I have just dated a number of my LONE4 tickets which were previously open, and asked for AA code shares on 3 flights which are operated by Qantas. I've looked at my itinerary on AA's web site and for these 3 flights it shows Carrier as Qantas and has the Qantas flight number in the respective column. Does this mean I haven't been put on the code share for these flights?

Correct. It will say AA if you were on the codeshare (in some places it also says "operated by QF" after AA).

It is possible that there was no L inventory on the AA codeshare, most of these codeshares are for higher-priced tickets. It is only for D/A that codeshare is usually available, L is often never offered on some routes as a codeshare (varies a lot by route).

Grrrr. I specifically quoted the AA flight numbers as well. Guess I'll have to call again to change it so I can get more miles/points. Is there anything special I have to do to make them book it on the AA number or was the guy I spoke to just being a pain?

Edit: I did look at availability and it looked fine to me. Flights are:
SYD-CHC: AA7345 on 18th May
AKL-SYD: AA7324 on 15th July
SYD-HNL: AA7359 on 17th July

Anyone care to check if there is actually L availability?
Thanks.

Maybe your itinerary does not entitle you to fly the AA codeshare? (haven't checked).

Why would that be? I've looked at the rules, and as far as I comprehend them I should be able to fly the AA codeshare. Here's the specifics:

SYD-CHC: Flight is QF45, codeshare is AA7345, I see L7 availability on 18th May
AKL-SYD: Flight is QF164, codeshare is AA 7324, L7 availability on 15th July
SYD-HNL: Flight is QF3, codeshare is AA 7359, L7 availability on 17th July.

Is all that correct, or am I not able to fly on the codeshare at all?

I can't see the availability for the codeshares in KVS so can't help as to whether there is availability but there is nothing to stop you taking the codeshare if you choose. And of course if there's room.

One more thing. I could be completely wrong but do AA ticketed OWE sometime book into Q class???

You can only fly the AA codeshares if you are originating/terminating in the USA. For example, for SYD-CHC, you would need to fly LAX-SYD-CHC without a stopover. IMHO, you should be allowed to fly SYD-HNL on the AA codeshare though.

Why can you only fly AA codeshares if originating/terminating in the USA? The only codeshare reference I could find in the rules is:

47N APPLICATION
48N ------------
49N .
50N . 1. APPLIES TO FIRST CLASS, BUSINESS CLASS AND
51N . ECONOMY CLASS, RTW TRAVEL VIA
52N . .
53N . AA BA IB LP
54N . LA �
55N . . �
56N . AY CX EI
57N . QF
58N . .
59N . .
60N . .
61N . 2. TRAVEL ON CODESHARES OPERATED BY THE CARRIERS
62N . LISTED ABOVE IS PERMITTED. OTHER CODESHARE
63N . SERVICES NOT PERMITTED.
64N . EXCEPTION 1: FOR TICKETS ISSUED ON/AFTER
65N . 01JUL05, TRAVEL NOT PERMITTED ON CX BETWEEN HONG
66N . KONG AND HANOI.
67N . EXCEPTION 2: QF CODESHARE SERVICES OPERATED BY
68N . JQ/JETSTAR ARE PERMITTED EXCEPT FOR POINT OF SALE
69N . AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND.

That states nothing about codeshares validity with specific originating/terminating points, so is there something else i'm missing?

SYD-HNL on AA for July 17 just loaded into the system right now,... maybe it was not available at the time you checked.

It has nothing to do with oneworld Explorer rules. Try going to AA.com to purchase SYD-CHC. You won't be able to price ANY AA codeshares, but if you query LAX-CHC, you'll see them. This is similar to BA codesharing on MIA-LIM (for LHR-MIA-LIM) but they can't just sell MIA-LIM tickets.

I looked at AA's site and of course you were right about the codeshare. I'm glad you were able to clarify for me. Sorry for being a pain. I have a better grasp of things now though.

It is the way codeshares work. They are not intended/allowed to be sold for local traffic, but intended where the longhaul flight is with one airline and connecting to shorthaul flight with another (eg if I fly SIN-SYD on SQ I can then use SQ code for SYD-AKL but I can't use the SQ code SYD-AKL by itself), OR as in the above example to serve a particular market (ie either destination or origin is home base to the airline but it doesn't operate that route).

I booked my ONE through a travel agent with BA as ticketing airline and was alowed to take AA7346 CHC-SYD and AA7292 SND-CNS without any questions, no long haul connections. Then again, BA's agents have no clue about the ONE product, at least not when I booked it.

I'm looking to fly ARN-LHR-PEK in a week or so to kick off my DONE4. Expertflyer shows BA flt. 777 ARN-LHR as an A319 at 11:55a with D0, but AY flt. 5927 ARN-LHR as an A321 also at 11:55a operated by BA with D4. These are presumably the same flight (as an AY codeshare) -- not sure why the difference in aircraft. Assuming they are the same flight, can I book this flight as AY 5927 even though I'm continuing on with BA from LHR-PEK?

I don't see any reason why not...