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Cathay Pacific has announced some big changes coming to its loyalty program. These are set to take effect on January 1, 2027. The updates are designed to make the program smoother, more transparent, and more rewarding for frequent flyers.
A Streamlined Membership Cycle
Under the new system, all members will transition to a standardized annual cycle running from January 1st to December 31st. Status Points accumulated during this period will determine a member’s tier for the following year. This simplifies what was previously a rolling renewal process.
One of the most notable improvements is that Status Points will no longer reset to zero upon a tier upgrade. This will allow members to achieve multiple status advancements within the same year. Once a new tier is reached, its benefits become available immediately and remain valid through to the end of the next calendar year.
Enhanced Flexibility Through Point Rollover
Cathay is also introducing a Status Point rollover feature for Gold members and above. Members who exceed their tier requirements can carry over up to 50% of the Status Points needed for their highest achieved status. This gives them a valuable head start for the following year.
- Gold members can roll over up to 300 Status Points
- Diamond members can roll over up to 600 Status Points
- Diamond Exec members can roll over up to 1,200 Status Points
This update ensures that loyal members retain the benefits of their continued engagement without losing progress at year’s end.
Introducing Cathay Diamond Exec
A major highlight of the new program is the debut of Cathay Diamond Exec. This new tier is positioned between Diamond and the invitation-only Diamond Plus levels. Diamond Exec members will enjoy dedicated Relationship Managers and an elevated level of personalized service. Benefits include:
- Four (single sector) upgrade passes to the class above a ticketed reservation (including First Class)
- Cart service for Cathay Pacific departures at Hong Kong International Airport from Gates 40 to 80
- Ability to gift Gold status to another Cathay member
- A dedicated phone line to a “Relationship Manager”
In addition, Cathay is launching Diamond Membership Reserve, an exclusive benefit for members who have held any Diamond status for at least five years. These members can receive complimentary Diamond memberships lasting up to one year for every 6,000 Status Points earned since 2016, when the current Status Points system was introduced. Complimentary Diamond memberships have no expiration date and can be activated at the member’s discretion, allowing flexibility in when to enjoy premium benefits.
Refreshed Benefits and Seamless Transition
While the new structure simplifies tier progression, Cathay will also retire mid-status benefits for Gold and Diamond members beginning January 1, 2027. In their place, members will receive Upgrade Passes (previously known as Bookable Upgrades) and complimentary Gold companion memberships. Mid-status benefits earned during 2026 will remain valid for 12 months from the date of issue, ensuring a smooth handover into the new system. Members can rest assured that their current status in 2025 and its associated privileges will remain unchanged until its natural expiry date, with all renewals in 2026 following existing rules until the transition is complete.
A Commitment to Seamless Evolution
Cathay Pacific emphasizes that the transition to the new program will be gradual and carefully managed throughout 2026 to minimize disruption. The airline aims to provide members with clear guidance and dedicated support every step of the way, including personalized updates about their progression toward Diamond membership and other status milestones.
Anthony’s Take: With these updates, Cathay Pacific is making some big moves in 2027. The redesigned program offers some unique benefits and should prove popular with Cathay loyalists.
(Image Credits: Cathay Pacific.)
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
