When I heard that a fantastic price for a round trip JFK-CDG had appeared, I snapped it up. The flight is in September, purchased in March, on Priceline. It is a British Airways flight but it is for flying on American via a code share. Neither BA nor AA was offering anything near that price, so I booked through the third party, knowing that if there is a problem with a flight I could have a complicated situation.

Priceline shows my booking, the seat assignments for myself and my wife, and is easily accessible on line. My question is this: Flights can be changed by an airline for numerous reasons. With AA to BA to PL to me as a communication chain, should I get connected to AA and/or BA also so I can better check to be sure all is well and be notified promptly if there is any change in the flights? And how do I do this? And what about early on-line check in and boarding passes?

Thanks for any help.

I'm confused as to who is operating your flights. Is it JFK-CDG nonstop? If so then it's AA "metal," and phoning AA should get you the AA confirmation code and allow you to manage your booking.

If it's JFK-xLHR-CDG with BA operating the London flight, then phone BA with your flight information and get their confirmation code, which will be different from American's (they use different reservations systems.)

Since you said you've already got seat assignments I'm guessing it's the former. To get seat assignments on BA metal you'd have had to pay money since BA doesn't give them for free like AA.

It is non-stop each way on AA metal, as you surmised. Should I register in some way on AA's website in case I need to be contacted prior to my return flight? Is there any purpose to having a BA contact in addition?

You should have a BA confirmation number, period. BA is the operator of the codeshare even though it's on AA. We booked across the pond on PL and received confirmation numbers for the flights with the airline that is technically the operator even though three of the four legs are on its partner's planes.

No, if it's JFK-CDG nonstop then it's on American's planes. BA only sold the ticket - that's the beginning and end of their involvement.

BA uses the Amadeus booking system while AA uses Sabre. The PNR locators will be different. You need to phone either airline and get the AA locator - six letters, no numbers - which should then let you manage your booking on the AA - not the BA - website.

As gardyloo says once you have the AA PNR you can set up your profile in the AA website to manage your booking. There's a place to enter your contact info so you can be notified of any future changes.

PL should have provided the booking number when he booked. PL can't book him until it gets a confirmation, so whether it's BA or AA, he should have the number from priceline in his confirmation email.

PL gave me ticket numbers and BA confirmation number, which is 6 characters, 1st, 4th, 6th are numbers, the others are letters. No AA PNR. Is this enough?

You'll need the AA confirmation for online check-in as they are the operating airline, not BA. Confirmation numbers for BA and AA consist of a mix of numbers and letters. You can call AA to find out your confirmation number and you can check at the same time to see if they already have your contact details.

AA record locators are all letters, no numbers. Phone either airline and ask for the AA locator.