I suspect this is a dumb question, but I don't have much experience interlining. I will fly SFO-JFK next week on AA (landing JFK at 3:30pm), go into NY for a meeting and dinner, and then fly out that night (10 hours after landing) JFK-HKG on CX845.

1.) I expect the CX counter to be closed upon my arrival to JFK, considering CX831 has already departed and CX889 won't leave for 8 more hours.

2.) Assuming #1 is true, when I check-in for AA at SFO how do I "interline?" I assume this is possible, considering AA is in OW and I've read a bunch of threads about people doing it from CX to EK, UA, etc. Do I just tell the AA person at check-in about my CX flight from JFK to HKG and show them the itinerary, and they take care of the rest?

3.) Do I have to deal with the CX people at all at SFO? Does it matter that the CX counter at SFO will be closed that early in the morning (CX879 departs 6 hours after my AA flight)? Do I need them at all?

I feel like a royal idiot asking this, but have absolutely no clue