QF 7 questions

[Bonnie]

hi folks
Travelling to the US on QF 7 in business class and looking for latest reviews of seats, food offerings and any other info please

 

[Quickstatus]

They are very large topics.

Specifically what would you like to know

 

[Bonnie]

Sorry, I guess I was looking for a up to date review of that flight.
I have just 1hour 50 minutes to transfer in Dallas to AA/QF flight to Columbus. Will I have enough time?

 

[Hvr]

It will be tight. DFW is a large airport. What terminal does your flight depart from? Do you know how to get around DFW?

Probably the most important question is; is it one PNR for both bookings? And when is the next flight to your destination? How will your plans be affected if you're delayed for a day or two?

 

[Bonnie]

Thanks for replying
The PNR is the same...the booking is from Sydney to Columbus.
The flight QF4493 departed from Terminal D yesterday so I assume that is the same each day. I think I arrive to Terminal D from Sydney.

 

[Fergo747]

Thanks for replying
The PNR is the same...the booking is from Sydney to Columbus.
The flight QF4493 departed from Terminal D yesterday so I assume that is the same each day. I think I arrive to Terminal D from Sydney.

I recently (end of March) travelled SYD>CLT via DFW on QF7/QF4611 in J. We only had 1.40 between flights and whilst we had to hustle we got to the gate as boarding commenced (this was also changing terminals via the skytrain, D to C from memory). Given the relatively short time between flights try and be off early (should be easy in J) and walk with purpose to beat the crowds. You will have to collect bags, however they will be tagged through to final destination so you should only have to drop them off. As both flights are on the same PNR, if for whatever reason you don't make the flight they will put you onto the next available one.

In terms of the flight and J experience in general, its hard to comment not knowing how often you travel long haul J. It is the old Skybed II, which if you search of this forum you will find mixed opinions. Some find it too open, where others like the openness compared to the newer A330/Dreamliner seats. All will agree that there is not enough storage at the seat itself and that the lower half 'droops' meaning that you may not have a level bed. My fix for this this to prop my cabin bag under the end of the seat to stop the droop (just remember to remove it before adjusting the seat). If you're travelling solo, I would choose an E or F seat so that you get an overhead bin to yourself and avoid the need to step over someone or having someone step over you. Alternatively if you're travelling with someone and don't mind stepping over them, a window seat can be good as it has extra storage in side bins. My first choice would be getting a seat in rows 11-13 as this cabin is much more intimate and can get more rest.

Service will be hit or miss in typical QF fashion. You'll be served a drink 'immediately' after takeoff and then the main meal service will commence (lunch from memory). They'll then put the shades down to try and get everyone to sleep. There are mid flight snacks available and then breakfast will be served a couple of hours before landing in DFW around lunch.

 

[Bonnie]

Thanks so much, I am travelling alone so hope we will be on time into DFW and the connecting flight is not too far away

 

[Per_Travels]

If flying alone go for seats 5B or 5J. They are the only solo seats. After that I'd pick either of the centre seats in row three (direct aisle access and no one climbing out over you, or v.v.)

I think you’re referring to the 747 configuration here, whereas QF7 is an A380.
Personally I tend to pick window seats nowadays (13 K yesterday on QF7) as the extra storage and shelf space is very convenient, no one steps over you and it’s fairly easy to step over the aisle passenger without disturbing them even if they’re sleeping

 

[nickfromeastryde]

Pretty hard to get rows 11-13 without status has been my experience

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I think you’re referring to the 747 configuration here, whereas QF7 is an A380.
Personally I tend to pick window seats nowadays (13 K yesterday on QF7) as the extra storage and shelf space is very convenient, no one steps over you and it’s fairly easy to step over the aisle passenger without disturbing them even if they’re sleeping

oops. yup. i deleted my post as totally missed the mark!

 

[Hvr]

Pretty hard to get rows 11-13 without status has been my experience

Its not called Emerald City for nothing.

 

[Sdtravel]

Have you been to the US before on your current passport? ie can you use the egates?
I had a 1h 45min connection last year. There were 4 of us with me in J & 3 others in Y including one who hadnt been to the US on his current passport.

I made the connection with time to spare in the AA lounge.
2 in Y who could use the egates arrived at the gate about 10 min before boarding.
1 in Y who had to go through the manual processing line missed the flight by 10-15 minutes along with a few others who were transferring from QF7.
I dont recall if we landed early or late into DFW.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Try to get to SYD int 3 hours, prior to flight.
More so so that you can feel the lounge, while not as good as the QF i SYD F lounge, at least it has some views to the outside.
Have transitted SYD dom to SYD int with QF many times to NZ.
If you have got status, apart from QF PS then you would have the chance to try the QFi SYD J lounge again, but if not, its worth it.
J is Zone B for boarding, but if I was going to the US, I would not wait till they announce boarding for the flight, I would leave the lounge a bit earlier, so that I could be the first in the queue for Zone B for boarding.
They say they do extra checks on boarding for all flights to the US, have not tried this, but when I go to NZ, they bring across a screen to the gate that the US flights depart from, what they do behind it, I don't know, but it seems an onerous check.
At least you have a J seat!

 

[Bonnie]

Thanks everyone for your advice
I have an epassport but I have not entered the USA on this passport. I have family in SF and Columbus and have visited many times over the last 30 years...maybe this will help

 

[equus]

My fix for this this to prop my cabin bag under the end of the seat to stop the droop (just remember to remove it before adjusting the seat)

Can you (or anyone else) supply the optimum dimension for the bag for droop correction? Will be on QF7 in Sept and need to ensure correct bag selected (third world problems, I know) - not something have had to worry about previously, as have not been in a MkII for long haul before.

 

[Fergo747]

Can you (or anyone else) supply the optimum dimension for the bag for droop correction? Will be on QF7 in Sept and need to ensure correct bag selected (third world problems, I know) - not something have had to worry about previously, as have not been in a MkII for long haul before.

I can't tell you the optimum dimension, all I know is that my bag would be about 40-45cm wide and this seems to work quite well when turned on its side. If anything it's slightly too much, but not noticeable. Once you've extended the seat into bed mode, you'll have to hold up the end of the seat as you slide the bag under. You'll definitely want an aisle seat for this, ideally E or F. I also find that you don't necessarily want the seat in full flat mode as this actually puts your head below your feet due to the angle of attack of the aircraft during flight (a couple of degrees nose up).

 

[equus]

I can't tell you the optimum dimension, all I know is that my bag would be about 40-45cm wide and this seems to work quite well when turned on its side. If anything it's slightly too much, but not noticeable. Once you've extended the seat into bed mode, you'll have to hold up the end of the seat as you slide the bag under. You'll definitely want an aisle seat for this,l

Thanks for the detail. Flying as a couple, so have opted for aisle and window pair, but presumably can coordinate doing the window seat, then the aisle.

Most important is the info about the dimenson - if 40 - 45 cms is possibly slightly too much, then I will select as close to 49cm give or take as I have.

 

[RichardMEL]

Comments:

1. You cannot assume the AA flight will always depart from the same terminal at DFW
2. If you've not entered the US on your current passport then you'd have to be admitted manually by joining the manual queue. Ironically it may wind up being a bit shorter if many others are using the APC kiosks.
3. Since same PNR, worst comes to worst, AA will protect you on the next flight if you miss it, so I wouldn't worry too much, unless it's last of the day.

happy travels