@Luanne,
At Cathay checked in counter, I was told ( Cathay personnel) that the wheel chair assistance personnel at SFO airport are not part of Cathay airline employee. Is was contracted by another company and Cathay can not do anything beside making a formal request. I do not know how the name of company, but the service and attitude of the wheel chair assistance personnel at SFO is terrible.
I think there is not enough wheel chair personnel for all passengers who need help at SFO . Passenger just sit there waiting and waiting without knowing when will be their turn. Not sure if the handicap assistance service shortage only occurs for departure international flight .
For two times traveling with Cathay ( International flight at mid night), we have waited 1.5 hrs - 2 hrs for wheel chair assistance. There is at least 10 wheel chair available at the time I ask to borrow one to wheel my husband myself. I learned that the Cathay Lounge is very closed to the security clearance area, so the next trip if we flight with Cathay pacific again, my husband will try to walk (with the support of the can) to the Cathay lounge, then we will request a wheel chair assistance from there to the departure gate.
By the way, whoever using the wheel chair assistance at SFO, please make sure you have all your belonging after X-ray and security clearance. I feel that you can not depend on the wheel chair assistance personnel to help with all your your things (backpack, laptop, passport ect)
One time, at SFO airport, I was not in the same security clearance line with my husband . We were separated due to the security officer do not let me go together with my husband . I was cut off and stand in the next line . His wheel chair attendance personnel forgot to pick up laptop bag after that. By the time I got together with my husband again and on our way to departure gate. I realized his laptop is not with him . I ran back security X-ray area and find it leave on the chair , unattended. We are lucky not to loose the laptop that time.