Three things caught my eye scanning this week's availability - and one of them is a genuine standout. First Class seats on Cathay Pacific from New York to Hong Kong at off-peak rates, a Chase transfer bonus to IHG doubling your points (expires in just 7 days), and Amex-to-Virgin Atlantic at +30% that could seriously stretch your miles on some of these routes.

The theme this week is Hong Kong. Nearly every deal in today's newsletter connects through or terminates in HKG - and with off-peak pricing across the board, August is shaping up to be a fantastic month to use your points. Let's dig in.

Before we get into the deals - a quick trivia question based on today's content. Which transfer partner has the MOST valuable hotel redemption featured in today's newsletter, measured in cents per point?

The answer is waiting for you at the bottom of today's newsletter - keep scrolling!

Route: New York (JFK/EWR) to Hong Kong on Cathay Pacific - First Class

Points cost: 145,000 points one-way (off-peak pricing)

Available: Aug 27 (availability is low - act fast)

Why it's special: First Class award availability from North America to Asia is genuinely rare. Cathay's First Class product is consistently ranked among the world's best, with fully flat beds, exceptional catering, and some of the best service in the sky. At the off-peak rate of 145,000 points vs. the peak rate of 200,000, you're saving 55,000 points on this one booking alone.

The cash equivalent for this route in First Class regularly runs $8,000-$12,000+, putting the value well above 5 cents per point depending on what you find on the open market. This is the kind of redemption that makes years of points collecting worthwhile.

Availability is listed as Low, meaning there's likely just 1-2 seats remaining. If this is on your radar, don't sit on it.

How to book: Search for availability through Cathay Pacific's website using Asia Miles, or check partner programs that can access Cathay First Class inventory. Head to our Cathay Pacific page to explore options.

There's a solid wave of economy availability flowing from the US and Canada to Hong Kong this week. All pricing is at off-peak rates, so you're getting the best possible points costs heading into August.

💡 Tip: The high availability across all four departure cities is unusual and won't last. If cash fares are more your speed, Friday Flight Deals also tracks affordable cash fares to Asia if you'd rather save your points for a premium cabin.

UK readers - check out Smart With Points for UK-specific credit card strategies to earn points faster for these routes. They cover Avios and UK Amex offers in detail.

Two standouts from this week's hotel list - and one of them is genuinely jaw-dropping value.

~45,000 World of Hyatt points per night - Value: 7.5 cents per point

This is the best hotel redemption value in today's entire newsletter. The Park Hyatt New York is one of the most luxurious hotels in Manhattan, and at 45,000 points per night you're getting extraordinary value by any measure. If you have a stash of Chase Ultimate Rewards, they transfer 1:1 to Hyatt instantly. Don't sleep on this one.

~65,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night - Value: 5.2 cents per point

Located in Aventura, FL, this resort is one of the strongest Marriott redemptions in the US right now at 5.2cpp. With Marriott's 5th night free benefit on award stays, a 5-night stay effectively drops the per-night cost even further.

Browse all hotel redemptions at AwardTravelFinder

Top hotel award values this week:

Unlock 10+ more hotel redemptions across all major programs with Premium.

Premium subscribers see business and first class award availability for every deal above - the hardest space to find, often 10–20x cheaper than cash fares.

Upgrade for $2.95/month →