Cathay Pacific Cancellation Policy

Flight cancellations can not only be costly but confusing as well. This page explains Cathay Pacific’s cancellation policy in simple language. After going through it, you will know exactly how Cathay Pacific cancellation policy works—and how to save time and money if you ever need to cancel or change your flight (or apply for a refund).

Cathay Pacific Cancellation Policy for Full Refunds 

Under the Cathay Pacific cancellation policy, most tickets are non-refundable. However, you can cancel your flight and get a full refund on the unused portion of your ticket in the following conditions: 

• Your flight is cancelled.
• You cancel a flight within 24 hours of booking if: 
  • Your flight departs to/from the United States, and 
  • You booked at least 7 days before its departure date, and  
  • You booked online from Cathay Pacific’s U.S. website
• You were denied boarding even though you had a confirmed booking.
• You cancel a ticket booked for travel by March 31, 2021 and your ticket was issued on/before March 23, 2020.
• Your flight is delayed by at least 5 hours. 
• Your flight is rescheduled and the new flight causes you to miss a connecting flight. 
• You’re holding a First Flex ticket.
• Any special circumstances prevent you from catching your flight—such as the death of a passenger/immediate family member, serious illness, etc. (subject to documentary evidence and Cathay Pacific agreeing to it).

In all other scenarios, you will be charged a cancellation fee, depending on when you cancel. 

Remember
The Cathay Pacific cancellation policy also states that: 

• You must cancel your ticket before the departure date to avoid being charged a no-show fee. 
• Refunds for cancelled flights usually take 7 business days for credit card and PayPal payments and 20 calendar days for cash/bank payments.
• If you want to cancel an already changed flight or a reissued ticket, the cancellation amount will depend on whether your ticket qualifies for a full refund.
• Partially used tickets will be refunded per applicable rules to the credit card or bank account through which the original payment was made. 

Compensation Provided by Cathay Pacific

• (Per EC Regulation 261/2004) If you were denied boarding (per EC Regulation 261/2004) despite holding a confirmed booking, you will be entitled to receive a denied boarding compensation of EUR 600 in cash or travel vouchers (your choice), or EUR 300 plus 40,000 Asia Miles. The denied boarding compensation will be reduced by 50% if you’re offered an alternate flight under comparable conditions that doesn’t exceed your original scheduled arrival time by more than 4 hours.
• (Per EC Regulation 261/2004) If your flight has been cancelled and no alternate flight is offered, you will be entitled to receive a compensation of EUR 600. 
• (Per EC Regulation 261/2004) If your flight is cancelled and the alternate flight offered to you does not exceed your original scheduled arrival time by more than 4 hours, the compensation paid to you will be reduced by 50%.

Cathay Pacific Policy for Long Flight Delays

• If your flight is delayed by at least 4 hours, you will be offered the following free of charge:
  • Meals and refreshments commensurate with the waiting time
  • 2 phone calls, emails, telex/fax messages
• If your flight is delayed until the next day, you will receive the following free of charge:
  • Hotel accommodation (incl. overnight if required)
  • To-and-fro transportation between the airport and the hotel
• If your flight is delayed by at least 5 hours, you can cancel your flight and receive a full refund at the price at which you purchased your ticket: 
  • For the parts of the journey that you will not be making, and 
  • For the return flight if necessary

Cathay Pacific 24 Hour Flight Cancellation Policy 

Cathay Pacific’s 24 hour flight cancellation policy allows you to cancel any type of flight ticket within 24 hours of purchase and receive a full refund under certain conditions. 

To qualify for a 24-hour cancellation and refund, you must meet all these conditions:

• You must book your flight online from Cathay Pacific’s U.S. website, and
• Your flight must be to/from the United States, and 
• You must cancel within 24 hours of booking, and  
• Your flight’s departure (when you book) is at least 7 days away

Remember
The Cathay Pacific cancellation policy further states that:

• If you’re cancelling within the 24-hour window, you must cancel through Cathay’s Global Contact Center. Such cancellations cannot be processed online.
• If you cancel within 7 days of travel or more than 24 hours after purchasing your ticket, a cancellation fee will be charged depending on your route and fare conditions.

Cathay Pacific Ticket Cancellation Fee

Cathay Pacific’s cancellation fee for unused and partially used tickets is typically USD 150 per passenger, and USD 200 per passenger for expired tickets. 

• If you’re holding a non-refundable fare and don’t qualify for a refund, you will be charged USD 150 (plus the applicable fare difference) to rebook on the following types of fares—Promotional, Economy Save, Premium Economy Standard, and Business Save.  The rebooking fee for Economy Standard fares is USD 50.
• A cheaper option in the current COVID-19 scenario is to rebook your flight to a later date—or exchange your ticket for a Cathay Credit free of charge.

Cathay Pacific Change Flight Policy

Rebook or get Cathay Credits

The Cathay Pacific change flight policy allows passengers to change existing their flight booking (free) and either rebook to a later date or convert their booking into Cathay Credits. 

Flight Rebooking Option #1—Travel Anytime Up to March 31, 2022

Under the Cathay Pacific change flight policy, you can rebook your ticket to travel by March 31, 2022 by making unlimited changes free of charge if: 

• Your ticket was issued on/before March 23, 2020. 
• Your travel date was scheduled on/before March 31, 2021. 

Alternatively, you can exchange your ticket for Cathay Credits.

Remember

• If you had booked your ticket directly through Cathay Pacific’s website, mobile app, or Global Contact Center, you can change your flight and rebook online through Manage booking.
• If you had booked your ticket through a third-party website or a travel agent, you must contact them directly to change your flight and rebook. 
• If you had booked a redemption ticket, you must contact Asia Miles through their online form and provide your flight booking reference number, new destination and new flight date/time.
• If your new flight ticket is more expensive, you must pay the difference in fare. 

Flight Rebooking Option #2—Travel Anytime Up to June 30, 2022

Under the Cathay Pacific change flight policy, you can rebook your ticket to travel by June 30, 2022 by making unlimited changes free of charge if: 

• Your ticket was issued between March 9, 2020—June 30, 2021. 
• Your original travel date was scheduled between June 1, 2020—March 31, 2021. 

Alternatively, you can exchange your ticket for Cathay Credits.

Remember

• If you had booked your ticket directly through Cathay Pacific’s website, mobile app, or Global Contact Center, you can rebook online through Manage booking.
• If you booked your ticket through a third-party website or a travel agent, you must contact them directly to rebook your flight. 
• If you had booked a redemption ticket, you must contact Asia Miles through their online form and provide your flight booking reference number, new destination and new flight date/time.
• If your new flight ticket is more expensive, you must pay the difference in fare. However, if your new flight ticket is cheaper, your new ticket may be issued without any refund. 

How to Change Your Cathay Pacific Flight 
How can I change and rebook my Cathay Pacific flight?

You can change your Cathay Pacific flight and rebook it. How you do it will depend on how you purchased your ticket.

1. If you booked directly through Cathay Pacific’s website, mobile app, or call center, you can rebook it online through Manage booking. If you’re eligible to rebook, you will see a Change flight(s) button under your booking details. Simply click on the button, and follow the on-screen prompts to change your flight (and pay the fare difference, if applicable).
2. If you purchased your ticket from a travel agent, contact them directly to rebook your flight.
3. If you’re holding a redemption ticket, contact Asia Miles by filling out this online form.

Remember

• If you had booked your ticket directly through Cathay Pacific’s website, mobile app, or Global Contact Center, you can rebook online through Manage booking—up to June 30, 2021. After that, you can only make the changes by calling your local booking office by phone.
• If you had booked your ticket through a third-party website or a travel agent, you must contact them directly to rebook your flight. 

How to Apply for Cathay Credits 

The Cathay Pacific change flight policy allows you to opt for Cathay Credits and use them to travel later if you haven’t finalized your travel plans yet—but only under the conditions described below:

Remember

• Cathay Credits can only be used on Cathay Pacific flights (CX).
• Cathay Credits apply only to fully unused tickets.
• You must apply for a Cathay Credit before your original travel date. 
• If your flight is costlier, you must pay the fare difference.

How to Apply 

• If you had booked your ticket directly through Cathay Pacific’s website, mobile app, or Global Call Center, you must fill out this online form. After filling out the form, you don’t need to cancel your ticket online or by phone—it’ll be done for you.
• If you had booked your ticket through a third-party website or travel agent, ask them directly to arrange your Cathay Credits.
• If you had booked a redemption ticket, call Asia Miles directly.

After your Cathay Credits have been processed, you will be able to view the balance online on the Manage booking page.

How to Cancel a Cathay Pacific Flight and Get a Refund

Under the Cathay Pacific flight cancellation policy, you can cancel your booking and get a refund in 3 ways:

• For tickets purchased online from Cathay Pacific’s website, mobile app, or call center, you can cancel your booking online through the Manage booking feature. 
• For tickets purchased from a third-party website or a travel agent, contact them directly.
• For redemption tickets, call Asia Miles or use the online form or call Marco Polo Club directly.

For additional information or rebooking, get in touch with Cathay Pacific’s Global Contact Center or .

Note. If your flight is not operating, you will be refunded the unused value of your ticket within 7 days (for U.S. sectors) to 21 days (for other sectors). 

How to Change Your Cathay Pacific Flight Booking Online

If you had booked directly through Cathay Pacific’s website, mobile app, or call center, you can change your travel date, time, and/or destination online through Manage booking (or Ticket changes or cancellations) as explained below. 

1. Go to the homepage: www.cathaypacific.com
2. Click on the Manage booking tab
3. Find the flight booking you want to change as follows:
   • Sign in through the Member sign-in option, or 
   • Find your booking through the Find a booking option 
4. Select the flight you want to change
5. Click on the Change flight(s) button under your booking details
   (this option will only appear if you’re eligible to change your ticket)
6. Search for your preferred flight date, time, and/or destination 
7. Select your new flight 
8. Follow the on-screen prompts to: 
   • Select your payment method 
   • Enter the necessary details
   • Confirm your new booking
   • Pay the fare difference, if required

You will receive your new e-ticket by email shortly.

You can also change your Cathay Pacific flight booking through the mobile app. 

How to Rebook Your Cathay Pacific Flight Booking by Phone 

You can change your Cathay Pacific flight booking by calling Cathay’s Global Contact Center.

Cathay Pacific Change Fees

Under the Per Cathay Pacific change flight policy, if you don’t qualify for a free flight change, you will be charged a flight change fee (rebooking fee) as explained below. 

Change Fee (Rebooking Fee)—Departure Date

If you want to change your flight date and rebook your ticket—and don’t qualify for a free flight change—you will be charged a date change fee for rebooking.  

Date Change Fee

• USD 50 Economy Standard
• USD 150 Promotional, Economy Save, Premium Economy Standard, Business Save 

Remember

• Tickets purchased between March 9, 2020–June 30, 2021 can be changed for FREE an unlimited number of times till December 31, 2021.
• Economy Supersaver fares to/from Hong Kong cannot be rebooked. 
• Date changes involving low to high season changes will be subject to any difference in fare. 
• Date changes involving high to low season changes will not include any refund in fare. 

Change Fee (Rebooking Fee) for Rerouting

If you reroute an existing flight date and don’t qualify for a free flight change, you will be charged a change fee/rebooking fee as of USD 50 or USD 150 plus any fare and tax difference that applies to the new route. If your tickets are completely unused, the fares will be reassessed by Cathay Pacific.

Rerouting Fee 

• USD 50 Economy Standard
• USD 150 Promotional, Economy Save, Premium Economy Standard, Business Save 

Remember

• Tickets purchased between March 9, 2020–June 30, 2021 can be changed for FREE an unlimited number of times till December 31,2021.
• If your new ticket is costlier, you must pay the difference in tax and fare, as applicable. 
• If your new ticket is cheaper, it will be reissued without any refund. 

Cathay Pacific Name Change on Tickets

How can I change my name on Cathay Pacific ticket?

Under the Cathay Pacific name change policy, minor name corrections can be made free of charge. Slightly misspelled names on tickets can be corrected free of charge, but the ticket cannot be reissued to a different passenger. 

The following types of name corrections can be made free of charge:

• Addition or deletion of middle name
• Deletion of duplicate titles
  (if booked online or via the mobile app)
• Interchanging of first and last name 
• Correction of gender or title—such as Mr. to Ms., Mrs. to Ms. or Ms., etc. 
• Spelling mistakes of up to 3 characters in the first, middle, or last name

Cathay Pacific Name Change Fee

Name changes of more than 3 alphabets—or name changes due to marriage, naturalization, or other reasons—will incur a name change fee as shown in the table below. 

Remember

• Name corrections due to marriage or naturalization must be backed by documentary evidence. 
• A total name change is not permitted. If you want to apply for a total name change, you must refund your original ticket, pay the applicable refund charges, and purchase a new ticket in the new name. 

How to Avoid Paying Cathay Pacific Flight Change/Cancellation Fee

Below are a few ways to avoid paying change and cancellation fees the next time you book your flight on Cathay Pacific:

• Take advantage of Cathay Pacific’s 24-hour cancellation policy. This applies to all flights to/from the United States that are cancelled within 24 hours of booking, provided that: 
  • The booking was made at least 7 days before the flight’s departure, and  
  • The booking was made online from Cathay Pacific’s U.S. website
• If possible, buy a flexible fare. This will allow you to change most of your flights free of charge and reduce the cancellation charges. 
• Earn Elite-level status.
• Watch out for flight schedule changes. In the current COVID pandemic, flight changes and cancellations can occur frequently. If your flight schedule changes significantly or gets cancelled, you are eligible to claim compensation. 
• Call Cathay Pacific if you need advice on how to overcome a difficult situation. 

Frequently Asked Questions on Cathay Pacific Cancellation Policy

What does the Cathay Pacific cancellation policy state?
The Cathay Pacific cancellation policy states that most tickets are non-refundable—but you can cancel your flight and get a full refund if: 

• Cathay Pacific cancels your flight.
• You cancel your flight from/to the United States within 24 hours of booking and: 
  • You booked your flight at least 7 days before its departure, and  
  • You booked online via Cathay Pacific’s U.S. website
• You were denied boarding even though you had a confirmed booking.
• You cancel a ticket booked for travel by March 31, 2021 and your ticket was issued on/before March 23, 2020.
• Your flight is delayed by at least 5 hours. 
• Your flight is rescheduled and the new will cause you to miss a connecting flight. 
• Any special circumstances prevent you from catching your flight—such as the death of a passenger/immediate family member, serious illness, new COVID-19 restrictions, etc. (subject to documentary evidence and Cathay Pacific agreeing to it).

The cancellation policy further states that: 

• In all other cases (than those stated above), a cancellation fee will apply.
• You must cancel your flight before the departure date. 
• Refunds typically take 7 business days for credit card and PayPal payments and 20 calendar days for cash/bank payments.
• The cancellation fee for an already changed flight or a reissued ticket will depend on whether the ticket’s fare conditions. 
• Partially used tickets will be refunded per applicable rules to the credit card or bank account through which the original payment was made. 

What is Cathay Pacific 24-Hour cancellation policy? 
According to Cathay Pacific’s 24-hour cancellation policy, you can cancel any flight ticket within 24 hours of purchase and receive a full refund if:

• Your flight is to/from the United States, and 
• You book your flight online from Cathay Pacific’s U.S. website, and
• You cancel your flight within 24 hours of booking, and  
• Your flight’s departure is at least 7 days later.

The Cathay Pacific cancellation policy further states that if you’re cancelling within the 24-hour window, you must cancel through Cathay’s Global Contact Center. 

Can I change my ticket on Cathay Pacific? 
Yes, and you can change your ticket on Cathay Pacific without incurring any penalty in the following cases: 

• If your ticket was issued on or before March 23, 2020, for travel on or before March 31, 2021, you make free and unlimited changes to your flight and destination and use it anytime up to March 31, 2022. Alternatively, you can exchange your ticket for Cathay Credits. 
• If your ticket was issued between March 9, 2020, and June 30, 2021, you can make free and unlimited changes to your flight and destination up to December 31, 2021 and use it anytime up to June 30, 2022.
• If you’re holding a Flex fare ticket, you can change your flight booking free of charge.

If your new flight ticket is more expensive, you will only have to pay the difference in airfare. But if your new flight is cheaper, your new ticket may be issued without any balance refund. 

What should I do if I don’t qualify for a refund on Cathay Pacific and I don’t want to fly now?
If you don’t qualify for a refund, you can rebook your flight to a later date—without any penalty—as explained below.

You can rebook a flight ticket and fly:

• Anytime up to March 31, 2022, if it was issued on or before March 23, 2020, for travel between June 1, 2020 and March 31, 2021—provided you change your ticket before the flight’s departure date.
• Anytime up to June 30, 2022 if it was issued between March 9, 2020, and March 31, 2021 for travel between June 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021—provided you change your ticket by December 31, 2021.

You will have to pay the fare difference if your new flight is more expensive. But if your flight is less expensive, your new ticket may be issued without any refund.

If your flight doesn’t fit within the timeframes mentioned above, you may be charged a change fee. 

What’s the best way to cancel my Cathay Pacific booking?
If you want to cancel a flight that you booked directly through Cathay Pacific’s website, mobile app, or call center, you can cancel it online through the Manage booking option. However, if you booked your flight through a travel agent or a website like Skyscanner, you will need to contact them directly to cancel your booking.

Within what time range can I cancel my Cathay Pacific booking without a penalty?
If you make an online booking to/from the United States and cancel it within 24 hours, you can get a full refund—provided you made the booking online via Cathay Pacific’s U.S. website and your flight’s departure is at least 7 days later.

To ask for a refund, you must contact Cathay Pacific’s Global Contact Center—you can’t do it online. 

Remember, the 24-hour refund policy does not apply to flights outside of the United States.

Can I cancel my Cathay Pacific flight booking?
Yes, you can cancel your Cathay Pacific flight booking provided you do it before the flight’s scheduled departure. However, cancellation charges may apply if your flight doesn’t qualify for a full refund.   

What happens if my Cathay Pacific flight gets cancelled?
If Cathay Pacific cancels your flight: 

• You will be notified via the contact details you provided when booking your ticket—such as by email and SMS.
• You will be rebooked on the next available flight in the same travel class.
• Your new flight details will appear on the Manage booking page of Cathay’s website. 
• You will have the option to cancel your flight and receive a full refund if the new flight schedule causes you to miss a connecting flight or delays you by at least 5 hours compared to your original flight schedule. 

What is the Cathay Pacific ticket cancellation fee?
Cathay Pacific’s ticket cancellation fee is typically USD 150 for partially used/unused tickets and USD 200 for expired tickets. However, it could be higher depending on your route, fare type, and when you cancel. 

To avoid paying a cancellation fee, you can consider rebooking your flight or converting it into a Cathay Credit your fare conditions permit.

Can I get a refund if my Cathay Pacific flight is cancelled?
If your Cathay Pacific flight is cancelled, you can get a full refund in the following conditions: 

• Your new flight is delayed by at least 5 hours.
• The new flight offered by Cathay Pacific will cause you to miss a connecting flight. 
• Cathay Pacific is unable to arrange a new flight.
  

How much will Cathay Pacific refund on cancellation of a flight ticket?
If you cancel your flight ticket, the amount refunded by Cathay Pacific will typically be the price your paid for your ticket minus a cancellation fee of USD 150 for a partially used or unused ticket, and USD 200 if you ticket has expired. 

How can I cancel my Cathay Pacific flight without penalty?
You can cancel your Cathay Pacific flight without penalty if:

• You cancel a flight to/from the U.S. within 24 hours of booking and: 
  • You booked at least 7 days before its departure date, and  
  • You booked online from Cathay Pacific’s U.S. website
• Your flight is delayed by at least 5 hours. 
• You cancel a ticket booked for travel by March 31, 2021 if the ticket was issued on/before March 23, 2020.
• Your flight is cancelled.
• Your flight is rescheduled and the alternate flight offered causes you to miss a connecting flight. 
• You were denied boarding on a confirmed ticket.
• Any special circumstances prevent you from catching your flight—such as the death of an immediate family member/passenger, extreme illness, government restrictions, etc.—provided you have documentary evidence and the airline agrees to your request.

What is Cathay Pacific’s refund policy?
The Cathay Pacific refund policy states that most tickets are non-refundable. However, you can cancel your flight and get a full refund on the unused portion of your ticket if your flight is cancelled, delayed by at least 5 hours, or rescheduled and the alternate flight offered causes you to miss a connecting flight.

You are also entitled to a full refund if you were denied boarding on a confirmed reservation, or qualify for the 24-hour cancellation policy for flight bookings to/from the U.S. cancelled within 24 hours of purchase (for flights departing at least 7 days later, provided the booking was made online through Cathay Pacific’s U.S. website). 

If any extreme circumstances prevent you from catching your flight, you may be entitled to receive a full refund if the airline agrees. Such circumstances can include the death or serious illness of an immediate family member or the passenger, etc., and must be backed by proper documentary evidence.

The refund policy further states that:

• All refunds must be requested within 2 years of cancellation.
• If you rebook a flight which is cheaper than the original flight, the fare difference will not be refunded.
• Refunds will be made within 7 business days for payments made by credit card and within 20 calendar days for payments made by cash or bank transfer.

Does Cathay Pacific allow change of booking name?
Cathay Pacific allows minor changes and corrections to a name free of charge. Changes that can be made free of charge include the inclusion or deletion of the middle name, duplicate title deletion, interchanging of name and surname, gender title correction, or spelling errors of up to 3 characters. 

Other name changes, such as those involving a change of more than 3 alphabets—or a name change on account of marriage, naturalization, or other reasons—can be made for a fee. 

Cathay Pacific does not allow a change of booking involving a different passenger.

Can I change the name on a ticket on Cathay Pacific?
You can make minor name corrections on a Cathay Pacific ticket, but you cannot completely change a name unless you can back it with valid documentary evidence that it relates to the same passenger. 

How much does changing flights cost on Cathay Pacific?
Changing flights on Cathay Pacific is free for tickets issued between March 9, 2020 to June 30, 2021. However, you must make the changes before December 31, 2021 and travel by June 30, 2022. 

If you don’t fall in this category, changing a flight will cost you USD 50 on a Standard Economy ticket, and USD 150 on a Promotional, Economy Save, Premium Economy Standard, and Business Save ticket.

Aside from this, you will have to pay the applicable difference in tax and fare.

Remember, changing flights is not permitted on Economy Supersaver fares to/from Hong Kong. 

Can I change a ticket on Cathay Pacific?
Yes, you can change your ticket on Cathay Pacific—either free of cost or for a fee. You can make as many changes to your date and/or route as you like free of charge if you purchased your ticket between March 9, 2020 and June 30, 2021, provided you make the changes by December 31, 2021 and travel no later than June 30, 2022. 

If you don’t fall in this category, changing the date of a Standard Economy Ticket will cost you USD 50, and changing the date of a Promotional, Economy Save, Premium Economy Standard, or Business Save ticket will cost you USD 150.

The same fee applies for changing your route (plus any difference in fares and taxes).
Remember, this waiver does not apply to Economy Supersaver fares to/from Hong Kong. 

What is the Cathay Pacific date change policy? 
Cathay Pacific’s date change policy allows you to modify your flight’s date and rebook your ticket—either free of cost or for a fee. 

If you ticket was issued between March 9, 2020–June 30, 2021, you make unlimited changes free of cost till December 31, 2021—but you must travel by June 30, 2022.

If you don’t qualify for this waiver, you must pay a fee of USD 50 to change a Standard Economy ticket, and USD 150 to change a Promotional, Economy Save, Premium Economy Standard, or Business Save ticket.

However, this does not apply to Economy Supersaver fares to/from Hong Kong.

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