Cathay streamlines loyalty program status from 2027

Significant changes are coming to Cathay’s loyalty program in 2027, and at first glance, the ‘enhancements’ are actually mostly beneficial. It’ll be easier to earn and keep elite status levels. At the Diamond end of the spectrum, a new tier will be carved out, promising a better range of benefits.

But as part of the reshuffle, some existing perks for Gold and Diamond members will also be cut back or realigned. There will also be changes to membership years, and 2026 will see a transition period during which some benefits may be prematurely ended. Here’s what you need to know.

New changes to Cathay membership years, Status Points

Moving to a fixed calendar year

First up, Cathay will adopt a standardised membership year, starting from 2027. Everyone’s status will be assessed based on flying in a calendar year. Membership tiers will be valid for at least 13 months, ending on 31 January the following year.

For example, your activity from 1 January to 31 December 2026 will count towards your status level in 2027, which then remains active until 31 January 2028. If you reach your status goal early in 2026, then it kicks in immediately for the rest of that year as well.

As part of the transition, everyone’s membership will automatically reset on 31 December 2026. Regardless of whether you would have held status for longer, everyone will have to qualify on the new rules from 1 January 2027.

Introducing Diamond Exec

Cathay will introduce Diamond Exec, a new tier similar to Qantas’ Platinum One. Earned with a minimum of 2,400 Status Points a year, benefits include:

• A relationship manager to assist with your travels.
• Four single-sector Upgrade Passes that are valid for a one-cabin upgrade, including First Class. Each pass can be used by the member, their travel companions or their nominees on Cathay Pacific marketed + operated flights.
• One complimentary Gold companion membership, which you can assign to a family member or friend.
• A buggy ride when departing on a Cathay Pacific-marketed flight from Hong Kong International Airport with a departure gate between gate 40 and gate 80 (+1 guest on the same flight).

Status Points will keep accumulating

On that note, it will also be much easier to earn a higher status tier. Cathay will nix its unpopular Status Points expiry system, where your balance is reset to zero whenever you reach a higher tier.

Under the new rules, you’ll be able to sail through the status tiers while maintaining your Status Points balance. Your balance will only zero out at the end of each calendar year.

Cathay’s Gold, Diamond, and Diamond Exec members will also be able to roll over excess Status Points to the following year, up to 50% of the Status Points required for that status tier.

For example, Cathay Gold status requires members to earn 600 Status Points within a year. If a Gold member earns 900 Status Points in a year, 300 Status Points will carry over to the following year to make it easier to retain that tier.

Finally, Diamond members and higher will be able to earn an extra, complimentary year of Diamond membership after five years of holding that status. Called ‘Diamond membership reserve’, it’s essentially one banked year of Diamond status that you can use at any point in the future, perhaps when your travels wind down. The five years don’t need to be consecutive and you’ll earn one reserve year for every 6,000 Status Points.

Mid-tier benefits get the chop

Once the changes take effect, certain mid-tier perks will be removed or reshuffled. From 1 January 2027, Gold members will lose all mid-status benefits including lounge passes and flight upgrades. Diamond members will also lose mid-tier lounge passes, bookable upgrades and the Gold Companion card.

Instead, Cathay Diamond members will earn two single-sector upgrade passes immediately after qualifying or requalifying for their tier. These are valid for a one-cabin upgrade up to Business Class, but don’t cover First Class.

Green and Silver mid-tier benefits will be renamed ‘milestone benefits’. The Silver benefit will continue to offer two lounge passes when members reach 450 Status Points. Cathay says it will release more details about the Green milestone benefits later in 2026.

Any existing mid-tier benefits earned in 2026 will remain valid for 12 months, even after the changes kick in from 1 January 2027 onwards.

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