Dear ex-JFK flyers:

Would you know if the staff working at the BA lounge can help Cathay pax upgrade their tickets using Asia Miles?

I am trying to wait till the last minute before I use my miles to upgrade, hoping that by some dumb luck I might get op-up before using my miles. However, if not then I'll use my miles at the lounge.

I know in HKG all the lounges are very helpful, but not sure if the same is for the JFK BA Lounge.

Thanks.

The lounge agent can't, I don't think, but at the check in area, there is a Cathay Pacific desk that can help you with queries and or upgrades using Asiamiles.

Mind you, I was at JFK maybe 5 years ago so things might have changed then.

From my this month experience, I wasnt travelling CX, only AA, but my mom was. As we all know, the BA crew stations JFK, but some of them are trained on both BA and CX system while some only do BA stuff. I think for your question, only check-in and gate could help you with your problem

I flew out of JFK a couple of time in the past. I did upgraded using miles and it was done during check-in. The BA agent knew what to do.

As for the lounge staff, I don't think they are trained to do so. Personally, I don't think they are all that helpful, even with simple stuff they usually refer you to the gate.

If I were you I would go to the desks to the left of the hall at the BA/CX Premium Check-in hall. This is where you go for MCOs, pay change fees etc. and I think the staff here are most likely able to help.

Of course this eliminates the chance of an op-UP at the gate.

A lot of times they do op-up at the gate during boarding.. might be too late then to try to use miles for an upgrade..

Based upon my experiences ex-JFK, the BA lounge agents won't be able to handle your asiamiles upgrade, in fact they can't seem to be able to do much for CX passengers and will usually say it's coz of the 'system'.

I used to think it was an excuse, but given an experience I had in April I think it might actually be due to a technical/system deficiency. Checked in at JFK with my family (me, wife plus child of 6), at check-in the agent said she was just processing our upgrades (operational one) but then she realised that the system had upgraded me and my wife (a Gold member) but not my daughter (whom i still can't get MPO status for despite flying enough for Gold) despite it being all under one booking - walked away from desk for a minute then comes back and (in a slightly sheepish manner) says that I've been upgraded but my wife's upgrade had fallen through as the last J seat had 'just' been taken. Anyway, I knew the real reason but guess there wasn't much i could do (and yes, I declined the upgrade).