7 hour layover in DFW. What to do?

[AisleSeat]

QF have changed our flights and instead of a 1.5 hour layover, it's now 7.

Flying SYD-DFW-CLE.

Seeing as how we'll have cleared customs/immigration and will have collected our bags to recheck for the domestic flight, can we go into the city in the meantime?

 

[Sdtravel]

QF have changed our flights and instead of a 1.5 hour layover, it's now 7.

Flying SYD-DFW-CLE.

Seeing as how we'll have cleared customs/immigration and will have collected our bags to recheck for the domestic flight, can we go into the city in the meantime?

I dont see why not.
You are landside by then anyway. You go through and enter security just like everyone else who is just starting their journey at DFW.
There is no special transit area to bypass any of that.

 

[AisleSeat]

I dont see why not.
You are landside by then anyway. You go through and enter security just like everyone else who is just starting their journey at DFW.
There is no special transit area to bypass any of that.

Thanks, I had a feeling we'd be able to do this. Do you know if we can recheck our bags first and then go into the city?

 

[Sdtravel]

Thanks, I had a feeling we'd be able to do this. Do you know if we can recheck our bags first and then go into the city?

I dont know this sorry.
Are you on the same PNR or different for your onward flight?
From my 1 time going through DFW there was a bag drop as you exited immigration and customs. You hand it to someone who checks it was tagged onwards and put it on the belt. There was no checking of flights or if checkin was open or anything IIRC.

But someone else may know. I only did it once and was going straight through.
Perhaps you might also want to check the bag was loaded when you get back to the airport.

But i cant think of a reason they wouldnt take the bag.

 

[Jack_OC]

Thanks, I had a feeling we'd be able to do this. Do you know if we can recheck our bags first and then go into the city?

You should not have any problems doing this. As Sdtravel said, if you can check in right through to CLE when you're leaving SYD, then it will be a simple matter of dropping off your bags again as soon as you have cleared customs. If for some reason you can't check in through to CLE, you shouldn't have any trouble doing so as soon as you get out of customs in DFW. I'm guessing you're travelling onwards with AA? In my experience, once AA domestic check-in opens, you can check in for a flight departing at any time that day.

On a few occasions previously, when I have been spending just a day somewhere in the US while on a work trip, as soon as I landed in the morning, I went and checked in for my outbound flight that night so I could get rid of my bag for the day. Also takes some hassle/uncertainty out of the equation when you get back to the airport later on.

 

[AisleSeat]

I dont know this sorry.
Are you on the same PNR or different for your onward flight?

All on one PNR.

 

[serfty]

If on the remote chance the CLE flight is unavailable for check in before departing Oz; this can be done at bag drop in terminal D.

To head to Dallas, you stay land-side after dropping bags. You could catch a taxi, but I'd catch the LRT. Go outside and catch a "terminal connect" bus to Terminal A.

With that, take the second stop at A and walk to the LRT station. It's USD5 for a day ticket.

 

[Hvr]

Here is the website for the DART.
DART.org - DART Rail Orange Line

 

[nickfromeastryde]

I'd head to Fort Worth, Dallas not that easy to get around, it's huge, whereas a small city centre and/or the stockyards at Fort Worth

 

[RooFlyer]

Here is a thread I started about having a day in Dallas How to Do Dallas Differently

 

[AisleSeat]

If on the remote chance the CLE flight is unavailable for check in before departing Oz; this can be done at bag drop in terminal D.

To head to Dallas, you stay land-side after dropping bags. You could catch a taxi, but I'd catch the LRT. Go outside and catch a "terminal connect" bus to Terminal A.

With that, take the second stop at A and walk to the LRT station. It's USD5 for a day ticket.

Thanks for the instructions. I'm tempted for a taxi, as we'll have two small kids and it looks to be 20 minutes quicker.
Weighing up either Fort Worth or Dallas. I've been to both, so I guess its up to Mrs AS.

 

[AisleSeat]

Here is a thread I started about having a day in Dallas How to Do Dallas Differently

Yep, I had a read through it, thanks.
The stockyards are kinda cool and my daughter might like it. Had an awkward encounter there at Billy Bob's gift shop where the girl behind the counter couldn't understand the 10% discount voucher I had. I was there with a friend and we still laugh about it nearly 10 years later.

Her: "So 10%...that's like....10 cents right?"
Me: "Uh, yeah, of one dollar".
Her: *blank stare*
Me: "So all this is $4.30, so 10% is 43 cents. So the total is $3.87"
Her: "Oh ok, sorry."

I felt a bit bad for her.

 

[AisleSeat]

Here is a thread I started about having a day in Dallas How to Do Dallas Differently

I suppose this thread belongs in that section too?

 

[Dr Ralph]

As long as one booking you can do a bag drop. Then leave airport and come back in time for your flight.

BUT, realise that going back through security will take a LONG time and Dallas itself is around 30 kms away.

If it was me and I was travelling with a family I would not be leaving the airport unless there was a compelling need.

And in case you weren't aware the flights to Dallas are often late so you may not have the amount of time that you are expecting.

Going to a lounge is a much better idea.

 

[dajop]

If it was me and I was travelling with a family I would not be leaving the airport unless there was a compelling need.

And in case you weren't aware the flights to Dallas are often late so you may not have the amount of time that you are expecting.

Going to a lounge is a much better idea.

The beauty is we are all different. Going into Dallas or Fort Worth during a 5 hour layover (allowing 2 hours for formalities) seems like an excellent idea. 5 hours in lounges, especially in the US, just doesn't do it for me, at all.

 

[serfty]

I suppose this thread belongs in that section too?

True ... and done!

 

[AisleSeat]

As long as one booking you can do a bag drop. Then leave airport and come back in time for your flight.

BUT, realise that going back through security will take a LONG time and Dallas itself is around 30 kms away.

If it was me and I was travelling with a family I would not be leaving the airport unless there was a compelling need.

And in case you weren't aware the flights to Dallas are often late so you may not have the amount of time that you are expecting.

Going to a lounge is a much better idea.

Good points.

Even if we spend 3 hours in Dallas, and its 1 hour travel time there and back, that leaves 3 hours. But yes, if the flight arrives late, we'll have to have a backup destination. Lounge would be OK for a short period of time, but I don't really fancy sitting in one for 7 hours with two small children.

 

[Quickstatus]

If it’s a change by the airline, you can see if there is an earlier flight to CLE than a 7 hour layover but later than the 1.5 layover If so you should be able to change at no cost.

However I think QF has done you a favour because a 1.5 hour layover is cutting it mighty fine especially with kiddies and even though DFW is a quick airport.

One other option is to stay at DFW on a “Day Use” rate. After a long flight maybe book a room at the airport hotel or a nearby hotel close by. By the time you get through customs/immigration, have lunch at Grand Hyatt DFW or one of the other ones, have a shower relax, maybe an early dinner, it will be time to checkin again

Grand Hyatt DFW has a rooftop pool and they use chlorine free water.

 

[AisleSeat]

If it’s a change by the airline, you can see if there is an earlier flight to CLE than a 7 hour layover but later than the 1.5 layover If so you should be able to change at no cost.

However I think QF has done you a favour because a 1.5 hour layover is cutting it mighty fine especially with kiddies and even though DFW is a quick airport.

One other option is to stay at DFW on a “Day Use” rate. After a long flight maybe book a room at the airport hotel or a nearby hotel close by. By the time you get through customs/immigration, have lunch at Grand Hyatt DFW or one of the other ones, have a shower relax, maybe an early dinner, it will be time to checkin again

Grand Hyatt DFW has a rooftop pool and they use chlorine free water.

Mrs AS is all over this idea. Check in to a day room, relax, then go out to the Grapevine mall and also go find some Texan BBQ. Her sister-in-law works for Hyatt, so she's going to ask if we can get family discount (she did it for us in HK).

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone!

 

[Quickstatus]

The great thing is that Grand Hyatt DFW is inside the terminal D landslide - the same terminal as your arrival terminal out of QF7, just upstairs

Best Texan BBQ is in Fort Worth. Many restaurants around the stockyards but they are very busy especially on weekend evenings. Often have to wait for table. Suggest book table prior
1 hr if traffic is busy to FW from DFW

$55 via UberXL to/from FW