Thanks for the response Scott. It is interesting, there appears to be plenty of award availability around April, and June/July onwards, however May is extremely limited with almost zero award space. I have been checking regularly for several months now too. It is really quite bizarre.

I have my fingers crossed that they open up some last-minute Business/First availability around Mid-May

Peak/off-peak doesn’t matter. If you see CX space on BA then you should be able to book it with Alaska miles.

I don’t know why it’s been less available recently. I know that CX has talked about being more restrictive when it comes to releasing awards to partners. But in my experience it has continued to be consistent close to departure.

Ah, ok. That’ll add up quick! Thanks for the info.

No, because you can’t combine partners on the same award.

Also, keep in mind that the award chart only publishes a price from Europe to Hong Kong. If you want to travel Cathay Pacific within Asia, that will be another award.

Going by the award chart, you need three (or two) awards to reach Bangkok from Europe.
— intra-Europe on AF/KL (optional) to CX gateway
— Europe to HKG on CX
— intra-Asia on CX from HKG to BKK

Nice. Could I do that all on one award ticket? E.g. use KLM/AF to get to get to Paris then CX to Bangkok for the same amount of miles?

Then in your case, Cathay Pacific and Air France/KLM will be your only options. Cathay Pacific is the only option that AS provides to book award travel between Europe and Asia. If you aren’t near one of Cathay’s European destinations, then you can use AF/KL to book intra-Europe awards.

I’m looking to travel wholly outside North America (between Europe and Asia). I’ll check the post, thanks!

Are you trying to travel from another country to North America, or are you trying to travel entirely outside North America?

There are lots and lots of flights to/from North America. For award travel wholly outside North America, the award chart is more limited. I wrote a post just on this topic in January.

https://travelcodex.com/alaska-airlines-miles-award-travel-outside-north-america/

I never had a problem. Maybe you have to be a member of their club?

Yes, but even outside of 48 hours when traveling in first class, I have difficulty using the website to select seats. That’s why I recommend calling in.

For award tickets, CX only let their elites or premium cabin travelers select their seats outside the 48-hour window.

Thanks, Scott. Yes, I have CX’s PNR. I’ll give them a call.

I have never successfully reserved a seat assignment on Cathay Pacific. Maybe I’m using their website incorrectly.

In most cases I’m not picky about my seat. If I do care, then I ask American Airlines or Alaska Airlines (or whichever airline booked the ticket for me) to provide the Cathay Pacific confirmation number (PNR). I then call Cathay Pacific, give them the PNR, and ask them to assign a seat.

You must use the PNR from the operating airline. If you use the original PNR you got from American or Alaska, that just lets them look it up in their system. Cathay — and every other airline you fly on — will have their own PNR.