[Ricardo Carrasco]

QANTAS RECORD LOCATOR REFERENCE: 52TB9R

I've just found out that the Qantas code-share arrangement with American Airlines for flights from U.S. to Australia precludes the passenger from selecting a seat on the Partner airline (American) when booking tickets on the Qantas website.

Result No. 1 of this anomaly: Since I had not been able to select my seat in advance on my departing AA flight ex DCA, I was assigned a middle seat upon check-in, the least desirable option available, and on a last-on-board Group 8 to boot.

Result No. 2: I was not assigned my standard TSA Precheck boarding pass when checking-in at the DCA airport. I had to go through the highly inconvenient non-Precheck security line, with all the burdens that process entails, none of which apply when going through the TSA Precheck line.

When I wrote to [email protected], I received several responses, all of which confirmed that since the ticket had been booked on Qantas, American Airlines had no way to resolve the issue for my returning flights July 30.

When I called Qantas Customer Service to request resolution of this matter for my forthcoming return flights, the response was that Qantas does not allow seat selection on partner airlines under code-share arrangements.

Bottom line:

• Neither partner airline assumes responsibility for denying the passenger the option to select (and pay for) seats on connecting flights on the US-Australia route.
• I'm bracing for an encore of my incoming flights experience on my return itinerary, including a burdensome non-TSA Precheck experience on my my DFW connecting flight.

Ricardo Carrasco.