Cathay Pacific Temporarily Suspends Japan Airlines Award Bookings Until Further Notice

Updated: October 9, 2026, 10:02am CDT

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Japan Airlines Awards Temporarily Unavailable Through Cathay
Final Thoughts

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Cathay Pacific Asia Miles members have temporarily lost the ability to book award flights on Japan Airlines (JAL), one of the program’s Oneworld alliance partners.

The suspension also affects changes to existing award reservations involving JAL flights, although travelers with confirmed tickets can still fly as scheduled.

Here’s what you need to know.

Japan Airlines Awards Temporarily Unavailable Through Cathay

Cathay Pacific has suspended Japan Airlines award redemptions through its Cathay loyalty program until further notice, as first reported by Loyalty Lobby.

The airline has confirmed that members can no longer redeem Asia Miles for JAL-operated flights. The restriction also prevents travelers from making changes to existing award tickets that include Japan Airlines segments.

JAL domestic Airbus A359 first class seats close up — JAL awards are suspended temporarily through Cathay’s loyalty program. Image Credit: Daniel Ross

However, there’s some good news for travelers who have already booked their flights: Existing Japan Airlines award tickets remain valid, and passengers can travel as originally planned.

In a notice addressing the suspension, Cathay Pacific stated:

Currently, redemption of Japan Airlines (JL) award tickets has been temporarily suspended until further notice. Existing bookings for Japan Airlines award tickets can still be used for travel as normal. If there are any updates, further notice will be given.

Cathay Pacific has not provided a reason for the suspension or indicated when Japan Airlines award bookings might resume. This is a noteworthy development because Cathay Pacific and Japan Airlines are both members of the Oneworld alliance, which generally allows members of participating airline loyalty programs to redeem miles for flights operated by partner carriers.

This is especially frustrating for Cathay members wanting to redeem Asia Miles to fly to Japan or travel within the country. Japan Airlines has an extensive domestic network, making it convenient for travelers looking to visit places beyond Tokyo and Osaka.

Hot Tip:

Existing Japan Airlines award tickets booked with Asia Miles remain valid, but new bookings and changes are on hold. Since Cathay Pacific says the suspension is temporary, it may be worth waiting if your travel plans are flexible.

Final Thoughts

Cathay Pacific says the suspension is temporary but hasn’t provided a timeline for when bookings will resume. Until then, Asia Miles members looking to book Japan Airlines flights need to consider other options.

It’s unclear how long the suspension will last or when members will regain access to JAL award bookings, but we’ll update this post as soon as we learn more or bookings resume.