A recent development in AA's system: cannot issue baggage tags or BPs for QF flights, even though the flight segment is visible and correct in the PNR. Solution is to use the AA codeshare number instead -- but the correct QF flight number prints instead of AA. The poor Aagent went through 8 baggage tags before figuring this out on my last AA/QF interlined flight. QF got its revenge: my QF checked bag was first out, and the AA interlined bags were last out. Presumably a coincidence as they were identically tagged, but it seems interlined bags were put into a separate container on that flight.

So, if having trouble checking in at AA for a QF flight, tell the Aagent to use the AA codeshare number instead. AA no longer sells QF on aa.com, it is always the AA codeshare that appears (even if priced differently, and even when selecting "all airlines" -- which brings up DL and UA but not QF as alternatives, in this great Oneworld alliance). It looks like the AA codeshare rollout was a bit overzealous and has broken the baggage tag and boarding pass generation.

AA offers QF flights quite happily ; just done a look for LAX-SYD non-stop and got QF prices for both search by schedule and search for price and schedule

Interesting, and must be quite recent development if so; I had no problems securing QF BPs from AA as recently as a few days ago (LAX, QF codeshare op by AA to SFO, and the QF 747 to SYD). As well, I have had no problems finding QF flights on aa.com, though I may have had to fiddle with the parameters a bit (number of flights presented, AA and oneworld, etc.) The bias is such that AA will try to sell / show AA codeshares first, but as they may be more costly it is wise to check and do some shake and bake with how the largest number of flights is presented.

Yep, my poor check in agent in SFO had huge problems interlining my bags through to QF in LAX on Sunday the 25th (never tried with bookings on one PNR to begin with though).

After about 10 minutes I was about to tell her don't worry - I'll just recheck in LAX - but she decided to try something as a last resort.

Not entirely sure what she did, but it worked and whatever happened caused my AA PNR to be merged with the QF PNR and appear together in the one booking:


No hassles in the other direction (QF to AA), and no hold-ups with bags - I breezed through Smartgate in SYD and the bag was already waiting for me on the carousel so I was out of customs and walking to the domestic transfer area about 10 minutes after arriving at the gate