Hi all,

A few questions on connecting to EK via US gateways.

1) I have recently moved to San Diego, and so I need to buy domestic flights to EK gateways to catch the EK flights, but the online booking engine is really bad at being able to do this. I have a choice of LAX, SFO (or even IAH/JFK) as gateways, but when I enter SAN as departing city, it does not show any valid choices (though it works if I book from LAX/SFO/IAH). Is there something I am missing about the online engine, or do I just have to book this on the phone and forgo the bonus online booking miles?

2) Also, when I do "advanced search" it won't let me specify any non gateway city. Has anyone had any luck with this? EK insiders - any chance of this getting fixed soon?

3) I assume that in any case where I buy domestic and international legs separately (to get the online miles bonus), that I am on my own for the domestic baggage fees, but if I book through EK via IAH with CO on the domestic leg, does CO charge the domestic bag fees even though it's connecting to an international flight on a "partner" - though not a formal Skyteam partner?

Thanks!