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If Thailand has been on the list… it might be time to set down your coffee. Those are fighting words, but this deal is seriously great.
Right now, Cathay Pacific is offering round-trip flights from Chicago O’Hare (ORD) to Phuket (HKT) starting at just $679 in economy. That’s about 27% less than the typical fare, which usually ranges from $779 to over $1,000.
Travel Details
Airline: Cathay Pacific (yay!)
Route: Chicago (ORD) to Phuket (HKT), connecting in Hong Kong
Seat class: Economy
Best dates: October 29, 2025, and May 11, 2026, with other low fares in late 2025 and early 2026
Price: Starting at just $679
Why This Deal Is Amazing
Cathay Pacific is known for exceptional service, comfortable seating, and some of the best long-haul food in the sky. I flew with them for the first time this February and was handed a printed menu in the last row of the plane — poor man’s business-class for the win. 😎
Phuket itself is a freaking paradise, with insane water, beautiful beaches, and easy access to Thailand’s other islands.
Finding a fare under $700 to Thailand (especially on a full-service carrier) is rare. If you’ve been debating a winter escape or a spring vacation, this could be your sign.
If you’d rather book with points, here’s what you’ll need:
Chase Ultimate Rewards: about 45,300 points via the travel portal (at 1.5 cents per point with the Chase Sapphire Reserve®)
American Express Membership Rewards: about 73,000 points via American Express Travel®
Capital One miles: about 67,900 miles via Capital One Travel
Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan® or Asia Miles: Transfer points from Chase, Amex, or Capital One to book Cathay Pacific directly.
Where to Stay in Phuket
Luxury Stay: Vignette Collection Dinso Resort & Villas Phuket
Cash: about $210 per night
Points: starting at 27,000 IHG points per night
Mid-Range Stay: Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort
Cash: about $150 per night
Points: starting at 12,000 Hyatt points per night
Budget Stay: Lub d Phuket Patong
Cash: about $40 per night
Points: Cover with Capital One or Chase points via travel portals
How to Book
Flights: The obvious choice? You can find this directly through your Daily Drop Pro account. You could also search via Google Flights, then book directly with Cathay Pacific. To book with points, use your credit card’s travel portal or transfer points to a Cathay partner like Asia Miles.
Hotels: Book Hyatt or IHG properties with points directly, or use cash for non-points hotels and cover costs through your travel portal.
Maximize Your Booking
Make the most of your rewards by using a card that earns bonus points on flights, like:
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card — Earn 2x points on all travel purchases
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card — Earn 5x miles on flights through Capital One’s travel booking site
American Express® Gold Card — Earn 3x points on flights booked directly with the airline or via American Express Travel®
Chase Sapphire Reserve® — Earn 4x points on flights booked direct
The Platinum Card® from American Express — Earn 5x points on flights booked directly with the airline or through American Express Travel® (up to $500,000 per calendar year, then 1x)
💡 Pro Tip: Turn This Into a 2-in-1 Trip. Since you’ll connect through Hong Kong, you could a stopover on either leg of your trip. Cathay Pacific makes it super easy to extend your layover, so you could spend a couple of days there before heading to Phuket (without paying for extra flights).
Bottom Line
Anything below $700 for a flight (round-trip, might you) to Thailand on Cathay Pacific is a steal, and Phuket pretty much speaks for itself. Whether you pay cash or points, this is one of those deals that’s absolutely worth grabbing before it’s gone.
