Qantas Frequent Flyer - Question Regarding Luggage USA to Australia on AA & QF metal.

Hi Everyone,
This is a pretty simple question, but I am finding it very hard to try and get an exact answer.
I am flying from BOS, through DFW to SYD on the 19th of May (Booked on 8th of Feb), in economy :-( and I am a silver QF. 1st leg on AA, then on QF to SYD.
The Qantas website states I can have 3 bags on QF metal, and that connecting flights will provide me the same privileged. However both the QF customer service center representative told me and the AA website states that only 2 bags are allowed. I have flown out of the US previously with 2 bags and never had any charges, but I'm not sure what will happen with 3 bags. I do not really want to pay for a third bag if it will cost an additional $100.

Does anyone have any experience with this situation?
Thanks for all your help in advance.

if this is a single through booking starting in BOS on AA connecting to QF , then with the US exception to the IATA rules, iirc, the AA allowance applies to the whole itinerary

Dave

if this is a single through booking starting in BOS on AA connecting to QF , then with the US exception to the IATA rules, iirc, the AA allowance applies to the whole itinerary

Dave

Hi Dave,
It is a return from SYD-LAX-BOS-DFW-(BNE)-SYD, all booked one itinerary through the Qantas website. Does this change anything?
Thanks.

Hi Dave,
It is a return from SYD-LAX-BOS-DFW-(BNE)-SYD, all booked one itinerary through the Qantas website. Does this change anything?
Thanks.

You are entitled to the ticketed allowance of Qantas from SYD-LAX which is, I believe, 2x23Kg . You are not entitled to any additional allowances that Qantas offers to Silver members when departing on AA. If you really want to take 3 pieces and want the lowest excess fee, you could check the bags just to LAX and then recheck them in for the Qantas flight. That way you are only due to pay the AA domestic excess fee. Obviously if doing this, allow appropriate time in LAX

Although Dave is entirely correct about the entitlements, in reality it is a bit hit-and-miss. Upon check-in at the counter, I've had some agents look up the rules and tell me the entitlement is 2 bags; others have said "elite flyer = 3 bags, no problem".

Bottom line is you absolutely can't count on 3 bags, but the chances of it working are much greater than 0%.

Although Dave is entirely correct about the entitlements, in reality it is a bit hit-and-miss. ....It's less hit and miss now, after the AA bankruptcy; 99% of Aagents will charge you for that 3rd bag these days. In the past there was a lot of latitude, esp. for Emeralds (not so sure about Ruby status). Also QF used to have a special deal with AS (Alaska) that gave some QF pax priviliges better than AS gave AS pax :) So anything is possible, but afaik QF and AA have no shared perks beyond Oneworld these days.