I see that in order to join Asia Miles, Cathay Pacific ff program , one has to pay $50 US. I wanted. To see what awards are available in their program so that I could then call American and ask for that award with my AA miles. But paying to join a ff plan? Really do people pay to join? I am not aware of any other airline program that requires one to pay to join.

You're mistaken on a couple counts: Asia Miles does not charge a membership fee (unless things have changed drastically very recently); Asia Miles is not the Cathay Pacific FF program; and Asia Miles is not the best place to find CX award availability if you're using AA miles.

Cathay does have a loyalty program called the Marco Polo Club, and I believe there is a charge to join. MPC gives you status on Cathay and is exclusive to CX; Asia Miles is used to redeem flight awards and it includes other airlines such as Dragonair. If you enroll in MPC, you are also automatically enrolled in Asia Miles.

If you are using AA miles, use the BA site to find award availability on CX. Asia Miles will show award availability that may be available only to MPC members, while the BA site shows award availability for non-MPC members such as AA redemptions.

Thanks, I will try the BA site to see award availability on Cathay.

And by the way you do need to pay to join Asia Miles.

OK, I am on the BA site and I tried award flights to say Hong Kong and all I get are flights thru Lomdon on BA . how can I see the Cathay Pacific flights? I do not want BA flights.

<i>And by the way you do need to pay to join Asia Miles.</i>

From their website:

<i>3. How do I become an Asia Miles member?

You can now join Asia Miles online. Once your application has been processed, you will receive a confirmation email. Please remember to print your temporary card so that you can start earning Asia Miles straight away. <b>There is no membership fee or joining fee. </b></i>

https://www.asiamiles.com/am/en/about/faq

<i>OK, I am on the BA site and I tried award flights to say Hong Kong and all I get are flights thru Lomdon on BA . how can I see the Cathay Pacific flights? I do not want BA flights.</i>

In my experience BA will show available CX flights below any availability for BA flights. If you don't see any CX options, it probably means there aren't any.

Just phone AA and they can see availability, and after a recent policy change, AA no longer charges phone fees for awards booked over the phone using carriers that don't appear on aa.com.

OK I am now a member of Asia Miles but When I try to see what awards are available it says thatI must be a member of the Marco Polo club?.. Can I see the awards without joint Marco Polo Club?

BillT, just use the BA site. Just a few hours ago I found numerous Cathay business class flights available for booking with AA miles by using BA's search engine. It's easier than using Asia Miles, and (probably) shows the same availability.