its quite simple how it works now

CX AM number can change to any other FFP
Any other FFP cannot change to anything else

Hence i would just recommend you add/associate your CX AM number first into the booking, THEN change to another OW FFP that you need to use (thouhh there is no turning back on the latter)

The redemptions a "hacker" can pull off with ~6,000 AM isn't very high https://lifestyle.asiamiles.com/en/C...cardnmilesconv (under US$20?)

I don’t necessarily think there was any fraud involved (maybe?). I would be surprised. I, much like probably many here, garden my reservations and look at them quite frequently (this particular Cathay one almost daily to check if they had switched away from an Aria configuration).

The reservation was FFP-less, up until the notification email Cathay sent me at T-48 hours to check in.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...4c92730a8.jpeg

My Cathay number starts with a 15-, so I thought it was curious that a Cathay number now was showing up on my PNR.

I did not contact AMEX at all regarding this booking at anytime.

See above. I’m quite new to Cathay (really this my first time flying them), but had read about not being able to change a FFN here, so I left the FFN field blank when I was booking through AMEX. AMEX also didn’t have an option to select AS as the program so I figured I would ask CX to add it later.

My guess - I could be totally wrong here, is that Cathay was name matching (apparently check-in at at T-48 hours is a “benefit” for AM members), didn’t find my name, and made me a new account. Is this plausible?

I did not try to login to this new AM account because I didn’t have access to the full number anyways.

Regardless, the agent at check-in in YVR was able to delete this AM number and add my AS number instead.

Any thoughts? My hypothesis on a new account generation was just because I know some other airlines do this (e.g., LATAM).

I say so only because the reports seen at https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/cath...y-booking.html and elsewhere.

Submit a complaint. CX need to be overwhelmed with noise. They either created a Cathay account for you without your consent or someone fraudulently added a Cathay number to your booking. Either way, this isn’t the way CX should be conducting business.

This is getting ridiculous. Booked an AM redemption itinerary with CX and partner airline for my redemption nominees. I asked them to put my redemption nominees' CX numbers to the partner airline as well. Was told by the phone agent that this can only be done if the redemption nominee is SL or above. For non-status pax, they no longer enter even CX numbers to partner airlines on bookings created by CX, award or revenue. I think this is beyond fraud prevention and just pure non-sense. Will write to CX next time about this.

For those who might question me why I'd like to put have the CX number put in for my redemption nominees even if they will not have élite benefits and will not earn miles, the reason is because on partner airlines, when IRROPs happen, sometimes people get booked in revenue booking class and can earn AM (and status points if oneworld). I've personally benefited from it once, and so have a couple of friends of mine. Maybe that's what CX wants to crack down? I doubt, though.

Just for my info, any problems getting non-CX operating airlines to add the FFP?

By the way, anyone feel that this is getting a "bit better".

For my last few bookings it seems that as long as I log into my CX account using 2FA I am able to change the FFP numbers fairly freely it feels like on tickets, even (gasp?) when booking redemption CX flights and putting in the BA FFP. Oh, and quite rare for a change to be able to manage it, I booked a relatively simple DONE3 rtw as an alternative to a Middle East transfer and the CX legs did have the working BA FFP without collapsing (by simple I mean perhaps only 10 legs and no changes, yet).

Haven't heard of anything like that other than the usual "any changes to the reservation should be handled by the booking source [i. e., CX]," but usually things can be accomplished by HUACA.

So just to clarify it seems that if you credit to a program that does not award miles on your booked fare CX will allow you to retro credit them to CX?

I'm assuming this change was made to prevent exactly what I would like to do, but have OW Emerald through AA so would like to get seat assignment and in to lounge. However booked on M fare which earns 0 points with AA, so at least if I could retro credit to CX I would get some points for it.

Cathay has come out with an official statement about this:

https://www.cathaypacific.com/cx/en_...utm_content=V3

thanks goodness finally some measures in place. Though i reckon it will be annoying if you really forget to add during booking then some benefits are delayed (complimentary seat selection for example)

i tend to not forget my FFP cuz i fly for status point and enjoy benefits.

getting from A to B is secondary outcome of any air travl
:p

very annoying - esp. if your TA doesn't / forgets to add your FFP for your booking

The new rules from CX are very clearly put out in the latest notice.

However, what would have been much better would be for them, like all other airlines, to come up a solution for proper name matching and crediting instead of taking the stance that "let's just inconvenience the passenger instead of solving the root problem".