Qantas dumps San Francisco route, adds Dallas

[queenie82]

Qantas dumps San Francisco route, adds Dallas
January 14, 2011 - 11:37AM

Qantas will apply to the consumer watchdog for permission to co-ordinate its trans-Pacific operations with American Airlines, as it dumps direct flights to San Francisco in favour of Texas.

Dallas/Fort Worth, in Texas, is American Airlines largest hub airport.

Qantas said today it would begin direct flights to Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) on May 16, after ending flights to San Francisco on May 14.

Advertisement: Story continues below
The Dallas/Fort Worth service would provide Qantas with access to American Airlines regional network, meaning it could offer codeshare services to another 13 destinations in the US and three in Mexico.

Qantas said it would operate four times a week direct from Sydney to Dallas/Fort Worth starting May 16, using a three-class Boeing 747.

The return leg will fly through Brisbane.

Dallas/Fort Worth Airport, in Texas, is the eighth busiest airport in the world based on passenger traffic figures from 2009. It was American Airlines' largest hub city, Qantas said.

Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce said the new services were part of an expanded commercial relationship with American Airlines.

"It will connect Qantas customers to one of the USA's major hub airports, benefitting both business and leisure travellers," Mr Joyce said in a statement.

Qantas said it would seek Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) approval for the two airlines to coordinate operations between Australia/New Zealand and the US.

"It will give Qantas a stronger and more balanced network footprint in the United States and provide more choice and convenience for travellers," Qantas said.

The new alliance would provide a "joint platform for the airlines to offer a daily service between Australia and Dallas/Fort Worth", Qantas said.

The ACCC last year approved Virgin Blue's alliance with US-based Delta Air Lines on trans-Pacific services, but the tie-up was awaiting a final decision from the US Department of Transportation.

Qantas said it would stop flying to San Francisco, but the city would remain part of the airline's network as a codeshare destination.

http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel...ancisco-route-adds-dallas-20110114-19qfr.html

 

[PrincessInOz]

I saw this on The Age . But that's okay...if we have to hub via Los Angeles....more Disneyland Mad Dashes!

And for anyone who has never stopped in Dallas, it is worth a couple of days. Lots of JFK things to see and do.

 

[Sugarglider]

Got the Qantas email today too - the opening special price is pretty tempting for a trip to WDW!!

 

[aussiemickeys]

We just finished booking this special (using a combination of FF points for some legs as well). WDW here we come (not until November though) - WOO HOO!!

 

[battymum]

Check out these prices
http://www.bestflights.com.au/cheap-flights/phone-flights-details/north-america/qantas/107323[/URL]

Dont know if the link worked - but does anyone have any feedback using this company?

Looks like Qantas snagged my five fares with the new Syd / Dallas route, I was definitely going with Delta, but these prices look too good to be true, I will be calling tomorrow.

 

[Sugarglider]

Thanks for the link Battymum! Worked for me
I was already planning on buying the new fare to Dallas - and the $200 extra is reasonably cheap to go to MCO! Except I can't see the airline for the internal flight. Hopefully the AA non-stop flight
Never used this company but will check it out.
Also planning a trip in November - esp while this fare is out


POSTSCRIPT: I can't get their online booking mechanism to work properly. It doesn't even recognise the direct flight to DFW and is routing me around the world and quoting me prices like $16,000!
And according to this site UNITED are price matching (well $100 less to MCO) http://www.bestflights.com.au/cheap...-details/north-america/united-airlines/107344

 

[battymum]

i need to get open jaw as we are coming home via New York, cant seem to do that online, I need to talk to someone.

 

[Sugarglider]

battymum
I just did a straight up google search of BestFlights.com.au and the results - well - they are mixed. Seems they have a lot of conditions which result in fees and so you need to watch what's happening.
They are advertising the same fare as Qantas is offering so why not go direct to Qantas or ask another agent?

 

[battymum]

Bother, I want to get a fare that goes MCO via Dallas and return SYD via New York and LA - cant do that (unless I want to pay $10k pp!)

I added the New York portion to our plans on the proviso of getting good airfare and currency, but now that it comes to the crunch I really dont want to give it up. Fingers crossed there will be cheaper fares via LA soon.

I really am a newbie to international travel to this extent, so please somebody tell me what I am wanting is possible isnt it? (Oz Kateer....)

Oh I would prefer it was all on the same ticket so that I dont have to pay luggage fees on the domestic legs!

 

[Sugarglider]

Hi Battymum
Qantas today gave me a price using the SYD-DFW special and only $200 extra for the DFW - MCO return. Try calling them perhaps they can do something for you.
On my last trip I bought Qantas into LAX and then bought AA through MCO, DFW, LAS Vegas, LAX and bought it through Priceline with absolutely no problems and cheaper than the airlines quoted. Although sometimes the airlines run good domestic specials throughout the year.
Perhaps an Air Pass package may work for you too.
Perhaps if you get cheap internal flights you will save more than the cost of the luggage fees anyway.
Also - Southwest do not charge luggage fees
And finally - how light can you pack??

 

[DVCAustralia]

The reason New York will not work is that it is not part of the current fare special, you would need to use the closest alternatives that are part of the fare which in this case are Boston, Philadelphia and Washington DC. You can get there by paying for a short domestic fare separately, with driving or getting the train also options.
This is how it would look,
SYD - DAL - MCO then one of IAD, PHI, BOS - DAL - SYD.
The MCO - NY would be additional.
In relation to the stop in LA this is not possible for the Qantas fare as it is for their direct Dallas flight that is on special, however it is even proving very difficult to get with the matching United special despite the stopover being included in their fare.
Good luck with getting a cheap fare either now or later.

 

[battymum]

Hooray

I booked the qantas flights !!

$1250 pp SYD - MCO return via Dallas, I was happy with that price.

Had to fiddle a bit with dates so we now have an extra day at the start of our trip and two extra at the end. DH is not too pleased at having to pay for 3 extra nights accommodation and extra time off work, but we are on Qantas and he is happy about that!

I decided that we will do a sidetrip to New York in the middle of our trip and come back and do Universal / IOA. I will have to book a return flight to New York separately, and suck up the baggage costs.

 

[kylieh]

We booked today and are going to Orlando mow because of the great fares on qantas. $5712 for 3a and 2C return. how cheap!!! So i need to update my ticker. Again.

 

[Snickals]

WOW That is a crazy good price! I'm not in a position to travel at the moment though Well done to those getting the great price

 

[Sugarglider]

I did it!
Booked my qantas airfare for Oct/Nov on the Dallas special!
Now I have all year to plan! My Disney Despising Husband reckons I get an enormous value for money cause the number of hours I spend on planning / $ cost of trip.
Here I come Mickey!

 

[battymum]

YEE HAW!!

WEEZ GOIN TA TEXAS!!

 

[battymum]

So I am a complete newb - havent done too much international travel.

We are flying Qantas/ AA to Orlando via Dallas -
Do we collect our bags in DFW and clear customs or are they checked through to MCO?
Anyone have any idea what terminals in DFW we will be using. We have a three hour connection time, but apparently DFW is huge. Having to get a connection stresses me somewhat...

Also on return will bags be checked right through to Sydney? I understand the return flight stops in Brisbane, if we are going through to Sydney we dont have to get off do we?

 

[kylieh]

I've got a heap of info a home on passing customs at DFW, the transfer and stuff. There is quite a bit a DFW to do.

Plus, you'll probably be happy to know Qantas is only running those flights at aruond 50% pax capacity.

I'm at work now (and really busy ) will reply properly tonight.

 

[Sugarglider]

DFW is kinda like a smaller version of LAX - with multiple terminals and you will land at the international terminal and need to make your way over to the domestic. Just like landing at LAX you will have to collect your luggage on landing and take it with you to clear immigration and customs and re-check it onto the MCO flight. You cannot check bags all the way through to and from MCO. You have to check in for both the domestic and international flights separately. This is so you have your bags when going through customs. BUT you are ticketed through to and from MCO so AA will NOT treat you as a domestic passenger and they will NOT charge you the bag check in fee. (note the same will happen at WDW: if you are flying straight through to your international flight they will not take your bags at the Airline Resort Check in counter. They only offer this service for domestic flyers)
DFW has a SkyLink train (very similar to the little monorail/skytrain at MCO) that links all the terminals - it is very frequent so it is easy to get from one terminal to the other.
I went through DFW in June and it was a tad annoying cause AA operates out of 2 terminals and they moved my flight. So I landed at one terminal, caught the train to the desired terminal, stood around for an hour, then they moved the flight to a different terminal. I was being fastidious and noticed the board but was rather surprised. Had to rush onto the little train and back to another terminal. Fortunately trains are frequent and it is only a few minutes between terminal. That would be my piece of advice - keep your eye on the departure board. Note the international terminal is another terminal again from the two AA ones.
they have all the same security clearances etc except without the elaborate queueing system of LAX (geez that airport gets more complex every year!)
They have food courts/shops/cafes/bars gateside (after security) at DFW both International and Domestic (unlike LAX where the restaurants are B4 security) so you go right to the gate, turn around and look behind you and there will be a mini food court! didn't have to stray too far to get refreshment. So you can focus on clearing security first.
Customs and immigration is the same process - although the terminal is nicer than the dingy shed atmosphere of LAX.
Free internet is limited to a few computer terminals and 20 minutes limit. Or if you have wireless you have to pay.
They have these nice volunteer ambassadors who will assist you with directions. DFW gets rave reviews from Skytrax raters (8.6/10) compared to LAX (4.8/10)
re: Landing at Brisbane - The usual rule of thumb is that you have to clear customs in the first port that you land in for that country. It could be that they get you off, you clear customs and then reload you as a domestic passenger. I am clearing customs then changing to a CBR flight from the domestic terminal. So I haven't checked out what is happening re: reboarding for that flight.
I like clearing customs at Brisbane - smaller and faster. Also I've started doing the self-clearing at the auto kiosks - they have been WAY faster (although you could get stuck behind someone who is new at it and slow)

 

[Oz-kateer]

So I am a complete newb - havent done too much international travel.

We are flying Qantas/ AA to Orlando via Dallas -
Do we collect our bags in DFW and clear customs or are they checked through to MCO?
Anyone have any idea what terminals in DFW we will be using. We have a three hour connection time, but apparently DFW is huge. Having to get a connection stresses me somewhat...

Also on return will bags be checked right through to Sydney? I understand the return flight stops in Brisbane, if we are going through to Sydney we dont have to get off do we?

Sitting here right now with a Qantas employee - here's info from the horses mouth....

Hi there!! You MUST clear immigration and customs at your very first touchdown point in the US. The flight you then connect to to fly to Orlando is a domestic. You'll arrive from Australia into DFW Terminal D (international terminal). Immigration will check your passports and you'll proceed on through to customs. Collect your bags from the carousels inside the customs area (flight details are noted by the carousel as per standard airport procedure) and then pass through customs.

The AA codeshare flight you will connect with will most likely depart DFW from terminal A. So once you come through customs in Terminal D you will be instructed where to leave your checked bags just outside the door and they will be taken for you to your connecting flight . Do not take your checked bags to Terminal A.

Getting between terminals in DFW is really easy - there is a fast free train service that operates just between the terminals called Skylink that will take you. After you leave your bags, just walk to the nearest Skylink station (clearly marked) and ride to Terminal A.

Alernatively, there is also another outdoor van/shuttle service called Terminal Link - if you find you've walked too far and come through to the other side of security, don't panic - just go downstairs and catch a Terminal Link van to Terminal A, and then go into the terminal, pass through security and go straight to your gate.

You'll be given your boarding passes right through to Orlando when you leave Australia so once you're in Terminal A, just go straight to your gate, there is no check in.

I hope this helps!!