Behind the scenes at Cathay’s Million Milers Night

“Wherever I am in the world, no matter how far I’ve travelled... as soon as I reach the Cathay check-in desk, I know that I’m home.”

These words float above the hum of conversation at the Flight Training Centre (FTC) at Cathay City, Cathay Pacific’s headquarters, on this very special evening: The Million Milers Night, an exclusive event celebrating Cathay’s most supportive, most well-travelled members.

The Flight Training Centre is an unusual location for a cocktail reception, but that’s very much the point. Hosting travellers as seasoned Million Milers requires something a little different. 

“Our goal here tonight is to show you a bit of behind-the-scenes here at Cathay,” says Sébastien Hue, Cathay Membership Programme Manager, in his opening remarks. “But most importantly, we would like to express our gratitude for your continuous support over the years.”

Members of Cathay Pacific’s senior leadership welcome the Million Milers into this unique space, which is filled with training models of our different aircraft cabins. Cathay Director Flight Operations, Captain Chris Kempis and General Manager Flying, Captain Tim Burns explain how we train more than 12,000 people in the building every year. Safety is at the heart of everything we do – and the Flight Training Centre is a very real demonstration of that core principle.

As they explore, these top Million Milers and their guests sip our First class champagne and Oriental Breeze mocktail – brought back for one night only in a nod to years of flying history. A live jazz band, perched above an emergency slide, provides the soundtrack to the reception. 

Later, when dinner is announced, the Flight Training Centre slowly thins out. “I’m not used to boarding this late!” jokes one Million Miler towards the back of the pack.

The top Million Milers make their way through “The Street” at Cathay City, the main thoroughfare of the building, as they run into pilots and cabin crew on their way to flight briefings. We are a 24/7 operation – there’s always another flight about to depart.   

The Million Milers are bound for another unusual venue: the Lion Rock Café at the Headland Hotel, Cathay City’s on-site hotel for transiting Cathay Pacific cabin crew. But this is no staff canteen: tonight, it has been transformed from casual venue into a polished dining room which glows with stars. 

The menu for the evening has been created by the Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong, and inspired by iconic First class dishes from days gone by: each dish from a different past menu, honouring historically significant First class flights. On the wine list – what else? – Chateau Lynch-Bages 2008, our First class Pauillac. 

Prudence Lau, Head of Cathay Membership, greets the assembled guests. “Everyone invited to this event has actually flown multiple times around the Earth, and that's truly an extraordinary testament to your loyalty and commitment to Cathay,” she says. “Thank you for your support over the years, through the highs and lows. You all have shaped who we are as an airline today.”

Lau turns the mic over to the host of the evening: Ronald Lam, CEO of the Cathay Group. 

“Our top Million Milers gathered here tonight altogether have flown 178 million miles on Cathay Pacific flights,” he notes. “Collectively, we have made it to the sun and back.”

Lam provides an update on Cathay’s progress, highlighting the strides made in the past year, and the promise of what’s to come. He iterates his commitment to elevating the Cathay offering. “We're not complacent. We know, especially in front of all the frequent travellers here, we still have a lot to improve,” he says. “You have our word that we will continue to make sure that we improve all the time.”

Before dessert, the crowd is serenaded by a band featuring jazz singer Heidi Lee – the setlist naturally featuring aviation-themed classics, including Come Fly with Me and the instantly recognisable Love’s Theme, the classic Barry White instrumental used as Cathay Pacific’s boarding music in the ’70s and ’80s.  

And as an evening of wine, food and aviation tips draws to a close, guests are presented with a bespoke parting favour, created specially for the event: a gift box containing a wealth of memories.  

Luggage tags handcrafted from the offcuts of premium Scottish leather used in the Aria Suite, mounted with a metal card engraved with the member's name and mileage count. A specially engraved bottle of the limited-edition Cathay x Glenfarclas single malt whisky. A framed, personal photo of the event – and a special scroll, inspired by a scroll created for top Million Milers in the 1980s, to commemorate each individual achievement. 

Each item, a memento of the many hours spent with Cathay in the skies. Each a small token of our appreciation for our extraordinary Million Milers.