LAX vs DFW

[Quickstatus]

Just dropped my 2 boys off at DFW flying QF8 while I’m going DFW-LAX-MEL.

The 2 airports are chalk and cheese.

Relaxing and easy at DFW Terminal D while LAX TBIT is a zoo!.. A sea of humanity. Many have no idea about negotiating their way through an airport. LAX has a host of staff assisting passengers but many using wheelchairs when they don’t need it especially when they can get out of wheelchair by themselves to go through body scanners.

QF F lounge is a hustle and bustle lounge now.

I seek a little peace and quiet before going back to mayhem.

 

[serfty]

Enjoy the peace and quiet of DFW; LAX may surprise you.

I must say, I have seen the miracle wheelchairs in action at DFW as well.

 

[Quickstatus]

Enjoy the peace and quiet of DFW; LAX may surprise you.

I must say, I have seen the miracle wheelchairs in action at DFW as well.

LAX is always surprising and eye opening. The above was posted after I completed all formalities. The miracle wheelchairs were quite interesting to watch.

The qantas checkin opening at DFW was delayed by a group of passengers checking in at the same counters for the earlier BA LHR. (The BA 747 flight departs at 1640 - when the checkin closes the signage is changed to QF). They had so much excess luggage including 2 flatscreen TV and arguing with agents and taking stuff out of bags, rearranging them. Even stuffing clothing into TV screen boxes.

It’s actually very amusing watching human activities at airports.

 

[serfty]

It was also interesting watching tbe upgrade/standby dance at the gates of legacy USA airlines ... no so much these days with apps and all showing positions ...

 

[Himeno]

DFW is peaceful compared to LAX, even being a bigger airport.

DFW has 165 gates across 5 terminals (designed to be expandable up to 260 across 13). It has 7 runways.
LAX has 129 gates across 9 terminals, with little to no space to expand. It has 4 runways.

DFW is 3rd busiest airport in the world by movements in 2015, LAX was 4th.
LAX is 4th busiest in the world by passengers, DFW is 11th.

LAX has much the same problems as SYD, yet, unlike SYD, are willing to work on fixing the problems as best as they are able. But DFW is able to do far more then LAX can to improve and expand as needed.

 

[jb747]

I'd have thought they could have done something about the access road eons ago. That makes the terminal seem restful.

 

[Quickstatus]

It was also interesting watching tbe upgrade/standby dance at the gates of legacy USA airlines ... no so much these days with apps and all showing positions ...

Today’s afternoon flight DFW-LAX on a 181 seat A321 say a upgrade list extending to 102pax. Must be a lot of AA Executive Plat? on that flight.

 

[serfty]

EXP, Plat Pro, Plat & Gold can all request an upgrade although the latter need to 'spend' upgrade credits.

 

[UP4014]

Since the new TBIT I like LAX, it has all the grittiness of LA which has grown on me over the last 3 decades; and hey presto you are in a nice lounge if heading back to Oz.

 

[kermatu]

I haven’t heard the term miracle wheelchair before - to what does this refer?

Yesterday I saw someone delivered to a lounge in Auckland in a wheelchair. As soon as the attendant left, the lady was on her feet, taking a dish of food from the restaurant, and later walked to the bathroom and back (quicker than I do). Analogous?

 

[serfty]

Analogous?

Similar, I blame @drron ...

Generally seen in action when a parade of people preboard using wheel chairs before walking to their seat. They then miraculously walk off the aircraft at the destination rather than wait to be collected after all others have disembarked.

 

[TomVexille]

I haven’t heard the term miracle wheelchair before - to what does this refer?

Yesterday I saw someone delivered to a lounge in Auckland in a wheelchair. As soon as the attendant left, the lady was on her feet, taking a dish of food from the restaurant, and later walked to the bathroom and back (quicker than I do). Analogous?

Common in the industry. Certain destinations are referred to as "miracle flights". There are some people who abuse wheelchair assistance so that they can feel "special" as someone has to push them around and for the priority screening and boarding, but then walk off the plane at the other end as they don't want to wait. And I do mean abuse, as they have absolutely no need for a wheelchair.

 

[kermatu]

I had no idea this happened. Have to say quite by chance yesterday was the very first time I noticed someone delivered in a wheelchair to the lounge and then appear to be quite free to move. I don’t want to make generalisations or assumptions, and in the end who can tell for sure what an individual’s circumstances are.

Recent changes to AKL international airport have made walks longer and on departure there is no longer any priority screening unless you are crew or escorted in a wheelchair, but I still would think it one of the easier airports to navigate.

 

[Virgin Bart]

It was also interesting watching tbe upgrade/standby dance at the gates of legacy USA airlines ... no so much these days with apps and all showing positions ...

First time I saw it I stood and watched in awe of how bloody inefficient and resource consuming it was!

 

[ozbeachbabe]

At least with DFW all the terminals are connected by the Skylink so you don't need to go landside to get from one to another. At LAX the airside connector only operates from TBIT to T4 to T8. If your flight departs/arrives from T1 to T3 and connecting to other flights outside those terminals then you have to go landside and clear through TSA again.

DFW has a Centurion Lounge, the Club at DFW whereas LAX does not.

DFW has an airside hotel Grand Hyatt at terminal D whereas LAX does not. If staying off airport there are lots more reasonable priced hotels in the DFW area vs LAX eg Candlewood Suites DFW South which you can book for 10,000 IHG points.

 

[serfty]

At least with DFW all the terminals are connected by the Skylink so you don't need to go landside to get from one to another. At LAX the airside connector only operates from TBIT to T4 to T8. If your flight departs/arrives from T1 to T3 and connecting to other flights outside those terminals then you have to go landside and clear through TSA again.
...
DFW has an airside hotel Grand Hyatt at terminal D whereas LAX does not. If staying off airport there are lots more reasonable priced hotels in the DFW area vs LAX eg Candlewood Suites DFW South which you can book for 10,000 IHG points.

There are air-side buses from the North end of TBIT that service T2 and T3 as well as T2 to/from T3.

I believe the DFW Grand Hyatt is "landside" - still very convenient.

 

[MarcB]

I must say, I have seen the miracle wheelchairs in action at DFW as well.

When I was going through the premium security at DFW last week, the wheelchair line was at a standstill. They can only process one at a time, so there was a long wait for each one as the one in front was processed. Meanwhile, all of us without chairs progressed very speedily.

 

[Quickstatus]

Yes saw this at LAX.
Sometimes miracle wheelchairs are followed by an able bodied entourage (related to the wheelchairs) who piggyback onto the priority security and pre boarding
The miracle invariably occurs at boarding when it the wheelchair arrives at the gate.

 

[serfty]

...
The miracle invariably occurs at boarding when it the wheelchair arrives at the gate.

Also occurs at the juncture between the airbridge and the Aircraft.

Sometimes at both airports, they wait until the chairs come back up the airbridge before the waiting PAX get called to board by group.

 

[Quickstatus]

Ah correct - aircraft door rather than gate.