Is this connection too tight?

[cr0n]

The company I work for has a rewards program where if targets are met, our supplier gives us a trip or two to the US to see the manufacturing of the product, sightseeing etc. etc.

I have just seen the booking details and was wondering if these connections seem a bit tight

Sun 2 Jun 13 18:40 Washington 21:05 Dallas Fort Worth AA895
Sun 2 Jun 13 21:55 Dallas Forth Worth 05:00 Brisbane QF008

Is 50 minutes enough or is this travel agent pushing it a little? Can I check into an international flight from Washington or will I need to do this in Dallas?

thanks
chris

 

[ozmille]

The company I work for has a rewards program where if targets are met, our supplier gives us a trip or two to the US to see the manufacturing of the product, sightseeing etc. etc.

I have just seen the booking details and was wondering if these connections seem a bit tight

Sun 2 Jun 13 18:40 Washington 21:05 Dallas Fort Worth AA895
Sun 2 Jun 13 21:55 Dallas Forth Worth 05:00 Brisbane QF008

Is 50 minutes enough or is this travel agent pushing it a little? Can I check into an international flight from Washington or will I need to do this in Dallas?

thanks
chris

the MCT is 50 minutes but I'm not sure I would be comfortable with only 50 minutes to do a domestic to international transfer anywhere (maybe except for HEL)

Can you get on the earlier AA2233/QF4364 leaving DCA at 1740?

 

[Hvr]

As ozmille notes the MCT of 50 minutes is tight. It means the next flight would have commenced boarding as your previous flight is due to land.

If anything goes wrong you're cactus (technical term ).

Also, if you're not familiar with DFW it may take a few minutes to find your bearings and get to the new terminal if required. Don't count on seeing your luggage for a few days either.

 

[drewbles]

I concur. Whilst do-able I would not be risking it. DFW is a big airport. It has a great air-train system, but still it can be a little dis-orienting. I would not risk it. IAD-DFW should be frequent enough to do though (if you're doing IAD).

 

[NM]

Its probably a 'legal" connection at DFW since there will be no additional security screening or formalities to be undertaken. But its too much of a risk for me because if your inbound flight is delayed even slightly causing you to miss the DFW-BNE QF8 departure, you will be stuck at DFW for 24 hours as there is no "plan-B". So I would be seeking an earlier flight to DFW if that is possible, otherwise make sure you are not going to be severely impacted if you do miss the flight and experience a 24 hour delay at DFW.

 

[Paddy55]

You are a brave person counting on that tight a connection time.
However I assume they'd put you up overnight if the connection was missed so it depends how much you wish to return on that day

 

[cr0n]

Thanks everyone for the replies

ozmille - not so happy with 50min also, and yes, will try and get them to change to an earlier flight.
Hvr - never been to DFW so yes, it will be a new place to figure out.
drewbles - we are flying out of DCA I believe, but there are plenty of flights from there throughout the day
NM - while I don't want to miss the flight, the only problem with a delay will be getting home 24hrs later. I guess if I do miss it, I get a bit of time to take a look around town.
Paddy55 - Not my doing. The flights have been booked for the group by a travel agent, who I have had little contact with.

I think the general consensus is that 50min, while possible, might not be advisable. I will talk to the agent today and see if she can change the flight times

thanks
chris

 

[Ewing]

I wouldn't do it.

I had a 2h15m connection in DFW (AA-QF8). A delay on my original flight, and a terminal change ended up meaning that I was running for the flight.

I was already familiar with the layout of DFW and navigating the Skylink was not a problem. Because of that I made it, as one of the last people on the plane. My bags did not.

If I didn't know my way around DFW already - not a chance!

 

[cirqueboy]

Yep, 50 mins is too tight. Even though DFW is a very efficient airport, i wouldn't do it. I always allow at least 2hrs+ for a connection in any airport anywhere in the world.

One thing to note, there are no immigration formalities to go through when you leave the USA (this has always perplexed me.....), so departing either DCA or DFW you will not get immigration, baggage pick up and drop delays or any security delays if you stay airside.

Of course, on such a tight connection, none of those things will matter anyway.

 

[simongr]

Where's your sense of adventure man? Doesn't it depend on how important the time is either at your origin or destination? Will that extra time in Washington be the difference between a trip and a great trip? Would getting home a day late AND getting to see DFW (with the chance to have the Dallas theme in your head for 24 hours) be an issue?

Conversely to my normal travel I would be stacking my checked luggage with as much as possible to minimise what you were carrying.

 

[JohnK]

I would be more comfortable with a 3 hour connection in the USA.

 

[cr0n]

Where's your sense of adventure man? Doesn't it depend on how important the time is either at your origin or destination? Will that extra time in Washington be the difference between a trip and a great trip? Would getting home a day late AND getting to see DFW (with the chance to have the Dallas theme in your head for 24 hours) be an issue?

Conversely to my normal travel I would be stacking my checked luggage with as much as possible to minimise what you were carrying.

After reading this, I'm thinking I might just wing it. After all, a day is only a day and it would be nice to see a bit of DFW.

 

[simongr]

Cavalier spirit for the win!

 

[docjames]

+1 to simongr - if it was the other direction and i was heading for business / important occasion, i'd never allow 50mins.

Heading home, no urgency to be home? Go the 50min connection and worst case scenario is you get a day in Dallas.

 

[simongr]

Doon't blame me though if they put you up in a terrible hotel.

 

[docjames]

Doon't blame me though if they put you up in a terrible hotel.

Bah, 24hrs to party then sleep on the 16hr flight.....

 

[JohnK]

Doon't blame me though if they put you up in a terrible hotel.

Or just leave you in the terminal.

 

[maninblack]

Yes it's a legal connection so the system allowed it but of course it's too tight and what is most incredible is that the travel agent would book it. Good that you checked carefully. Change it.

 

[legroom]

Slightly off topic, if I may

The OP was about DOM - INT connection.

How about DOM - DOM connection @ DFW ?

What would you suggest to be a reasonable real-world connection time, for a carry-on DFW newbie vs a pro ?

I have a DFW - LAX transfer later on AA in the year with 55-60 min in between followed by QF12 3 hrs later.

Am I pushing my luck there ?

And I am a DFW virgin !

The worst outcome would be the next AA flight, right ?

FWIW, I have downloaded DFW map onto my iPad to minimise navigating time.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Slightly off topic, if I may

The OP was about DOM - INT connection.

How about DOM - DOM connection @ DFW ?

What would you suggest to be a reasonable real-world connection time, for a carry-on DFW newbie vs a pro ?

I have a DFW - LAX transfer later on AA in the year with 55-60 min in between followed by QF12 3 hrs later.

Am I pushing my luck there ?

And I am a DFW virgin !

The worst outcome would be the next AA flight, right ?

FWIW, I have downloaded DFW map onto my iPad to minimise navigating time.

Where are you flying in from to DFW? If you were to miss the DFW/LAX flight, does the next one give you time to comfortably connect to QF12?