Transiting through DFW

[Vee711]

I've booked a flight from SYD to DFW (QF) and am looking to transit from DFW to ORD (AA). Both bookings are made through the Qantas website.

First leg is due to arrive at 1400 and the second leg is due to depart at 1545. Is this cutting it too close? I haven't been to DFW and unsure how busy it gets. Haven't even factored in possible delays.

Qantas told me they can't transfer the luggages between the two legs and that I will have to check out baggage and check in again for the second leg as it is being operated by a different airline (AA).

The alternative option is to stay a night in DFW and fly the next morning.

Happy to hear thoughts.

 

[Rich]

Speculative bookings are on possibility, but you'd have to consider whether it might be more economical to simply space everything out.

Thanks for your advice kangarooflyer88.
For better or worse we have 2 bookings now both on QF points - MEL to DFW on QF and then DFW to MCO with AA.
What do you mean by an award booking that allows last minute changes? I think I know, but looking at awards in the next few days it doesn't look like there would be an availability to change at the last minute. Perhaps you mean if I had of booked for the next day I may have been able to change to the previous day on arrival (5000 points a pop)?

 

[Tiki]

Hell has frozen over! An airline FINALLY did a schedule change in my favour! QF emailed me that the AA flight MTY-DFW has been changed to depart 4 hours earlier and all I had to do was click and accept the changes. Done!

Will they issue a new ticket? Different flight number.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

$400 AUD is cheap these days and well worth it if you can secure that price....currently for July 2023 over $600AUD....In any event rooms are great and you're only a few steps to D Terminal checkin so for me well worth the expense

Respectfully disagree with you on this point. The US is notoriously cheap when it comes to hotels, even at quality brands like Marriott and Hilton and IHG. For instance, choosing a random date in July I'm seeing Holiday Inn Express & Suites DFW Airport at $124 USD/night all in which works out to $182 AUD. One thing I will say is that yes, generally Hyatts are a cut above the aforementioned chains and in particular the Grand Hyatt has the benefit of being located directly inside terminal D which means not having to worry about dealing with airport shuttles. Whether it is worth spending an extra $100 or $200 AUD for that convenience is up for debate.

Thanks for your advice kangarooflyer88.
For better or worse we have 2 bookings now both on QF points - MEL to DFW on QF and then DFW to MCO with AA.
What do you mean by an award booking that allows last minute changes? I think I know, but looking at awards in the next few days it doesn't look like there would be an availability to change at the last minute. Perhaps you mean if I had of booked for the next day I may have been able to change to the previous day on arrival (5000 points a pop)?

Some award tickets let you make changes up to the last minute. Now yes you are right that there still needs to be award availability, but often times there is simply because by then the airlines know what they'll likely be flying out with and it's better to sell a seat for points than to have it go out empty. Certainly fares also enable you to do last minute changes either for free or for a nominal fee (i.e. $75). These tickets are often sold as a Flexible economy fare, but you'll want to see the terms and conditions of the fare product to see how all of that works.

-RooFlyer88

 

[Vee711]

For instance, choosing a random date in July I'm seeing Holiday Inn Express & Suites DFW Airport at $124 USD/night all in which works out to $182 AUD.

That's what I found as well when researching for accommodation near DFW. I assume most of these places will have an airport shuttle. If not, it's only short cab/uber ride away

 

[Rich]

Some award tickets let you make changes up to the last minute.

Turns out, for whatever reason the Qantas website allowed a change to the booking without the 5000 point penalty. So that resolved the problem we moved to the next day.
Now for accommodation. I agree that there are plenty of good hotels close by to DFW, although with a 7 am flight being right there would be nice.