blahblahblah,
I see what you mean re my post. I realise that it can often be the other way around and you're right, handling agents can be the weak link in the whole process.
I have come across an airline that didn't inform an airport until very late in the day that they would be using ULDs. Needless to say the airport at that point had no space left to deal with additional ULDs. They sorted something out but it put a lot of pressure on the airport.
That's the sort of example I'm looking for without being specific about what airline or what airport.
Thanks both of you for your comments.