Does someone ON Flyertalk know when the operating carrier actually receives payment from its alliance partner? Is it within a certain timeframe after ticket issuance or is it after the segment is flown?

I have noticed contradicting information and would like to get a clou if in my case the operating carrier Quantas mighty have already received payment from the now insolvent Air Berlin and the flight is therefor taking place or a legal case is promising?

Thanks in advance for any insights in this topic.

There is no single answer to your question. Are you talking about a codeshare (i.e. QF-operated flight with AB flight number?) or simply a QF-marketed flight with a ticket issued by AB, e.g. as part of a RTW itinerary?

In the codeshare case, there are about 4 different ways the two companies can create a contract for revenue, and you don't really know which one applies since the contract is not public. Payments are then settled according to IATA BSP. It doesn't have much to do with oneWorld.

However, I suggest that you are not asking the right question. When AB actually stopped meeting its obligations (or stopped meeting them on time) is unclear, thus knowing when settlement "usually" occurs does not mean much in the AB case. Further, and most importantly for you, the answer to when payment is received is not necessarily the same as whether your flight will proceed as ticketed. AB's own answer is:

So in this case you should contact Qantas.

I believe the standard term is that the ticketing airline only pays the marketing airline its portion of the air fare after the flight's e-ticket "coupon" is used. If code-share, the marketing carrier than pays the operating carrier. In the old days with paper tickets, airlines have to collect their coupon in order to be paid. In your case, if travel has not commenced, AB would not have had paid QF. Paying in advance also causes the problem in case the ticket is substantially changed before departure of a particular flight.

Do you have the Qantas PNR? (Note there is no U in Qantas, it's an initialism for Queensland And Northern Territory Aerial Services)

If so, plug it into the QF website and make sure it still shows as valid. Chances are if it's ticketed, it still will be. If not, you will need to contact AB and get the QF PNR.

How does contacting AB work these days?

AB would have the money and QF has not been paid yet (aside from JV it is paid after the sector is flown). You would be an unsecured creditor of AB. Often airlines will fly you on such tickets without payment but you need to check with QF and it is strictly a goodwill gesture. Otherwise you go through the bankruptcy proceedings for reimbursement (which looks to be slim for AB). Depending on your country of purchase for the ticket there may be additional legal protection. It sounds like you are in Germany in which case you are fully protected fwiw.