I booked the QF return months ago, so this will be a new booking on a different PNR direct with AA.
If you really want to fly with AA, a travel agent is probably your safest option. They should be able to link the existing international PNR to a new AA one.
When I've had QF and AA on the same PNR and QF was late, they've handed out special passes to expedite immigration, which is helpful.
QF recently dropped the oneworld benefits for interlining bags, but is there still any benefit that I would get by flying AA as a OW partner, so that if my QF flight is delayed into SFO, they'd accomodate me for free?
I haven't noticed a difference in recent years between when AA is responsible or not.
Even if AA is responsible, "free" may not be the option offered these days. On my last AA trip, they decided I would not make a connection in DFW due to late arrival from LAX and gave my seat to someone else. I found out in the queue to board (I had made it to the gate early in fact) that they had moved me to a flight the next morning. The accommodation offered was a voucher that didn't cover the full cost of the room, and the hotel was a US$50 taxi ride away, which they don't cover. In retrospect, I wondered if that was legal, but at the time you just stand in a queue with dozens of other impacted passengers receiving your paltry vouchers.
For flights that run regularly, like ORD-LAX, they have just made me waitlist, and the priority order depends on your OW status. I missed a QF connection at LAX due to one these. I was top of the priority list at ORD, but missed out five times. The sixth time (six hours later than my booked flight) they put me in F, but it was too late to make the QF flight. QF moved me to the next day without a change fee very generously, even though it wasn't their responsibility.
When AA hasn't been responsible (I've shown up late, had QF on a separate PNR, etc.), there hasn't been any measurable difference in service. They've just waitlisted me as per above.
vandy1648405; said:
Apart from points and SCs, is there any benefit for choosing OW if another non-OW airline has a better time and better price?
If you have OW status, keep in mind the benefits depending on your tier, like free baggage allowances, free selection of better seats, preferred boarding, etc. Travelling in the US can be pretty painful without these.
Also, if you get stuck in the waitlisting circus above, higher status helps.
This may all sound a bit negative, but my US flights always involve at least two connections, and I have a historical 50% success rate, despite leaving three plus hours between flights. Others may have had more positive experiences
If I wasn't OW Emerald, I doubt I would choose AA if there more convenient, cheaper alternatives.
