What to Expect Flying to DFW on QF7

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What to Expect Flying to Dallas on Qantas Flight QF7 is an article written by the AFF editorial team:


You can leave a comment or discuss this topic below.
 
My initial reaction was “a long flight”.

In F - “a great sleep”.

But apart from my chirping - nice article!
 
The current timing of these flights worked out reasonably well for me last year.

Leave PER on the first flight of the day, connect in SYD, a few hours to freshen up and then arrive in DFW late evening. Freshen up and can connect onwards to arrive at final destination for bedtime (though going all the way to east coast might be difficult).

But yes, a very long flight (as is the return).
 
We did this back in 2019 when Miss TC was four months old. In F. But a great way to get most of the way to our destination in one flight, then just the short hop to ORD. We're coming back the other way this year with the two kids, so the article is a good preview of what to (sort of) expect.
 
I can't imagine sitting in a row of three for that length of time, especially when travelling as a two. You would either have someone in the window who would need to be getting out, or someone in the aisle who you'd be asking to stand to let you out to use the loo or just to stretch your legs.

For us two options to avoid that even if it means not sitting next to the window. Second best option is middle row so it's only your travelling companion/partner who has to stand to let you out. Best option, and the one we've chosen for QF63 that is not far off as long of a flight, is the very last row, a row of two. Loo proximity doesn't bother us.
 
Just booked this in PY in November as DFW is the only connection point that can get me where I'm going as a one-stop itinerary from SYD. I'm weary of the tighter pitch in QF's PY, but have had decent enough luck snagging a bulkhead at T-80 that I'll try my luck again.

Was happy to see I could choose my seat on QF's app for the QF sector even though it was sold as an AA codeshare. First time that's been successful, and I almost didn't book after the runaround I got myself into last year trying to do so the same.
 
I've only done this sector in Y back in the 747 days. But given the distance, do they load-limit the Y cabin in the 787? And therefore, if there are likely to be empty seats, do they give preference to blocking seats adjacent to P1/WP/SG members?
 
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I have done MEL-SYD-DFW twice in "J" on A380's and connected on to various USA cities. The A380's sheer size makes you forget your in a tin can for 15+ hours and made the trip easy.
I went to JFY (via Syd and AKL) last year on the 787 in "J" and it was tedious. Size really does matter folks. Living in Melbourne also makes the JFK flight unnecessarily long as Qantas don't have timetabled flights from MEL - AKL to connect to the JFK leg. So in effect it was much faster and easier when I could fly MEL-LAX-JFK on Qantas aircraft. seems Australia's largest city (now Melbourne according to many demographers) is still the poor cousin in the eyes of the flying kangaroo. In July I am flying MEL-DFW -JFK in "J" so its just one stop for me not two meaning its quicker overall. The MEL-DFW leg is a little longer at 15H 50M but importantly it gets in to DFW a couple of hours BEFORE the SYD-DFW flight. Importantly this means many more connection options out of DFW are available on the same day. So if your starting in ADL or PER it might be worth you considering MEL-DFW (especially if you are looking for reward seats on you onward flight from DFW
 
Does utilising a 789 on the route place any service restrictions in terms of seats/cargo?
I did this route last September and wasn't told of any luggage restrictions.
It was a long flight but flying in business took the edge off it.

 
I have done MEL-SYD-DFW twice in "J" on A380's and connected on to various USA cities. The A380's sheer size makes you forget your in a tin can for 15+ hours and made the trip easy.
I went to JFY (via Syd and AKL) last year on the 787 in "J" and it was tedious. Size really does matter folks. Living in Melbourne also makes the JFK flight unnecessarily long as Qantas don't have timetabled flights from MEL - AKL to connect to the JFK leg. So in effect it was much faster and easier when I could fly MEL-LAX-JFK on Qantas aircraft. seems Australia's largest city (now Melbourne according to many demographers) is still the poor cousin in the eyes of the flying kangaroo. In July I am flying MEL-DFW -JFK in "J" so its just one stop for me not two meaning its quicker overall. The MEL-DFW leg is a little longer at 15H 50M but importantly it gets in to DFW a couple of hours BEFORE the SYD-DFW flight. Importantly this means many more connection options out of DFW are available on the same day. So if your starting in ADL or PER it might be worth you considering MEL-DFW (especially if you are looking for reward seats on you onward flight from DFW

Just for reference all flights to DFW are now using 789s including SYD. The only regular 380 service to US is SYD - LAX now. MEL - LAX is only sometimes 380.

Funnily I actually went for the SYD transit to DFW instead of direct from MEL. 1 for SYD F lounge and 2 due to the later arrival, I depart the transit later the next day so more time to pig out in Dallas before heading on to DC. Transit is considered within 24h and we pushed it to 23h. Fully plan to shove some Texas BBQ in me before going on.

But I can see if you're trying to hit a connection as soon as you can that the MEL timing is a bit better.
 
I did this route in Y, as WP, on an A380 connecting to AUS. For some reason return trip was via LAX.
This was when there was a Y section at the back of the top deck in 2-3-2 (I think), certainly 2 at the sides.

Travelling alone I found that there was another PAX beside me. I was given a whole row at the back of the bottom deck but allowed to exit via the top deck - much faster exit that way. Return LAX-SYD was upgraded to PE.

AS others have said, a 787 would be daunting but then 14 1/2 hrs (took the long way round via Antartica) SYD-DXB last year, in a row of three was manageable with Mrs B at the window and me in the middle row. I am an aisle guy but one must make sacrifices when travelling with the mrs.
 
Do this route all the time. One stop to where we need to go, with the domestic connector much shorter than it would be from the West Coast. My only complaint is AA's terrible policy of not through-checking luggage on separate tickets. Wouldn't want to to do it in Y/W though — it is long.
 
Not sure you can through check luggage on arrival in the USA, just like Australia. I think it is a government thing? Luggage was checked through AUS-LAX-SYD. AUS-LAX on AA.

Unless things have changed since I flew.
 
Not sure you can through check luggage on arrival in the USA, just like Australia. I think it is a government thing? Luggage was checked through AUS-LAX-SYD. AUS-LAX on AA.
Post automatically merged:

Unless things have changed since I flew.
I was talking about the other direction. If you have xx_-DFW on an AA ticket then DFW-SYD/MEL on a QF ticket, AA will not check your luggage to Australia. They used to do it, which made the connection at DFW all the more pleasant as no waiting around for QF check-in counters to open if you had a long layover.
 
I was talking about the other direction. If you have xx_-DFW on an AA ticket then DFW-SYD/MEL on a QF ticket, AA will not check your luggage to Australia. They used to do it, which made the connection at DFW all the more pleasant as no waiting around for QF check-in counters to open if you had a long layover.
Must have changed since I flew or is it a DFW thing? Certainly AUS-LAX luggage was checked through, in fact AUS-LAX-SYD-WLG, all the way.
 
Must have changed since I flew or is it a DFW thing? Certainly AUS-LAX luggage was checked through, in fact AUS-LAX-SYD-WLG, all the way.
I think the key info in the quoted post was that these were separate tickets.

AA will through check luggage on the same PNR to other OW carriers.
 

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