I'm surprised such an experienced flyer would be so idiotic as to buy separate tickets instead of a single one ... even if pre-purchased, full price can be reissued with no cost, so no reason to not be on a single ticket. It seems you deliberately seek to create drama, or are just incompetent in buying tickets. The rule is very simple, and has nothing to do with fare class or QFF status: QF interlines on a single ticket, and does not interline to non-OW airlines on separate tickets. QF is not unique in this, the majority of airlines have the same policy (ironically for you, TG does not, they will happily interline for anyone). Given the ease in avoiding this situation, or fixing it before you fly, and the hassle at SYD if not fixed, I'd have thought you'd be spending the time getting the ticket reissued rather than moaning about it on FT.