If you miss your connection, on the day of travel the booking is under airport control, with much more flexibility than reservations. The operating carrier (AA) should be able to move you to any available seat regardless of the fare class booked. The question of course is if there are available...
There is now some availability on the QF11 morning departure 17/4. Suggest you call and ask to re-instate you to that flight if you prefer not to connect via MEL.
I don’t have anything more specific, all I know is it was a CASA requirement to do a complete inspection after the aircraft experienced some sever turbulence on the way to LAX. I don’t believe the frame is damaged, just that unscheduled checks now need to be done.
As mentioned OQB out of action due to hitting some severe turbulence. Sunday and Wednesday flights subbed for 787 (Sunday being a double 787) and retimed to morning departure.
Also additional QF17 added for Thursday to manage overflow.
There should be no reason why if one person from a travel party does not check in the rest are denied boarding. Life happens. Which is why when you check in you have an option to select the pax to check in. Don’t think you should have problems.
Some crew don’t notice the difference (the side green light position when doing cabin final check). But some do - I got told a couple of times to put it back upright.
OT: I was one of those people in my teens. But not anymore, now love cilantro/coriander. So unless our genes alter as we get older, I am not sure I am buying the gene theory. But an interesting fact…