I checked in on Christmas Day in London, England for my Cathay Pacific First Class flight to Hong Kong and then connecting to Bangkok on Canadian. American Airlines staff checks in for Cathay after they took over from AC earlier this July.

For some strange reason, AA could not through check me and give me CP's boarding pass. I noticed that the agent was typing my flight in as CX 007 instead of CP 007. I advise her of this. And she asks me , "Who's CP? Aren't they Cathay Pacific?" (And this was on a CP ticket stock). No, I told her, it's Canadian. "Who?" Oneworld? <Blank look>
"Do they fly to Bangkok from Hong Kong?" Yes.
Oh...don't know these things. I hand her my Exec Plat card and she noted that she had never seen one of those before. Hello?

Anyway to cut a long story short. AA could not issue my boarding pass for CP connecting from HKG to BKK. They through checked my lugage though. And upon arrival in HKG, I realised that my arrival flight was parked at Gate 1, and I have to go to T4 (connecting gates 41) to get my boarding pass. No...Cathay cannot issue my boarding pass. I wanted to take a quick shower before heading off and I did in the end, but with much difficulty as Cathay staff couldn't make a decision even among themselves if I should be allowed to even to the CX lounge.

Anyway, got my shower, and went to the gate. CP almost screamed at me for being late to board. I told them that CX had already called the transfer desk at T4 . CP (now handled by JL staff) said no, and wondered if I could check -in so late as my bags might not make it. I flashed them my Exec Plat card...and only then did they say that they will do all possible. CP questioned why AA couldn't issue the BP in London. And why Cathay didn't tell them I was connecting onto this flight.

OneWorld ? Better get used to it.

[This message has been edited by Celestar340 (edited 12-27-1999).]