Thanks Jane. The last time I had a similar situation, I tried to go to HKG early, called CX Reservations, there are no more seats for me days ahead, so I asked the agent can I just arrange for my own travels back to HKG and bypass this WNZ-HKG leg? (Eventually bought myself a ticket to Shenzhen) The agent's response was "No problem, I will just make a note in your record."

I suspect I can do the same thing again? Call up CX Reservations and tell them I had an emergency so I can't do the WNZ-HKG leg, even if it is one ticket, but preserve the HKG-JFK leg? Do you foresee a big issue based on your experience? Was I super lucky last time?