I have heard of Virgin duckies, Lufthansa’s first class duckies, Conrad bears, and various airline pilot bears. I even got a few of them. Do you collect any when you travel overseas? Well I do, because I am kind of obsessed with Cathay Pacific’s cute Chinese Zodiac stuff animals!
Cathay Pacific Chinese Zodiac Stuffed Animal
Back in 2013, my family of five flew to Hong Kong for Christmas in Cathay First Class (Yeah we pulled it off but we have to split up the family over two days). Since I had plenty time on the 16 hour nonstop flight, I looked through the duty-free magazine page by page, something I never do before. Unexpectedly it started my collection of little toys that can only be found on Cathay!
What I discovered in that catalog was a cute Chinese Zodiac stuff animal with Cathay Pacific logo on it! The Chinese Zodiac is based on a twelve-year cycle, with each year in that cycle related to an animal sign: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.
My husband was born in the year of the Snake, and at the end of December 2013 the snake toy was long gone. But I was able to grab the Year of the Horse stuff animal on my Dragon Air flight to Shanghai on New Year’s Day 2014. When I flew Cathay to Singapore in June 2016, I was told the stuff animal was sold out by March. Apparently quantity was truly very limited!
How to get a Cathay Chinese Zodiac Stuffed Animal
Every year Cathay Pacific gives away the cute animal during Chinese New Year. In 2017 it did it on its Canadian site. But you had to book a flight on Cathay website and fly from Canada to Asia! They also ran the promotion on various social media. In 2016 I had my daughter entered the Snapchat promotion and much to my surprise, she won the monkey!
This year is the Year of the Dog, and Cathay is giving away the cute toy again if you book a revenue flight with them. Here’s how:
- Step 1: Book your next Cathay Pacific flight from the U.S. to Asia online before February 28, 2018.
- Step 2: Keep an eye on your email inbox for an exclusive code and instructions on how to receive your Year of the Dog plush toy. The subject line will be Claim your Year of the Dog Collectible, compliments of Cathay Pacific. Allow up to 7 business days to receive the claim instructions email.
This is my year and I am flying to Hong Kong next week in Cathay First Class. I ordered quite a few of the “Dog” online and they would be delivered to me inflight! [SEE ALSO: 3 trips I am looking forward to in 2018 ]
If you are flying Cathay Pacific or Cathay Dragon soon, look for it in the catalog. Ask the flight attendant when you get on the plane. Usually each plane is only stocked with two of these toys! If you are not flying Cathay but you want the dog, follow Cathay on social media and look for the promotion on its website, because Chinese New Year is around the corner (February 16)!
[SEE ALSO: My daughter’s 1st real Chinese Lunar New Year experience ]
It is going to take me few more years to collect the remaining stuff animals in the collection! Just another a reason for me to book a flight to Hong Kong every January! And yes, I already have one booked for January 2, 2019!
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Dan Miller travels with his wife and 6 (SIX!) children. He loves to help families travel for free / cheap, especially larger families. If you are looking for help, drop him an email at 
I just got off a CX flight, I would have tried for one had I known. They’re kinda cute and would have been a good memory for my kids who flew with us. Bummer. Next time though
Hi ! I work for CX and I’m actually happy to see a traveller on our flight is amazed by our zodiac animals. It is indeed hard to get a hold of even for staff ahahha…however I would like to thank you for flying with us.
Bought the chicken when I was on board a CX flight from JFK to HKG last year during that crazy $350 fare sale.
While I’m going back to Asia this year, I’m flying by JAL, so will take a look at the catalog too