Cathay Pacific Flight Changes and Cancellations: Fees, Refunds and Disruption

Agent-issued bookings can still be viewed in Manage Booking, which can make it look as though the airline can change them online. Contacting the seller first usually saves time, and only the seller can process a refund.

For fares, cabins and Hong Kong connections before you book, see our Cathay Pacific flights guide.

The exact fees are set in each ticket's fare rules and depend on the route. Premium Economy, Business and First fares have their own conditions. The Cathay Pacific fare types guide compares the fare types in full.

1. 1

   Open Manage Booking

   Use the booking reference and family name on Cathay Pacific's website or app.

2. 2

   Choose new dates or flights

   Online changes are limited to the same routes.

3. 3

   Review the cost

   Check the change fee and fare difference before confirming.

4. 4

   Confirm and recheck

   Review the new itinerary, seats and the Hong Kong connection, then check in again if you had already checked in.

Cathay Pacific requires all passengers on one booking to change together when changing online. A fare reduction generally does not produce a refund of the difference, except in some markets.

The Cathay Pacific Manage Booking guide explains the other changes available online.

• Direct bookings can be cancelled and refunded in Manage Booking. A cancellation fee may apply, depending on the fare type.
• Cathay members who booked directly can cancel free within 24 hours of booking through Manage Booking, subject to Cathay Pacific's terms.
• Unused tickets can be refunded within two years of issue. Taxes can be refunded on unused or partly used tickets.
• Eligible refunds go back to the original payment card or bank account.
• Refunds normally take up to seven calendar days to process. Bookings with other airlines, missing details or disruption can take longer.
• Refund status can be checked in Manage Booking for the past 90 days.

The agency refund policy explains how refunds work for bookings made through our agency, which is separate from the airline's policy.

Award tickets have their own rules. Cathay Pacific lists a fee in cash or Asia Miles to change travel dates, subject to award seat availability, and a separate fee to cancel a completely unused award ticket before it expires. A partly used award ticket cannot be refunded.

If Cathay Pacific cancels a flight, or a disruption causes a missed connection, the airline says it will try to rebook passengers automatically onto the next available flight in the same cabin. It may also publish special ticketing guidelines on its travel alerts page that allow free changes.

• Keep contact details up to date in Manage Booking so rebooking messages arrive.
• Direct bookings can often be rebooked in Manage Booking, within the special guidelines for the flight.
• Agent-issued bookings should go to the travel agent first.
• After a delay, check-in and boarding times follow the new departure time.
• For refunds, meals and accommodation, Cathay Pacific refers passengers to its passenger rights and regulations page, which depends on where the flight departs.

Before accepting a new flight, check the whole itinerary. A later first flight can break the Hong Kong connection or push arrival past a hotel check-in or tour start.

• Read the fare rules for the change and refund fee that applies.
• Work out the total: change fee plus fare difference, compared with cancelling and rebooking.
• Check whether an airline schedule change has already given free change options.
• Ask the issuer, not the airline, if the ticket was bought through an agent.
• Avoid missing a flight without telling anyone. Not showing up can affect the rest of the ticket under the fare rules.

What does a date change usually cost?

There isn't one usual amount we'd quote. It depends on your ticket rules and the available fare on the new date. The total can include a change fee, any fare difference, a tax adjustment and any applicable agency service fee.

What catches people out is hearing 'no change fee' and assuming the change is free. A higher fare on the new flight can still make it expensive. Before changing anything, we price the new itinerary, explain the full additional cost and any revised conditions, and get your approval. If your dates are flexible, compare nearby days too.

After a change, check the ticket has been correctly updated, and reconfirm seats, meals and assistance requests.

How long do refunds really take?

Separate the refund being processed from the money appearing in your account. Cathay Pacific says its normal processing time is up to seven calendar days, but some cases take longer, and that isn't a promise the money will be visible by day seven.

For agency tickets, contact the issuing agency. Ask when the refund was submitted, whether anything is awaiting approval, and whether the money has been returned to the agency or sent back to you. Cathay Pacific flags partner-airline itineraries and missing payment details as possible delays, and your bank's posting time also affects when you see the credit.

We give you a reference and a follow-up date rather than promise a timeline no one can control.

• Ticket issuer identified
• Fare type and fare rules checked
• Change fee and fare difference confirmed before paying
• All passengers on the booking changed together
• New Hong Kong connection time checked
• Seats, bags and assistance rechecked on the new flights
• Refund method and timing confirmed