Score $175 Back on Cathay Pacific Flights with This AmEx Offer

If you've got a trip to Asia or Australia on your mind, here's a deal that could knock a nice chunk off your airfare. American Express has rolled out a targeted offer for Cathay Pacific: spend $1,000 or more on eligible purchases and receive a $175 statement credit. It's not a game-changer for everyone, but if you're already planning to fly with Cathay, it's essentially free money.

What You Need to Know Before You Book

This isn't one of those offers you can just stumble upon. It's targeted, meaning American Express picks and chooses who gets it. So the first step is to log into your AmEx account and look under the 'Offers' tab. If you see it, great. If not, you might be out of luck – but it's always worth checking back.

The credit applies to purchases made directly with Cathay Pacific – either on their US website or through their official app. That means no third-party booking sites like Expedia or Kayak. And the flight itself has to start in the US, so if you're booking a round-trip from New York to Hong Kong, you're golden. But a one-way from Tokyo to Bangkok? Nope.

One nice thing: you don't have to hit the $1,000 in a single transaction. Multiple smaller purchases will add up, as long as they're all eligible. So if you're booking a few tickets or adding extras like seat selection or baggage, those can count toward the total.

• Only purchases where Cathay Pacific is the merchant of record qualify.
• Excluded: airport purchases, onboard food/beverage/WiFi, standalone hotels, car rentals, third-party bookings, pet fees, and more.
• Must use the US version of the website or app and pay in USD.

Is It Worth It?

Honestly, this is a solid deal if you're already planning to fly Cathay Pacific. A $175 credit on a $1,000 spend is a 17.5% return – that's hard to beat with any credit card rewards program. But it's probably not enough to make you change your travel plans just for the sake of the offer. If you weren't already considering Cathay, the discount might not justify the cost.

One thing to watch out for: the fine print is pretty detailed. Make sure your purchase qualifies. For example, if you're booking a hotel through Cathay's site as a standalone, that won't count. Same goes for car rentals or anything booked through a partner. Stick to flights and you should be fine.

Also, remember that statement credits can take a few days to post after you make the qualifying purchase. Don't panic if it doesn't show up immediately – give it a week or so. If it still hasn't appeared, you can contact AmEx customer service.

Bottom Line

• Check your AmEx offers – this is targeted and not available to everyone.
• Spend $1,000+ on eligible Cathay Pacific purchases (flights only, direct from Cathay) by 12/31/22.
• Get $175 back as a statement credit – a 17.5% return on your spend.
• Multiple smaller purchases count, but avoid excluded categories like hotels, car rentals, and third-party bookings.

Common Questions