Thanks Gardyloo for letting me know it got through ok and thank to everyone for replying.

Cathay have now ok'd and taxed the new route no problem, neither me or them mentioning this new rule - so I'm presuming when I get to the airport to get it printed it will go through ok.

In reply to Viajero; I had the original ticket and the one re-issue already done by Cathay - so (un/fortunately) all the expensive taxes/fsc had already been paid up to now but for adding on

5x AA domestic and Canadian flights and 4 x domestic Qantas

they quoted $845 (inc $125 change fee) per ticket - I contested to the phone agent who spoke to the backroom (on my behalf) and they came back with $640 including change fee - saving $200.00 per ticket in 20 minutes and showing what a joke tax collection has now become

I still think they are too high as AA don't charge fuel surcharge (according to Cathay - is that correct?) so that's a lot of money for taxes. I will wait until I get to the airport to scrutinize further.

It is so true about all it takes is one agent to be 100% sure of his interpretation of a rule (no matter how wrong he might be) and that is as far as you can go on that day. I'm still in LA whereas I thought I would be in Montreal by now.

I will push AA once again as I prefer they do the re-issue for several reasons including the fact that from past experience at this stage they usually charge next to nothing beyond the change fee and even though it is long and painful from the moment I step up to the counter I have never had to leave without them finishing it. Plus historically I have found AA e-ticket = no special screenings CX paper = SSSS everytime.