As the QF-EK agreement specifically does not include the Americas, there likely isn't any consideration for additional baggage allowance when the itinerary is ticketed as number of pieces, only by total weight. Having just done a test, as soon as the return leg includes LAX (just because that's what the original journey used), the *entire* ticket becomes included baggage as number of pieces. Which seems fair enough, if all travel is on a single ticket then the baggage allowance should remain the same for all legs (obviously there can be variations in status getting different additional allowances between airlines, but that's not on the ticket).But as Qantas gold, there’d be extra pieces to the USA anyway?
The reading of the gold benefit seems clear… allowed the extra weight on EK services. There’s no carve out for a return ticket coming from the USA.
If I was a QF gold I’d think I could take 16kg extra on EK, and an extra bag or two on my return from LAX.