Other Middle East and Africa Frequent Flyer Programs - How complicated can your interline luggage instructions get?

I am flying to Auckland, going via Sydney.

I fly Wednesday afternoon JNB - SYD on SAflight# (Qantas metal) but SA will do the check in.

Arrive Thurdsay afternoon Sydney.

Fly Emirates on Friday morning to AKL.

This is what I want to do.

1)Take a small backpack (laptop and toiletry bag) and overnight case with tiny camera bag as carry on.
2)Check my large suitcase all the way to AKL.
3)Check my tripod case to Sydney.

Do you think its possible??

If it makes any difference SA and EK flight both in F.

Possible yes, I would guess. No way I would do that with a JNB connection :eek:. I dont know enough about the 'shopping habits' of the SYD baggage handlers to guess if an overnight stay of a suitcase in the baggage handling area can be recommended.:confused:

Bad news, a few months ago QF stopped interlining baggage on separate tickets to non-Oneworld airlines (such as EK). "From Wednesday 3 November 2010 customers holding two separate reservations (PNRs) for their journey will no longer be provided with through check or baggage interline through to their final travel destination.

Qantas will however, continue to provide this facility for customers connecting with Qantas flights and oneworld carriers (please note: other exemptions apply)."

Presumably this is not a single ticket, and doubt that SA has any baggage handling facilities at SYD, so you are stuck with the QF interlining rules, unless SA is willing to pay for an agent at SYD to manually process your bags.

Now all bags must clear customs in SYD, so even if interlined you must present the bags for customs and quarantine inspection. After exiting customs there is a baggage recheck area for through-checked bags. Not sure if EK participates in that, in terms of being able to generate EK baggage tags, but you could try. Otherwise there is a left baggage facility in a commercial shop in the international terminal, cost is high (varies by size but about AUD 20-30 a bag for 24 hours).