Status: checked against official sources; automated independent review
Part of Cathay / Asia Miles hub
GUIDE
How to understand Asia Miles award change and cancellation fees
Asia Miles expiry runs on an activity-based rule: since 1 January 2020 (time in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China), a member keeps Asia Miles active by earning or redeeming at least once every 18 months, and the expiry date is extended by 18 months from the last crediting or debiting date. [2] Cathay has separately published membership programme changes taking effect on 1 January 2026 and on 1 January 2027. [3]
Facts checked: 18 October 2026
Key takeaways
- Asia Miles have run on an activity-based expiry system since 1 January 2020 (time in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China): a member who earns or redeems at least once every 18 months keeps the balance active. [2]
- The expiry date moves with the date miles are credited to or debited from the account, not with the date the underlying activity or transaction took place. [2]
- Miles credited on or before 31 December 2019 stay on the former time-based arrangement, under which miles expired three years after being credited to the account. [2]
- Cathay's changes for 1 January 2027 are not yet reflected in the updated programme Terms and Conditions, and Cathay says it will provide the version that reflects them during 2026. [3]
How does the 18-month Asia Miles activity rule work?
Asia Miles moved from a time-based expiry system to an activity-based one on 1 January 2020 (time in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China). [2] A member keeps the balance active by earning or redeeming miles at least once every 18 months. [2] Each crediting or debiting of miles automatically extends the expiry date by 18 months counted from that date. [2]
The anchor is the date miles are credited to or debited from the account rather than the date of the activity or transaction behind it. [2] The rule therefore keys off the account entry, not the day the qualifying activity happened. [2]
Under the new system, newly earned miles no longer expire three years after being credited to an account. [2] That three-year limit is the effect of the former arrangement, which still governs miles credited on or before 31 December 2019. [2]
Award pricing and booking are separate questions from the expiry clock; the booking steps are covered in how to book Asia Miles awards.
Which expiry arrangement applies to your balance?
Cathay splits the two systems by the date the miles were credited, not by the date of any booking. [2]
| Miles credited | Arrangement that applies |
|---|---|
| On or before 31 December 2019 | The former time-based arrangement, under which miles expired three years after being credited to the account [2] |
| From 1 January 2020 | The activity-based arrangement, with the expiry date extended by 18 months from the last crediting or debiting date [2] |
Because the dividing line is the crediting date, a single balance can hold miles under both arrangements, with the older miles still following the former arrangement. [2]
What changes on 1 January 2026 and 1 January 2027?
Cathay's published programme changes run in two stages, and all dates and times in them refer to the time in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China. [3] From 1 January 2026, every member's membership period ends at 11.59pm on 31 December 2026, and the status a member holds from 1 January 2027 is decided by the Status Points earned between 1 January and 31 December 2026. [3] A Membership Holiday requested during 2026 lasts until 31 December 2026 at the latest, and no Status Points are earned while a member is on one. [3]
From 1 January 2027 the Status Points balance stops resetting every time a member reaches a higher status and resets only at the end of each Status Points earning period, which runs from 1 January to 31 December each calendar year. [3] Gold members may roll over up to 300 Status Points, Diamond members up to 600 and Diamond Exec members up to 1,200. [3] Diamond Exec is a new status above Diamond that requires at least 2,400 Status Points in a Status Points earning period, and a member who reaches a higher status from 1 January 2027 holds it for the remainder of that membership period and through the following one. [3]
Two single-sector Upgrade Passes are awarded to members who earn 1,200 Status Points and reach Diamond, and Diamond members who renew receive two each February; a pass upgrades one sector by one class up to Business, is limited to flights marketed and operated by Cathay Pacific, is subject to seat availability and may be used by the member, their travel companions or Redemption Group Nominees. [3] Diamond Exec members receive four single-sector passes valid up to First class on flights marketed and operated by Cathay Pacific, subject to seat availability. [3]
The updated Cathay membership programme Terms and Conditions do not reflect the changes taking effect on 1 January 2027, and Cathay says it will provide the version that does reflect them during 2026. [3]
Exceptions and limits
- Old and new miles behave differently. The activity-based extension applies to miles earned from 1 January 2020, while everything credited on or before 31 December 2019 continues under the former arrangement. [2]
- Scope of this page. It covers Asia Miles expiry and Cathay's published membership programme changes only; award pricing, routing and ticket servicing are outside its scope.
- Time in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China governs the dates. The expiry change is dated 1 January 2020 (time in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China), and Cathay states that all dates and times in its published programme changes refer to the time in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China. [2] [3]
- Terms are still catching up. The changes taking effect on 1 January 2027 are not yet in the updated Terms and Conditions, and the reflecting version is promised during 2026. [3]
- Membership Holidays are time-boxed in 2026. A holiday requested during 2026 ends by 31 December 2026, and no Status Points are earned during it. [3]
- Further Membership Holiday changes are unpublished. Cathay says certain changes to Membership Holidays will be announced and notified to members in 2026. [3]
Frequently asked questions
How often do I have to earn or redeem Asia Miles to keep them active?
At least once every 18 months under the activity-based system that began on 1 January 2020 (time in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China). [2] Each crediting or debiting extends the expiry date by 18 months from that date. [2]
Does the expiry clock run from the activity date or from the date the miles move?
Cathay extends the expiry date from the last miles crediting or debiting date rather than from the activity or transaction date, so the date the miles actually move on the account is the one that counts. [2]
Do miles earned before 2020 follow the same rule?
No. Miles credited on or before 31 December 2019 continue under the former arrangement, in which miles expired three years after being credited to the account. [2]
Are the 2027 programme changes already written into the terms?
Not yet. Cathay says the updated Terms and Conditions do not reflect the changes taking effect on 1 January 2027 and that it will provide the version reflecting them during 2026. [3]
What happens to Status Points during a Membership Holiday in 2026?
None are earned while a member is on a Membership Holiday, and a holiday requested during 2026 ends by 31 December 2026 at the latest. [3]
Sources
Sources checked on 18 October 2026. It covers the Asia Miles expiry rule and Cathay's published membership programme changes; award pricing, routing and ticket servicing are outside its scope.
- Cathay FAQ: what is the new change on the expiry rule of Asia Miles?, checked 18 October 2026
- Cathay: key changes to the Cathay membership programme, checked 18 October 2026