Cathay Pacific Asia Miles - American Airlines: Ever heard of CX?

Today went to lounge in ORD flying to SFO, walk up to front and give her my boarding pass with my CX# and EM status on it, my DM card and passport. Crappy planes and seats aside the service actually can be be pretty good sometimes on AA, but this dialogue needs to be repeated here (mind you, I'm American, white as they come and obviously speak just regular American English). The two ladies were probably mid 40s or 50s

Lady Behind Counter: "Can I see your Admirals Club membership, please?"
Me: "I'm not a member."
LBC: "Your boarding pass is domestic first class, I'm sorry it's not valid here."
Me: "Umm.." (confused)
LBC: "This lounge is only for Admirals Club members and international first class passengers."
Me: "Huh?"
LBC: "Are you signed up with our American Express program?"
Me: "Your what?"
LBC: "Do you have another flight today, an international first class flight?"
Me: (even more confused) "I'm going to SFO, it says it on the boarding pass."
2nd LBC: "Sorry, you're gone! See ya."
Me: "What about Cathay Pacific?"
LBC: "The what?"
Me: (slowly) "Cathay Pacific, the airline?"
2LBC: (First LBC confused, turning to other LBC). "The WHAT?"
Me: "Cathay Pacific"
2LBC: "Don't know what you're talking about."
LBC: "Never heard of that before."
Me: "The Oneworld Airline?! Cathay Pacific?"
LBC: "Nope."
Me: (walk to side of counter where a Oneworld sign is, pull it up, and walk back): "This one here, green. Cathay Pacific."
2LBC: "Does that have Sapphire or Emerald?"
......
Me: (seeing daylight) "YES! See, right here on the boarding pass and this card, I am EMERALD!"
LBC: "Okay, I guess you're allowed in. First I've heard of it though. We'll have to check on that."

I was laughing too hard to be angry

I am suprised by their ignorance.
Maybe AA staff needs some education on the OW alliance.

I have entered the Admirals Club at LAX/JFK a few times and each time there wasn't a problem. But I remembered calling up AA.com web services and ask to add my CX number to an AA reservation, and I said "Cathay Pacific", and they asked me back "What is it!" Also, how I was looking at all my previous AA boarding pass and none of it had a CX FFP #, just the OW tier.

Did she know enough to give you your OW free drink coupon? :)

I met an AA agent who insisted that CX is no longer part of Oneworld. :rolleyes:

It turned out that she kept checking her computer with CP. CP was the code for the old Canadian Airilnes which was merged into AC. :rolleyes:

Isn't it amazing how much confusion there is on this subject? You thought they would have come up with a simple matrix or flow chart that simply explained to the Lounge straff who to admit.

I just hand them my QF WP card with the pretty Emerald oval on it. :) I usually have AA EXP on my BP, so it takes care of any confusion pretty quickly.

Did she know enough to give you your OW free drink coupon? :)

Really? Is there really a free drink coupon? The cash bar is pretty pricey in the lounge.

If you are OW emerald (not AA) you can access the Flagship lounge, even on a domestic itin. Better food and self serve bar, much better than the Admirals Club.

Really? Is there really a free drink coupon? The cash bar is pretty pricey in the lounge.

Two per visit for non-AA OW Sapphire and Emerald. Just ask, if they are not offered.

just a guess but maybe they never heard of it since cathay doesnt go to ORD?? it still doesnt give an excuse though

just a guess but maybe they never heard of it since cathay doesnt go to ORD?? it still doesnt give an excuse though

Neither does QF. :p

American Airlines amenities partner really sucks compared to the Amenities provided by CX. I am more appreciative of Cathay's service everytime I step into AA metal! :mad:

Too funny. I've had similar problems with AA as well, but mostly on the phone when trying to book seats. On my return flight to JFK from ZRH about 2 weeks ago, the flight filled up, so I called up to have my seat changed to one of the elite blocked seats, and I know AA allows oneworld elites into those seats because they have done it for me before. It took 3 agents who transferred me from AAdvantage to Reservations (because apparently all I wanted was a seat), to the Round the World Desk (beause they realized I said Cathay Pacific and didn't recognize it as AA), back to AAdvantage where the agent, who was the same as before coincidentally, finally helped me out after I convinced her of oneworld policies. It's always an experience, really funny too if I'm in a good mood.

As for getting into the lounges, AAdmiral's Clubs aren't really anything compared to HKG, even the nice new one in JFK's brand new terminal. So I just get a cup of tea and use it for the seats that no matter what anyone says are far more comfortable than the airside seats. Food is awful, and I think you have to pay for it anyway, which I'm against in an Airline Premium lounge. I've never had a problem entering though, either in JFK, EWR, SJU, or DFW. But I've always shown my CX Gold Card with the Sapphire logo. I guess it could be that. They just glanced at it and my bp and let me in with 2 coupons.

Two per visit for non-AA OW Sapphire and Emerald. Just ask, if they are not offered.

I almost always have to ask...

Sometimes you need to ask for the coupons and sometimes not. I never asked for additional coupons, but I think OW-EM/SA can ask for more coupons - as there is no limit on drinks for OW EM/SAs in other OW lounges.

It is a known problem that many AA agents are not aware of CX.

Only the SFO AC has ever refused me for a third drink coupon.

If you are OW emerald (not AA) you can access the Flagship lounge, even on a domestic itin. Better food and self serve bar, much better than the Admirals Club.

In fact, the one at ORD is quite nice - and staff were amazing! I think it's at the end of K

I almost always have to ask...

Except LAX (they know me now), I almost always have to ask. Was even refused the 2nd coupon in MIA just recently - started to argue...finally saw no point - the woman was just too dumb to understand. Had the situation been reversed, I would have given the guy 2 coupons just to get out of my face.

Anyone know what are the formalities on with internet day passes at the Admirals Lounges? What is the entitlement to OW Emerald? Not an issue the the Flagship - open Wifi

In fact, the one at ORD is quite nice - and staff were amazing! I think it's at the end of K

Photos linked below.

In fact, the one at ORD is quite nice - and staff were amazing! I think it's at the end of K

Never been to the that one, I always go to the one in between H and K and sometime to the very small one in G.

Comfort wise, it's not bad at all but they charge for almost everything else, alcohol, food, and wi-fi access if you're not an actual AC member, But the chairs are comfortable and there are public computers you can use and the showers are nice. And the staff are pretty good, except for the one the OP ran into. :D

But does it compare to the Wing or the Pier or JAL's lounge in Narita? Not even close, IMHO.


Oh and thanks for the tip about the 2nd drink coupon, they've only ever given me one but I'm happy to get it. ^

Anyone know what are the formalities on with internet day passes at the Admirals Lounges? What is the entitlement to OW Emerald? Not an issue the the Flagship - open Wifi

Only AC members get free wifi at the AC. All who can enter the FL can have a free wifi pass.

In fact, the one at ORD is quite nice - and staff were amazing! I think it's at the end of K

Comfort wise, it's not bad at all but they charge for almost everything else, alcohol, food, and wi-fi access if you're not an actual AC member, But the chairs are comfortable and there are public computers you can use and the showers are nice. And the staff are pretty good, except for the one the OP ran into. :D

But does it compare to the Wing or the Pier or JAL's lounge in Narita? Not even close, IMHO.


Oh and thanks to Spiff for the tip about the 2nd drink coupon, they've only ever given me one but I'm happy to get it. ^

Comfort wise, it's not bad at all but they charge for almost everything else, alcohol, food, and wi-fi access if you're not an actual AC member, But the chairs are comfortable and there are public computers you can use and the showers are nice. And the staff are pretty good, except for the one the OP ran into.No - you're talking about the Admiral's Club. There is a Flagship Lounge at the end of K which has free food & drinks, free terminals & wifi (but no showers).
http://www.aa.com/aa/i18nForward.do?p=/travelInformation/airportAmenities/AAFlagshipLounges.jsp

But does it compare to the Wing or the Pier or JAL's lounge in Narita? Not even close, IMHO.

Most lounges outside of US are good, including the AC in NRT. Most lounges in the US that are operated by foreign airlines are also good.

Most lounges in the US that are operated by US airlines are not good. Only the FLs and a few ACs are OK.

Wow, I had no idea this was such a relatively common experience. Today I DID get a free drink coupon. I didn't get two because of my experience last week in LGA. There they knew what CX was, but they INSISTED that I couldn't have a free drink coupon. I started to argue but gave up after my colleague just laughed and said he'd buy me one instead. The lady glared at me like "yea, gotcha you were wrong", but I couldn't start a huge argument in front of my colleague. I was fuming. The ladies today at ORD were exceptionally nice, just didn't know what CX was at all.

Much of my AC access comes from a connection to/from a CX flight, being an AA EXP. Though I've met my share of clueless AA staff, none have ever given me a clueless stare when I pull out my CX boarding pass.

At the Miami Lounge, flying to LAX, they told me that OW Saphire is allowed, but doesnt get the drink coupon, however Emerald get's 1 coupon. So i guess each staff make up the rules as the go along.....

I am suprised by their ignorance.
Maybe AA staff needs some education on the OW alliance.

Maybe the american education system needs an entire overhaul to include a geography for the rest of the world!

just a guess but maybe they never heard of it since cathay doesnt go to ORD?? it still doesnt give an excuse though

Yes they do Daily to ORD and most days one stop to DFW.

Only cargo flights but their aircraft can often be seen from the Terminals.

...
Me: "What about Cathay Pacific?"
LBC: "The what?"
Me: (slowly) "Cathay Pacific, the airline?"
2LBC: (First LBC confused, turning to other LBC). "The WHAT?"
Me: "Cathay Pacific"
2LBC: "Don't know what you're talking about."
LBC: "Never heard of that before."
Me: "The Oneworld Airline?! Cathay Pacific?"
LBC: "Nope."
Me: (walk to side of counter where a Oneworld sign is, pull it up, and walk back): "This one here, green. Cathay Pacific."
2LBC: "Does that have Sapphire or Emerald?"
......
Me: (seeing daylight) "YES! See, right here on the boarding pass and this card, I am EMERALD!"
LBC: "Okay, I guess you're allowed in. First I've heard of it though. We'll have to check on that." ...

Why am I not surprised by the ignorance of these agents? They don't care, and, are clueless about anything that's outside of their own airline/country. It's like trying to explain to the lounge agents of airline U that airline T is in the same alliance A as airline U.

It's funny to read the above post but it's just frustrating when it happens to you. I have had similar conversations on numerous occasions in some lounges. It's always the same lounges, too. Why didn't I ever think of just hauling the alliance sign in and point to the name of the airline in question. I will do that the next time. A picture is worth a thousand words. ;)

Why am I not surprised by the ignorance of these agents? They don't care, and, are clueless about anything that's outside of their own airline/country.IB has done the same thing to AA members before. Maybe it's just a training issue.

Maybe the american education system needs an entire overhaul to include a geography for the rest of the world!

Yes! I agree! Would you believe I've been told that Indians are not Asian by Americans? It's completely mind-boggling.

But anyway, as for lounge, I always thought 2 drink coupons was standard because I've always gotten them, even in MIA that one time I went. I do have to ask sometimes if I really crave something from the bar.

Is there a written rule/some kind of access code (just like in the UA forum) that I can print out that shows that I am eligible for two drink chits?

Yes! I agree! Would you believe I've been told that Indians are not Asian by Americans? It's completely mind-boggling.

Yes, Americans are woefully uneducated when it comes to geography. It's embarrassing. But my experience from traveling is that the average citizen of most other countries won't fare much better.

That said, I doubt any CX agent will look funny at my EXP card next time I'm at the Wing.