Act FAST: Cheap deals to Hong Kong for $148 each way and tons of premium class award availability

As the city of Hong Kong is in the midst of a social makeover, carriers such as Cathay Pacific and Hong Kong Airlines have suffered from low ridership.  United and American have also cut frequencies from their hubs to HKG, citing decreased demands.  Perhaps as a result, Hong Kong Airlines is running some amazing deals for SFO-HKG for only $148 each way in economy . . . if you fly out within the next 2 weeks.  But at the same price as a 3-hour flight in the continental U.S., this is an insanely good deal that definitely won't last.


You can use Skyscanner to search for the cheap flights, and most available dates fall at the end of September and first week of October.  I flew on Hong Kong Airlines last year in business class and both the hard product and service were stellar.  To me, they are definitely an underrated airline with perennial 5-star Cathay Pacific as their main competitor.

Hong Kong Airlines A350 business class; sorry, these aren't $148


 Fantastic Cathay Pacific Premium Class award availability

And not to be outdone by Hong Kong Airlines, Cathay Pacific has incredible premium award availability between HKG and their U.S. destinations particularly in Summer and Fall 2020, including SFO, LAX, ORD, IAD, and JFK:




This also won't last, so ACT FAST if you want to fly in Cathay Pacific's wonderful biz or first class product.  With the 40% transfer bonus between Amex MR and British Airways Avios, you can fly one-way biz SFO-HKG for just 78k Amex points each way.  Cathay Pacific's Asia Miles is also a good deal for 65k-70k each way:


Asia Miles is a 1:1 transfer partner with Citi and Amex, so you'd be looking at 65k-70k Citi TY or Amex MR one-way for SFO-HKG or 85k from ORD and the East Coast to HKG.  However, if you have Alaska Airlines miles to spare, it would come out to only 50k for biz and 70k for first class for all flights from between the U.S. and Asia!

Bottom line

 Even with the cut backs in frequencies to HKG from the mainline carriers, these are great revenue fares in economy with Hong Kong Airlines and fantastic award availability for Cathay Pacific.  Hong Kong may not be on your bucket list with the recent protests that are coming to a close, but still a fun destination especially for foodies, and a great connection/transfer point to pretty much all of Asia.

Cathay Pacific's legendary biz class




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