Some of you may know I'll be taking my first trip on CX in a few weeks. I'm checking capacity on the flight now (CX 881) LAX-HKG and it's showing that it's just about sold out. I'm using a milage award in F that I booked 330 days prior to the travel date.
Now I am reading some of these horror story threads where people have been bumped off of some flights. Is there a chance of this happening to me? When I check in at MKE can AA give me my boarding pass for my CX segments or will I have to check in again with CX at LAX (7 hours later). Computer check in is not an option for us on CX. Should I make sure they have my AA status (PLT) on my CX segments instead of my green MP number? Will this make a difference? I'll only be spending 4 days in HKG and with only one CX flight a day, if I get bumped it'll really throw a kink in the plans. Not to mention I'm 6'3" and 250 lbs and God forbid they put me in a coach seat
Are any of these fears valid? Do they over sell F and will they bump the non-rev passengers first?

Thanks

[This message has been edited by crAAzy (edited 02-04-2002).]

I'm worried too now as both my HKG-MEL flights are sold out and the LHR-HKG outbound is nearly full!

I really doubt CX will bump you from F, regardless if you are revenue pax or not.

Although CX has a policy that pax need not reconfirm reservations, you can call them to confirm your seat assignment if you wish. CX might offer some reassurance and they can tell you whether F is oversold for your flight. CX Reservations in North America is based in Vancouver and they are extremely kind, helpful and competent!

Despite new security measures, when you check in at MKE, AA should be able to check your bags through to your final destination; assuming AA and CX are the only carriers involved. AA should also be able to give your boarding passes and lounge invitation at LAX. Since you are using AA miles, your AA record locator probably indicates Plat status. I've used an AA/CX award in the past and noticed that my CX boarding pass shows my AA number and oneworld status.

BTW, I suggest you use the BA lounge at LAX Tom Bradley Terminal as it is nicer than the CX lounge. If you want to shower before your CX flight, however, you can use the Admirals Club at the AA Terminal which is a short walk to Tom Bradley Terminal.

You guys must be travelling over the Chinese New Year periods....

Hmm... wellm prepare to be bumped off!

No - just kidding... you have NOTHING to worry about. You will be treated as a full fare revenue passenger.

1) AA cannot print you a lounge pass. But you don't need one anyway because you're travelling First Class.

2) CX uses the joint BA/QF Lounge for its First Class passengers. It no longer uses the BA First Class lounge for their late 11.30pm departure from LAX as that lounge closes immediately after the last BA flight leaves.

3)Your luggage will be transferred at LAX. Even if you don't have "Priority" stickers on the bags, CX personnel will place the appropriate FIRSTCLASS PRIORITY when they match your name against your booking. You do not have to recheck in LAX. CX knows their stuff.

Thanks for the advice everyone. I guess I'm just so excited about the trip that I'm starting to become a little paranoid . Yeah!, only 17 more days to go for my first CX experience!!!

crAAzy:

I've flown a lot on CX on award F tickets and never been bumped.

I was on CX HKG-YVR on 9/14 in award F, the first flight from HKG to north america after the attacks. Needless to say, the flight was way overbooked with hundreds, maybe thousands of people waiting to pay full fare to get to north america. CX not only honored my reservation, but didn't take me up on my offer to volunteer. (CX doesn't seem to have a volunteering plan)

My only complaint in this area is that CX is not so good about honoring pre-reserved seat assignments - they often give me different seats from the ones I booked. That's a pretty minor issue given that all F seats are great.

I'm taking CX 881 this Friday evening - I'll ask if there 'could' be any kind of problem. I've never had trouble using award tickets on CX, even over Chinese NY. Let you know when I return on the 14th.

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Askworldtraveler, EXP,4 million AA miles+++Hilton Gold (thanks to EXP)