Marriott Bonvoy and Cathay Pacific have just launched an intriguing status match promotion, for elite members of either program. This could prove to be a good value, and is similar to the Marriott Bonvoy and Singapore KrisFlyer partnership. However, unlike Marriott’s RewardsPlus partnership with United, or Your World Rewards partnership with Emirates, there aren’t additional perks through this collaboration.
In this post:
Match Marriott Bonvoy status to Cathay Pacific
Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador, Titanium, and Platinum members, can receive instant Cathay Pacific Silver status, which correlates to oneworld Ruby. Once the status match is complete, it’s then valid for 12 months. Don’t underestimate the value of this, as Silver members get access to Cathay Pacific lounges when traveling on Cathay Pacific, which is a huge perk.
This promotion also offers the ability to earn Cathay Pacific Gold status, which correlates to oneworld Sapphire status. This ordinarily requires earning 600 status points in a membership year, but with this offer, you can unlock the status by earning just 300 status points in 12 months, which is half of the usual requirement. If you’re curious about how quickly status points add up, you can find Cathay Pacific’s status points calculator here.
This status upgrade offer is a one-time promotion, so you’d have to requalify for either elite tier based on the normal status qualification methods.
Match Cathay Pacific status to Marriott Bonvoy
Cathay Pacific Diamond, Gold, and Silver members, can receive instant Marriott Bonvoy Gold status, with no stay requirement. This ordinarily requires 25 elite nights in a year. Status earned this way is valid through February 2025.
What’s more interesting here is the ability to earn Bonvoy Platinum status, which is where perks get a lot more valuable, as this ordinarily requires 50 elite nights in a year. All of the above elite tiers can unlock Bonvoy Platinum status by staying 10 nights within six months. Any Bonvoy qualifying stay should count toward this requirement, and if you complete this challenge, you also earn 3,000 bonus points.
This status upgrade offer is a one-time promotion, so you’d have to requalify for either elite tier based on the normal status qualification methods.
My take on this reciprocal status match opportunity
It’s always nice to see closer collaboration between travel brands. In this case, the partnership has fairly limited implications beyond just a one-time status opportunity. I’d say this promotion has a pretty niche value proposition, though I’m sure some people will benefit from it.
In terms of the ability to earn Cathay Pacific status:
- Cathay Pacific Silver status could be valuable if flying with Cathay Pacific, as you’d get access to the carrier’s lounges
- Cathay Pacific Gold status is valuable for earning oneworld Sapphire (including lounge access on domestic US flights); however, 300 status points is still a lot to rack up
In terms of the ability to earn Bonvoy status:
- Bonvoy Gold status is better than nothing, but don’t expect it to get you perks like lounge access, free breakfast, suite upgrades, etc.
- Bonvoy Platinum status is where Marriott status starts to get valuable, so being able to earn that after just 10 nights within six months is quite the shortcut to that status tier
Bottom line
Marriott Bonvoy and Cathay Pacific have a reciprocal status match promotion, whereby Cathay Pacific members can earn elite status with Bonvoy, and Bonvoy elite members can earn status with Cathay Pacific. A low level status is offered without any travel requirement, while a higher level status is offered on a challenge basis.
This is a cool promotion if you have any upcoming travel that could benefit from this…
Will you take advantage of this Marriott and Cathay Pacific status promotion?
I am thoroughly disappointed. Less than 24hrs to apply for the match program. I fly Cathay at least twice a year to Hong Kong from Canada with my family and I am also a Bonvoy Platinum member. I utilize points on Cathay so I am not able to achieve Silver status, but frequently use them.
I carry both Cathay and Marriott credit cards as well to take advantage of branding and support the companies....
I am thoroughly disappointed. Less than 24hrs to apply for the match program. I fly Cathay at least twice a year to Hong Kong from Canada with my family and I am also a Bonvoy Platinum member. I utilize points on Cathay so I am not able to achieve Silver status, but frequently use them.
I carry both Cathay and Marriott credit cards as well to take advantage of branding and support the companies.
I didn't even get an email notification from either group, this just happened to pop up in my news feed.
SOOOO disappointed!!! This is a slap in the face.
I'm Marriott Gold right now... if we match over to Cathay Pacific would we be able to then go back and get that Platinum challenge with Marriott?
Moot point since the match is dead
Their limited number of match slots seems to have filled within literal hours. The promo is over now.
Wow, so they ended this promotion after less than 24 hours.
Horrible planning and execution from both Marriott and Cathay.
The status match appears closed for me too. How can it be closed within hours?
Match now closed. Looks like I got Bonvoyed.
Currently Marriott Platinum and CX Green. Trying to do this status match and getting the message
"Oops. Try Again.
An error has occurred — please try again or contact Member Support."
Anyone else getting this?
I'm also getting this message.
Same here, couldn't sign up for the status match with the same message.
The system was down the whole day and quota is already full.
My attempt to do the match didn’t work. The Cathay page said, “error - please contact Marriott.” Maybe because my platinum elite status with Marriott will be downgraded to Gold in March. I don’t know ♀️
So you can get Marriott’s top tier status for just holding the right Marriott credit card. Does that mean mow those card holders automatically get a CX Silver as well.
Irrespective of how one attains Marriott tier status, simply having Marriott tier status (Platinum, Titanium, or Ambassador) will qualify a person for the status match.
Lucky, you're too dismissive of the value of CX Silver status, at least for your Asia-based readership. Silver status gets access to CX's superb lounges anywhere CX has them if flying on CX, even in discount economy. Although you haven't yet reviewed CX's TPE lounge I don't think, it might be the best non-F lounge in OW outside of HK. Anyone especially residing in China, aiwan, Singapore, Philippines, Japan (some Asia locations with CX lounges),...
Lucky, you're too dismissive of the value of CX Silver status, at least for your Asia-based readership. Silver status gets access to CX's superb lounges anywhere CX has them if flying on CX, even in discount economy. Although you haven't yet reviewed CX's TPE lounge I don't think, it might be the best non-F lounge in OW outside of HK. Anyone especially residing in China, aiwan, Singapore, Philippines, Japan (some Asia locations with CX lounges), or possibly elsewhere in Asia but with travel to HK, would benefit from Silver. It's a much better entry level status than some others in OW
@ Steve -- Great point, let me add that to the post!