel surcharges aren’t that high, just as they weren’t before being removed in May 2020.
On selected routes, zero fuel surcharge will continue to be applied, like from the Philippines to Hong Kong and from Japan to both Hong Kong and Taipei, however on other routes a per-sector fuel surcharge of US$7 to US$31.30 is now being added.
For tickets issued on or after 1st March 2021, these charges will increase to between US$9 and US$40 per flight sector, around S$12-S$53.
While it’s annoying that this sting in the tail is back when you redeem Cathay flights using most frequent flyer programmes, the newly imposed charges don’t fundamentally change the good value you can achieve when redeeming Cathay Pacific flights with a few FFPs.
Here are some examples of the extra charge you’re faced with on these award tickets. They assume travel in Business Class (travel class does slightly impact the taxes charged for itineraries including a departing flight from both Hong Kong and London).
| Cathay Pacific Taxes & Fees (Jan vs. Feb 2021) |
||||
| Route | Until 31 Jan | From 1 Feb | Change | |
| SIN-HKG | US$31.20 (S$41.50) |
US$38.20 (S$50.80) |
S$9.30 (+ 22%) |
|
| HKG-FRA | US$45.10 (S$60.10) |
US$76.60 (S$102.00) |
S$41.90 (+ 70%) |
|
| LHR-HKG | US$312.00 (S$414.90) |
US$343.30 (S$456.50) |
S$41.60 (+ 10%) |
|
| SIN-HKG-FRA | US$70.80 (S$94.30) |
US$109.10 (S$145.20) |
S$50.90 (+ 54%) |
|
Based on IATA Consolidated Exchange Rates at 18 February 2021
In some cases, including for long-haul flights originating from Hong Kong, the additional cost is over 50% compared to previous rates. Obviously on routes where other taxes are high (ex-LHR for example) the additional charge, while still unwelcome, isn’t a big proportional impact.
For tickets issued on or after 1st March 2021, just over a week from now, unfortunately there’s another increase coming. Here are the taxes and fees payable for those award tickets, compared to the rates payable before the fuel surcharge was reintroduced.
| Cathay Pacific Taxes & Fees (Jan vs. Mar 2021) |
||||
| Route | Until 31 Jan | From 1 Mar | Change | |
| SIN-HKG | US$31.20 (S$41.50) |
US$40.20 (S$53.40) |
S$11.90 (+ 29%) |
|
| HKG-FRA | US$45.10 (S$60.10) |
US$85.10 (S$113.20) |
S$53.10 (+ 88%) |
|
| LHR-HKG | US$312.00 (S$414.90) |
US$352.00 (S$468.20) |
S$53.30 (+ 13%) |
|
| SIN-HKG-FRA | US$70.80 (S$94.30) |
US$119.80 (S$159.30) |
S$65.00 (+ 69%) |
|
Based on IATA Consolidated Exchange Rates at 18 February 2021
As you can see by 1st March 2021, you’ll be paying 29% more in taxes for a Singapore – Hong Kong award ticket, which may come into play if the Air Travel Bubble ever gets going, and 69% more on a Singapore – Hong Kong – Frankfurt award ticket.
Remember that the increased fuel surcharges from 1st March 2021 won’t reflect when you make a dummy booking until they actually come into effect on that date.
Is it worth booking now?
You can save some of the fuel surcharge impact by booking your award ticket between now and 28th February 2021, avoiding the 1st March 2021 increase.
For most shorter routes it’s probably not worth worrying about, but if you were intending for example to book a Singapore – Frankfurt return trip as a couple in late 2021, you’ll save S$56.40 in total by locking it in before the end of February, which isn’t to be sniffed at.
A word of caution though, the future direction of fuel prices is unknown and Cathay Pacific reviews its fuel surcharges on a monthly basis, so April and May 2021 might well see lower fuel surcharges compared to March 2021, for example. You won’t receive any refund in this case, if you have already booked.
Asia Miles impact
Here’s how these latest changes impact the Asia Miles ‘sweet spots’ when redeeming Cathay Pacific flights, based on the new fuel surcharges in effect for tickets issued on or after 1st March 2021.
 |
Asia Miles ‘Sweet Spots’ Cathay Pacific |
||
| Route | Cabin | Miles | Taxes & Fees |
| Singapore – Hong Kong | Economy | 10,000 | S$53.40 |
| Business | 25,000 | ||
| Hong Kong – Taipei | Economy | 7,500 | S$56.80 |
| Business | 16,000 | S$68.80 |
|
| Sydney – Hong Kong | Economy | 22,000 | S$147.30 |
| Business | 45,000 | ||
| Singapore – Amsterdam | Business | 65,000 | S$159.30 |
| Singapore – Frankfurt | Business / First | 92,300 | S$159.30 |
| Bangkok – London | Business | 65,000 | S$137.90 |
| Business / First | 94,700 | S$137.90 |
|
| Bangkok – Vancouver | Business | 70,000 | S$137.90 |
| Sydney – London | Business | 85,000 | S$239.90 |
| Business / First | 107,600 | S$239.90 |
|
Most of these routes remain great value redemptions, even after 1st March 2021, but there are some hefty increases to contend with. On routings involving two long-haul flights, like Sydney to London via Hong Kong, the additional fuel surcharge payable is over S$100 in each direction, or S$200+ for a round-trip.
Avios impact
British Airways Avios points are a great way to redeem shorter Asia-Pacific flights on Cathay Pacific. Here’s how the new fuel surcharges will impact the cash payable on top of your points from 1st March 2021, compared to the zero fuel surcharge days.
 |
Avios ‘Sweet Spots’ Cathay Pacific |
||
| Route | Cabin | Miles | Taxes & Fees |
| Singapore – Bangkok | Economy | 9,000 | S$69.00 |
| Business | 16,500 | ||
| Bangkok – Hong Kong | Economy | 9,000 | S$45.30 |
| Business | 16,500 | ||
| Singapore – Hong Kong | Economy | 11,000 | S$53.40 |
| Business | 22,000 | ||
| Hong Kong – Taipei | Economy | 6,000 | S$56.80 |
| Business | 12,500 | S$68.80 |
|
Since these are all short routes, the impact is not that significant and we still consider these to be excellent redemption rates on the routings mentioned if you have an Avios balance or transfer Citi credit card points into the programme.
Alaska Miles award tickets are still exempt
Good news if you are planning to redeem Alaska Mileage Plan miles on Cathay Pacific – Alaska does not pass on the fuel surcharge so you’ll see no difference in the taxes and fees payable on these award tickets either now or after 1st March 2021.
That means Alaska’s ‘sweet spots’ when redeeming on Cathay Pacific remain great value, with a low cash component payable in addition to your miles.
 |
Alaska Miles ‘Sweet Spots’ Cathay Pacific |
||
| Route | Cabin | Miles | Taxes & Fees |
| Singapore – USA | Business | 50,000 | S$116.90 |
| Australia – USA | Business | 60,000 | S$181.50 |
| Hong Kong – London | Business | 42,500 | S$60.10 |
| Singapore – Tokyo | Business | 22,500 | S$90.90 |
A word of caution though, Alaska Airlines is joining the oneworld alliance this year, and we predict a harmonised award table for flight redemptions on oneworld carriers is likely to be imposed, potentially increasing the miles needed on these routes.
This will become clearer before Alaska rolls out its new oneworld redemption options in summer 2021.
Does it change the Asia Miles vs. KrisFlyer advantage?
Since KrisFlyer redemptions on Singapore Airlines flights remain fuel surcharge-free, this re-imposition of fuel surcharges on Cathay Pacific does slightly change the advantage metrics for redeeming Asia Miles on Cathay Pacific rather than KrisFlyer miles on our home carrier.
Business Class redemptions from Singapore
| Route |  |
 |
|
| Before | After | ||
| Singapore Frankfurt |
65,000 |
65,000 +S$159 |
92,000 +S$55 |
| Singapore London |
85,000 +S$94 |
85,000 +S$159 |
92,000 +S$55 |
| Singapore New York |
85,000 |
85,000 +S$182 |
99,000 +S$77* |
* S$113 if routing via FRA
As you can see for most routes in Business Class you’re still saving a good amount of miles, especially on the closer (sub-7,500 miles) Europe routes like Frankfurt and Amsterdam, despite the increased cost.
On longer Europe routes like Singapore – London however, it’s starting to become questionable whether it is worth saving 7,000 miles but paying an extra S$104 over and above the Singapore Airlines option (previously only S$39 extra), given the added hassle of an aircraft change in Hong Kong.
If you’re wondering which Europe routes fall into the one-way 65,000 Asia Miles Business Class bracket and which fall into the 85,000 miles one, here’s a map based on departing Singapore.
What if you booked already?
If you booked your Cathay Pacific award ticket between 1st May 2020 and 31st January 2021, don’t worry. The addition of fuel surcharges on Cathay Pacific flights came into force for tickets issued from 1st February 2021, not for flights operating from that date.
If you booked on or before 31st January 2021, you won’t be chased up for the fuel surcharge!
Remember that Cathay’s fuel surcharges are increasing again for tickets issued from 1st March 2021, so if you’re looking at a redemption ticket on 28th February don’t be surprised when you see a jump in price when you check again on 1st March.
Summary
It’s a shame to see fuel surcharges back for Cathay Pacific flights, which will also impact most award tickets booked since 1st February 2021, with a further increase on the way from 1st March 2021.
While the carrier’s fuel surcharges were set to zero between May 2020 and January 2021, very few of us could realistically take advantage, given global border restrictions and uncertainty over future travel prospects.
If you did redeem during that period though, don’t worry, Cathay won’t retrospectively apply the new fuel surcharge now you’ve booked!
It’s never great to see that good value redemptions with a popular airline like Cathay will increase in cost, but on the plus side Cathay’s fuel surcharges are quite bearable compared to some other carriers (e.g. Qatar Airways and Emirates), so this change doesn’t fundamentally ruin these award options in our opinion.
With Singapore Airlines continuing to apply zero fuel surcharge on its own award tickets, however, it may shift your personal opinion of the Asia Miles / KrisFlyer advantage on some routes, especially as Cathay Pacific itineraries usually involve a change in Hong Kong.
(Cover Photo: Cathay Pacific)
So this is how they pay for the 15% AM bonus! No need to devalue just add surcharge