Cathay Pacific Airways Limited, CX

(known as "Cathay Pacific")

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Flight listing policy and procedures 

1. Before proceeding to the airport 

• You may book or list Cathay flights for travel within 30 days through the myIDTravel portal.
• When purchasing a Cathay ticket online via myIDTravel, the system will automatically create the required booking/listing. A ticket receipt for each traveller will be sent to the email address provided during ticket issuance.
• If your travel plans change (for example, travelling on a different date, taking an earlier flight, or cancelling your trip), you must update or cancel your booking/listing in myIDTravel as soon as possible. This helps avoid unnecessary meal wastage and any additional costs incurred by the operating carrier.
• Please note that our airport team cannot process check-in or standby requests for ZED SUBLO/NOSUB travellers who do not have a valid booking/listing created through the myIDTravel portal.
• Important: A booking/listing in myIDTravel is mandatory before proceeding to the airport.

2. Arriving at our check-in/standby counters

• For all our flights departing Hong Kong from 11 December 2023
• Starting 11 December 2023, we are officially removing the need to ‘register’ at the Aisle A check-in counters for a standby slip, and therefore the requirement to wait around the counter for your number to be called.
• Instead, your entire check-in and pre-boarding experience has been streamlined and digitalised into a simple process that varies slightly depending on whether you’re ‘Accepted’ or placed on ‘Standby’ during the online check-in process.
• If you are confirmed or accepted on a CX flight departing from Hong Kong during online check-in:
1. Check in online (www.cathay.com) and download your mobile boarding pass.
2. Scan passport at self-service kiosk in aisles A, B, C, or E.
3. Drop your bag(s) at any self-bag drop counter in Aisles A or C.
4. Proceed through security and immigration, and to your boarding gate.

• If you are waitlisted or placed on stand-by on a CX flight departing from Hong Kong during online check-in, instead follow these steps:
1. Check in online (www.cathay.com) before coming to the airport.
2. Scan passport at self-service kiosk in aisles A, B, C, or E, and print and attach bag tag(s) to your baggage.
3. Wait patiently for boarding pass; sent via SMS and email if you are accepted for the flight.
4. Drop your bag(s) at any self-bag drop counter in Aisles A or C. And proceed through security, immigration and to boarding gate.

• Important reminders:
• To avoid delays or potential problems with using the self-service kiosks and at immigration or may result in us not being able to accept employee traveller for travel, please ensure employee traveller’s name on the booking & ticket exactly as it appears on your travel document.
• To receive boarding pass even if you are accepted for travel, please ensure you enter correct mobile phone number and a valid email address during online check-in or at the self-service kiosk. Please also ensure your eligible dependents / travel nominees enter their personal mobile phone number and email address during online check-in or at the self-service kiosk. They must be able to receive their own boarding pass; screenshots will not be accepted by the Airport Authority’s systems.
• To ensure sufficient time for bag drop and go through security & immigration, please complete the check-in (including scan passport, print your baggage tags, if needed, at kiosk at Departure Hall Aisle A, B, C or E) at least 80 minutes prior to your scheduled departure. Please note that baggage acceptance and/or bag drop is not available at transit area, and must be done at the Departure Hall Aisle A, B, C or E)
• Since 12 April 2025, in addition to receiving your boarding pass (where appropriate) via SMS and email, all employee travellers departing from Hong Kong will receive an additional real-time email (to the email address in their check-in record) if they:
• are accepted from standby
• are accepted to a lower cabin than the one they listed for – with a message letting them know they are on the upgrade list
• are upgraded / regraded to a higher cabin
• are downgraded to a lower cabin
• have their seat changed
• are not accepted as the flight is full – but with the details of the flight they have been transferred to
• are not accepted as the flight is full and have to re-list for another flight the next day in Travel Hub

• FAQ 1. What do I do?
• 48 hours before your departure:
• Ensure you have a listing for your preferred flight.
• If you are holding a confirmed reservation for your flight, you can check-in online (www.cathay.com) at any time within 48 hours of departure.
• 24 hours before your departure:
• Ensure you have cancelled any unwanted listings and only have one listing for your preferred journey
• Check in online (www.cathay.com) between -24hours and -60minutes to departure.
• If you are accepted for the flight, download your mobile boarding pass. If you are placed on standby, follow the steps listed as above.
• On the day of travel:
• Online check-in will close sharply at 60 minutes prior to the departure time of your flight.
• If you’re travelling with cabin baggage only, we suggest getting to the airport no later than 70 minutes prior to departure.
• If you’re planning to check bags in, plan to be at the airport no later than 80 minutes prior to departure. This will allow additional time in case there are queues at the self-service kiosks.
• When you get to Hong Kong International Airport:
• Go straight to any of the self-service kiosks in Aisle A, B, C or E at HKIA and scan your passport/travel document. Everyone needs to do this (whether you have bags to check in or not), as this helps us validate your travel document details. Failure to do this will mean you will be held up at the boarding gate while we verify your documents
• Print any baggage tags that you need and attach them to your bags.
• Employee acceptance will commence 60 minutes prior to departure. The airport team may be able to start earlier if all revenue customers have checked in. We may also have to wait until -40 minutes if we are waiting for last minute Cathay members to arrive or if it is a weight restricted flight. Please be patient. The HKIA team will start the acceptance process as soon as possible.
• Once you receive your mobile boarding pass, proceed to any of the self-bag drop counters in Aisle A or C to drop your bag. Bag drop will close sharply at -40 minutes to departure – so be near Aisle A or C at this time.
• Proceed through security and onto the boarding gate
• At the boarding gate:
• Before you board, please ensure you check your SMS messages or email one last time for any new boarding passes.  This will ensure you have correct seat in case of any last minute seat changes, upgrades, or downgrades 

• FAQ 2. Am I eligible to use the self-service kiosks at the airport? 
• Most employees are able to use the self-service kiosks. From 11 December, you must use the kiosks when your arrive at HKIA to validate your travel document and print any baggage tags you need unless you are travelling:
  • on a passport without a biometric chip
  • on a British National (Overseas) (BNO) passport
  • with an infant under the age of two years
  • on a direct flight to the USA
• If you fit into any of the above categories, please see the team at the Employee Travel counter at the end of Aisle A where they will be happy to assist. 

• FAQ 3. What if something goes wrong at the self-service kiosk or if I need assistance? In the first instance, just look for one of our HKIA kiosk ambassadors. They will try to resolve your issue on the spot. If they can’t please just proceed to the Employee Travel counter at the end of Aisle A.

• FAQ 4. What happens if I don’t get accepted on my flight? Just the same as today, you will be transferred to the next available flight to the same destination, and follow the new process to wait patiently for boarding pass (please refer to FAQ 1. section 'when you get to the airport' for details). If you no longer wish to travel, please ensure you let a member of the team at the Employee Travel counter know before leaving the airport so that we can cancel your check-in.

• FAQ 5. What happens if I change my mind and no longer want to travel? Please let a member of the team at the Employee Travel counter know before leaving the airport so that we can cancel your check-in. Please ensure you then cancel the listing in Travel Hub so that other colleagues can plan their travels based on accurate loads and employee listings.

• FAQ 6. What if I only want to travel if a certain class is available? Please follow the standard process of checking-in online, validating your travel documents at the self-service kiosk and self-printing any baggage tags. Then please proceed to the Employee Travel counter and let the team know your preferences

• FAQ 7. What if I’m travelling with an infant? You can check-in online before coming to the airport, and then go directly to the Employee Travel counter at the end of Aisle A. Our team at Hong Kong International Airport will be happy to help from there. 

• FAQ 8. I’m coming off a flight as operating crew. Can I now standby airside at the gate? No. All employee travellers starting their journey in Hong Kong must clear security and outbound Hong Kong immigration to remain compliant with the law.

• FAQ 9. What if employee traveller is elderly and/or do not have a mobile phone? Please assist them to check-in online before coming to the airport and then approach the Employee Travel counter at the end of Aisle A. Our team at Hong Kong International Airport will be happy to help from there

• FAQ 10. I haven’t received a mobile boarding pass for my flight. How will I know when employee travel acceptance is completed? Employee traveller acceptance is finalised 60 minutes prior to departure (earlier when possible). You will be informed via an email or SMS.

• FAQ 11. My flight is delayed, do I still need to check-in no later than 60 minutes before the original scheduled time of departure (STD)? No – online check-in will remain open until 60 minutes before the estimated time of departure in the case of any delays

• FAQ 12. I’m travelling with my dependent or other employee traveller(s) who are on a separate booking and we want to travel together. What do I do? If you are travelling with your dependent or other employee traveller(s) and you only wish to travel if you are all accepted on the flight, you can link your bookings during online check-in (via the box at the top right-hand side of the screen after you have logged into your online check-in page). If you link your bookings in this way, please note:
• the airport team will treat this as your request that you must travel together
• all linked bookings will take the lowest onload (boarding) priority amongst everyone travelling.
• For example, oneworld employee traveller at boarding priority 31 linked with another booking who is ZED employee traveller at a boarding priority 33 (lower than 31) – both travellers will be treated as the lower priority 33 during acceptance.
• If you are unable to link your booking types, please check-in online separately and then see the team at the Employee travel counter at the end of Aisle A. They will take your preferences and let the flight controller know.

• FAQ 13. I’m travelling to the Chinese Mainland. Do I need to do anything differently? If you’re travelling to the Chinese Mainland and using any of the following travel documents:
  • Hui Xiang Zheng (回鄉證)
  • Tai Bao Zheng (台胞證)
  • Travel Permit to and from Hong Kong and Macao (往來港澳通行證)
    
    Please ensure you add this document as your travel document during on-line check-in.
    Note – your passport details entered in the booking/listing are transferred to online check-in platform, simply replace the passport information with your travel document above.

• FAQ 14. I’m travelling with my family and want to let you know who will travel if we all cannot be accepted. How do I do this? Please check-in online before coming to the airport, scan your travel document at a self service kiosk, print your baggage tags and then approach the Employee Travel counter at the end of Aisle A. The HKIA team will record your preferences from there.

• FAQ 15. If employee acceptance needs to happen closer to -40 minutes to departure due to weight restrictions or other operational reasons, how can I make the -40 minute baggage drop cut-off time? If employee acceptance cannot occur until -40minutes to departure, the HKIA team will assist all accepted employee travellers. Counters A35 and A36 will be dedicated employee travel bag drop counters for these exceptional situations

• For Cathay flights departing outside Hong Kong:
• Before you go to the airport:
• Arrive at the airport at least 2 hours before departure.
• Ensure you have a valid myIDTravel booking/listing.
• Visit Cathay.com to complete online check-in.
• Confirmed booking: Online check-in opens 48 hours before departure.
• Waitlisted or standby listing: Online check-in opens 24 hours before departure.
• We recommend completing online check-in no later than 6 hours before departure to facilitate airport processing.
• If you have successfully completed online check-in and have been accepted for the flight:
• Proceed to the check-in/bag drop counter for your class of travel.
• Complete check-in no later than 60–75 minutes before departure (see reporting time requirements below).
• If you have completed online check-in but are still on standby:
• Check your standby status at 6 hours before departure.
• If you remain on standby, proceed to the employee standby counter (if available) and complete standby registration no later than 60–75 minutes before departure.
• Standby Registration:
• 1. Register
• At a self-service kiosk (if available): scan your passport and print your standby baggage tag.
• If no kiosk is available: visit the check-in counter or employee standby counter and present:
• myIDTravel listing confirmation
• Passport and travel documents
• Visa and return/onward ticket (if required)
• 2. Wait for instructions: Airport staff will advise when to return, usually 60–80 minutes before departure.
• 3. Standby clearance: Wait for your standby number to be called after flight acceptance has been finalized.
• Important Reporting Time: For flights where check-in closes 60 minutes before departure, standby registration must be completed at least 75 minutes before departure.
• Check-in Counter Locations: Check airport and terminal information on the Cathay website: Cathay.com > Flights > Airport Information
• Important: Airport check-in or standby processing cannot be completed without a valid booking/listing created through the myIDTravel portal.

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Visas and Passports and API

• Passengers must possess valid tickets and proper travel documents (including valid visas / entry permit if required) for all countries to or via which they travel, unless an exemption to that effect is granted by the country authorities.
• Passport must be valid for at least 6 months, while travel visa and/or entry permit must be valid for the period of stay or beyond depending on the country concerned.
• Failure to comply with the standard requirement may result in problems with passenger processing and refusal for entry.

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Flights Excluded

• CX flights not operated by CX aircraft; Joint Venture flights; Code Share flights; Chartered flights; and Domestic Sectors within a Country (eg. KUL-PEN).
• Flight range between CX1000-1999, 3000-9999.
• ANC-YTO-ANC, BAH-RUH and DXB-JED-DXB.

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Dress code

• ID passengers should be dressed in accordance with public standards of good taste. This will normally mean attire suitable for an office, or smart casual wear. It excludes jeans, T-shirts, sweat-shirts, shorts, gym shoes, and similar extremes of casual wear.
• Dress standards are enforced at airports and our Airport Services staff have the final say on what is or is not acceptable dress and if the standard of dress is improper the ID passenger will not be accepted for boarding.

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Baggage

Checked Baggage

• Checked baggage allowance for Adult/child on cx flight - 2 pieces (this will only apply to tickets that has this information indicated*)
• Economy class: 2pieces per adult/child, weight of each bag not exeeding 23kg.
• Business class: 2pieces per adult, weight of each bag not exceeding 32kg. 
• Note for business class: the weight of each check-in baggage on Business class between Hong Kong and New Zealand cannot exceed 23kg.
• Note on size of baggage: size (adding width, height and length) of each bag not exceeding 158cm (62inches)
• Infant not occupying a seat - 1piece plus a car seat and a stroller with maximum weight equivalent to an adult ticket in the same class. Bag dimension (adding width, height and length) must not exceed 115cm (45inches) for each piece.
• Through check-in is not available to all interline travellers on CX flights for Leisure ("Personal") Travel.

*if the ticket only indicated 1piece, then our check-in counter will only be able to accept 1 piece. The second piece will be charged as excess baggage.

Cabin Baggage

• 1 piece(s) + 1 small item
• Total weight limit: 7kg / 15lbs
• Cabin baggage size limit: 36cm x 23cm x 56cm (14in x 9in x 22in) including wheels, handles and side pockets.
• Small item size limit: 40cm x 15cm x 30cm (16in x 6in x 12in) including wheels, handles and side pockets, and can fit under the seat in front.
• For infant not occupying a seat, an approved child restraint seat, a small bag of food and nappies (for consumption on the flight), and an umbrella-type collapsible stroller or any type of foldable stroller within the standard cabin bag size and weight after folding (if cabin stowage is available)

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Check-in

• Please refer 'Flight Listing policy and procedures'

Through check-in

• Through check-in is not available to all interline travellers on CX flights.

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Boarding

• ID passengers who have been accepted for boarding should arrive at the boarding gate at least 30 minutes prior to flight departure. The boarding gate will be closed at 15 minutes prior to flight departure.

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Special requests

Special meals

• Special meals are not available to any standby passengers. If you have specific dietary needs or preferences, you should carry on board your own provisions.

Unaccompanied minors

• ID passengers who are under the age of 16 must travel accompanied by an adult holding the same type of ticket.

Others

Insurance

• CX recommends all ID passengers to arrange comprehensive insurance. 

Back-up tickets

• ID passengers are expected to purchase all tickets that are likely to require from own airline.
• CX will not issue any rebate tickets for ID passengers from interlines.

Aircraft configurations

• Please visit our webiste: cathay.com > Flights > Aircraft and fleet for more information.