No, it does not always work. A few years back, on a long multi-airport, multi-airlines, multi-PNR trip, all of them booked with individual award tickets issued by LH and A3, it worked on all connections but one: SJO-PTY-CUN, 5:30 a.m., both flights COPA!!! Was it because it was too early or because he was in a bad mood? I'll never know. I didn't mind, though, as I had a four-hour connection at PTY...