Luxury travel website ASmallWorld is currently promoting an interesting offer that promises elite perks and 250,000 Cathay Asia Miles for the discounted sum of US$3,990 (around A$5,700). You also receive upgraded status in a handful of loyalty programs, including Hilton Honors (as a status challenge) and Sixt.
Buying points or miles is nothing new in this industry, but it is rare for Cathay Pacific, which doesn’t sell its miles in the same way programs such as Air Canada Aeroplan and Virgin Australia Velocity do. Cathay also offers slightly better award seat availability for its own members using Asia Miles.
What’s actually on offer with ASmallWorld?
Until 3 November 2026 (morning of 4 November in Australia), you can purchase a Prestige Membership for US$3,990. The usual price quoted is US$5,790. The package includes:
- 250,000 Asia Miles
- Hilton Honors Diamond Status Challenge
- Sixt Platinum Status
- GHA Discovery Titanium Status
- Jumeirah One Gold Status
- ASmallWorld Premium Membership
- The Bicester Collection Level 3 Status
- Crurated Membership
It’s not made very clear on the site, but note that the Hilton Honors Diamond status is a 90-day trial. You receive Diamond benefits for the initial period, but to extend that to a full year, you need to stay 10 qualifying nights during the trial. If you complete 5 qualifying nights instead, you can earn Gold status.
ASmallWorld says to allow for up to 7 business days to receive the miles after purchase.
What can you do with 250,000 Asia Miles?
While some of the hotel and car elite memberships are nice to have, let’s just focus on the value of the miles for this one. 250,000 Asia Miles is a significant amount with Cathay and could get you:
- Return Business Class Australia-Europe for one (238,000 Asia Miles + fees and taxes for one). Fees and taxes are approximately A$1,350 per person, return.
- Return Business Class Australia-Hong Kong for two (240,000 Asia Miles + fees and taxes for two). Fees and taxes are approximately A$700 per person, return.
Use it for Hong Kong return (2 pax)
Looking on Google Flights, two return Business Class tickets on Cathay Pacific are currently showing around A$11,400 for two people from Perth or Sydney to Hong Kong. If you were planning to buy that anyway, you could be ahead by booking with Asia Miles. Add ~A$1,400 in taxes for two to the A$5,700 purchase price for this package, and you end up with $7,100 for two people return, a saving of ~38%.
But keep in mind that the A$11.4K cash fare for two is available almost year-round and also earns you lots of miles/status points. You don’t need to deal with the hassle of finding reward seats.
Use it for Europe return (1 pax)
For Europe, you’re also up for around A$1,350 in fees and taxes per person, return. This example is using Perth to Madrid in Business Class, but it’s broadly similar for other cities as well.
Add those fees to the A$5,700 purchase price, and you’ll get a cost of roughly A$7,050 for one person return. Cathay’s current cash rate is around $7,780 for the same dates, which isn’t much higher. So in this case, we wouldn’t recommend buying the miles just for this flight.
Summing up
The miles can deliver solid value if you have the right redemption in mind. For example, two return Business Class tickets between Australia and Hong Kong could cost around A$7,100 in total, including the membership and taxes. That’s about 38% less than the current cash fare of A$11,400 for two.
However, the savings aren’t always as compelling. A return Business Class flight from Perth to Madrid would cost roughly A$7,050 after adding taxes to the membership price, compared with a cash fare of around A$7,780. That’s a relatively small difference, especially when a cash ticket also earns frequent flyer points and status credits without the hassle of finding reward seats (which is much more difficult for Europe).
As with any other ‘buy points offer’, we wouldn’t buy the package speculatively. Check reward availability, compare the total cost against cash fares, and make sure you can use the miles straight after purchase. Also remember you might not get the miles straight away – the T&Cs say to allow for up to seven business days.
Point Hacks has no affiliation with ASmallWorld.
