Emirates and Jetstar
 

I am planning a trip from Launceston (LST) to Amsterdam in April.

From Launceston to Melbourne the Emirates booking engine is giving me the option of a Jetstar flight using either a JQ flight number or a QF flight number.

Is there any benefit to booking on the QF flight numbered flight (operated by Jetstar) as opposed to booking on the JQ flight number?

Will Jetstar honour the 30kg baggage allowance for Emirates Economy passengers or am I limited to 20kg?

Will Jetstar through check my baggage to Amsterdam in Launceston or do I need to claim my baggage in Melbourne and check it in myself for the onward Emirates flights?

In the event of a delay on either the Jetstar flight, or the Emirates return flight will I be accommodated on the next available flights or will I need to buy new tickets?

1) No benefit of booking QF flight number. As a jetstar operated flight it will not credit miles to your QFF account, and no difference in benefits.

2) Jetstar baggage allowances will apply.

3) Jetstar doesn't interline so you will need to claim bags in Melbourne and recheck with EK, and vice versa on the return flight. This also means you should allow plenty of time between flights - if JQ flight is too late you may miss cut-off for checking in on EK or vice versa for the return flight. If you misconnect due to JQ flight being late you'll be put on the next available EK flight, but that may not be the same day. In the other direction I suspect JQ will require a new fare to be purchased if you misconnect from EK to JQ.

For bookings made through Emirates that include multiple airlines (like QF and DJ) on a single ticket, you should get the baggage allowance and connection guarantee in both directions. I remember looking this up quite a while ago for someone.
Even if EK is delayed on the inbound, someone will be busy rebooking you to the next available flight before you even land.

If you're in doubt call Emirates and have the the flight combinations handy.

So i've tried to book my flights with JQ on the EK website however there were website issues and the booking couldn't be made.

Contacted EK by email and they informed me that they are not able to price an EK fare with a JQ connection. However they can do so on Virgin from LST...

Bit odd... why list the JQ and QF connections in the booking engine if these can't be priced or booked?

For personal reasons we do not wish to travel on Virgin and are therefore looking for either a JQ, or preferably QF, connection.

If the single flight booking LST-MEL-AMS and return can not be made using either JQ or QF connecting flights I am planning to make two separate bookings... however then utilising QF out of Devonport for the flights to and from MEL and EK for the onward flight to AMS - since this will give me QF flights for both outbound and inbound journeys and avoids JQ.