Cannot perform OLCI on CX for AA Award Flights?
 

I have flown Cathay both revenue and redemption many times over the past few years and have never run into this. I received an email saying that my CX flight from SFO to HKG is eligible for online check-in, but when I try to do this I receive an error that says "We apologise that Online Check-In is not available as we cannot locate your e-Ticket in your booking. "

I have spoken with two different phone agents and they both have said the ticket is fine, seats assigned, I am ready to check in but the system will not allow it. I called the HKG number and the agent there said that redemption flights using AA miles are no longer eligible for OLCI because the system doesn't recognize the ticket number.

I just want to make sure there are no surprises at the airport.... Do I need to worry or is this a new systems limitation from CX? Thanks!!

No, you will be fine. The only way you can check in on a redemption ticket with AA on CX flights is having a MPC number. I've been able to do OLCI on AA redemption tickets. I had the AA agent change it to my DM card and was able to do OLCI.

I was definitely able to OLCI on an AAdvantage award ticket last month, and I do not have any CX FF numbers. However, I did need the CX record locator, which one can only get by calling AA; one cannot use the AA locator. (Perhaps this is obvious, but the original post says the OP had to call CX to check reservation status and seat assignment, so i suspect he/she may not have the CX locator, with which one can verify the existence of the reservation on CX's web pages.)

There are some paths to OLCI that require the ticket number, and indeed you cannot use the AA ticket number. But if you use the tab on the front page, and select 'non-member', it needs only the CX record locator.

Thanks both for your replies. I am indeed using the Cathay (and not the AA) record locator. I am able to pull up my booking, my seat assignment, everything, just can't check in. From searching OLCI prior to starting this new thread it appears there was an IT change at CX (again) which has impacted OLCI for AA redemptions on CX metal.

I just don't want to get to the airport with tons of bags and excited about a trip to DPS and find myself with a ticketing problem...

Could you do me a favor and do it my way, just as an experiment? Don't go to your reservation details and OLCI from there. Go to the CX home page and select the "Check in" tab at the right, then choose "non-member" and then enter your record locator etc.

I'm curious to know if it still works, but I have no way to test it myself without an OLCI-eligible record. I do remember that going via my reservations details did not work for me.

A data point for your reference, I am able to OLCI for a US redeemed ticket 15 minutes after ticketing yesterday (of coz it is within 48hours of the flight).

I am a bit surpried because even a BA (who also uses AMADEUS and a long time OW partner) redeemed ticket cannot OLCI until a few hours after ticket issue.

For the past two weeks, I have been unable to do online check-in for any of my flights. After the page that asks for my personal information, it will give me the same error.

Interestingly if I call them and change my flights (like to an earlier one), I can immediately do the online check-in process. I have a feeling there is a bug in the system related to my flight sectors configurations (which would explain why changing the flight fixes the issue). I fly the same flights every single week.

Do you have another waitlisting flight right before your cobfirmed flight? Thats my previous experience which I need to cancel anything before my confirmed flight in order to OLCI

Seebuyfly.... I tried it that way and no luck, same error. I also tried the mobile application AND the mobile page.

Alphaod... interesting. My theory here is that yet again CX's IT systems leave much to be desired. Another user here (I think Cathay Boy?) commented on another thread that IT investment is a low priority for them. I will update this thread after check in at the airport and let you know if there were any issues with in person check in. I am still a bit worried.

Another theory is that because DPS requires visa on arrival and I am a US citizen they are somehow flagging this for a visa check prior to check in? Although in past this has not been the case with their old check in system.

I heard back from Cathay via email and they said that there is indeed a problem with their OLCI system currently and that they are working to repair it. Hope this helps others.

I think they just re-launched the OLCI system recently. Things look somewhat different. Also had trouble OLCI for my parents' CX-issued award.

Mrs. flew RT JFK/HK/JFK route, using AA miles past month and I checked her in on-line using non-member option without a problem. Can't recall if I also needed to input ETKT number???

But they don't issue electronic boarding pass.

You will be fine. I have not done OLCI on CX awards; you have a ticket number, seat assignment, just go and enjoy. The visa on arrival at DPS has nothing to do with this, having been to DPS 5 times, twice on CX as well as TG, QR, and SQ, and tickets are not flagged for this. The CX site has always been just a reference for me, checking the tkt status and cabin, otherwise I am not a MP member who likely get more out of the site than I.

Thanks all... to follow-up in case others search this thread in the future, check in was smooth and no problem. They confirmed there is new OLCI "back end software" which is preventing AA mile redemptions from checking in. They are working to fix it.

I am "old school" and like to check in at home, have my boarding passes and BN# etc just to make sure everything is fine at airport.....

Thanks again all!

I just got the same message for my flight tomorrow. My wife, who is also on an AA redemption, had no problem checking in.

If you see no update from me then all went smoothly tomorrow :)