QF Oz to USA September 2022 - preferred route?

[Lynda2475]

IMO the above is bad advice, the DPD is best completed on the smart phone app, there is absolutely no need to use a hotel scanner (in fact scanners cant read the chip in your passport). If you did elect to use the clunkier browser version of the dpd from laptop, absolutely no reason you couldnt use a saved image taken before your left home, but you will still need to take a photo of yourself and enter all passport info manually (as oposed to scanning the chip using app where data is entered for you which is much much quicker). DPD takes approx 3 mins and while mostly pointless is far from painful, certainly not a reason not to travel.

IME LAX is the worst US airport to enter the USA, leaving via LAX is manageable but still not as painless as DFW.

If worried about connections err on the side of safety wrt to transit time, and pick an aiport where there are multiple connecting flights after yours, if the first flight is late because on one ticket the airline will get you on later flight.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

AFF mail out a few days ago, said the a lot of people who did the DPD on the app, rated it as just 1 *.

 

[sudoer]

AFF mail out a few days ago, said the a lot of people who did the DPD on the app, rated it as just 1 *.

If there was a rating system for the web interface it would probably get 1 star too.

 

[Katie]

I did the DPD on my laptop, no picture required.

However, I ended up logging in to the site on my phone at check-in in ORD, then again to get my QF BPs in the lounge at DFW, as the agents asked to see a printed copy, which I didn't have.

I also got an email back a day after arriving that my DPD was now final.

 

[andye]

@AustraliaPoochie 's advice is largely a problem of them having an old phone. I did mine recently sitting having a beer in a Lyon Cafe. Only took 5 minutes. Good to have a copy of your vax cert on your phone gallery

 

[sudoer]

@AustraliaPoochie 's advice is largely a problem of them having an old phone.

I suspect Poochie hasn't actually done the DPD and is just parroting anecdotes they've read online.

 

[Franky]

Is the flagship lounge not open? Far superior to any of the 3 ACs in LAX I would think!

According to all the signage on the lifts, doors and entrances etc, they were one and the same. Unless there was a well concealed door to the Flagship lounge?…

 

[sqrt()]

If I remember, the entrances to each are at either end of a corridor up some stairs which you enter from the terminal (4 IIRC). There is definitely a separate FL to the AC.

 

[ronlon]

So what's the bad rap with LAX? No doubt others have been through many more times than me. I have found that bag collection and clearing immigration/customs is no worse or better than many airports around the world. My experience with check in and departing LAX was however a mess irrespective of an international flight or US domestic flight.

 

[pippen_2k]

I'm a huge fan of the evening flight departure and with the super quiet Dreamliner I'd be taking the MELB - LAX evening flight. Dark most of the way over and you get there around 6pm. Perfect

 

[kangarooflyer88]

So what's the bad rap with LAX? No doubt others have been through many more times than me. I have found that bag collection and clearing immigration/customs is no worse or better than many airports around the world. My experience with check in and departing LAX was however a mess irrespective of an international flight or US domestic flight.

It beats me what the bad rap against LAX is. I'd go so far as to say it leaves Changi in the dust when it comes to lounge and amenities. Fast immigration, fast security (at least at TBIT), really no complaints from me. And certainly when compared to the other options you have flying AU into the US, it's the best option. SFO can be a mess, especially since they have recently been playing musical chairs with gate numbers and moving airlines to completely different terminals. As for DFW, I've only been there once so my memory on it is very hazy at best. It's probably okay, but would lack the amenities found in a world leading airport like LAX. Also LAX is a nice way to break up what is otherwise a long trip rather than sitting a couple more hours on the (air)Bus.

-RooFlyer88

 

[Lynda2475]

you get there around 6pm

Except that the OP then needs to connect through to SDF (another 4hrs and 15 mins flying time from LAX plus MCT) makes for a late night arrival.

vs QF7 which lands in DFW just before 4pm and has a shorter 2hr 10 min flight time to SDF.

Post automatically merged: Jun 4, 2022

Fast immigration, fast security (at least at TBIT), really no complaints from me. And certainly when compared to the other options you have flying AU into the US, it's the best option.

Couldnt disagree more, DFW has always been much faster to clear immigration and much shorter queues than LAX for me. Beats me why anyone would want to spend time in Los Angeles.

If choosing open jaw I would think SYD-DFW-SDF outbound, then do any stop over on the way home.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

I think part of it depends on what your aim is here. If you want to minimize the number of connections you have (and the chances you are left stranded at an airport) there is frankly only one option here: Sydney to DFW on QF, followed by a 4 hour layover at DFW and then a short hop onwards on AA to SDF:


In terms of aircraft I'll take a 787 over an A330 any day of the week. The 787 has a number of cabin comforts that the A330 simply doesn't have including adjustable dimming of the windows and added humidity in the cabin. One thing I'm less aware are the quality of the lounges at DFW particularly for OWEs. For instance you should have access to the AA Flagship lounge as a QF Platinum as you're travelling on AA to SDF. But are there showers there? Certainly after such a long haul "domestic" hop to the US, the first thing that comes to my mind is having a shower, especially in this COVID environment we face.

As for immigration at DFW - I can't comment on that as I haven't had the opportunity to try the GlobalEntry kiosk there nor the TSA Pre-check security either!

-RooFlyer88

 

[sqrt()]

I think part of it depends on what your aim is here. If you want to minimize the number of connections you have (and the chances you are left stranded at an airport) there is frankly only one option here: Sydney to DFW on QF, followed by a 4 hour layover at DFW and then a short hop onwards on AA to SDF:
View attachment 279637

In terms of aircraft I'll take a 787 over an A330 any day of the week. The 787 has a number of cabin comforts that the A330 simply doesn't have including adjustable dimming of the windows and added humidity in the cabin. One thing I'm less aware are the quality of the lounges at DFW particularly for OWEs. For instance you should have access to the AA Flagship lounge as a QF Platinum as you're travelling on AA to SDF. But are there showers there? Certainly after such a long haul "domestic" hop to the US, the first thing that comes to my mind is having a shower, especially in this COVID environment we face.

As for immigration at DFW - I can't comment on that as I haven't had the opportunity to try the GlobalEntry kiosk there nor the TSA Pre-check security either!

-RooFlyer88

All Flagship lounges definitely have showers. I know some of the AC showers were closed earlier in the year but the FL showers were open in JFK in Jan (admittedly I have not sampled them at DFW).

Note the DFW FL is only open til 10:15pm according to the AA website. That itinerary would still work, however.

 

[Lynda2475]

But are there showers there?

LOL of course there is, its the Flagship Lounge and DFW is a proper international Airport (12th busiest in the world, and is larger with 7 runways although less busy than LAX)

Flagship Lounge − Travel information − American Airlines

www.americanairlines.com.au

 

[kangarooflyer88]

All Flagship lounges definitely have showers. I know some of the AC showers were closed earlier in the year but the FL showers were open in JFK in Jan (admittedly I have not sampled them at DFW).

Note the DFW FL is only open til 10:15pm according to the AA website. That itinerary would still work, however.

LOL of course there is, its the Flagship Lounge and DFW is a proper international Airport

Flagship Lounge − Travel information − American Airlines

www.americanairlines.com.au

I ask this since the official OneWorld lounge locator for DFW indicates this is not the case:



-RooFlyer88

 

[Lynda2475]

Yet the American Airlines link I posted explictly states there are showers, and I think the actual AIrline would know what facilities their premiere lounges have.

The Admirals Clubs dont have showers, but if flying international J/F you get access to the Flagship Lounge.

 

[Capricornus]

I was at DFW AA Flagship lounge in April and it definitely has showers which were open. The lounge also has an area with daybeds for napping which was amazing.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Yet the American Airlines link I posted explictly states there are showers, and I think the actual AIrline would know what facilities their premiere lounges have.

You would think so but often times the airlines are incorrect or flat out wrong about what they offer at a given time. In particular, I distinct recall QF stating last year that shower facilities were closed in their lounges when in fact that was not the case at all!

I was at DFW AA Flagship lounge in April and it definitely has showers which were open. The lounge also has an area with daybeds for napping which was amazing.

It's good to see someone on the ground confirming this is in fact the case. How does the AA Flagship lounge @ DFW stack up to other Flagship lounges in the US and QF International lounges?

-RooFlyer88

 

[flydoc]

I think part of it depends on what your aim is here. If you want to minimize the number of connections you have (and the chances you are left stranded at an airport) there is frankly only one option here: Sydney to DFW on QF, followed by a 4 hour layover at DFW and then a short hop onwards on AA to SDF:
View attachment 279637

Yes, the likelihood of this being the outbound itinerary is firming.
Still working on the optimal return routing.