Family travel gets a whole lot sweeter when you can turn credit card points into international flights, especially long-haul trips to places like India.
On our most recent adventure, we booked flights to New Delhi (DEL) on British Airways by redeeming Cathay Pacific Asia Miles instead of British Airways Avios.
The result?
-80,000 miles per person
-Saved 12,500 miles each vs booking directly through British Airways
-Same flight. Same seats. Same date.
That’s a total of 50,000 miles saved for our family of four, simply by choosing the right airline program to redeem points.
Why Cathay Pacific Asia Miles Can Beat British Airways Avios
Cathay Pacific and British Airways are both part of the Oneworld alliance, meaning you can use Cathay’s Asia Miles to book BA flights.
What most travelers don’t realize is that partner bookings can price differently and sometimes significantly better.
For this flight:
| Program | Total Miles (One Way, Per Person) | Route |
|---|---|---|
| British Airways Avios | 92,500 Avios | PHX → LHR → DEL |
| Cathay Pacific Asia Miles | 80,000 miles | PHX → LHR → DEL |
Our Phoenix → New Delhi Flight Details
- Route: PHX → LHR → DEL
- Airline flown: British Airways
- Miles used: 80,000 Asia Miles per person (one-way)
- Points transferred from: American Express Membership Rewards
- Cabin: Premium Economy
This redemption made a 20-hour family journey comfortable and affordable.
Why This Matters for Families
Family award travel is a different game, you need 4 seats, not one.
Using Cathay Asia Miles allowed us to:
- Secure 4 award seats on the same flight
- Save 50,000 miles total
- Enjoy premium travel without paying premium cash prices
That’s a free future flight just from booking smarter.
How to Book British Airways Flights Using Cathay Pacific Miles
- Create a free Cathay Pacific Asia Miles account
- Search for award flights on cathaypacific.com
- Look for British Airways as the operating carrier
- Verify seat availability
- Transfer points from Amex/Citi/Capital One to Asia Miles
- Book and save
Pro tip: Always confirm award space before transferring points, transfers are final!
Final Thought: Points Strategy = More Adventures
Using Cathay Pacific Asia Miles instead of British Airways Avios saved us 12,500 miles per person on a family trip from Phoenix to New Delhi, proof that smart redemptions matter.
When you’re traveling the world as a family, small optimizations like this turn into bigger trips, better seats, and more memories.
Travel smarter. Stretch points further. See the world together.
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